The New Hand, Part Fifty

by J. Rosemary Moss

Genre: Slash Fan-Fiction (Bonanza)
Rating: PG-13

LINK TO PART ONE

~

Joe knew precisely what hotel older brother was staying at—he always used the same one in San Francisco. The staff there were well acquainted with all the Cartwrights and always provided them with excellent service.

Adam would have a suite for himself. Hell, he and David probably each had their own. Joe would have liked nothing better than to spring for one himself, but he didn’t have that kind of money at present.

Of course, he could just sign a marker and the hotel would send the bill to the Ponderosa, but then he would have to explain to his Pa why he wasn’t paying his own way. Adam never charged the cost of a suite to the Ponderosa—he always paid for his luxuries out of pocket.

Joe frowned as he entered the hotel. Even a regular room here would be steep—he’d be better off sharing the suite with Adam. With luck, Adam would value his privacy enough to pay for Joe to have a room of his own.

With that plan in mind, Joe walked up to the concierge, who treated him like a long lost son. He was delighted to host another Cartwright. Yes, yes, of course he understood that Joe wanted to go straight up to Adam’s room. Adam always carried his own key with him—he seldom bothered stopping at the front desk—but the concierge had a spare. He knew Adam wouldn’t mind the invasion of privacy where his younger brother was concerned. And yes, he would make sure that a bath was drawn for Joe and a meal prepared. And yes, the charges could all be placed on Adam’s bill.

Joe flashed the concierge a grateful smile. Older brother would understand about the extra charges, he told himself. After all, Joe had come all this way just to help him out.

Besides, he’d pay him back. Eventually.

~

“Well, so far no indication that Gregory Miller and Marty have anything to do with each other,” Adam commented as he and David strolled down the hall toward their room. “Should we go ahead and follow them this evening as well?”

“It is beginning to get tedious,” David admitted. “But we haven’t been at it that long—damn. I meant to stop at the front desk and speak to the concierge. I’d like to send Abby another telegraph.”

Adam raised his eyebrows at him. “You haven’t had second thoughts about adopting, have you?”

David grinned. “No. I just thought I’d send her a wire letting her know that I’m still alive.”

Adam paused as they reached his door. He stared at David for a moment, taking in every aspect of his appearance. David would always stand out in a crowd, but he had an air of nonchalance that he could employ to mitigate that effect—when he so chose.

As Adam continued to observe him, he found himself smiling at the tousled appearance that David presented today. It suited him best.

He was completely at ease with David, Adam realized suddenly. And the intimacies they shared were becoming second nature to him.

He enjoyed that—he liked knowing that David preferred to sleep on his left side with his head propped up by his own arm or by Adam’s shoulder. He never used a pillow for that office. David couldn’t stand pillows.

And Adam liked being familiar with the way David mumbled in his sleep. Judging by those mumblings, his mind was usually replaying and rethinking certain chess moves.

David leaned up against the door and favored Adam with a questioning smile, recalling him to the present. “What are you thinking?” he asked.

Adam sighed and leaned up against the door as well. “I’m thinking that I don’t want this to end when we return to Virginia City,” he said softly.

David raised his eyebrows at that but his smile deepened. “Neither do I—I’ve known that all along,” he owned. “Let’s talk inside.”

Adam nodded and unlocked the door. But he turned as soon as both men were in and the door was shut. He pulled David into a rough embrace—an embrace that David returned with enthusiasm.

They broke apart at the sound of someone clearing his throat.

“Am I interrupting something?” a voice demanded.

Adam knew that voice—but he had never heard it infused with such cold shock before. He released David at once and turned to face his little brother.

LINK TO PART FIFTY-ONE