Guns and Switches
3rd story in the Alexandra Series.
Summary: Alexandra has some life lessons to learn. Alex tries to persuade Adam of her reasons for needing a gun. Adam has a little persuasion method of his own in mind. But there is another life lesson for Alex, one that may prepare her for a special but difficult journey. Marty and Adam start courting. Warning: CP of a minor in some chapters.
Disclaimer: I do not own Bonanza, or any of its characters. David Dortort and Fred Hamilton created them and played with them for 14 years. The series is owned by NBC.
Previously:
Adams thoughts were abruptly halted, when saw a defiant and determined Alexandra stare him in the eye, purse her lips, then turn sideways and extended her smallest finger, slowly and deliberately touch the nearest gun in the cabinet beside her. "That's IT! We are sorting this out NOW." He growled. Alex eyes went wide, "Ah oh," she took off squealing through the big room and skidded under the long dining table before Adam could catch her….. No word came from underneath the white clothed table. Adam lifted up the cloth, squatted down and peered underneath, "Alexandra, come out… Alexandra?"Adam stood up and quickly surveyed the room, "She's not under there?"Adam stood in the middle of the big room, with his hands on his hips, and yelled, "Alexandra!"
Chapter 4
Guns and Switches Pt1.
Adam spun around, "Pa did she go past you?"
"No, I was in the kitchen all the time. HOP SING!" bellowed Ben.
The little Chinese cook came running into the big room. "What everybody yelling for?"
"Hop Sing, did Alexandra come into the kitchen?" asked Adam.
"No one come into the kitchen except for honourable father."
Marty started to giggle, then quickly put her hand over mouth when Adam gave her a stern glare. "I'm sorry Adam, but really I'm impressed. She could actually go on the stage as a magician; I swear she skidded under that table."
"I'm glad you find it funny, Miss Strawn, but …" Adam turned and spoke to the open room, "Alexandra is not being funny, this is her way of being defiant, sulking and avoiding the consequences."
Marty smiled, "I apologize Adam. I know this is really none of my business, and I have no right to tell you how to raise her daughter. If my opinion means anything, I think you are a good and loving father. Alex is a tough, funny and endearing child. I also think she may be a little jealous of the attention you have been paying to me. So with that in mind, perhaps if I leave, she will come out."
Miss Strawn… I …"he scowled then stopped. Adam hadn't meant to appear angry at the pretty young nurse, because the real truth of the matter was he was just plain embarrassed that his ten year old daughter knew how to get the better of him. He softened and gave Marty a sheepish grin as he nodded. Every time he got even slightly annoyed at the young women, she came up with a sincere intuitive bit of advice. He hoped that Alex was hiding somewhere in the room and had heard all that. Perhaps she was a little jealous. He would definitely talk to his Pa about how to discuss his developing feelings for Marty with Alex.
Adam looked down at Marty and smiled, "thanks Marty, I appreciate your advice and insight. I have come to value your thoughts."
Adam and Marty walked to the door and onto the porch. Adam paused and swung Marty around, then bent down and kissed her gently and quickly, he drew back, smirked and cocked head ever so slightly as if waiting for an assessment of his romantic prowess.
Marty was drawn to the small dimple that played on his cheek so close to his inviting smug lips and smiled back. She stared into those huge brown eyes and moved forward to initiate her own deep and enduring kiss. "I want you to remember that kiss for a couple of days." She whispered silkily. Marty coughed and drew in a small contented breath, before adding, "I think you need some Alex and Adam time. My grandfather always said, billy lids need skin, especially those knee high to a blue tongue."
Adam looked at her quizzically, raising his eyebrows at the cute but complex idiom. "Billy lids?"
"Kids; kids need skin, need human touch, a hug; it's as necessary for survival as eating and drinking and taking in air, Adam. Especially babies or young children who don't always have the verbal skills to say want they want, what they need or what they fear."
"I know. I give Alex plenty of skin and some other human contact that is a parent's prerogative, like an open palm to a naughty backside. Something is bothering her, she is fearful of something and despite my efforts I haven't been able to get her to talk about it."
"Adam as I said earlier, you are a wonderful father. I've seen that loving side of you with Alexandra. I don't know what is frightening her, but I think she is confused about our relationship. I think she is worried and as I have seen with other anxious children, negative attention is far better than none. In my opinion that is why she is purposely trying to rile you up. I could be wrong, but keep this in mind when you talk with her."
Adam leaned down and looked into her eyes, "You are very attractive when you're being all maternal, you know."
