Okay guys. I am so sorry for this taking so long. I have had one hell of a time trying to write Chapter 9. I am in the process of writing 12 mini stories which will fit into this main story and this is just the beginning of Chapter 9. I had planned on splitting Chapter 9 in 2 parts. Part 1 would be week1-5 and 2 6-12. But I still only have part of the stories wrote and I didn't want to keep ya'll waiting so long so this is the beginning to give you a taste of what's to come. I hope you enjoy this and thank you for putting up with me and my erratic updating. I hope to have the rest of the first part finished soon. Please review and enjoy.
Week 1- 5 Lila Goes to School Main story
Everyone is sitting at the table as I come down the stairs in my usual dress. No one notices me because everyone is focused on my sister yelling.
"I will NOT go back to school!"
"Yes you will young lady; you are only 15 years old which means you belong in school. I cannot account for the past 5 years, but you are living under my roof now so you will follow my rules and I say you will start school tomorrow."
Lila rose from her chair and slammed her fist on the table," No I won't you aren't my Pa or my guardian, Kathleen is and she never said anything about this. Besides I don't want to, I know everything I need to know!"
Ben's voice grew stern as it rose with power he meant business. Lila was not going to get away with acting like a child." Lila, go out to the barn I will meet you out there in a minute for a talk about your behavior."
Lila's face scrunched up in anger, just who did he think he was, he wasn't her Pa. No one could ever take the place of Pa. Lila stormed outside and walked out to the barn; she paused at the door and breathed in a shaky breath. She knew what was coming; he was going to tan her. After entering she sat down on a bale of hay.
"Why did they ever come into our lives? Ever since Joe showed up at our house our life has been turned upside down. Life was good before all this. I mean we didn't live in a big house, or have a lot of things, but we had each other. And Kathleen trusted me, well mostly. We looked out for each other and we were a family. A broken family but family nonetheless. And now those damned Cartwright's have messed everything up. I'm being treated like a kid again. I haven't been treated like a kid since Pa and Ma died." After hearing herself use those 2 words she choked up.
Lila POV
I was not one to think back on the past much at all, I always considered myself a here and now kind of girl. My parent's death was a time I try not to think about. It was rough, really rough time in all of our lives. I remember Kathleen coming home that night. Isabelle and I had been left with Charlie while Kathleen had gone to town. It was an unusual trip I didn't mind, it meant that I got to play around instead of doing my chores right away. But the longer Kathleen stayed gone the more worried Isabelle seemed to get. I remember Isabelle taking me aside and telling me she had a bad feeling, I just rolled my eyes and told her not to worry," You'll see Izzy everything is fine." About 20 minutes later Kathleen came home. I remember running outside and seeing her getting off the horse. She looked horrible. Her eyes were red and small tears were still running down her face. I could tell she was trying to control her emotions, but it wasn't working well. Isabelle came out after me and just stood there staring at Kathleen with wide eyes. Isabelle and Kathleen always had some invisible bond and could understand each other without words sometimes. Isabelle took me back inside and Kathleen went out into the barn to unsaddle the horse. Isabelle and I seemed to wait in our rooms forever. I was worried now Kathleen never cried and when she did it was bad. She came in, now completely in control, her eyes were still red, but her voice was calm, but strained. ," Girls I have to tell you something. It's about Ma and Pa." I could see the pain in her eyes and how much it hurt her to tell us this. Deep down I knew what she was going to say before she even said it.
"There was… an accident yesterday Ma and Pa's stage coach was robbed, during the robbery the coach fell off a cliff. They're dead." I felt numb, I couldn't even react. It's like I went into a fog. Next thing I know Isabelle is screaming at Kathleen.
"NO! NO YOU'RE LYING TO ME. MA CAN'T BE DEAD! PA NO. Tell me the truth Kathleen, this can't be real no. Please tell me this ain't true. Please." I saw it in their eyes. Isabelle begging Kathleen to tell her this was just some sick joke. But I knew it wasn't. When Kathleen couldn't tell her Isabelle collapsed to the floor in uncontrollable grief and sobs as Kathleen wrapped her into her arms. I numbly moved next to them and placed my hand on Isabelle's shaking back. As much as I tried to hold back my tears it was no use, I soon found myself crying just as much as they did. I opened my eyes to look at my sisters. Isabelle was still sobbing and mumbling to herself broken sorrows, but Kathleen wasn't crying. I studied my sister's face she just sat there with empty eyes holding Isabelle. I thought to myself why wasn't she crying? Ma and Pa just died and you're not even crying. I kept studying her throughout the funeral to see if she cried, but she never did not once. I was mad at her for not crying. Did she not love them at all? A little while after, she moved us out into the woods alone. I couldn't see my friends anymore, I couldn't do anything. I hated her for that, and I still hold a grudge against her. That first night in our cabin I vowed to make her life a living hell for not caring about Ma and Pa and for taking me away from everything I loved, I think I have done a pretty good job, and now we are here and everyone is on my back trying to straighten me out.
