Well, here's the next installment to Adam's talk with Louise. I hope you enjoy this chapter. Sorry once more for another long delay in updating. Work exhausts me, and then when I get home (if I have any energy left) I have to do my piano practice. Soon my piano exam will be all over, and I will have more time for writing. The story is almost complete (as in writing, not posting), but I've still got a few more chapters to write. I try to keep a couple of chapters ahead each time I post. Well, enough from me - enjoy reading!

Chapter 6 – Starting to Accept

The next morning, Louise did not want to get out of bed. She didn't want to face Adam, and she didn't want to face Ben. She didn't want to see anyone. She had been childish and stupid running away last night, and she knew it. She also knew that Adam still hadn't told her if he was going to deal with her. The dread of speaking to her eldest brother caused her to pull the sheets round her and remain under the covers.

She had a lot to think about.

Her talk with Adam that night had made her feel like she was the only one in the wrong, and she didn't like that feeling at all. When she had been blaming Ben and Alice, and even getting cross with her brothers, could it be that she was the one who was wrong? Was she kicking up a fuss for nothing? Was it true that she was at war with herself, and not at the family as she had thought?

This new thought was painful, and she knew that she deserved whatever was coming her way. She had been rude to Adam, even Joe, and most importantly, she had been very disrespectful to both Ben and Alice. How could she have been so selfish?

Again the longing to run away came over Louise, but this time it was because of her shame.

"Adam's right," Louise thought to herself. "I am proud. Awfully proud! I need to admit that I was wrong, and face what's coming to me. I've got a lot to expect!"

Louise grimaced. She could still feel a remnant of the talk that she had had with Ben over the fighting, and the last thing she wanted was another talk or two on top of that. But face her mistakes and wrongdoings she must, so Louise forced herself up and out of her bed. She quickly dressed and then opened the door of her room and went downstairs. Much to her relief, Ben was not downstairs, so Louise quickly surmised that he was still in town.

But Adam was downstairs.

He was sat with his elbows on the table, leaning forwards as he sipped at a cup of coffee ponderously.

Louise gathered all of her courage, and made her way down the stairs.

Adam looked up. "So you're up at last. I was wondering whether to wake you up, but decided that after your night's escapade, you might want a little sleep."

Louise blushed and then frowned as she remembered. "What about school? I'll be late."

"You have three quarters of an hour to grab some food. Plenty of time! Joe's doing your morning chores so we can talk. There's some breakfast for you in the kitchen, get it and bring it here."

Louise ran to obey, and brought out a plate of food. Setting it at her place at the table, Louise sat down, said grace, and then started eating.

"Have you thought about what we talked about last night?" Adam asked after a pause.

Louise swallowed her mouthful and nodded her head. "Yes! You were absolutely right, Adam – and I was so wrong. How could I have been so stupid? You were right about kicking and screaming all the way. Maybe I wasn't doing that literally, but it was the same sort of thing. Slighting everyone, acting so stupidly in running away … it was just what you had warned me about. But I didn't listen – or if I did, then I took your advice the wrong way. I made up my mind to fight, and to win that fight, and not give in. How wrong could I be?"

"I'm glad to see that you've come to your senses."

"Are you going to punish me, Adam?" Louise asked fearfully.

"Are you just agreeing with me just so that you can get out of a tanning – because that won't work?!"

"Oh, no Adam! I wouldn't do that!"

"Hmm," Adam said thoughtfully, not quite sure whether that was true or not. "Well, I've been thinking, and I've decided that concerning running away, I've talked to you and I'll leave the other end of talking to Pa."

Louise jumped up from her seat and threw her arms around Adam. "Thank you, Adam! I appreciate that!"

She jumped with surprise when Adam swiftly tipped her over his knee and made good his threat of the night before. When he finally let her back up, she was fighting the tears that were stinging her eyes. Adam's resolve almost melted at the watery look in her wide emerald eyes, but he knew that there were some things that had been left unsaid that needed to be said. He frowned and spoke firmly.

"But Louise, you listen to me when I say this! If you ever disrespect me again like you did last night, then you will not only find yourself over my knee, but I will tell Pa and you know what he will say! I may not be your Pa, but I am your older brother, and I deserve respect. I may have let you get away with a lot more than Pa does – and maybe I've made a mistake doing that – " Louise's face clouded for a moment, "but that doesn't mean that you can get away with sassing me and treating me like dirt. That's right, dirt – because that's the only way you've regarded your family recently, if we've been fortunate to be regarded by you at all! I should have dealt with you straight away last night, but I didn't because Joe showed me the note you had left, and I was taken aback and hurt by what you had written. You've done nothing but hurt a lot of people recently, and that has to change!"

Louise looked down at her feet and murmured tearfully, "I'm sorry."

Adam's voice softened, but it was still firm. "I know you're sorry, but I'm not the only one you need to say sorry to. I know you've hurt Hoss' feelings a few times, and what about Joe? You refused to talk to him last night! How about Pa? You've avoided him whenever you could, and when you've had to speak you've snapped and spat out! You've been living on an ice rink, little sister – and you've broken through the ice far too many times."

"I know – and I said I was sorry!"

"And I think Miss Alice deserves an apology, too!"

"Her? I mean, Miss Alice? Oh, Adam, do I have to?"

"Louise, Pa's going to insist it, too – so it's up to you whether you put up yet another fuss and land yourself in even more trouble or just do as you are told."

