I've Swallowed The Green Dress

by gaben

2. Alexandra is very sick. As each of the Cartwrights sit with Adam and Alex, they recall some of her naughty and funny adventures. But what has she done with the green dress? Warning: spanking of a minor in some chapters.

10. The King Of Hearts

I'VE SWALLOWED THE GREEN DRESS"

2nd In the Alexandra Series

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

Warning: Mild Parental Dicipline.

Long Chapter. And there may be spelling and grammatical errors, computor problems and formatting nightmares. Serves me right for holidaying in Monsoonal weather. Hopefully, third time lucky

Chapter 10: King Of Hearts.

"Ahhhh, no she didn't?"

Hop Sing came running in from the kitchen as he heard Marty scream.

"What wrong? Why you scream?"

"Oh, sorry, Hop Sing, I was just reacting to a very dramatic story about Alexandra."

Hop Sing picked up the tea tray, "Oh, okay, Missy Strawn, you scare Hop Sing though. Hey, why nobody eat biscuit slice? Hop Sing bake today."

Marty looked at all the brave Cartwright men and giggled. She watched them splutter and try to make excuses for not eating the fine wares Hop Sing had prepared.

"I'm sorry, Hop Sing I hadn't noticed them, I would love to try one." Marty picked up a slice. Squaring off at the boys, Adam in particular, she bit a huge chunk out of the slice and proceeded to, "ohmm, ahhh. Why this is just delicious Hop Sing."

"Missy, my type of lady, enjoy good food. Boys don't appreciate. They vely lucky, Hop Sing, don't go back to china."

"Hop Sing, why do you always threaten to go back to china? Ya know I near half starve to death ifin ya took off like that. Here give me one of those slices." Hoss grabbed the small cake and popped the entire portion in his mouth.

The laughter was interrupted by a sudden hacking cough… "Daaaddy!"

Adam quickly put down his cup and jumped the steps two at a time, heading for Alexandra room. There he found the ten year old sitting up on her bed coughing. Adam was quickly by her side patting her back, while her small body racked and heaved trying to get enough oxygen to expel the mucus constricting her throat. One final effort had the little girl exorcised the obstruction and vomit onto her bed and nightshirt.

Hop Sing followed by Marty entered the room.

"Hop Sings she's been sick again," said Adam, "and she's burning up."

"No worry, Mista Adam ,doctor martin said this will happen."

"Is there anything I can do to help, Hop Sing?"

"We get her clean and wash her down," said Hop Sing.

Marty and Hop Sing went about cleaning Alex up, Adam watched on as the stripped the little girls soiled nightshirt off her, changed her sheets and settle her back into bed. Adam went to the chest to retrieve a fresh night shirt.

"I'd leave the night shirt, Adam, just put some clean underclothes on, the night shirt will be too hot for her."

Hop Sing filled the wash basin with clean water while Adam and Marty redressed Alex in clean cotton draws, and then lay her back down on the bed.

"I'm so hot, Hop Sing," moaned Alex.

"Little girl do too much today, need to stay in bed to get better."

"But it's boring and lonely."

"Alexandra, let me look at your throat," asked Marty.

"Not again, I'm sick of everybody lookin' at it. And I ain't drinkin' any more medicine. I'm just hot and thirsty. Maybe I just need some more ice cream that will cool me down some."

"Alexandra! You're being sassy and naughty. Open your mouth."

Alexandra crossed her arms and clamped her mouth shut, keeping a look at her father from the corner of her eyes and any sudden movement. Unfortunately, being only ten, her peripheral vision was not fully developed so the swat that her father administered was fast, sharp and unexpected.

"Oww."

Marty took the opportunity to depress her tongue with her long and slender forefinger. Adam recognised Alex's determined demeanor and quickly warned.

"Alexandra, you dare bite and your bottom will be a lot sorer than your throat."

"What you see missy," asked Hop Sing, standing at the foot of the bed, ready for any instruction from the pretty young nurse.

"It looks fine, Hop Sing. It looks completely closed and the inflammation has definitely gone down. You're right; I'd say she's just picked up a secondary infection, which really was to be expected. We should treat it a bit like croup or a bad cold." Marty was aware of the Hop Sings position in this family. She was conscious of respecting his opinion and involving him in the treatment. "So how would you treat it, Hop Sing?"

"Hop Sing get steam pot and add peppermint oil, help to break up cough and keep air clean. Hop Sing get and bring back. Missy and Adam wash little girl down."