Marty looked up and said, "As are you, paternal that is. I need to go and you need to find Alex."
"She's sulking in that room somewhere."
Just then Hoss and Joe came out from the barn.
Hoss mounted Chubb, "Ready, Miss Marty?"
"Ready, Hoss, thank you." Marty gave Adam a quick peck on his pouting lips, then punched him on the shoulder, "see you in a couple of days," she teased, then pulled herself up into her buggy and slapped the reigns.
Adam turned to Joe. "You finished all the chores?"
"Yep, just need to drop some wood down the chute for the big fire. Glad we didn't need that tonight, I plumb forgot about it when I got home. Babysitting Alexandra exhausted me, and I fell asleep in the big chair."
"Alexandra has exhausted all of us tonight; I'm going in to find her, unless Pa has already."
Adam walked to the big door as Joe headed around the back to fill the kindling boxes in Hop Sings kitchen and the one next to the stone wall of the big room's fireplace.
Pa had taken a seat at the table and was listening to Hop Sing.
"She not under desk, she not under settee, she not hiding in small cupboard under stairs, little miss not in this room," described an exasperated Hop Sing.
"She has to be Hop Sing, she didn't come past me or you, and Adam and Marty were standing at the other end of the table," explained Ben.
"Mista Adam and Miss Marty not watching room; I think watching each other. Little Miss Alexandra Cartlight clever little girl… hmm, let me think… she know many tricks like magician, and like other naughty little boy, who use to hide from Hop Sing."
"Not me, Hop Sing, I didn't have any reason to hide from you," said Adam.
"No you too big to hide from ole Hop Sing."
"Well Hop Sing, do you know where she could be hiding?'
"Yes. I think only one place left."
"Well, are you going to tell me?"
"Hmm, you should think a little harder Mista Adam you design House… you build House, where would little person fit out of sight but still be in this room."
"Hop Sing, just tell me, why does it have to be a puzzle?"
"You no fun, Mista Adam, ole Hop Sing know little girl is safe."
"For now!" Adams eyes suddenly went wide and he snapped his fingers. "The fire place, there's a recess…"
Adam ran over to the large open fireplace and jumped up on the hearth, then peered around the corners of its large opening. "Nope, small enough though. Ahhh…"Adam looked up into the dark hole of the flue, then reached up and surveyed the ledges and large chimney with his hand, grounding out a commentary as he searched. "No she wouldn't be able to get up there … would she… though I wouldn't put it past her to tr…."
Adam never finished grumbling to himself as a plug of soot suddenly fell and exploded all over the top half of his face. Adam reflexively closed his eyes then suddenly opened them with shock and held his breath while the room erupted with his father's laughter.
Hop Sing clasped the sides of his face. "Not funny, now Hop Sing got big mess. Everybody all ways make more mess just as Hop Sing finish cleaning up mess, never think of ole Hop Sing, no Hop Sing will clean up mess. Try to have little bit of fun; turn out bad for Hop Sing every time. Boy now look like big Panda Bear, make Hop Sing home sick," he ranted before going into the kitchen waving his arms in the air.
Ben immediately stopped laughing when he saw the fuming expression on his oldest son's face, well there was no real expression, other than the white large eyes and a fine dust blowing out some extremely flared nostrils. The rest was just all black; matching his eyebrows and hair almost perfectly and not surprisingly, a touch of grey starting to appear.
"This is not my night, where are you Alexandra? I better hear an answer little girl or you and I are going to have a very unpleasant conversation." he ground out.
Just then they heard a loud yelp, "Hey Uncle Joe watch it, ya nearly crackted my head open!"
Adam rushed over to the small wood bin recessed into the side of the stone hearth of the fireplace and pulled open the hatched door. "Alexandra, come out of there right now!"
"No, I ain't ready yet. Hey, what happened ta ya face?"
Adam bent down and peered over the edge; he could see Alex sitting back in the middle of the two and a half foot wide, four foot long tunnel with a wooden chute at the end. Adam had designed the shaft to store kindling and small logs right next to the fire in the big room. Wood could be thrown down the recessed chute that sat on the other side of the stone wall. Both ends had a door hinged at the bottom and connected by side chains, which allowed the hatch to open only half way. With the door latched, once the logs were deposited down the chute, gravity and weight pushed the logs forward. The opening at the other end allowed the logs to roll to the front but not completely out. When the shaft was empty it could provide an cozy little space for a small child with its large stones on one side often still warm from the fire or a cool space during the hot summer months. However, it was nearly always stacked with logs or kindling, except for this evening. Towards the other end Adam could see Joe staring back at him.
