Chapter 2

Ben slowly set down the telegram that he had received while he had been in town the day before and looked out over the breakfast table at his family.

"Well everyone, I just got some great news. It seems that a man by the name of Sullivan will be in Virginia City in two days and wants to meet with me to talk about a lumber contract. This couldn't come at a better time for us. We really need some new buyers for the lumber that will be ready soon. He also says in the telegram that he has met you before, Adam. Is this true?"

Adam looked up briefly and wiped his mouth with his napkin. Then he let out a sigh and set the napkin carefully on the table.

"If it is the same Sullivan I met after my little fiasco a month ago on my last stagecoach ride, then yes I have met him."

Adam's eyebrow raised slightly as a smirk appeared on his face.

"I also had the pleasure of meeting his daughter Rebecca. She is the one I told you about, pa, that gave me so much trouble on our long trek in the desert."

Ali eyed Adam warily as she suddenly exclaimed, "Well, you sure didn't bother to mention anything to me about a woman giving you trouble on that walk, Adam Cartwright!"

Adam shrugged as he continued, "That's because I didn't think it was that important and there really wasn't much to tell. I know you knew about me having to walk after the stage was robbed."

Ali stood up and threw down her napkin as she felt her temper flare.

"Yes I knew about that, but I certainly didn't know about any trouble you had with a woman! It seems you forgot to mention that little fact, Mr. Cartwright."

Adam did his best to try not to smile as he stood up and put his hand on Alissa's arm.

"Now, sweetheart, it is not what you think. This woman you are talking about is just a girl of fifteen. She was one of the passengers on the stage that was robbed and gave us all a bit of trouble while we walked to the way station."

Ali grinned rather sheepishly as she looked at Adam and slowly sat back down.

"Oh... well that's different, but you still should have told me about it. I think I should know about everything that concerns you, Adam!"

Lifting his brow in amusement Adam asked, "Everything?"

"Oh well maybe not everything. But certainly anything that involves another woman!" Ali stated firmly.

"She is not a woman, she is a young girl, Alissa."

"Well, she still is a female and that's enough for me."

Everyone laughed at her comment and continued eating breakfast as Alissa sat sipping her coffee with a rather embarrassed blush on her face. Now Percy had been sitting there taking all this in with not a whole lot of interest until he heard, "girl of fifteen." Then he perked right up and sat there smiling.

"Mr. Cartwright…is this girl very pretty?"

Adam smiled as he answered, "Why yes, Percy, I think she was quite a beautiful girl… a little spoiled, but still very lovely."

Alissa was becoming slightly annoyed as she muttered under her breath. "So you think she is beautiful, do you?"

Adam turned and looked at Alissa. "Did you say something, sweetheart?"

Alissa smiled briefly at Adam as she tried to conceal her feelings and control that quick temper of hers.

"Why no, Adam, I was just thinking out loud. By the way, just what was the trouble you had with this beautiful girl anyway?"

Adam smiled slightly as he picked up his coffee cup and took a long drink.

"Well, she had been spoiled to the point that she thought everyone was put on this earth to wait on her every need. So when we had little water and had to ration it, she thought she was above that and didn't have to share the water."

Reaching for a piece of toast to butter Adam frowned as he looked at Alissa.

"She even had the audacity to demand that her nanny bathe her feet because her feet hurt after we had walked all day."

"Well you certainly didn't give into her demands did you, Adam?" Joe asked, as he sat forward in his chair waiting for an answer.

Drawing his brows together Adam stared at Joe as he quipped, "What do you think, little brother?"

"Well, knowing you I just bet you had one of your famous discussions like you use to have with me when I got too big for my britches," Joe grinned.

Pointing his butter knife at Joe, Adam smirked, "You would be right in that assumption. And after our little discussion little Miss Rebecca settled right down and behaved the rest of the trip."

Ali sat there moving her eggs around on her plate while she listened to Joe and Adam and had to laugh to herself at the thought of this little brat feeling one of Adam's "discussions." Sounds like it served her right she thought smiling.

"So tell me more about this girl, Mr. Cartwright. What color is her hair? And do you remember what color her eyes are?" Percy gushed.

Adam just started to answer Percy's questions when Ben interrupted him.

"All those questions will be answered for you soon enough, Percy. I plan on inviting them to stay with us while they are here. So you will get to meet this young girl, and I am sure you will show her a good time while she is here."

"Oh yes, Mr. Cartwright, I certainly will."

Percy grinned excitedly as he cut the ham on his plate. Then he got a far away look on his young face as he day dreamed about this new girl that was going to be coming into his future.

Alissa didn't share the same excitement as Percy as she shoved the eggs around on her plate trying to shake that same feeling she had at the picnic. Just one more thing to mess up our day she thought to herself as she stabbed at a piece of ham, and frowned as the rest of the family started to talk about the upcoming lumber contract.

After breakfast Adam and Alissa were standing by the corral while Ali fed Freedom a carrot. She hadn't said much since dinner and Adam knew she was not happy about something.

Adam came around behind Ali and put his arms around her and rested his chin in her head. She ignored him and kept talking to freedom. Finally Adam leaned down and started to nuzzle Alissa's neck and make tiny little circles with his tongue on the side of her neck. He knew that was where she was most vulnerable.

