Forgiveness?:
Ben walked downstairs to his staring sons.
"You left them alone," Adam said incredulously.
"Yes, I warned them not to break anything," Ben said smiling.
For fifteen minutes not one heard a sound from upstairs.
"Do you think Joe's alive?" Hoss asked with genuine concern.
Ben and Adam laughed but stared at the quiet ceiling.
Joe sat down at his sister's desk. Jax laid back down and refused to look at him. She vowed that she wasn't talking first. Joe had done the same. The impasse lasted for twenty minutes before Joe threw her stuffed dog at her sick of the silence. Jax threw it back at him. The throwing match each throw was harder than the first, lasted until the dog hit Joe's black eye.
"Oww that hurt." Joe said.
"Good," Jax said and turned back over.
"I'm sorry," Joe said making Jax throw her pillow at him. "Jax, I'm sorry."
"I don't care what you are," Jax said harshly trying not to cry again. If she cried it would show him how much he hurt her. The only way she could do it was not looking at him. "The only reason, you're in here right now is because I don't wanna disobey Pa."
Joe heard her voice cracking and knew she was about to hated it when she cries and knowing it was his fault absolutely broke his heart in two. He had to stop her from crying, making her mad was the only. He could handle an angry Jax,
"This is your fault not mine."
"WHAT!" Jax yelled as she turned over.
"You took the road so you could cheat. Not my fault," Joe said seeing the anger grow in her eyes.
"GET OUT!"
"No, Pa said I had to stay here."
"I said to get out!" Jax said menacingly, standing up.
"And I said no," Joe said standing up as well. The fact that Joe loomed over her when he stood didn't bother Jax one bit.
"GET OUT!"
"NO!"
Jax had enough and punched him hard.
"Feel better?" Joe asked.
Only for her to punch in two more times before he put up his arms to protect his face fearing there would be another punch.
"OWW!" Joe said thinking maybe this wasn't his best idea, but at least she wasn't crying.
"Please, tell me you feel better now," Joe begged.
"A little, but you're not forgiven."
Joe smiled at her knowing at least she wasn't going to cry anymore.
"Do you want me to punch you again?" Jax asked.
"No. I'm already going to have to explain another black eye and split lip," Joe said.
"Pa, will know I did it, so another tanning for me because of YOU." Jax said spitefully.
"Jax, I'm really sorry. I don't know why I let it slip. I was really angry at you," Joe begged.
"Still not forgiving you," Jax said crossing her arms and turning back around.
"Come on, you just beat me up. Can't you give me a little break?"
"Joe, I know you were mad, but I still don't understand…" Jax said tears starting to form again.
"Please don't cry. I can't make you mad again, my face can't take it," Joe pleaded.
Jax giggled.
"I could punch you in the stomach or arms. Your face isn't the only target," Jax said.
"True, but I don't want that either. Sis you really can wallop a fella," Joe said.
"Well, you deserved it."
"For the betrayal, yes. Jax, I promise I'll never betray you again," Joe said.
"Make sure you keep that promise. I hated the way I felt all day today. You're still not totally forgiven."
"Why?"
"WHY! I have to be driven to and from school like a little kid and I am restricted to the yard for two weeks. You will not be fully forgiven until that is finished," Jax said eyes narrowing and crossing her arms. "I swear if you laugh…"
Joe had to cough to keep from laughing.
"Jax, I'm still mad at you too," Joe said seriously.
"Joe, I was joking about Cochise and Miss Lily at school. You were so fired up, so I had to prove you wrong. The currycomb was a complete accident and you know it. Now my behavior this morning should have been expected and you should have been prepared," Jax said simply.
Joe had to smile again at Jax's last remark. Of course her teasing him relentlessly should have been expected. He makes Jax angry and she annoys him to end an argument. Something finally hit about what she said a few minutes ago,
"You're restricted to the yard for two weeks?"
"Joe, I just told you that," Jax said rolling her eyes.
"Horse race," Joe said sitting down.
"DAMN IT JAX!" Joe swore as she punched him twice in the arm.
"I hope Pa didn't hear that," Jax said sweetly.
"Please, stop hitting me."
"Well, you just took something else from me," Jax said simply.
"I'm sorry."
"Are you still going?"
"Don't hit me…"
"That means yes. Now it will take even longer for me to forgive you," Jax said.
Joe had to smile again he knew she was going to say that and was happy she didn't hit him again.