"Alexandra, you've got to the count of three to get out of there, before I whale the tar out of you."
"How cin ya wail the tar out of me ifin I don't come out, Dad. Ya can't reach me, neither can Uncle Joe. I ain't coming out until ya agree ta learn me how ta shoot a gun, till ya grant me my rights as an American citizen."
Adam was fast losing patience. He called to Joe at the other end. "Joe go get a screw driver from the tack room. Once I unlatch these chains and drop the door, we will be able to reach her."
Joe shouted back, "Sure Adam, hey what happened to your face?" Joe looked in and asked Alex, "How in the world did you get in there Pip Squeak?"
Alex laughed and said, "a magician never tells thar secrets Uncle Joe."
"Joe, never mind about my face, go get me a screwdriver and save the conversation with Alex for later. As for you, little lady," he pointed to Alex, "I don't appreciate you trying to blackmail me. That and taking off and hiding will have consequences that you cannot avoid. About your demands, I would like to find out a little more about your true reasons, Alexandra."
"Well, I don't want ta talk about nuffin then," snapped Alex.
"Fine," snapped back Adam, "you cannot stay in there forever; you'll need food eventually, and the outhouse!" He smirked and took up residence on his chair at the end of the table. He crossed his legs, folded his arms and waited; sure he had outsmarted the child this time.
"Harummpft," came the muffled sound from Alex.
Ben raised his eyebrows, and then shrugged. He knew what he would have done if that had been Joe hiding in there! He was tempted to share his recommendation with Adam and add a bellowing threat to Alexandra, but he decided to let Adam address this issue. Ben had a gut feeling that there was more to this gun business. He trusted Adam would get the truth out of his granddaughter; he remembered many times when Joe was young that Adam, using gentle persuasion, got Joe to open up and share what was bothering him. This time, he'd just sit back and watch; actually it was quite entertaining to watch if you weren't the one doing the parenting. Ahh the advantages to being a grandpa, he mused, then, "Hop Sing!" he called.
Hop Sing came back into the dining room with a pot of hot coffee.
"Ahh, Hop Sing, you read my mind," he smiled.
"No read mind, read your yell, you yell at different pitch for different things; for when you lose your pipe, or boys late for supper, or you bringing home important governor for dinner without telling Hop Sing, you not so much yell then, you just loud and show off, because you need Hop Sing, but you just yell vely loud when you worry, all yelling not good for you, bad for stomach, bad for…"
"Yes, Hop Sing, I'm sorry… Thank you for the coffee. We may be here for a while; perhaps we could have some cookies."
"All cookies gone after supper."
"We didn't have any cookies left after supper Hop Sing?" asked Ben.
"Hop Sing put plate of cookies on table before little miss make her speech."
Just then the sound of the annoying crunching of a small child munching on cookies could be heard coming from the open hatch.
"They are mighty fine cookies too, Hop Sing," yelled Alexandra, "You put raisins in them?"
Hop Sing looked at the annoyed face of Adam, "Little miss still playing Hide an Seek with father?" Hop Sing shuffled over to the wood hatch and lent down to talk to Alex, "I put plenty of raisins in them for special dinner guest, Miss Marty, they taste good?"
"Yeah Hop Sing, too bad Marty did get any," she sniggered, "but I got a few here, reckon they'll last me a couple of days."
"Yes plenty filling. Hop Sing going to try dried apricots in next batch, wise Chinese doctors say apricots good for…"
"Enough with the conversation," shouted Adam, "where's Joe with that screw driver? I'll unhinge the door, and then little miss smarty pants my hand and your backside will have a long discussion. I want answers to my questions," he warned.
"Adam," said Ben gently, "losing your temper isn't going to help." He looked over to the door and could see a hint of his granddaughter who had now crouched down and peered over the edge of the door, "Alexandra wants to come out but she is just as stubborn as you. I bet she doesn't realise how disappointed you really are"… he aimed his comments at her searching eyes, then inclined his head silently, cueing his eldest son.
Adam looked at his father, and gave a subtle nod. "I'm not angry Pa," he sighed as he scrubbed at the soot on his face with a table napkin, "I'm not even really disappointed, well maybe a little, I'm just sad."
Both men could see small hands grip the edge of the wood and the twinge in her big green eyes.
Alex felt the sting of a tear and a knot in her throat, when she heard her father say, he was sad. "Aww that ain't good...I hate him being sad; I really hate him being angry,but like grandpa; his bark is just worsa than his bite...It's bad enough when parents are disappointed, when ya make a silly or dumb mistake, or get inta trouble at school.
