Twice the Trouble

Chapter 9

"Well, I think she is absolutely horrible. I mean threatening to punch me in the nose. That is just so not the way a lady should act. And then to have Mr. Cartwright come to her defense, it has just been an awful morning, Percy," Rebecca whined, as she sat on a hay bale watching Percy clean out the stalls.

She really didn't want to be out here in the smelly old barn, but she needed someone who would listen to her complaints, and Percy seemed to be the only one around that would do that at the moment.

"Don't you think she has an awful temper? I just don't understand why someone so wonderful as Adam would put up with her awful personality."

Percy was spreading the straw in one of the stalls when he popped his head over the divider and said, "She does seem to have a temper, that is for sure. I have seen it before too, and when she and Adam have one of their disagreements, then she really gets upset. Course they always make up and then everything is fine."

"Ughh, of course they do," Rebecca groaned.

"Well why does he put up with her temper? And why does Mr. Cartwright not do something? I just don't understand," Rebecca complained, as she brushed some dusty straw off of her skirt and wrinkled her nose at the idea of being in a barn in the first place.

"Oh I have seen Mr. Cartwright give her one of his scowls at something she has said. And you know how scary those looks of his can be," Percy said, as he started raking one of the stalls, thrilled that Rebecca was even talking to him, so he continued on.

"And I did hear about the time Alissa threw a fit and broke a lot of things in the great room. Joe told me all about it. He said Alissa had been in town in a march for ladies or something and Adam had brought her home when she didn't want to come. So when she got home, she was so mad at him that she started throwing things."

"And what did Adam do when she did that?"

"Well, I don't know for sure as Joe didn't go into details. But I got the feeling from the way he talked that little Miss Alissa may have been sitting a little uncomfortably at the breakfast table the next day for that show of temper."

"Oh no, you mean he…"

"Yep, I think he might have spanked her for acting like such a child. So I guess even he has his limits with what he will put up with."

"Don't I just know that," Rebecca mumbled under her breath, as she thought back to a time when Adam had lost his patience with her. That didn't turn out too well either.

Leaning on the rake and smiling a lopsided grin, Percy asked, "Did you say something, Rebecca?"

"No, dear boy, I was just thinking to myself."

Quickly wanting to forget that little time in her life, Rebecca decided this tale might be something she really needed to hear more about so she could set Alissa up for a fall. A smug smile found its way across Rebecca's face as she replied, "So, Percy dear, you just have to tell me more. I want to know every little thing Joe told you."

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

"Percy! Percy, where are you?" Adam called, as he came out of the house.

Walking over to the barn door Adam heard talking and headed inside.

"So there you are. I was calling you, didn't you hear me?"

"Sorry, I was busy talking to Rebecca."

"Well you still could have answered me. That was rather rude, Percy."

Percy rolled his eyes and turned his head away from Adam's prying eyes. He was embarrassed to be scolded in front of the girl he was so infatuated with and wasn't going to let it look like Adam was his boss.

"Very well then, when you are done here I need you to clean the chicken coop. And when that is done then you may spend the rest of the day with Rebecca. But for now you need to get busy and get this barn finished."

Wanting to impress the girl of his dreams, Percy decided to be casual and answered, "I will get to it when I can, but for now Miss Rebecca and I are talking, Adam."

The muscle in Adam's jaw twitched ever so slightly as he waked over and stood in front of Percy.

"Young man, are you sassing me? Because you and I both know that doesn't go very far with me and I won't put up with it. Do you think we should have a private talk about you doing your chores? Maybe having Rebecca here is clouding your better judgment."

Feeling uncomfortable at Adam's stern look, Percy shook his head. "No, Adam, I will get my chores done and then Rebecca and I can have time to talk."

Patting Percy on the back Adam smiled and said, "Good boy. I think that would be best. And it shouldn't take you any time at all and then you two can have the rest of the day to do something fun. Just be careful and remember not to leave the ranch. I will see you both at dinner tonight."

Adam had already saddled Sport and had him tied to the rail outside, so he smiled and tipped his hat at Rebecca as he turned and headed out the barn. Rebecca let out a long sigh at the gesture of Adam tipping his hat to her and was lost for a moment in a wonderful daydream. That is until Percy raising his voice broke the lovely spell. Percy had stormed over and kicked at a bag of grain hoping to get out his bit of anger.