"Lila are you in here?"
Ben's voice broke me out of my flashback down memory lane as he approached me with a serious face. I quickly wiped at my eyes. I didn't even realize I was crying.
"Is everything alright Lila?"
"Yeah I'm fine, I've been thinking."
"Well to make you cry it must have been something serious. You don't strike me as one to cry over just anything."
"This barn reminded me of when Kathleen came home and told us our parents had died." Lila looked off at the far wall as memories dared to stir again.
"The boys didn't go into much detail about what happened to them. Care to share, maybe I can help some?"
"I guess it's not something I really think of much."
Lila began to share her life with Ben. The more she told the easier it was to share, and Ben was someone she felt comfortable with. The only times she had spoken to him over the past day she was yelling at him or back talking him. After she finished she immediately felt a strange weight lifted off her shoulders.
"You've had a pretty rough life for one so young."
"I guess I have. I never thought of it as hard. I always had enough to eat and never had to worry much. Everything just worked itself out. Even after Ma and Pa died." Lila shrugged to herself thinking back over her life, rough wasn't a word that popped into her mind.
"Well you never had to worry because Kathleen made sure that you and Isabelle didn't have to. I'm sure Isabelle carried some of the load as well, but just from what little I know of you 3 Kathleen seems to be the one who just takes care of everything."
"Kathleen is just annoying. Her 'taking care of things' always gets in my way. I wish she would just leave me alone and let me take care of myself." Lila got up and walked over to where Junie was staying and started to rub her nose.
"You wouldn't want that for long I promise you that. Life is hard out there Lila, you don't realize just how much your sister has done for you and still does for you even when you treat her horribly."
"Whatever I'm done talking about this. Just go ahead and tan me and force me to go to school. At least I'd be able to get away from everyone for a little while."
Ben was disappointed, at first he thought he was getting somewhere with her, but just like a shy turtle she had quickly retreated back into her shell.
"Alright then. I don't like punishing you Lila, but you have got to get it through that hard head of yours that you must show respect to people. You will go to school tomorrow and you will not give me or anyone else any problems about it."
Lila nodded her head as Ben put her over his knee. Lila didn't make a sound as Ben tanned her and when he finished and sat her upright silent tears were running down her face. Ben lifted her chin and looked into her eyes.
"I know I I've only known you and your sisters a little bit, but I already love you like you were my own daughters. I am going to make it my mission to take care of you all and make sure you grow up to be responsible adults. From now on this is your home." Lila bit her lip, as another tear fell. Ben hugged a reluctant Lila, but after a few seconds Lila hugged him back.
Breaking away Ben stood up," Come on let's go back and join the others."
The Next Morning
"Lila you need to get up. You don't want to be late for your first day back at school."
Lila did not want to wake up this morning.
"Sure I do." Lila managed to grumble to herself before she rolled over and stuffed a pillow over her head.
"I hardly think she is actually going to get up this morning by herself Kath." Isabelle was walking down the stairs after trying Kathleen's version of 'Wake up Lila'. She joined a reluctant Hop Sing in the kitchen preparing breakfast.
"I think it's my turn to try." Joe had been bugging Kathleen to let him have a go all morning, but she had refused up until now.
"Oh fine I guess, but don't do anything too harsh. I do not want to listen to her all the way to school and back today." Everyone had gotten up early to see Lila off to her first day back to school.
"Come on Hoss, let's put into motion 'First Day of School Awaken Lila'" Joe and Hoss scurried upstairs with a sack of random objects. Kathleen shook her head she could only imagine what they would do to try and wake her up, and it couldn't be good.
Adam and Ben came walking through the front door discussing an upcoming limber contract with Mr. Meyers. They both greeted them with 'good mornings' and 'how are yous 'as they took their seats at opposite ends of the table.