But Alexandra couldn't cope with sad. Momma had been sad and scared, but sad alot. Why did I go and make daddy sad, I didn't mean ta make him sad...I was jist mad they twernt listenin, I was jist standing on my principals, yer know making a point...Meybe touching the gun wasn't such a good idea. So I touched the stupid gun, it didn't killed me. See I could be real gentle with the gun and it didn't killed me. Dad was making all googly eyes at Marty, well that done twitched at my madbone and my finger jist got a will of all its own. I knowed touchin that gun would make Daddy annoyed, but I was kinda thinking I 'd end up gettin sent to bed with a swat, he wasn't supposed ta be sad, jist mad a bit,like me.
"Sad? "asked Ben, "That's not good Adam, it makes me sad, I hate seeing one of my boys so sad."
"Oh I'll be alright Pa, I guess, I mean I can't help it now, but I'll get over it. I'm just sad that Alexandra doesn't respect me, doesn't think I'm being a good father. I try Pa, I love her so much, want to be there for her and keep her safe, but she just doesn't know that I guess. That makes me sad. If she knew, she wouldn't be so naughty and deliberately defy me. She'd trust me and share what was bothering her. I thought we had come that far, but I guess we haven't. Pa, I guess this means I am not a good father, I will just have to try harder," said Adam with all the melancholy he could muster and then he buried his still dirty face in the napkin.
Alexandra pushed the latched door as far forward as it would go and stood up. She climbed out and wandered slowly over to her father who still had his face buried in the napkin. She hesitated a moment, twirling the last of her cookies nervously in her hands and looked at Ben at the opposite end of the table. Her grandpa nodded to her and she continued on. Afraid her father was really crying, she couldn't hold back her own tears of guilt. She stood quietly next to him. When it looked like he wasn't going to notice her there, she laid her man handled cookie on the table and slid it over to him, like some Indian peace offering. "I'm sorry daddy, please don't be sad" she whispered.
Adam looked up from his napkin, determined to play his part, which was extremely difficult when he saw the huge big green tearful eyes sincerely staring at him. He wasn't one for laying guilt on a small child, having them take a journey of self recrimination, he'd had enough of that as a child himself and Alex had some of that in her short life. And he wasn't really sad, but he was in a quandary as to what to do. There was something troubling his child that a swift sharp smack to her backside and being sent back out to play wasn't going to solve. If a little bit of guilt would get Alex to open up, drop her bravado and defiant behaviour, then he would play those cards.
Adam picked up the cookie and looked at it, "Thank you Alexandra, but I'm not really hungry anymore," he said and placed the napkin over his mouth.
Alex gulped. She took the napkin gently from his hands, "here let me help you daddy," she offered, then spat into the napkin and proceeded to wash the last of the soot away.
Adam cringed at her activity and winced as bits of rough cookie crumbs scored his face. He lowered the napkin from her and took her hand. "Come on; we best both get cleaned up for bed. We can talk up in your room."
Alex slumped, but walked quietly with her father up the stairs.
Joe suddenly burst through the room, "Found it…" he shouted, holding up a foot long screw driver. He spotted Adam and Alex on the landing. "Oh she's out… boy kid are you in…"
"Joseph!" warned Ben.
"Pa?"
"Its bed time, and get that tinderbox filled before you head up to your room."
Alex and Adam disappeared as Ben headed into the kitchen with his now empty coffee cup.
Joe stood all alone in the big room and sighed, " I miss all the fun…do this do that, do the chores , get the screw driver, fill up the kindling boxes, go ta bed…" he mumbled and headed out the door to start his chores all over again.
oOo
Adam walked over to Alex's bed and sat down on it, placing a very sad looking child between his knees. He turned her around to unbutton her dress. He pulled it over her head and handed it to her. "Put this in the laundry basket." He tapped her petticoat padded backside as he sent her towards the hamper. "Better put all your clothes in there, they are covered in dust and wood chips."
He stood up and went to the wash basin and proceeded to wash his face, listening to the huffing and puffing of Alexandra trying to get out of her petticoats. He tried not to laugh as he watched her drop to the floor and unbuckle her shoes and remove her long stockings. He observed in silence as she padded over, dressed now in only her cotton knickers, dropped her soiled clothes in the hamper and took a clean night shirt from her drawer. "Hey, don't put that on yet, come over here first, let's wash your face." Adam rinsed out a clean flannel and went back to the bed and sat down calling Alex to him. Once there he placed her night shirt on the bed next to him and scrubbed her face and arms clean. "There that's better," he smiled.