"That Adam, he always thinks he can boss me around."

"Why do they have you do chores anyway? I thought you were a guest here."

"Well because I have been here for so long, my father wrote Mr. Cartwright and told him to have me do a few chores around the house to help out. Most of the time I don't mind, but today you are here and I am having more fun talking to you than cleaning out a stupid old chicken coop."

"Well you certainly don't have to do it. I mean what is the worst that could happen if you didn't?"

"Oh no, I am not going to make Adam or Mr. Cartwright angry. I have been on the other end of their tempers and it is not a pretty place to be." Percy paled slightly remembering his little talk with Adam not that long ago.

"Very well then, I guess you will just have to do the chores. And dear boy, don't be too upset. I will wait for you in the house and then we can decide what to do for fun. I doubt there is much to do really, but there has to be something we can do." Rebecca frowned briefly as she stood and brushed the remaining straw off of her skirt.

"Now don't dilly-dally and come and get me when you are finished," Rebecca said, as she look around at the dusty barn and shook her head in disgust. "I am certainly not staying here any longer."

Offering Percy a half smile, Rebecca went out the barn door in search of cleaner surroundings. She had her head down slightly and didn't see Alissa walking towards the barn and right in her path. Alissa had decided to take Freedom for a ride and when she spotted Rebecca, a mischievous smile crossed her lips.

"Why hello, Becky! Just where are you off too on this fine morning? I certainly hope you don't have any plans of going into my room again. I would hate to have to knock you on your cute little backside for snooping."

Looking up at Alissa's smiling face, suddenly set Rebecca in a mood and she decided to tell her off.

"Why you horrible little person. How dare you threaten me! I just bet if Adam heard you do that he just might have to take you to task again. I heard he already did that when you acted like a spoiled child and started throwing things in the house," Rebecca taunted, as a silly grin played on her face.

Alissa remained deceptively calm as she smiled at Rebecca. "Just how do you know about that?"

"I'll never tell," Rebecca smirked. "But apparently Adam was not very happy with the way you acted and from what I hear, he dealt out some very unpleasant consequences."

"Why you little brat. I have half a mind to knock you on your prim little butt for that remark."

Laughing and grabbing her sides Rebecca looked Ali up and down as if she was checking her out and said, "I have three inches on you. There is no way that you can do that to me unless I let you. And I for sure am not going to do that, you silly girl."

Within seconds Alissa was by Rebecca's side and quickly put her foot behind Rebecca's leg and very easily flipped her legs out from under her, and soon little Miss Rebecca lay spread out in the mud flat on her back.

Ali stood there and acted like she was dusting off her hands after a hard job as she looked down at a stunned Rebecca and said, "So Miss "I got three inches on you" how does it feel to be sitting on the ground in all that mud? I am just so sorry that of all the places to fall you had to find such a big mud hole."

"Why you…"

"Now, now, temper—temper…we mustn't get too overheated you know. It is awfully hot out here and I wouldn't want you to break a sweat. Well now I would love to stay and chat, but I have things to do so I will see you later, Rebecca," Ali said with satisfaction, as she walked off whistling to herself.

Rebecca sat in the mud for a moment trying to get her bearings, as being knocked off your feet that quickly can certainly make you a little bit off. But soon the pain in her backside brought her around and she angrily jumped up and headed for Alissa.

"You awful shrew! I will show you that you can't do that to me and get away with it!" Rebecca shrieked, as she ran up to Alissa and made a wild dive in the air and grabbed Ali around her legs, and suddenly they both went down in the mud.

Well Rebecca may have three inches and some weight on Alissa, but Alissa was a scrapper and that along with her small amount of self defense classes was certainly going to give her the upper hand.

At first they rolled around on the ground yelling and pulling each other's hair. But soon Ali got the upper hand and had Rebecca pinned on her stomach with her arm held behind her back.

"Now then, you spoiled little witch, who is in charge now?" Ai declared, as she pulled up harder on Rebecca's arm until she let out a yell.

"Let me go, you awful person!"

"Not until you apologize for knocking me down and for going into my room. So what do you say, Becky?"

"NEVER! HELP SOMEBODY! HELP ME!"