"What about some ice cream, Hop Sing?"

"No more ice cream for you, it might make you sick again, besides ice-cream all gone. Hop Sing bring jug of cold water."

"Dang it! What's a kid supposed to do ta get any special treatment round here?"

"Behave, and stay in bed when you're sick, take their medicine and stop giving sass."

"I guess thata' be one way to save my ass from a mean ole grouchy, bushy eyebrow, granite head with no sense of humour, or feelin's for little kids who mighta be dyin'," she thought, oops out loud. Alex sunk down into the worn cavity of her mattress and its protection of her backside. "Sorry daddy, I must be getting delirious again. I dunno what I'm saying."

"Hmm, I don't think your too sick, little girl."

"No, she's not delirious, just Hot. Here, Adam we need to just wash her down, you start at the feet, I'll start at the brow."

"That way you'll meet in the middle," sung Alex.

"Trying to be cute now," smirked Adam. He grabbed the wash cloth and started wiping Alex's feet as Marty started on her brow.

"Yep, so is tit working? "

"Yep." said Marty and Adam in unison, then laughed.

Alex's giggled as her father tickled her feet. Her chuckles soon merged with their laughter. Hop Sing's relieved huge grin entered the room struggling to carry the kerosene burner. Hoss bought up the rear with heavy set of cast iron feet that would keep the burner off the floor and encase its flame safely. Once set up in a corner, Hop Sing added the larger wicker steamers. He added some peppermint oil to the water. The water started to boil and the fine mist soon impregnated the air allowing the occupants to inhale the scent and moisture.

"Now, little girl feel better by morning. Steam will help clear chest."

"Thanks Hop Sing, thanks Hoss said Adam. I'll stay you all should go to bed."

Ben and Joe arrived at the door, "everything all right, son?"

"Yes, Pa, she's just developed a cough."

All sung goodnight as they left Marty and Adam to continue wiping their wet cloths over Alex's small but hot frame.

"How's that, Alexandra? Feel better?"

'Yes, Daddy, nice and cool."

"Okay. Good, now, try and get some sleep."

"But I'm not tired." She yawned.

"Yes you are. Just close your eyes and rest them."

"You should get some rest too, Adam," said Marty, "I can stay here for a while."

"Okay, but only once Alex is asleep."

"Daddy, sing me a song that will make go to sleep."

"Sure sweetheart." Adam got up to fetch his guitar

"No, Daddy, no guitar, I want to sit on your lap."

"You're too ho,t Alex."

"Please Daddy?"

Adam relented and Marty gave up the large club chair, that had been positioned by the bed where each of the family had taken it turns over the last twenty four hours to sit beside Alexandra. It looked like another beside vigil was in store. Adam picked up Alex and sat her on his knee, letting her cradle herself into his chest and tuck her head into the crook of his neck. Adam grabbed the damp washcloth and wiped her face and brow pushing her soft curls back from her forehead. Alex snuggled in taking in her daddy's scent, feeling safe and willing to let sleep take over as he sung an Irish lullaby.

Within minutes Alexandra was asleep. Adam lifted her and placed her gently on the bed, pulling the crisp white sheet up over her chest. No sooner had he settled it there and sat down again in the chair, than Alex in her restless sleep kicked off the sheet.

Marty laughed, "she'll be fine, leave it off she'll sleep better. When she cools down we can pull it up again."

Marty looked at the sleeping child. She was moved by Adams devotion and gentleness with this little spitfire who now, as most sleeping children do , looked every bit an angel, like a Raphael cherub, observing the world from the heavens, with mischievous glints in their eyes.

"She sure is a pretty little girl, Adam. She looks so angelic and innocent laying there."

"That's because she's a sleep and not thinking out loud," he quipped. "Actually, she is a pretty special kid. She hasn't really had an easy go of it in her short ten years. She's full of energy and plenty of mischief but your right, she's an innocent. She's honest, brutally sometimes and naive, but really not spiteful or cruel, except for poor old Lydia Anne.

"Oh, I think Lydia Anne got what she deserved."

"Maybe, and maybe Alex started out to teach her a lesson, but really in the end I think it was more her taking revenge."

"But, she's only ten for goodness sake. She's not really going to understand the difference between those fine lines."

"Well, that's for sure, but it's my job, well our job… the entire family's responsibility to teach her."