Alex burst into tears and flung herself into his big chest. "I'm sorry daddy, I'm sorry pl..please don't be be sa..sad …d. I don't …like it."
Adam let her cry there for a couple of seconds before lifting her back to face him. "I don't like being sad either, Alex. But you were more than naughty tonight. You were rude to Marty and then purposely tried to make me angry with that silly little touch of the rifle. That was defiant. Then running off and hiding, again purely defiant."
"So defireants really, really, bad.
"Yep. It makes me despondent, because…"
"Despondent?"
"Sad, because…"
"Well say sad,Dad, its only three letters, not…" Alex tried to count out the letters with her fingers.
Adam grabbed them before she could finish. "Okay sad, because even though you can be naughty, I always thought you trusted me. I know that you really try to mind me and you don't mean to do bad things, dangerous things, you just don't think. You are a good little girl and I love you very much. I don't think I could love anything or anybody as much as I love you. It's my job to teach you and to look after you… but when you are defiant, it's like you don't trust me, you don't respect me and I thought we had that all sorted out long ago."
"I'm sworry," sobbed Alex. She scrubbed at her face. I didn't mean ta make ya sad. I didn't mean ta be defirerant, or disrespect ya and make you dis… that's a lot of D words, daddy. I just thought ya get a bit angry an all and ya go making lovey eyes at Marty… so do ya love me more than Marty… you can like her daddy.. I like her but… but… well I don't want ta like her more than momma and I don't want you ta like her more than me and I don't want ta forget momma and you to forget momma and I don't want nobody ta get hurt anymore. I jist was mad , cause I need ta learn ta shoot a gun jist in case, jist in case I'm alone and…"
"Whoa, Alex everything's getting jumbled up here. Slow down." Adam picked up her night shirt and pulled it over head. Alex then tried to listen and manoeuvre her arms into the long sleeves.
"First off, Marty is a good friend to us both. I like her and every day I see a little more of her I like her even more."
"I cin see ya like her. Alex huffed reply came, before getting her arms free. " Yer been kissin her again too, havin ya dad. Willy reckons when grown ups really like each other and they kiss, they don't spit in each other's mouth which is a good thing, but he reckons they touch each other's tongues. Ifin somebody tried ta touched my tongue with their tongue I'd bite it clean off, you haven't been …"
"Alex, let me finish. Our friendship, even if it becomes more, even if it becomes love, won't change me loving you with all my heart. I know that you would like your momma to come home and for us to be a family, just like it should have been, but sweetheart, I don't think that could ever happen now. Even if we get momma out of jail she needs to go to a proper Hospital. She is very sick, her mind is… well, I don't think you should get your hopes up too much."
"But we can hope, daddy."
It was always this hard when talking about Katherine. It was hard to love a woman that was really not the woman she' had been, the woman he had loved, his first love. He wondered if he was so shallow, but he knew things would have been different if he'd been around been there for her, for both Alex and Katherine. She may have still developed her mental illness, but it would not have been exacerbated by her circumstances. They would have gone through it together. Now all he had were those early memories and they were cherished, but those feelings didn't exist anymore for Adam or Katherine. But, he couldn't say that to his child, her memories were many, some very happy and some sad, he wanted her to have those memories forever, unconditionally forever.
"Yep we can hope. We can hope that her appeal is heard, then successful. We can hope that she gets the proper care. I promise you, Alexandra that I will do everything I can to make that happen."
"Father Flanagan says that there's no such thing as false hope, it's just hope."
"Fathers Flanagan's right, I just don't want you to be disappointed if everything doesn't turn out exactly as you want it to. And I don't want you to be mean to Marty just because she likes us, she likes…"
"You, dad."
"She likes us, Alex and I like her and she doesn't deserve your rudeness or disrespect."
"Fair nough, daddy." Alex ran to the laundry hamper and dropped her dusty cotton drawers to the large pile of clothes. Then scooted back and stood in front of her father again. "So, ya still sad?"
"A little."
"Dang it. Why?"
"Because you won't tell me what's really wrong, you don't believe I can keep you safe. Now what's all this needing to be able to shoot a gun in case you're alone? You won't be alone, nobody is going to hurt you, I don't understand where all this is suddenly coming from."
"I can't tell you, daddy."
"Well, see that makes me sad. You have been hiding something ever since I bought you home. But it's gotten out of hand, Alexandra. I'm to the point where I am too frightened to leave you alone thinking you may just get into your mind to take a gun and try and shoot it. This has raised its ugly head ever since we were up at the caves. Those men were scary; is that what has got you thinking about all this?"