Percy had heard all the commotion and came running out of the barn. When he saw the two girls on the ground with Ali on top, he wasn't sure what to do. So he just stood there and rung his hands wishing someone would come to help. Dealing with two screaming girls in a fight was way beyond anything he had ever seen in his young life, or better yet, he didn't even have the faintest idea how to try to break them apart.

He soon got his wish as Hoss and Joe rode in, and after hearing the yelling and accessing the situation, they both jumped off their horses and quickly ran to where the girls where at.

"Hoss, you get Rebecca and I will get Ali, and let's try to get them apart."

"Oh Lordy, Joe, how are we going to do that?"

"You are stronger than them, just pick her up and pull!"

"Alissa, stop this at once and let her go!" Joe declared, as he came in closer and was getting ready to grab Alissa.

"Oh, hello, Joe. No, not yet. She still hasn't apologized to me."

"And I won't either!" Rebecca yelled, as she struggled to get free of Alissa's grip.

The answer she got for that was Ali pushing her head down further until she got some more mud on her face.

"Now you listen here, Ali, you will let her go right this minute or you and I are going to tangle!" Joe warned, as he could see that Alissa was nowhere close to letting up on Rebecca.

"Help! Help! Would you stop talking and get this creature off of me?"

"ALISSA, DO IT NOW!" Joe demanded, as his temper was starting to flare. He knew how stubborn Ali could be, but he could be just as stubborn and was going to win this little battle even if he had to yank her off.

"You let her go or I am going to PULL you off and after I do, I will dust your tail feathers good for putting me to the trouble!" Joe warned, as he stood there glaring at Alissa.

"Oh all right. But I am not happy about it," Alissa groaned, and finally let Rebecca's arm go and rolled over and stood up. As soon as she did, Joe reached over and grabbed her arm and held on tightly incase she changed her mind.

Hoss reached down and helped Rebecca to her feet and put an arm around her to steady her.

"Are you alright, Miss Rebecca?"

"Of course I am not all right! That person there attacked me!"

"Hold on there, sweetie pie! You were the one who ran after me and attacked me," Alissa exclaimed, as she dusted some of the mud off of her pants.

"Yes, but that was only after she knocked me off my feet and I fell hard on my…my posterior," Rebecca whined, as she pointed an accusing finger in Ali's direction.

Joe looked down at Ali and asked, "Is that true, Ali?"

Ali started scuffing her boot in the dirt as she answered, "Maybe."

"No, did you or not, Ali?" Joe asked, as he increased the pressure on Ali's arm.

"Yes, I did it, but she deserved it. Now if you will excuse me, I need to change so I can go for a ride. That stupid twit knocked me down and now I am all dirty."

After Joe released Ali's arm he pointed at the house and said firmly, "Get into the house now, Ali, before more trouble starts.

"Fine, I am going but I am not sorry for what I did in the least."

"Well you might be when Adam and Pa hear about this little mess."

As Ali continued on into the house brushing off her pants, she said with a rueful smile, "I probably will be, but it was worth it."

"Now then, Miss Rebecca are you all right or do you need me to help you into the house?" Hoss asked, as he was holding her around her shoulders.

Of course Rebecca took this time to turn on the water works and make it worse than it really was. "Oh yes, Hoss, would you please help me into the house. I just don't think I can make it alone. That awful girl hurt me so badly. I just hope I can walk."

Then she took a step and acted like she might stumble, so Hoss bent down and picked her up and carried her into the house. Joe just watched the two walking away and took his hat off and ran his hand through his hair. Boy what a blowup this is going to be when Pa and Adam get home. Shaking his head he went and grabbed the reins of the two horses and headed for the barn.

When he got to where Percy was standing, he looked at the nervous boy who was rather pale at the moment. "Are you okay, Percy?"

"Yes, Joe, I guess I am now that you two came. I just didn't know what to do when they started to fight on the ground. Do you think they are all right?"

Yes, they are fine. Only their prides are hurt. Course I can't say they will be after Pa gets home. They have some heavy explaining to do," Joe grinned, and headed into the barn.

Twenty minutes later Joe came out of the barn and found Ben and Adam hitching up their horses.

"What are you two doing here? I thought we were going to meet you up on the south ridge after we got the supplies."

"Well we were but when you didn't come back, we thought we would come and see what was taking you so long. Besides, Sport has come up a little lame and Adam didn't want to ride him anymore until Hoss checks him out."