"I like that. I like the fact that all of you, not only love and unconditionally support each other, but take responsibility for each other. Many cultures believe that the raising of children is not the sole responsibility of one or two people. I heard a saying once ...that it takes a village to raise a child. It certainly the belief among the indigenous people of my country."

"Well, frankly with Alexandra I need all the help I can get."

Marty laughed, "Im sure you do, she's a pretty smart kid. You've got to admit it was a pretty ingenious plan, even if it was payback."

"Yes, creative I give our little miscreant that, but not real smart. There was no way she was going to get away with playing such a trick. She would have been well aware that she would have to be punished."

"So what happened, to Miss Jones and Lydia Anne and Alex, did Joe handle the situation?"

"Well, they are alive and Joe did handle the situation, though he did get bamboozled again by Alexandra. Actually I didn't handle it all that well either, anyway in the long run I think we all learned a pretty good lesson. I had gotten home late that Saturday night. Pa and Joe tried to fill me in on the whole saga..."

Flash back

"EXPELLED!"

"Adam, just wait a minute. It wasn't my fault."

"I'm not saying that it was Joe, but I better get this story straight, because come Monday morning I need to front up to the board to appeal Alexandra's expulsion. I need to explain to them how my ten year old daughter managed to nearly poison another child and her teacher."

"I told you, Adam, about the fight and the peace offering she was supposed to give to Lydia Anne. I was sure you would have done something like that. I thought it was a good idea."

"It was a good idea, Joe, but you should have watched her. I mean you know what's she's like, she would have had something up her sleeve. Once Alexandra gets her mind set on something, there's no telling until it's too late."

"Exactly, I had no idea that she had that little payback set up."

"She shouldn't have got off so lightly in the first place, Joe. She has been warned about fighting. Last time…."

Pa intervened, "Adam, it's no good you continually admonishing Joe. He did do a good job."

"Well, little Miss Alexandra Cartwright is going to find it very uncomfortable at breakfast tomorrow morning, when I get through with her. This behaviour is totally unacceptable. She could have made that girl really sick."

"Adam you're overreacting. I'd hate to tell you some of the things I found you babies putting in your mouths. Besides Joe already spanked Alexandra. I heard it myself."

"So, she didn't trick you out of a second one then, Joe?"

"Well Adam, you know, I think I was pretty fair, but well she had the King of Hearts and you know…".

"The King of Hearts! Your old survival kit. Are you saying she pulled that one on you? Well, Joe you should have kept that one for YOURSELF!"

"Adam! That's enough!" Admonished Pa. "The boy took on the responsibility for Alexandra while you were away, and he did what he thought best. It hasn't been an easy couple of days for him. The way your acting you'd think he was the naughty one. You should have seen his face when they both came down stairs last night. And poor Alexandra, she was awful sorry that she had caused this whole mess, her best dress was all torn, Hop Sing was mad at her and her favourite Uncle had to spank her. On top of all that she's been expelled and extremely worried about what you're going to do when you get home."

"Pa, honestly, I think you've gone soft. You would have stripped the hide of us if we had done the same thing. I think Alexandra has a Grandpa that spoils her rotten."

"Well son, that may be the case most of the time. I've waited long enough and I'd like a heap more to spoil. However, I would have had a necessary talk to Alexandra, but my advice to Joseph at the time was that, he needed to sort this out with Alexandra, that we all play a part in her life and that if Alexandra was going to mind him and respect him he was going to have to deal with her. You can deal with the situation in your own way but at least be supportive of Joe, and reinforce that respect in Alexandra eyes."

"Sorry, Joe, Pa's right. None of this is your fault and you did just what I would have done. Guess though, you will be well equipped when you have your own kids one day. Discipline is hard Joe; you can feel a real heal sometimes. Don't worry I'll just talk to Alexandra, I'm sure she's learnt her lesson."

"Well, about that Adam, it sort of didn't pan out exactly like Pas suggested it should."

"Joe?"

"Wait. Just hear me out. …"

I went into Alexandra's room and here she is sitting on the bed, playing nervously with the rip in her green dress. Her big green eyes followed me as I came over and sat on the bed next to her.

"Stop playin with that rip, you'll only make it worse."I said

"It's grandpas' favourite dress, I was thinkin maybe he was gonna come up and talk to me, and maybe he wouldn't be so mad at me."

"He ain't all that mad at you Alexandra, but it's me you disobeyed and it's me that was responsible for you while your Dad's away. And, it's me that you showed no respect to by not making a peace offering like you said you would."

"So, I'm in trouble with you then?"

