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Percy the Terrible

Adam's patience is sorely tested when he and Alissa are saddled with babysitting a spoiled, fourteen year old brat!

oooooo

All the family was sitting around the breakfast table enjoying the easy banter that was going on between Adam and Joe. The two brothers had been recently teasing each other about Adam getting married. It had been two weeks since Adam had proposed to Alissa, and the whole family was thrilled when they told them the good news. They all thought it was wonderful news and had welcomed Alissa with open arms. The only trouble was that Joe couldn't keep from teasing Adam about getting married since he heard the news. Today was no different as Joe started on Adam as soon as he arrived at the table.

"You know, Adam, you probably will sleep a lot later in the mornings after you are married."

Joe grinned and winked at his older brother as Adam poured himself a cup of coffee. Alissa just smiled and blushed slightly as she quietly reached for a biscuit and was getting ready to throw it at Joe. But Adam beat her to it as a biscuit silently sailed through the air and hit Joe on the side of his head.

"That's enough you two," said Ben, as he frowned at his two sons.

Narrowing his eyes Adam looked at his brother and said with his usual droll comeback, "You know little brother, if you know what's good for you… you better quit with the kidding. Remember, you have to sleep sometime."

Joe shrugged his shoulders and grinned sheepishly. "I get your point big brother."

Hoss just smiled and continued eating his breakfast with his usual gusto as Ben started to read a letter he had received from his old friend Tom Mathews. He and his family would be coming to the ranch for a visit soon.

"Tom says that they are making this trip a second honeymoon. They're only going to be here a few days and then they will go on to San Francisco. I haven't seen them in years, so it will be wonderful to see them again."

Ben placed the letter on the table beside him and buttered a piece of toast.

"They have a fourteen year old boy now and will be bringing him with them on this trip. He has never seen San Francisco, and they thought it would be fun for him to come along."

"That's sure not much of a honeymoon with your kid tagging along," laughed Little Joe.

"Joseph!" Ben scowled at his younger son.

"Well, I agree with Joe. It won't be very romantic for them," added Alissa, as she winked at Adam. Adam simply smiled and continued eating his breakfast.

"I think that is enough talk about honeymoons."

Ben cleared his throat, as he looked totally embarrassed about where this conversation was heading.

"Let's just finish our breakfast because we have a full days work ahead waiting for us. And all this silly talk is not appropriate for the dinning table."

Ben reached for the coffee pot as the boys looked at each other and tried to hold back their laughter at their father's obvious embarrassment.

ooooooo

Today was the day the company was arriving, and Ben was the first one to hear the carriage pull up outside as he opened the front door and hurried out to greet his guests. The rest of the family slowly followed behind him as they went to meet Ben's old friends.

"Mary and Tom, it's so good to see you two again."

Ben held out his hand to his old friend as Tom helped his wife down from the carriage. After helping his wife, Tom turned and grabbed Ben's hand as they shook hands firmly and patted each other on the back. Ben then gave Mary a hug and turned to introduce them to his family.

"Mary and Tom Mathews, this is Joe my youngest son, and this big, strapping young man is Hoss, my middle son."

Ben placed his hand on Joe's back as he introduced them to the Mathews. He smiled proudly as he watched his two sons shake hands with his old friends. Finally, Ben went over and put his arm around Adam's shoulder.

"And this is my oldest son…Adam. This beautiful girl holding ever so tightly onto his arm is Alissa Anderson. She is Adam's fiancée."

"So nice to meet you both," Adam replied, as he took Tom's hand in a hearty handshake.

"Nice to meet you also," Alissa added, as she smiled and nodded.

When Ben didn't see anyone else getting out of the carriage, he smiled at his guests and suggested, "Well, shall we all go into the house now that the introductions are over?"

Mary quickly put her hand on Ben's arm to stop him as she turned towards the carriage and with a rather shrill yell called out, "PER—CY! Percy, hurry up now dear, or you will be left behind!"

All faces turned towards the carriage as a tall, skinny boy with blond curls slowly began to emerge from the carriage. First one long leg presented itself and then another as more than a few surprised expressions greeted the Matthews' son. When he finally stood upright, the full effect of his rather unusual attire took the Cartwrights by surprise. He was wearing a cream colored suit with pants that stopped right under his knees. White stockings came up to the bottom of his pants and shoes with black buckles on them adorned his feet. And to finish off this rather garish looking outfit, he had on a white shirt with ruffles on the cuffs and a black scarf that went around his neck with a bow that tied loosely right under his chin.

"Coming mother, you don't have to raise your voice, you know. It is so vulgar to shout."

Surveying the area with obvious disdain, he let out a slight cough as he gingerly placed a lacy white handkerchief that he had been holding in his right hand quickly to his mouth.

"All this dust is just so annoying and very bad for my lungs!"

Joe started to let out a laugh, but quickly reined it in when he saw his father give him a warning look. But the rest of the family had to turn their heads to keep from laughing at the sight that was standing in front of them. If ever there was a dandy, it was this boy who stood before them in all his velvet glory.

Mary sighed as she went over to her son and quickly brought him over to be introduced to the family.

"Percy, I want you to meet the Cartwrights. This is Ben Cartwright and his sons… Adam, Hoss, Joe and this lovely girl is Alissa Andserson, Adam's fiancée.

Everyone said hello as Percy proceeded to look down his nose at each one of them before he finally said in a rather annoyed voice, "How do you do."

Joe turned his head and caught Alissa's attention as he mouthed the words—"PERCY." Then he snickered and winked at Alissa as she smiled back.

"Well now, let's all go into the house for refreshments," Ben finally suggested, as he put his hand on Tom's back guiding him towards the front door.