"By the way, where is Hoss?" Adam asked, as he was rubbing down Sport's foreleg.

"Uhh, well he probably is still in the house trying to settle down Rebecca."

Joe winced when he saw the look on Pa's face as he demanded, "And just pray tell, what is wrong with Rebecca now?"

"Well, uh, there might have been a small disagreement between Ali and Rebecca while you were gone, and it ended up with a real down in the dirt kind of fight," Joe tried to explain before his Pa lost his temper.

"WHAT!"

Too late thought Joe, his temper is gone. Guess I have to tell him the whole story.

"Apparently they had words and Ali knocked Rebecca on her tail and then walked off. But Rebecca decided to retaliate and ran and tackled Ali and they both ended up in the mud over there."

Joe pointed over at the biggest mud hole in the yard and grinned sheepishly.

"When Hoss and I got here, Ali had Rebecca on her stomach with her hand behind her back and was telling her she needed to apologize to her. But Becky was having none of that so Hoss and I had to separate them."

Adam had to turn away to hide his grin at Alissa winning the fight and trying to get Rebecca to apologize. Sounded like his little spitfire. She was one tough girl. But still, this was not acceptable behavior for a guest in this house so he knew he had to talk to her about it.

Turning back around Adam asked Joe, "So where is my little hellion right now?"

"After we separated them I sent Ali into the house and Hoss carried Rebecca in a little while later."

"CARRIED HER IN? Just what condition is she in?" Ben demanded angrily.

"Now Pa, it isn't that bad. She just acted like it so Hoss would carry her into the house. All she got hurt was her pride and maybe her backside.

"Hello, everyone," Alissa called out, as she came out the front door all changed and ready to ride.

"What are you all doing here? I thought we wouldn't see you until dinner."

"Well it looks like it is a good thing we are here as Joe has been telling me what a mess you have gotten into with our guest. So do you have anything you want to tell us, Alissa?" Ben asked, as he crossed his arms over his chest and frowned.

"Mmm, not really. She said some things that I didn't like and I flipped her on her backside. She apparently didn't like that and came running after me and tackled me to the ground in the mud. Then I got the upper hand and had her on her stomach with her arm behind her back and told her I would let go as soon as she apologized to me. She refused to do that, so I was just sitting there when Hoss and Joe rode up."

Sticking her hands in her pockets Alissa raised her head with her green eyes twinkling as she added, "Joe insisted that I let her go even though she still hadn't apologized, and so I did. Then I went into the house and changed so I could go riding on Freedom today. That's all there is too it. It was no big deal."

"NO BIG DEAL! You just assaulted a daughter of a very important business associate of mine and you say it is no big deal!"

Ben just stood there for a moment and then took a deep breath and slowly released it letting out an exasperated sigh. "Women, they are going to be the death of me yet!"

Then he headed for the house as he called over his shoulder, "Adam, you deal with Alissa and I will see to Rebecca."

By now Joe couldn't contain his infectious laugh as he started laughing and pointing at Ali. "Adam, you would have been proud of our little wildcat here. She can really hold her own. I mean Rebecca is a lot bigger than she is and Ali had her down and eating mud."

But Joe quickly stopped laughing when he saw the look on Adam's face. He had seen it before and it was not a pleasant look, and right now that look was leveled at poor Ali.

"Alissa, I think you and I had better have our conversation in the barn. I don't think the two of you should be in the same room for a while. Then you can explain why you think it is okay to attack one of our guest."

"Oh, Adam, I didn't attack her, don't be so melodramatic."

Adam's expression darkened as he said, "Well it is serious and you and I need to have a talk about it right now. So let's go into the barn where we will have some privacy."

As soon as Adam said that he turned and headed towards the barn. Ali just stood there for a moment and then shrugged her shoulders and looked at Joe.

He whispered the words, "Good luck," as Ali headed for the barn. But just before she got to the door, she turned around and gave Joe a big wink.

Joe just laughed and headed for the kitchen to get some much needed coffee and maybe steal a cookie or too. He needed it after the morning he had just been involved in.

TBC


I want to thank all of you readers who left such wonderful reviews! I am so tickled that you are enjoying this story. Normally it takes me a while to write another chapter, but this chapter came to me quickly and I hope you have fun reading it. ~ Sierra