Ali tried to move but Adam held her tightly in his arms. "So just what is wrong with you tonight? You haven't been the same since we found out that Rebecca and her father are coming to visit."

Turning around and putting her arms around Adam's neck, Ali looked up into his smiling face and whined, "Oh, Adam, we just don't need more quests that may mess up the party coming this week. Percy is bad enough, but now a spoiled, little rich girl and her overindulgent daddy are coming too."

"They aren't going to be a problem, sweetheart. And besides, it sounds like our house guest has a crush on her already and he hasn't even met her," Adam chuckled. "So I think he will want to take up most of her time while she is here."

"Well of course he does by the way you described how beautiful she is," Ali pouted, and pulled her arms from around Adam's neck and turned to look at her horse.

"Yes she is a beautiful girl, but she is also a very spoiled one too and can behave very bratty if she wants too."

Turning Alissa around Adam commented casually, "It seems she isn't the only one acting rather bratty at the moment."

"Maybe you need a lesson in manners too," Adam said with a teasing grin.

Ali doubled up her fist and shoved it in Adam's direction as she eyed him warily.

"Don't even think about it Mr. Cartwright, or I may have to show you more of my self defense moves."

"Oh you think so, my little spitfire, do you?" Adam chuckled, as he turned Ali around and gave her cute little backside a quick swat.

Then before she could protest any further, he pulled her into his arms and very easily quieted her protests as his lips found hers in a passionate kiss.

oxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Three days later the family was spending some much needed relaxing time together. It was Sunday afternoon and Ben was deep into a book he was reading while Hoss and Percy played checkers on the table by the settee. Outside the sounds of Adam singing and playing his guitar softly drifted into the open window as he played and sang a lovely melody for Alissa. She was all curled up in the chair with her head resting on her arm enjoying Adam's beautiful baritone voice, while Joe sat on the step working on a bridle he was hoping to give to Ben for his birthday.

The sounds of a buggy quickly intruded on this lovely moment and Joe looked up to see a buggy roll up and stop in front of the house. It was loaded to the top with trunks and boxes and was truly comical to see that much luggage for just the two people. There was barely room for the two people to sit in the front of the buggy. Adam had quit singing and stood up to see who was coming here on a Sunday afternoon. As soon as the buggy pulled to a stop, a well-dressed man stepped out and stood for a moment before he noticed the group sitting on the porch. As soon as he recognized Adam, he walked towards him with his hand outstretched.

"Well, Hello, Adam. So good to see you again."

"Why hello, Mr. Sullivan, it is good to see you too," Adam greeted him and shook his hand warmly.

By now Little Joe had no idea who this was and headed into the house to tell Ben they had company.

"Pa, we got company. And do they ever have a lot of trunks hitched to their buggy!" Joe grinned, as he stood in the doorway.

"Well where are you manners, son? Let's go see who it is. It is probably the Sullivans as I knew they would be coming today or tomorrow."

Ben sat down his book and headed out the door with Hoss and Percy right behind him. By the time they had gotten out the door, Adam and Mr. Sullivan were by the buggy and Adam was helping a young girl step down from the buggy.

As soon as Percy saw what he thought was a pure vision of loveliness, he was mesmerized. It was as if that naughty little Cupid had drawn back his bow and an arrow had landed square in Percy's chest, because he was totally and completely smitten with the beautiful young girl exiting the buggy.

"Why, Adam, you still are as handsome as I remember you," Rebecca purred as she took Adam's hand.

Alissa had just come up to the buggy in time to hear this comment and it took all of her patience not to walk over and push her into the mud. On the outside Ali was all smiles, but on the inside she was steaming. And one young girl by the name of Rebecca better watch her step, because she had no idea whom she was dealing with if she decided to try and flirt with Adam.

By this time Ben had come over to the buggy and warmly greeted Mr. Sullivan and his daughter. Then he turned and introduced Hoss, Joe and Alissa. Each of the sons had said hello and smiled, but Alissa only smiled when her name was introduced. Adam quickly noticed this and leaned down and whispered into her ear, "Behave."

"Of course darling," Ali murmured back, as she walked over to the Sullivans.

Holding out her hand to Mr. Sullivan she smiled and said, "Why how do you do, Mr. Sullivan, so nice to meet you. And this little girl here must be your daughter. Nice to meet you also, Becky," Ali said, as she reached out to shake her hand.

Rebecca lightly touched her hand and then looked her up and down before she said indignantly, "The name is Rebecca… not Becky! And just whom might you be anyway? I didn't know Adam had a sister."

Alissa grinned and walked over and put her arm through Adam's arm as she replied with satisfaction, "Oh no, silly girl, I am not his sister…I am his fiancée."

The excited smile that had been on Rebecca's face slowly changed as the realization she may have a little more trouble than she had planned to snag Adam Cartwright. In her dreams it was so easy. Well, we will just see about that Rebecca stewed as she followed everyone into the house.

TBC

I thought it would be fun to bring back Percy and Rebecca. And how much more fun can it be than to put these two together to cause mischief? Although I think Ali can handle little Miss Rebecca.

Unfortunately, I will be having surgery and won't be able to update for a while, so know that I haven't deserted this story, but will update as soon as I can write again. Thank you to all my loyal fans who where so excited to see a new Adam and Ali story. I am so pleased that you enjoy this series and I thank you so much for all the lovely reviews. ~ Sierra