"How is your head feeling this morning?" The question broke Kathleen from her thoughts as she noticed Adam looking at her. She hadn't even thought about her head so far, but now realized a low throb and instinctively reached up to touch the tinder wound.
"It's better I suppose, thank you for asking." Kathleen nervously turned away from Adam's stare to look back at the staircase. She was listening for any sound at all when she felt a hand on her head. She turned to see it was Adam examining her wound. The touch was electric as she took a quick intake of air and looked up at him frozen. Their eyes locked which only made Kathleen's thudding heart skip a beat. She thought back to the last time something like this occurred. They had ended up kissing and almost kissing and if not for Ben's sudden question that is surely where they would have ended up again.
"Is everything alright Adam?" Ben looked at his son who was looking a little too friendly at Kathleen. His eyebrow was arched and his mouth in a line as he waited for a response. Just as quickly as the moment happened it ended and Adam was smiling at his Pa as if nothing had happened and Kathleen was left confused and trying to catch her breath and hide it.
"Everything is fine Pa, I was just checking to see if her cut is healing properly." He looked at Kathleen with that same smug expression as he continued, "I still think you should have gotten stitches."
Kathleen caught on to what he was trying to do and covered as well," Well just like I told you last night I'm fine."
Ben was not fooled. They had only been here barely a day and he could already tell those two were like magnets. No matter how hard they tried to hide it and deny it from others and to themselves they were hopelessly attracted to each.
"May I be excused?" Kathleen had to get away to get a hold on herself and without even waiting for a response she got up and hurried out the door. When outside she took off a little ways from the house, she was still within view of the house, but she had privacy to think for herself.
"What is the matter with me? That is the third time that has happened, but why does it keep happening? Every time I'm near him my heart races, I can't catch my breath, and I get totally lost in his deep brown eyes….. "She started to imagine his eyes but caught herself," There I go again, what is wrong with me? I can't be falling for him could I?" Just as she was pondering this question a young man came up behind her, he was one of the ranch hands.
"Excuse me ma'am are you Ms. Kathleen?"
Startled she jumped and turned to look at him. ," Uh yes."
"I have a delivery for you."
"For me?" Kathleen was quite confused she had only been here for a day and someone already knew and had sent her something? Why not just leave it in town? She followed the man over to his horse in front of the house. He pulled out a bouquet of white roses and a note and handed them to her.
Kathleen could only stare at them. Who had sent them?
"Who gave these to you?"
"A man. He didn't tell me his name. He only asked if I worked at the Ponderosa, and I said yes. He gave me these and the note and asked me to give these to you and he gave me a description of you. I didn't even know you were staying here."
The man excused himself and left Kathleen there with the gift. She was even more confused and worried now. She sat down on a chair and opened up the note hoping to find answers inside.
My Dearest Kathleen,
It has been much to long since I last saw you my darling. Take these roses as I sign of my never ending love; I know they are your favorite. Do not worry love we will soon be reunited at last.
Forever Yours,
L.D.
"L D. who is L.D? It sounds so familiar, like a long lost dream. Maybe, could it be Him? Oh come on Kath you know he has been missing for years. Don't be ridiculous."
"Are those flowers?" Kathleen turns around to see a surprised Adam.
"Uhh yeah one of your hands said some guy in town asked him to deliver them to me."
"Adam quickly walked over and grabbed up the flowers and note. He quickly read the note his jealously and anger rising by the second. How dare some man send his Kathleen flowers and this note? Love? Darling? Just who did he think he was?
"Who's L.D?" Adam looked to Kathleen for answers. From the way he was addressing her in this note it must be someone she knew.
Kathleen was just as lost as Adam on this. She had no idea who this could be. There had been some admirers over the years that always flirted with her during trips to town. And that guy Thomas and Lila had gotten ahold of that one Valentine's Day, but it just didn't add up." I don't know."
"Sure you don't, he obviously knows you darling. How do you not know him?" Adam was mad now and he shoved the note in her face as his voice rose.
"I swear Adam; I have no idea who it is. I've been hiding out in a cabin for 5 years. I haven't had a serious relationship since before then."
"Then it would have to be before then. Think Kathleen who could it be?" Kathleen was shifting nervously. She hated to be put on the spot and she had never seen Adam this mad before. She had seen him mad and had been just as mad yelling at each other, but then it hadn't been so fierce. This was pure raw anger, and Kathleen was truly afraid.
