A House United Book 1: The Hardest Goodbye

Chapter Two

Massachusetts, Washington, DC, and Utah Territory
Fall 1847 – December 1850

When Adam arrived in New York City Harbor in August 1847, his aunt, uncle, and cousin met his ship, having traveled by train from their home in Washington, DC. He'd never met his extended family, but he immediately recognized his uncle, who, though certainly not Ben Cartwright's doppelganger, was clearly his brother—something about the eyes and the tilt of the head.

"Adam!" Jacob Cartwright exclaimed, pumping his hand. "So good to finally meet you in person!" He'd been away at school when his nephew was born, and by the time the then sixteen-year-old Jacob had heard of Adam's birth and Elizabeth's death, Ben had already struck out west. He now held Adam at arm's length and took a long look at him. "My goodness, you are a Stoddard, aren't you?"

"So I've been told, sir," Adam said, blushing slightly. "I know I don't much favor my pa. Or you, apparently."

Jacob laughed heartily. "That's all right, son. We'll love you anyway." He slapped his nephew on the back.

As Adam smiled and thanked him, he caught sight of his Aunt Hannah and little Josie. Hannah Stoddard Cartwright had the wavy, black-brown hair of all the Stoddards but otherwise didn't bear a strong resemblance to her older sister Elizabeth. But at only six and a half years old, Josephine Elizabeth Cartwright most certainly did. Adam's breath caught as he looked upon the first member of his family he'd ever met who looked like him. Josie had the same sable hair, hazel eyes that turned downward ever so slightly at the outward corners, bow-shaped mouth, and slight upturn to her nose that he had.

Jacob noticed his nephew staring open-mouthed at Josie and guessed what the young man must be thinking. His heart went out to this motherless boy who must have grown up wondering about his family.

"So sorry," Jacob said. "Allow me to introduce you to your Aunt Hannah, and your cousin, Josephine."

"Hello, Adam," Hannah said, wiping away a tear and embracing her late sister's child for the first time since he was an infant. She held him a long time, and as they parted, she instinctively reached up and brushed a strand of hair out of his eyes. "Josie has that same unruly forelock," she said, smiling through more tears. "Your mother had it, too."

Adam's eyes welled up, too, and before he could manage a reply, he felt a tug on his elbow. He looked down into the upturned face of the little girl who could be his sister.

"I'm Josie," she said, proffering her little hand.

"Hello, Josie," he said, pulling a serious face and solemnly shaking his cousin's tiny hand. "I'm your cousin Adam, and I'm very pleased to make your acquaintance."

"Likewise," Josie chirped. "We're actually double first cousins, you know, because our fathers are brothers and our mothers are sisters."

Adam raised an eyebrow and caught his uncle's eye. Jacob shrugged his shoulders and spread his hands as if to say, "What are you going to do?" This wasn't the first time Josie's precociousness had caught an adult off guard.

"That's true," Adam said, squatting down to her eye level. "Which means you and I are more closely related than anyone else in our family, so we better make sure we take real good care of each other. Is that a bargain?" He offered her his hand.

"Mr. Cartwright, I do believe it is," Josie said grandly, shaking Adam's hand for a second time.

"Wonderful!" Adam stood and plopped his cowboy hat on Josie's head so that it fell over her eyes. The little girl giggled and pushed the hat back so she could see but did not take it off. She reached up and took his hand. His heart soared.