by J. Rosemary Moss
Genre: Fan Fiction (Bonanza)
Rating: PG
LINK TO PART ONE
~
They settled on a cramped, smoky place that served fresh-caught seafood. It wasn’t the sort of restaurant that Matthew Harris frequented but, considering present company, it would do.
Adam, Matthew noticed, kept his eye on Liam. And small wonder—the kid looked ready to shovel the oysters on his plate down his gullet.
Matthew watched Adam place his hand on Liam’s shoulder and smile at the boy. “The food’s not going anywhere,” he reminded Liam. “Eat slowly.”
Liam gave him a sheepish grin in return and nodded.
Matthew couldn’t help but grin himself. Liam was no doubt a handful, but he recognized Adam’s authority and he was clearly anxious to please Adam.
Now why was that? How had he gained the kid’s love and devotion? Matthew didn’t know precisely how Adam had encountered the guttersnipe, but the kid must have been a ne’er-do-well of some sort. Knowing Adam, he had probably found the kid homeless on the streets and took him in.
As it happened, Adam chose that moment to enlighten Matthew. He told him how Liam had held him up and how he had found him afterward with the gunshot wound.
Liam interrupted at that point, apparently to make sure that Matthew understood that two kids named Donavan and Conner were the most wretched scum on earth. Adam just reminded him not to talk with his mouth full, but otherwise let the interruption pass.
Matthew worked hard to preserve his countenance. Liam’s righteous anger at the way Donavan and Conner had stolen the Colt that he himself had stolen from Adam amused him to no end—but it wouldn’t do to let the boy realize that. The kid wouldn’t appreciate being laughed at.
Adam took up the story again and told Matthew what he knew about Liam’s sister. Matthew did indeed know the mansion that she had served in and the family who owned it. As Adam had guessed, they were nouveau riche who gloried in living as ostentatiously as possible.
“I even remember the girl,” Matthew said. “She’s a pretty thing.”
“You know my sister?” Liam demanded through a mouthful of oysters.
“Liam, chew your food before you speak,” Adam admonished again. “And then address Mr. Harris with respect.”
Matthew smiled again as Liam swallowed down his food and rephrased his question.
“Did you know my sister, Mr. Harris?” he asked.
“I’ve seen her at the Haley mansion,” he explained. “It’s no wonder Rob Haley fell for her—but I didn’t realize that he had dismissed her out of hand. I assumed that he’d had the decency to provide for her and her child.”
“Apparently not,” Adam said dryly.
Matthew took a sip of his drink. “Well, my cook is married to the brother of the Haley’s butler,” he said meditatively. "I’ll have her find out what she can about this Katie’s current whereabouts.”
He was rewarded with a glowing look from Liam. Matthew almost rolled his eyes, wondering why that should please him.
LINK TO PART TWENTY
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