"What is all the yelling about out here?" Ben came walking out of the house annoyed and Adam froze in his positon. He just glared at Kathleen with the coldest eyes she had ever seen. "Just sorting something out Pa we'll be right in."
Ben accepted the response and returned inside. Kathleen was once again left with Adam. Kathleen was staring at the crumpled note in his hands; she caught only a glimpse of something from her right eye before realizing it was his hand. She flinched and for a moment a memory ran across her mind of a similar situation 6 years ago.
"Come on let's go inside, you still have to have breakfast and get Lila ready." Kathleen opened her eyes to find Adam's extended hand in front of her, she hesitated and he noticed.
"What? Did you honestly think I was going to hit you? I would never raise a hand to a woman. Much less actually hit her."
Kathleen lowered her eyes ashamed that she even considered that. But where had that memory come from?
Adam was concerned now as he got down on a knee next to her and placed a strong hand on hers.
"Has someone hit you before?" Kathleen looked up at him as the memory flashed again and a voice "Shut up".
"No let's go back in." Kathleen got up quickly and walked inside before Adam even got up off his knee.
Kathleen entered to more yelling voices, or more like one.
Hoss and Joe were carrying a pissed Lila down the stairs. Lila had a choke hold around Hoss's neck from the back Joe was walking behind hold her legs above his head. A string of profanities were spewing from Lila's mouth. Kathleen could tell she was soaked as were the 2 boys.
"PUT ME DOWN YOU BASTARDS! I SWEAR WHEN I GET DOWN FROM HERE YOU WILL BE SORRY! HOSS JOE I MEAN IT. DAMN YOU!
"Now just hold your horses little lady and hold still. I don't wanna have ta fight with ya this mornin'"
"You dumped ice water on me!" Hoss lifted Lila over his shoulders and sat her down in front of the table as Joe scurried to his seat to escape a swing from Lila.
"There wasn't any ice in that water."
"Shut up Joe, you are going to get it later I promise you."
"No one is going to get anything now everybody sit down so we can eat and begin our day. We already have a late start."
"Yes sir."
Everyone ate in silence except for the occasional small talk between a few. Like the sweet talk between Hoss and Isabelle, or the death glare from Lila to Joe, or even the longing glances between Kathleen and Adam.
"Alright so Hoss I want you and Joseph to work on the fence up on the north pasture. "
"Yes sir." Joe and Hoss took off quickly to avoid Lila's fury.
"Isabelle why don't you accompany Hop Sing to town for supplies today?"
"That sounds like fun." Isabelle beamed a shining smile as she walked upstairs to get ready.
"Hop Sing go back China." He shuffled to the kitchen; he did not want nor need help.
"Kathleen I assumed that you and I could take Lila to school this morning."
"Can Adam take me?"
Silence fell across the room. You could have heard a pin drop, as all looked at Lila with bewilderment.
"You want Adam to take you?" Kathleen was not expecting this, she thought Lila couldn't stand him, and now she wanted him to take her to her first day at school?
"Yeah if you don't mind?"
"I don't mind. I do have some errands to run in town today so it will work out nicely."
"Okay." Lila skipped up the stairs with a sudden joy in her step. The rest of the family was still in a state of shock at the sudden change in her.
"She is up to something." Kathleen walked over to sit on the settee as Adam crossed over to her while stating,
"You're just realizing that?"
"No, she's my sister. I know her."
"That is enough from you two." Ben had had enough arguing and fighting today. If this is what the next few years with them was going to be like he might lose his mind.
"Sorry Pa."
"Sorry Ben."
Taking the steps 2 by 2 Lila rushed down toward the door," Come on Adam."
"I'm coming Lila just be patient."
"Good luck Adam you'll need it." She winked at him as she settled into her sewing. Adam only replied with a smirk as Ben chuckled.
About halfway to school Lila finally spoke up. "I asked you to take me because I wanted to talk to you about something." She shifted uneasily on Junie as she readjusted her green dress.
"What did you want to talk to me about?" He nudged Sport closer to her as he glanced over at her. He was thoroughly curious about Lila. If you didn't know her you would think she was just a spoiled brat with an attitude problem that needs sorting out. While that is mostly true Adam had come to realize that like her sisters there was so much more to these ladies than what meets the eye.
"It's about your brother Joe."
Ahhhh now everything made sense. She was falling for Joseph, and he was probably messing with her heart. Note to self, have a serious talk to Joe. Although with a little help Lila could take Joe by herself that would be something to see. He smiled to himself imagining that little fight.