"Yep. Hop up and stand in front of me, Alexandra."

I held her hand. Pa always said that before you punish a child you should let them explain and make sure they understand why they are being punished.

"Okay, Alexandra, give me your side of the story."

"Well Uncle Joe, you know first of all Lydia Anne cheated and called my momma them awful names. And I recon instead of the peace offering I thought I would teach her a lesson instead. I wasin' meanin to poison her and I wouldn't have let her eat all of them bad rum balls. I told her before she ate a second one, then she got real mad, which I kinda expected an all, but I weren't worried bout that cause she can't fight for peanuts. And, I gotta admit her face was pretty funny when she found out she had eaten poo, ya shoulda seen it she just went and upchucked all over her dress. Ifin it makes her feel any better she can have my dress. She probably lost a bit of weight by now and she might fit into it."

"Alexandra Cartwright! Lydia Anne didn't deserve to have such a mean thing done to her. Alex, you humiliated her and you could have made her really sick."

"I guess so, but it wasn't so much to be mean. I kinda thought it would be funny. I'm awful sorry. And, I 'm real sorry Miss Jones nearly ate one whole, but that was cause of Lydia Anne, she talked Miss Jones into it just to get me inta' big trouble."

"Well, it worked. Miss Jones has expelled you, and will only take you back if your Daddy appeals to the school board. Adam is sure not going to be very impressed with that."

"Huh? So being expelled is bad? I mean it doesn't sound so bad, no School an all."

"Alex being expelled is really bad. No School means no education, no learning the things that you need like reading and writing. It means no friends to see every day. You would have to do all your schooling here at home."

"Oh, that ain't good."

"No. Well, come on better get this over with."

"So, are you gonna, you know …"

"Spank you. You know I should."

"Aw, Uncle Joe, but daddy's going to double any punishment you give me."

"Well, you shoulda thought of that before you played that prank."

" Well, I kinda did. I mean I sorta weighed up the risks. And you gotta admit, ifin Miss Jones hadn't eaten one of them rum balls, I practically would have got away with it."

"Well, you didn't. Don't forget you also had another fight with Lydia Anne."

"Lydia Anne threw the first punch."

"Alex, we went through this last time. You provoked her."

"And last time you only gave me a swat and extra chores and stuff. And this time I'm expelled and all, and Dads gonna' wallop me good for that at least. Uncle Joe, my butt isn't cut out for this."

"Alex, stop trying to talk me out of this. You got this coming. Now it ain't going to be that bad."

"Okay, Uncle Joe, I'm bringing out the big guns."

Alexandra pulled out and handed me the King of Hearts.

"Aw, Alex, I was a kid when I made them. It doesn't work."

"But, how come it worked last time. And besides a token is a token, it's like a promise, like ya word, ya can't go back on ya word, or a token, it's bad luck and I think it's illegal."

I had to admit the kid had a point. Adam was going to wail the livin' daylights out of her fer sure and really the King of hearts was especially made for this type of situation. It seemed so unfair when I was a kid that I would get another punishment if I got into trouble at school or when Pa was away. Double Trouble. They should make a law against it, you know like ya shouldn't be punished for the same crime twice. Hmm, Maybe someday.

"Look, Alexandra I don't like doin this. But, I'm a grown up now and I got to be a bit more responsible and all. And besides your Grandpa's expecting me to spank you. He's going to know if I don't. You will just end up getting a bigger licking from Adam, maybe even Grandpa and I'm telling you they've both got hard hands."

"Hey, I got an idea Uncle Joe. Why don't we pretend to spank me… say ten wallops, then dad probably give me another twenty. Twenty I can do, Uncle little Joe, but thirty real wallops, I won't sit down for a week. I've only got a small butt."

"Hmm, I dunno?"

"Come on, it will work, trust me. It's not like I ain't sorry and all and I ain't gonna get off scot free. Ya just saving me ten extra wallops that's all. And this way ya get to stick to the rules."

"What rules?"

"The survival kit rules, you know ya word. Thought ya said ya was a grown up, well if ya grown enough to be a man of principals ya gotta stick to ya word."

You know that got me. I swear Alexandra should be a lawyer. Maybe when she grows up she could change the constitution even, well if she's allowed to go to school…. Gosh this kid could con the gold teeth out of a corpse.

"Okay, so how do we pull this off then?"

"Well, I recon we could put a pillow on the bed… here…. and then you whack it with …say…. Ah… my hairbrush."