"I guess I'd better do as I'm told," Louise mumbled.

"Well, you guess right," Adam said. He sighed, "Little Lou, I love you very much. The only reason we punish and scold you is to make you a better person. Why? Because we love you so much, we want you to be good and kind and be liked by everyone. A spoiled brat isn't going to have nice friends, is she?"

"No," Louise admitted. "But I'm not a spoiled brat!"

"You've been acting like one recently, and we don't want that from you! Come on, give me a hug and a kiss and then you'd better finish your milk."

Louise climbed onto Adam's lap and laid her cheek against his chest. He felt so warm and strong and protective. Louise felt Adam stroke her back with his hand, and relaxed. His hands were there to protect her, to tan her if she did wrong, but to love her when she needed love. Louise had never realized quite how much she appreciated the fact that her family cared for her to the extent they did. She often took it for granted. But strangely, even though she dreaded the thought of her talk with Ben when he got home, she was grateful that they loved her so much that they taught her right from wrong.

"How could I question their love," Louise thought, "when they demonstrate it to me in every kiss, hug, and the many times that they sacrifice their time for me?"

Louise put her arms around Adam's neck, and pulled him close. Kissing his cheek, she whispered, "I love you," and then slid off his lap.

Adam watched Louise skip away and out of the house with her schoolbooks. He hated to have to deal with her, and Ben was certain to deal with Louise later. Adam sighed. Were they to have peace and a happy family at last? Was Louise finally going to accept Alice? Could they become a happy family once again, and now invite Alice to be a part of that? Adam hoped so – for he knew that that was what Ben and Alice needed. In fact, Adam realized that they all needed it – even Louise.

Louise rode to school with a lighter heart that morning, despite her punishment from Adam. She was glad it was over. She had cleaned part of her slate, having apologized to Adam and Hoss before she had left – and now all she had left were Joe, Ben and Miss Alice.

She squeezed Salt forwards so that she rode side by side with Joe.

"Joe," she said.

Joe carried on looking forwards and did not answer.

"Great!" Louise thought sarcastically. She felt like leaving Joe to mope by himself, but decided against it. "Joe, I shouldn't have lost my temper and ignored you and of course I forgive you and do you forgive me because I'm very, very sorry?!" she said in one breath.

Joe turned to look at her. "You were awful fiery yesterday!"

"I know. I was wrong!"

"And you said some pretty mean things. You called me a liar and threatened to hit me."

"I know – but I wouldn't have hit you really. I was just … well … mad!"

"And you did ignore me when I tried to apologize to you last night."

"I just wanted to make you suffer for hurting me."

"But despite all of that, I forgive you."

Louise's face lit up, "You do?"

"Sure, little sister. After all, seems to me you've got enough to fight without fighting me, too."

"No, Joe," Louise said. "I'm not going to fight anymore."

"You're not?" Joe's face was one of surprise. "Phew, what did Adam do to change your mind?"

Louise grinned, "Well, it was actually the verbal talking that changed my mind – the other kind came after. I realized a lot of things last night."

"Well, I owe Adam a lot more credit than I've ever given him. I knew he could read minds, but change the mind of the most stubborn creature on God's earth – I never counted on him doing that."

Louise hit out at Joe playfully, "Oh, stop it! I'm not as bad as all that!"

Joe just raised his eyebrows.

"Come on," Louise said. "Let's have a race. From here to the cherry tree!"

She didn't have time to finish, for Joe had already kicked Cochise on.

"Alright, Salt. Let's show Little Joe how fast you can go. Too bad he needs a head start!" And with an impish grin on her face, Louise kicked Salt on to another triumph.

Louise expected her day at school to be a difficult one. She was certain that Jason would take his revenge on her today, but as the day went on, Jason did not pull pranks or approach her. He didn't even send his little brother, Walt, to be his messenger. He was training his brother to be a taunting bully, too, and Louise was certain that before long, Walt and Jason would team up together and become a formidable twosome.

As the day wore on, Louise grew more and more nervous. She had expected Jason to avenge himself, and now that he hadn't, she was afraid that he had something big planned. What could he have up his sleeve?

By the end of the school day, Jason had not come near Louise at all. The minute school was out, Marty and Ellie-Ann set about congratulating Louise on shaking off the bully. Louise was not convinced.

"He's staying clear alright, but only while things calm down. As soon as Miss Munroe relaxes and takes her eye off of him, he's gonna hit."

"Do you think? I mean, are you sure? What do you think he'll do?" Marty blurted out.

"I don't know," Louise said with a shrug. "But I guess I'll find out."

She sighed as she headed to get Salt. She didn't want to go home. She knew her family forgave her, but she still had to face Ben and apologize to him. And that was the hardest part of all, because he had yet to talk to her about running away, and Louise knew that that was a talk she would rather miss. But she had made her decisions, and now she had to face the consequences.

"More's the pity," Louise thought to herself as she mounted her pony. Joe mounted Cochise beside her, and then they both kicked their horses on, and headed for the Ponderosa.

Well, there we go. I hope you enjoyed that one. Ben's talk with Lou next - and Louise needs to apologize to Alice. But how is Alice coping after the death of her father? Will she still be the same person that Ben fell in love with - or will the grief have changed her? Have we heard the last from the three outlaws - or will they make another appearance in a later chapter? Come back to read more - and please review with your thoughts, questions and ideas. I love to hear from you all. ;-)