"What has he done this time?"
"He kissed me this morning." Lila barely whispered that out but Adam heard her clearly and he stopped Sport." He kissed you?"
"Yeah." Lila could only look away in shame. She had wanted Joe to kiss her for days but not like this. She had been sleeping and he came in there with Hoss and decided to prank her. Joe kissed her to wake her up and greeted her with a 'Good Morning beautiful' and a soft stroke on the cheek. She had been so happy that she had grabbed him to kiss him back when Hoss threw water on her. They both then proceeded to laugh at her. She was humiliated and fought back, but they easily overpowered her and carried her downstairs. Adam listened as she shared this with him. Little Joe wasn't usually this cruel, at least not to a girl. He had gone too far this time.
"I'm deeply sorry that he did this to you Lila, I will straighten him out." He looked at her for a moment. She was so young. She tried so hard to be older, but at the same tie she tried to hang on to her childhood." You really like him don't you?"
This question took her by surprise, as she quickly turned to look at Adam's sincere face. She only nodded before she turned away from him trying to hold back tears. Lila was head over heels for Joe, but Joe had only seen her as a play thing to amuse himself for a few days.
Little Joe had broken Lila's heart. How could Joe do such a thing, Adam himself have been convinced that Joe had liked Lila just as much him. Maybe this was a misunderstanding. Either way he was going to get to the bottom of this.
"Don't worry Lila; I will get to the bottom of this alright?"
"Thank you Adam. Joe is the first guy that I have ever felt this way about. I was only 10 when Kathleen moved us so I wasn't quite to the whole boy thing yet. Since we were mostly cut off from the world growing up I've only been around men occasionally on trips to town. Then Joe showed up and was nice to me and showed interest in me. I couldn't believe it. I had seen men eye my sisters, but never me."
Joe was Lila's first love, and first kiss. Poor girl had fallen for the most unfaithful Cartwright. Adam shook his head truly feeling sorry for her
Before Adam could say anymore they had arrived at the school.
"Well here we are Lila. I or one of the others will be back this afternoon to get you ok? So don't leave till one of us is here. Pa has spoken to Ms. Abagail about your circumstances so she will work with you."
Lila wasn't paying any attention to Adam. She had her eyes set on a young guy leaning up against a tree. He was about average build with blonde hair that fell right above his eyes and framed his head just right. He had icy blue eyes that were penetrating into Lila's very soul. He was looking back at Lila with a sly seductive smile. Adam noticed her staring at him and recognized him as his Pa's biggest rival's son Ross Stone. He was here with his little brother since he had graduated last year.
Ross walked over to Lila casually and reached out a hand to help her off the horse. Lila stumbled as she got off, but Ross caught her. There eyes locked as he helped her up.
"Good day miss. I don't recognize you. I would definitely remember such a pretty face as yours."
Lila was speechless as her heart raced. His eyes were so blue and his smile. She could barely find her voice to say, "I'm new. To-today's my first day."
"My I ask the lady what her name might be."
"Lila, Lila Rae Roberts"
"What a beautiful name for a beautiful lady."
Lila was in complete awe of Ross, so Adam decided to make his presence known to the little brat. He nudged Sport over next to Lila and tipped his hat," Hello Ross. I see you have met Lila." Pa knew how Ross's father worked. Baxter was as mean as a snake and would surely try and use Lila against them.
Ross looked up at Adam with annoyance and disgust," Is she with you?"
"Well her family is staying with us."
"Well I know where to come see you at then. May I walk you to your class?"
"It would be my honor." Lila had been fixing her hair and dress while Adam and Ross talked. She had forgotten all about Joe. Joe was never this nice to her anyway.
"I'll be here at 2 alright Lila?"
"Ok Adam see you then."
Adam watched Lila walk arm in arm with Ross. He had to smile at how quickly she had taken to Ross, but he would have to remind her to be careful and to keep an eye out for now on. Pa would not be happy about this.
"Well Little Joe you have really messed up this time." He nudged Sport on towards town. Despite some problems over the past few days meeting the Robert sisters had brought out the best in him and his brothers. Adam could only imagine how the following months would play out.
Well then we have 2 jealous Cartwright's and 2 new guys this can only end great.
Okay guys I want to hear your idea of who is L.D? And how do ya'll think Joe will react to Lila and Ross? And what will Ben think of Lila having a crush on his rival Baxter's son Ross?