Alex nodded. "I wasn't scared of them so much, but they reminded me of something and I can't tell ya, cause he said he would hurt momma and hurt you and hurt Molly and hurt me, ifin I told anybody," she blurted out.
"Who, Alexandra, who told you that?"
"Frank Hallett, he was arguing with momma and I was hiding in her dressin room. He done snuck in when she was getting ready for the early show. Momma was really scared and she started shaking when she saw him. I heard her say that name, I ain't never forgot it; I got a good memory for things. He said he was gonna get back what belonged ta him, belonged ta Frank and that she wasn't going be able ta stop him and ifin she tried he was gonna tell the truth and she and Molly would go ta jail and Adam Cartwright and his bastard child would watch her rot. Momma started crying and told him ta get out, then she started screaming get out, get out. He, that man, Frank, jist laughed at her and he grabbed her face."
Alex's expression went from one of fear to anger. " I jumped out of the wardrobe. I'd been hiding cause momma had got this really new bright blue shiny dress, and I'd been playing with her make-up and she would skin me alive ifin she caught me, but I didn't think about that, when that man was hurtin her like that and I jumped out and I done kicked him in the legs and then in his man parts like grandma Williameena done showed me. It took the wind out of him, but he grabbed me and said he was gonna kill me. Them momma grabbed the gun she keeps in a drawer, thet I never ever done touched daddy, and she pointed it at him and told him ta get out and stay away and ifin he come anywhere near us agin she would shoot him. He backed out of the room, the way he came; you know the secret passage that takes ya to the back stage vomitory, so nobody else would see him."
Adam nodded he did indeed remember the secret passages around the theatre. No wonder no else had bought this up.
Alex took breath, then shuddered. "But he jist looked at momma before he went then at me and he said that he would be back and she wouldn't know before it was too late. Then he said ifin we told anyone that he had been there he would kill us. He would kill momma and me and Molly and then find you a shoot you just to even the score. What ifin he comes daddy? Momma is jail rottin jist like he said, what ifin momma told someone, what ifin he's commin for us?"
That thought suddenly had Alex shaking and sobbing. "You can… can shoot him I knowed ya can… but what ifin your not… not here and only I am and Hop… Hop Sing… ifin I had a gun I might be able ta…ta shoot him afore he shoots me or even scare… scare him. I done scared McCreedy enuff in the caves. It done worked on him," she stuttered, totally exhausted.
Adam was just as exhausted listening to her. She had barely taken breath throughout the entire narrative. There were things that didn't make sense, but what made perfectly good sense now was her fear, and in some ways her argument about needing to be protected. All Adam could do was to pull her close to her chest and rub her back.
"Shhh, shhh now, he won't come darling, he won't come."
"How do ya know, daddy?"
"Well, first off, Frank Hallett is dead. So this man could not have been him."
"How do ya know he's dead?"
"Because, I killed Frank Hallett over ten years ago."
" Ya mean his a ghost, no wonder momma was freighted. Oh no this is no good at all dad, ya can't shoot a ghost and ghost can find ya anytime, anywhere."
"Alex, he wasn't a ghost he was a real man, there aren't such things as ghosts."
"But Rashid the mystic says…"
"No, Alex, Rashid pretended all those things, it was an act. This man was real, but he wasn't Frank Hallett, he couldn't have been."
" Okay that's better, ain't it? Then who was the man that come, he said he was Frank Hallett, he said that name daddy."
"I don't know sweet heart. You must have heard it wrong, but he must have known Frank."
"He knowed all us too, even you, and I didn't even know you, well I knew about you, but I didn't know you was my daddy."
"When did this man come and see your momma?"
"It was a long time ago. I was nine dad. It was a couple of weeks, I think, afore momma shot Darcy Plummer.
"Okay, you know what? I think I'm going to speak to Roy and Hiram in the morning and wire momma's Lawyer in San Francisco. We will try and find out who this man was. But I really think that he is not going to ever hurt us. He would have tried something by now and besides he would have nothing to gain."
"Ya really think so, daddy?"
"I do. And I think you need to stop worrying about this. I am very glad you told me all this finally. It could also help Katherine if we can find this man. It might help with her appeal. So you have done a really good thing by telling me."
"But dad no… you can't find him, you can't, he will try and shoot you, please daddy."
"Hey, he is not going to shoot me or you. Remember you have Grandpa, Uncle Joe, Uncle Hoss and me to protect you. We would never let anyone harm you. I promise I will not let anything happen to you. You trust me?"