"I understand," Joe said.
Ben walked in at that moment and saw his son's battered face.
"Joseph, I need to talk to your sister."
"Pa, please don't," Joe begged.
"She knows she's not allowed to hit you."
"Joe, just go," Jax said.
Joe walked out of his sister's room, feeling guilty again. He walked down to see his older brothers.
"Looks like she got a piece of you," Hoss teased.
"Yeah and Pa's gonna get a piece of her hide," Joe said miserably.
"Is she still upset?" Adam asked.
"She's not hurt anymore, but she's still angry. At least she's talking to me, but feels the need to hit me a lot," Joe joked.
"I guess that's a step in the right direction," Adam said.
Ben walked across his daughter's room and sat next to her.
"Little Joe decided to make you angry."
"Yes sir."
"You realize he was just as upset as you were."
"Yes sir."
"So are you going to forgive him?"
"Probably," Jax said and watched her father smile.
"Alright, I'll let it go for now," Ben said getting up.
Jax looked confused. Ben smiled again at his daughter and said,
"Little Joe asked me not tan you and I'm not. But hear me Jacqueline; do not hit your brother again."
"Yes sir."
"It's suppertime, so I expect you to join us."
"Yes sir."
Jax followed her father downstairs and saw the instant relief on Joe's face.
"You're still not forgiven," Jax said with a slight smile that everyone noticed.
"How's your head?" Adam asked.
"Better. Thank you," Jax said.
"Sis, you need to give poor Little Joe's face a break. He looks like he was kick by a horse," Hoss said.
"Maybe I can use that excuse, instead of saying I was beat up by my baby sister," Joe joked. Jax kicked him under the table for calling her his baby sister, another thing that didn't go unnoticed.
"Jacqueline, you're making me regret my decision not to spank you upstairs," Ben said ominously.
"Sorry Pa. Sorry Joe," Jax said quickly, usually when Pa starts to regret a decision he fixes it quickly.
"Adam, will you drive her to school tomorrow?" Ben asked.
"Sure, love some quality time with little sis," Adam said smiling.
"Not that I don't want the time with you Adam, but Pa, I'm too old to get dropped off and picked up from school," Jax tried.
"You made a conscious choice to use the shortcut and this is part of the consequences. My decision is final," Ben said.
"Yes sir," Jax said knowing better than to argue, but vowed she was punching Joe again.
The next morning the first thing Jax did was walk into Joe's room and punched his arm hard.
"What was that for?"
"Every day I have to ride with someone, I'm going to punch you. It makes me feel better," Jax said smiling.
"Well, it doesn't make me feel better, so cut it out," Joe said rubbing his arm.
"Joe, this is your fault," Jax said.
"No it's your fault," Adam said and swatted her backside hard.
"OWW, what was that for?" Jax said.
"I saw you punch Joe and I heard what you said," Adam said. Jax paled and asked,
"Are you telling Pa? I can't handle another tanning before school."
"Adam, please don't tell on her," Joe pleaded.
"I won't, but Jacqueline if I even suspect you hit your brother again I will blister you good before Pa gets a hold of you."
"Yes, sir."
After breakfast Jax climbed into the buggy with Adam. She loved being with Adam, but didn't want the humiliation of being driven to and from school.
"Adam."
"Yeah sis," Adam knew what she was going to ask.
"Can you drop me off before we get to school and I can walk in?"
"Nope."
"Come on Adam."
"Nope."
"Why?"
"It's part of your punishment, that's why I'm driving you and Hoss is picking you up. Pa knew you would con Hoss into letting you get out at the edge of town."
"So humiliation is part of my punishment?" Jax asked angrily.
"Jax, why do you get punished?"
"To help me remember what I did wrong and not do it again," Jax said rolling her eyes in a bored voice, yawning at the end.
"You, know the way you just said that makes me think you need to write it 250 times tonight."
"Adam, I'm sorry."
"You will be when you're finished," Adam said simply.
"Adam, please don't make me," Jax pleaded.
"Ok 500."
"Adam…"
"Would you like me to make it 1000?"
Jax shut up and decided she would do it at school. Not like she wouldn't be bored.
"Jax, you'll write it in my room tonight so don't even think about doing it at school."
"How did you know?" Jax said.
"Years of experience."
"Ok, but can we…"
"Wouldn't finish that sentence unless you want to make it 1000."
"Fine."
Adam smiled at his little sister.