As Ben led the group into the house, Little Joe stayed back trying his very best not to let out a belly laugh at the young dandy strutting in front of him.

oooooooo

Later that evening as they all sat around the dinner table, Tom brought up the trip to San Francisco.

"We will only be staying one night, Ben, because we have to catch a stage tomorrow out of Virginia City."

"I wish you could stay a little longer, Tom," Ben commented, as he poured him an after dinner brandy.

"Father, I really don't want to go to San Francisco," whined Percy, as he sat there playing with his fork.

"I didn't even want to come on this stupid trip. I want to go home right now!" Percy slammed down his fork to emphasize his last statement.

Ben looked embarrassed for his friend as he heard Percy speak so rudely to his father. I would never let any of my sons talk like that to me Ben thought, as he waited to see how his friend was going to handle this.

"Percy, I don't think the Cartwrights want to hear about this now. You are going because we don't have anywhere else to leave you," Mary said softly, as she tried to hide her embarrassment at the way her son was behaving.

"Well, It has been a long day and I think we should be going to bed now," Tom said frowning slightly, as he stood up from the table looking rather embarrassed also.

All the men stood as the Mathews made their way up the stairs after saying their goodnights to everyone. After they were behind closed doors, Hoss was the first to make a comment.

"Boy howdy, that youngster sure is sassy. You sure wouldn't put up with none of us talkin' like that to you, pa."

"That is for certain. That young man definitely needs some schooling in proper behavior."

"Oh, I think he is kind of funny," added Alissa grinning, as she laid her napkin on the table.

"What do you mean…funny?" asked Adam, as he looked rather puzzled.

"Well, he is trying so hard to look like he is so prim and proper with the outrageous way he dresses, and then he throws a silly little temper tantrum like he is two years old. I just find it all very amusing."

"Yeah, well I for one will be glad when he is gone. I don't think he is funny at all the way he just keeps looking down his nose at us like he just stepped in something bad," laughed Joe, as he leaned back in his chair drinking his coffee.

Joe, that isn't very nice," Ben scolded, while trying hard not to smile.

Hoss couldn't hide his grin though as he chuckled, "Yeah, pa, but he sure is telling the truth about that youngster."

ooooooo

The next morning as they were all sitting around the table finishing breakfast, Percy continued to complain about going with his parents to San Francisco. Alissa just sat there and listened to his complaining along with everyone else, when she suddenly had an idea.

"Why don't you stay here with us while your parents go to Frisco? Then they can pick you up on the way back. That way they can be together and you won't have to go somewhere you don't want to go. I think that works well for everyone, don't you?"

Alissa smiled at the Mathews as she waited for their answer. Because she was only looking at the Mathews, Alissa didn't see four grown men's faces suddenly turn pale as they just took in what she had just said.

"Why I think that would be a wonderful idea. Oh thank you so much for suggesting it, Alissa," Mary answered happily, as she looked over at her husband for his approval.

"Yes, Alissa, thank you so much for suggesting it," Adam added sarcastically, as he turned and gave Alissa a mocking smile.

I guess I should have cleared this with everyone first she thought, as she sat there looking around the table at the four Cartwright men definitely looking uncomfortable while trying to hide how they really felt.

"Ben, would that be alright with you if he stayed here?" Tom asked eagerly, hoping that Ben would say yes.

Of course being put on the spot like that, there really wasn't anything else Ben could say.

"Yes, yes, of course he can stay. We would be happy to have him as our guest for a few weeks. It will do you both good to have some time away on your own."

"Well then, it is all settled. We will leave Percy here and pick him up on the way back," agreed Tom, as he pushed away from the table and stood up.

"But I don't want to stay here either," whined Percy, as he threw down his napkin and stood up next to his father.

"Nonsense, Percy, you will be perfectly fine staying here. Now then, it really is time for us to get going, my dear, or we will miss the stage."

Tom checked his watch and reached for his wife's arm as he steered her quickly to the front door. The luggage had already been loaded into the carriage, so the two of them just proceeded out the front door.

Ben just stood there with his mouth slightly open as he realized he had just invited a spoiled, fourteen year old boy for a houseguest for the next few weeks. When he finally got his wits about him, he quickly went out the door with the rest of the family to say goodbye to the Mathews.

"They sure are in a hurry to leave, don't you think," whispered Little Joe, as he nudged Hoss while they walked out to say goodbye.

"Wouldn't you be too," answered Hoss, grinning as he stuck his hands in his pockets watching the Mathews hurry to the carriage.

After giving Percy a quick hug goodbye, the Mathews got in the carriage and started down the road as Mary turned and waved goodbye to her son one final time. Joe just shook his head grinning before heading to the barn to feed the horses. Eventually the rest of the family headed back into the house as Percy slowly walked along behind everyone kicking the dirt with his foot.

As soon as Adam and Alissa came into the house, Adam pulled her to the side and asked, "Why on earth did you do that, Alissa? What were you thinking?"

"Well, I felt sorry for him, and I thought he would have more fun here than in San Francisco. Besides, how hard can it be to take care of a fourteen year old boy?"

"I took care of two boys and believe me, I know how hard it can be!"

Adam just shook his head as he saw Percy coming in the door and decided to discuss this later. There wasn't a lot they could do about it now anyway. It looked like they all were going to be saddled with this spoiled dandy for the next few weeks and they might as well make the best of it.

After all, if I can handle raising Joe and all the things he got into, then I certainly can handle one fourteen year old dandy Adam decided, as he walked over to the table to enjoy one more cup of coffee before heading out for the day.

TBC

I hope you like this new character. He is a handful, isn't he?