"Yes. I love you to endfinity." Alex threw herself back into his arms. "And I promise I will never be defirerant again and make you sad."
"Okay, you better not. Or else, there will be no conversation, no excuses, just… Adam tipped her side ways, lifted her night shirt and slapped her bare bottom hard, then stood her up again. "That! Got it?"
"Owww… yep dad, I …sheshha…got it." Alex said rubbing the sting, but at the same time so relieved. Relieved that she had got that all off her chest and relieved that her father was neither angry, nor sad but most of all he was not scared. If he wasn't scared then neither would she be. "Thanks daddy. I'm not scared anymore. Well, I will try not to be."
"Tell you what, now that I know a little bit more about this, I will teach you how to shoot and handle a gun safely and learn to respect it. But you have to promise me, promise me with all your heart that you won't touch a gun without me around until you have learnt to handle it correctly and then you will only touch or use a gun in self defence."
"Oh daddy, I will, I promise, I promise."
"Good, but if you break that promise Alexandra, so help me, I will take a switch to your backside and give you a lickin that you will never forget."
Alexandra grimaced, then shuddered taking his threat seriously. "Shessssh daddy, trust me will ya."
"Hmm, come on into bed. I want to talk to grandpa, if he is still up."
oOo
"Pa, you awake? asked Adam softly, as he knocked on his father's door.
"Adam yes, come in, everything all right?"
Adam walked in and sat in a chair next to his father's bed.
Ben put his book down on the table next to him and sat up giving Adam his full attention.
Adam picked up the book, "Hmm 'The Hunchback Of Notre Dame', interesting reading Pa."
"It's a love story, Adam."
"With a social message. Yes I like Hugo's work."
"What's on your mind, Adam; sort things out with Alex?"
"I think so. I'm going to teach her to shoot."
"I think that's a good idea," nodded Ben.
"You do?"
"Yes I do. She is older than you when I taught you and not that much younger than Joe. Do you remember MY lessons?"
"I do, painful, but effective technique, Pa." For a moment Adam thought back to that warm spring day, so proud that his pa thought him adult enough to let him handle a gun...enough memories, he thought, Imust focus on Alex.
"You needed to understand the responsibility it takes to handle a gun and what it may feel like to take another living things life with it. It's a weapon of survival, especially out here, but it needs to be respected. I took no pleasure in being hard on you, to re-enforce that lesson. There may have been a better way, I couldn't think of one at the time, not in this place, this harsh land. It needed to be as realistic as I could make it."
"Yeah, well nothing is as hard as the first time you take a life with a gun. Your method was pretty effective Pa."
"Frank Hallett. You've never forgotten have you Adam?"
"Nope, nor you it seems."
"No, never"
Adam nodded a salute to his father's silent support, over the many years. "The fear of that night, finding out I had shot him. Then that he had died. He did die didn't he Pa? I mean, I don't remember much after the fight. I don't even remember shooting him."
"You were too sick to go to his service."
"But you went, Pa. You saw him buried."
"I did. He'd hung on for a couple of days. His family came and was with him when he passed. They held a small ceremony."
"His family, Pa, did they understand what happened, did they understand it was self defense?"
"There was a brother, as I recall. And yes he understood. From what the sheriff told me he was more concerned about his brother's business affairs than his health and demise. Don't go on blaming yourself for that Adam. You were protecting Williameena and Katherine. You were pretty banged up, both you and Katherine. You shot in self defence."
"Just the same, I hope Alexandra never experiences it. But she needs this; she is scared and feels unsafe."
"Then teach her the lesson. It worked on both you and Joe. "
"It did, on me anyway, but Joe snuck out a few times."
"What?"
"Don't worry, Pa I took care of it, besides you taught him well. Those few times he snuck a gun out of the house to practice, he used it safely and did everything you told him. You taught him to respect the gun as a weapon; he was just keen to develop his skill. And very skilful he is, Pa. I wouldn't tell him, but he's a better shot than me. You never had to teach Hoss that same way, Pa?"
"No didn't have to. Hoss fists were his biggest danger. We worked more on his temper. But I never had to teach him about guns the same way as you two. He learnt a much harder lesson the day we had to put a trapped and battered mother wolf down, then her babies. They were too young to survive without her. He wanted to bring them home, but they would not have survived here either. It was a hard lesson for a boy with a love for animals, any animal, to learn. He cried for days."
"Gee, I don't remember that."