"You realize, I hate when you laugh at me," Jax said.
"I'm not laughing, I'm smiling. I do like that you didn't yell at me though," Adam said.
"I'm not mad, so I don't need to yell," Jax said simply.
"Hoss will pick you up. Have a good day at school."
Jax gave her brother a quick hug and jumped out of the buggy.
Billy saw Jax getting out of the buggy and ran up to her,
"Are you feeling better?"
"Look at Joe's face and it will give you the answer," Jax said smiling.
"Jax, you are probably the meanest girl I have ever met," Billy chastised.
"Thanks," Jax laughed. "You'll be angry at him too. I am restricted to the yard so I can't go to the horse races."
Joe was walking over and the look on Billy's face told him that he knew about the horse race.
"We're still going," Joe said only to have his sister punch him hard on the arm. "JAX I SWEAR…"
"WHAT DO YOU SWEAR?" Jax yelled back.
Bill stepped between the two of them and said,
"Drawing attention of a certain teacher."
The both stopped and smiled at Miss Jones. She turned her attention to the girls that were talking to her.
"Fine, you can go without me, but Joe you have to promise not to race," Jax said.
"Why?"
"Because I'll worry all weekend."
"So, I have to worry all the time about the stupid stuff you do."
"I won't put up with it, like you do," Jax said.
"He won't race," Billy said firmly.
"Thank you, Billy I knew you would be the voice of reason."
Joe glared at his friend until he saw the gleam in Billy's eyes. Billy had just played Jax and she bought it.
After supper, Adam looked at Jax and nodded at the stairs.
"Pa, Jax and I have some business to take care of from this morning."
Ben nodded and the two of them left the living room. Adam had already told him about Jax's punishment. Jax didn't bother to argue right now, but sat and started her lines. After fifty she looked pleadingly at Adam who was reading a book.
"Keep going," Adam said.
"But, Adam. I have other homework tonight."
"Keep going."
After another fifty she tried again.
"Keep going."
She finally finished the original 250 and she handed it to Adam, think it would be enough.
"Half way through."
"Adam…"
"Quarter of the way through?"
Jax didn't acknowledge but kept writing finishing the task and threw it at Adam, leaving the room.
"Jax," Adam said softly.
"Adam, I really have homework to do," Jax said walking back into his room.
"Why are you punished?"
"So I can remember what I did wrong and not do it again," Jax said.
"Why did you have to write that?"
"Because I didn't take it seriously."
"Come here and sit down."
"Adam, I just did exactly what you told me, may I go please?"
"No, sit down," Adam said firmly.
Jax threw herself back in the chair and glared at Adam.
"Pa didn't give you that punishment to humiliate you."
"Adam, I believe it is humiliating and so he did."
"Do you realize how dangerous that path is?"
"Yes."
"Are you saying that because you believe it or because you want to go?"
Jax answered by crossing her arms and turning away.
"That only works with Joe and Hoss."
"Adam, I was careful…"
"How can you were careful when you were racing?"
"It was a shortcut, so I didn't have to go as fast."
"YOU WERE RACING, SO I KNOW YOU WEREN'T CAREFUL."
"WHY DO YOU AND PA WANT TO PUNISH ME FOR NOT GETTING HURT?"
"Yelling," Adam said.
"You yelled first," Jax snidely shot back.
Adam grabbed her out of her seat and gave her three extremely hard swats.
"Adam…" Jax complained rubbing her backside.
"Would you care for the full tanning you deserve for that smart remark?"
"No, sir."
"Do you realize how dangerous that path is?"
"I know what I ha've been told," Jax said honestly.
"Does Pa tend to lie?"
"No, but…"
"What?"
"Nothing."
"The other times you went down the shortcut nothing happened."
"I don't want to answer that."
"Why?"
"Self preservation."
A smile pulled at Adam's lips as he said,
"You can answer and I promise no punishment."
"From you and Pa?"
"Yes."
"I've never been hurt and I've used the path many times."
"Why, do you always have to test what you are told?"
"Just in my nature," Jax said honestly.
"Jax if I see you near that path or hear that you put one toe or hoof on it, the tanning Pa gave you will feel like love taps by the time I finish. Do you understand?"
"Yes, sir. May I please go do my homework?"
"Go ahead and Jax…"
Jax sighed audibly and turned around.
"You did a pretty good job finishing your punishment without complaint."
Jax laughed and hugged her annoying big brother.
