by J. Rosemary Moss
Genre: Slash Fan-Fiction (Bonanza)
Rating: PG-13
LINK TO PART ONE
~
Adam took a deep breath as he and Hoss reached the bottom of the stairs. Hoss set down his lantern and turned to face Adam immediately—he didn’t even spare a glance for the racks of wine.
“What’s this all about, Adam?” he demanded. “I know you don’t really want my opinion on the wine.”
Adam folded his arms over his chest and leaned back against the wall, trying to disguise how nervous he was. “Well, I, uh, wanted to tell you something,” he said. “Something that—that I need you to keep in confidence.”
Hoss nodded and waited expectantly. He didn’t make any promises—but then, he didn’t need to. Adam knew that he could trust him implicitly.
Adam stared down at his feet for a moment and actually felt himself start to blush. He swore at himself under his breath. This wasn’t working—he’d have to just come straight out with it.
“David and I are lovers,” he said at last, forcing himself to look back up at Hoss. “We, ah, settled our differences in San Francisco.”
Adam watched his brother’s mouth drop open. Whatever Hoss had been expecting, this wasn’t it.
“Abby knows about us,” Adam continued at once. He knew that he had to keep talking to fill up the shocked silence. “In fact, she’s known all along that David has no interest in women. She’s content with a marriage of convenience.”
Hoss was still staring at him, so Adam kept talking. “Joe knows as well. He found out by accident, but I’m glad now that he knows the truth. I think he believes that I’m going through some sort of temporary insanity—or at least he did at first. But we’ve talked it out and he’s growing used to the idea.”
Adam paused at last and cocked his head at Hoss. “Please say something,” he said softly.
“I don’t know what to say,” Hoss managed. “Adam—Adam why? I mean, I wouldn’t have pegged either you or David for that kind.”
Adam sighed. “Well, maybe it’s hard to peg ‘that kind.’”
Hoss blushed at that. “But you like women, Adam. You always have.”
He shrugged. “I suppose I still do. But that doesn’t negate what I feel for David. And, well, right now I don’t have eyes for anyone but him.”
Hoss looked almost disgusted at that—as if having eyes for another man was something he just couldn’t imagine. Which, Adam supposed, was exactly the case.
“Listen, older brother,” Hoss said at last. “I know that David is good looking and such—in fact, I always thought he was too close to being pretty. And I know that he can make himself well-liked when he has a mind to. But are you sure he’s not a heap of trouble?”
Adam grinned at that. “Oh, I know that he’s a heap of trouble. But I also know that he’s worth it.”
Hoss looked as if he entertained serious doubts on that score. “Maybe—maybe Little Joe was right in the first place,” he ventured. “Maybe you’re not thinking straight right now.”
Adam shrugged again. “I suppose time will tell. I don’t know where the future will bring David and me—but he’s very much a part of my life right now. I just—I just thought that you should know.”
“You can’t ever tell Pa,” Hoss said, shaking his head sadly.
“I know,” Adam agreed. “I don’t intend to ever tell him. He wouldn’t understand. I’m sorry for that—but I have to live my life as I see fit.”
Hoss sighed. “Yeah, I suppose that's true. Well, your secret is safe with me, older brother. But you already knew that.”
“Yeah, I did,” Adam owned, reaching out to grasp his shoulder. “Thank you, Hoss.”
Before Hoss could respond, they heard Joe’s footfall on the stairs. The youngest Cartwright smiled as he made his way down to them.
“Go on upstairs, older brother,” Joe ordered as he reached the bottom. “I want a word with Hoss.”
Adam rolled his eyes. “I’ve already told him.”
“Yeah, I know,” Joe said. “But knowing you, you didn’t tell it right. Go upstairs—we’ll be right behind you.”
Adam considered that order for a long moment, but at length he shrugged and made his way back to the dining table. It was probably just as well to let the two boys have a moment alone.
LINK TO PART EIGHTY
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