"There are something's like grief that a parent and a child can only share together, sometimes. While it was hard to watch him in emotional turmoil, like watching you, when you shot Frank Hallett that night, I was honoured to be allowed to be a part of it, to be there and be needed."
"You were there for me, Pa. I remember that, even though I was in and out of fever. I remember knowing, feeling you and your concern and love. I also appreciated your understanding about Alexandra and my indiscretion, ten years later. You could have questioned it, you could have denied her parentage, but you didn't."
"Adam I am not such a fool of an old man that I was not aware of your relationship with Katherine. I let it pass at the time probably naively in some ways. But, had I have known of Katherine's condition I would have made sure you did the right thing."
"You wouldn't have had to, Pa. I would have."
"Well, we have Alexandra and that's what is the most important. She is ours. She is your child and my grandchild and there is nothing in this world that will change that in my eyes, nothing. So stop thinking about scoundrels like Frank Hallett."
"That's a hard one; Pa. Alex told me tonight that Frank Hallett threatened her and Katherine a week before the shooting at the theatre."
"Impossible."
"Yes, but someone threatened her and it has left her frightened. I was nearly sick with fear myself as I listened to her tell me the story. I'm going to have Roy, Hiram and Drew Kennedy check it out. I'll get Roy to contact the Sheriff in Elk. Molly might know something. If Katherine was threatened weeks before, it could just be part of her reasons for reacting the way she did that night. But somebody threatened her, someone who knew what happened that night ten years ago. Alex could not have embellished such a conversation."
"Why didn't it come out at the trial?"
"I don't think anyone knew about it besides Alex and Katherine. They kept Alex out of the whole court case. I didn't even know about Alex until after the trial. Katherine was mentally incapable of putting up any defense. At that stage of the proceedings I was more concerned, as was her lawyer, thank god, of stopping the town from hanging her."
"What a mess." said Ben, shaking his head.
"Sure was," sighed Adam. "I'm exhausted."
"I'm not surprised, son. Get some sleep; we can put all those wheels in motion tomorrow."
"Thanks Pa, here go back to your Romance Novel," he smirked.
"Hmmf, I will, this gypsy girl has got me intrigued."
Adam stood up quickly, "Pa, please, no more information, if you don't mind."
Ben laughed as Adam headed out the door.
oOo
Adam had quickly changed and had made himself comfortable in the bed, too tired to read himself. He relaxed and was almost asleep when he heard his door open and the scurrying of little feet approach his bed. Cold feet as they turned out, and ended up right next to him.
"Ahh, cold feet, munchkin, what are you doing?"
"Can I sleep here the night, daddy?"
"You scared?"
"Not really, but I don't want ta have any dreams, you know jist in case. I won't have any bad dreams ifin I'm with you. Please, can I stay, I won't wriggle, I don't snore, I won't steel ya blankets and I'll be real quiet."
"Any you won't wrap yourself around my neck and choke me while I sleep?"
"Na dad, I might tickle you with ma cold feet though." She giggled as she ran her feet up and down her father's legs.
"Hey, you got them fancy bed pants on again." She said.
"Yes, and just as well, so your cold feet don't freeze me to death," he mocked growled."If that happened I'd have to chew them off." Adam grabbed her small feet and tarted to tickle them and scrapped his dark whiskers on them pretending to munch on them."
Alexandra squealed with giggles, "daddy stop, I'll wet the bed."
"Opps, no, no, no."
"It's okay dad, I' was trickin."
"Okay, snuggle up then and settle down."
Alex did just that; perching herself up under his arm and wrapped hers around his belly.
"Happy now?" asked Adam, as he looked down at the mop of blonde curls lying on his stomach.
"I'm happy forever daddy, cause I trust ya and I know ya will keep me safe."
TBC
Chapter 5
Guns and Switches pt 2
A.N. Sorry it's been so long, the last four weeks have been full on, but us lucky downunders are now on summer vacation, so after Christmas there should be more. I hope to finish my NCIS by then too, nearly there. A big shout out to Lajoci, who made some fantastic suggestions that helped this flow a little better and make sense. If you are wondering about the wood box, my grandfather fancied himself a bit of an inventor and we had one just like it. I wasn't sure it would work here though, because if you recall on the show, the fire place is really huge, and a small wooden chest sits next to the big red chair on the wide stone hearth. One more thing… I hadn't intended to tell so much of Katherine's story in this story, but it just keeps coming up, which is good, but balancing the humour of Alex with the drama that was once her life is a hard slog. Finally; Thanks for all the fantastic reviews and have a great Christmas.