I got the pillow and grabbed the brush and smacked it down against the pillow. PLUMMMFT.

"Na, Uncle Joe, it don't sound right. It's gotta sound like this…."

Alex snatched the brush from my hand and whacked me on the thigh with it.

"Hey, cut that out. I'm not the one supposed to be getting a tanning here."

"Sorry, Uncle Joe, but we need to make it sound orthentic, that means real."

"Well do that again, and I'll make it sound real authentic. "

"Gosh, Uncle Joe, ya got no feel for the dramatic, well at least ya getting into the spirit of it… hey, I know… here wet this washcloth… now like flick it.. You know, crack it like a whip."

I tried. Well, dog gone it, Alex was right. It sounded just like getting ya bare backside smacked.

"Yep, that's it Uncle Joe. So now do it again and I will holler every time. I'll have ta watch ya and time it properly. Okay, GO!"

I flicked the wet cloth THWACK!

"AHHHHHHH," Alex screamed at the top of her lungs, "YA KILLING ME."

"Hey, don't overdo it. Pa will think I'm murdering you."

All of a sudden I could hear footsteps running up the stairs. I quickly grabbed Alex and threw her over my knee.

"Hey, Uncle Joe whatcha' doin'?"

"Stay there, Alexandra, Pa's coming. Look like you're about to cry or something."

Pa burst into the room, "JOESPH! What are you doing? Remember she's just a little girl."

"OWWWW, grandpa please help me he's tryin to kill me."

"Pa, honest, I just gave her a swat, a light little swat like this," I lightly smacked Alexandra on her well padded petticoat bottom.

"OWWW, Uncle Joe!"

"See pa, just like that. Alex is overreacting. Course, Pa ya know if I ain't doing it right you make like to take over, I wouldn't want to really hurt Alexandra." I squeezed Alexandra just to let her know that if she kept on with the melodrama it was going to be to her detriment.

"Oh… that's right, Grandpa, I just got a bit of a freight that's all. I mean this is the first time Uncle Joe has spanked me, and I know I deserved it all, and I'm real sorry that I played such an awful prank on Lydia Anne, and I'm especially sorry that Miss Jones accidently ate one of them rum balls, but ya gotta admit that was Lydia Anne's idea ,not mine. Plus my good dress, my favourite dress, the one that you specially bought me from San Francisco, is all torn and I'll probably be never able to wear it again."

Alexandra delivered her closing argument in all sincerity, well most of it, and still laying across my knee, I might add. I'm telling ya, I was so tempted to just keep her there and tan the livin' daylights out of her myself, but to tell you the truth I was kinda worried about what she would do next.

Pa walked over to me, "Joseph, let me give you some advice."

"Sure, Pa."

"Well, here let me show you. Let Alex up for a bit."

I stood Alex up, smiling to myself, thinking Pa was gonna take over and Alex was going to get her comeuppance, but I was, as seems to be the pattern of my life, sorely disappointed.

Pa walked over turned Alex around and lifted the skirt of Alexandra's dress, "First of all Joe, Alex has too much padding. She is going to feel very little with all those petticoats on, or you could be smacking in the wrong place, which could be more damaging that a few sharp smacks to a little bottom. Now, if ya get them out of the way, you can be sure that your smacking her backside. Then, Joe a smack like this…."

Alex shut her eyes tight waiting for the demonstration, then snapped them open in utter surprise when Pa whacked my backside instead, real hard.

"OWWW, Pa, Shessssh!"

"….. A smack like that is too hard, Joseph, too hard for a little girl, any more than one of those means that you are going to bruise the poor child. So the smack should be more like this…."

"Owwww Pa!"

"…..is a reasonable smack, five, maybe ten for serious misdemeanours."

Pa added five more wacks to the seat of my pants.

" Five of them say, is a reasonable and fair chastisement for a ten year old."

"Pa, ya got to be joking, you would have tanned the hide offa me. I remember times I recon I couldn't sit down for a week. "

"Joseph you're being over dramatic."

"That's right Grandpa, he can sure be melodramatic, can't he?"

"Yes, Joseph. Listen though, if you can't handle it I…."

Alex's smirk fell from her face, "no Grandpa. It's okay, honest, he ain't hurt me. It's Uncle Joe that deserves my apology. I mean, I'm so ashamed for causin' all this trouble and makin it hard for him to look after me an all."

"Alright, Alexandra. I'm very proud of you. Most children would do just about anything to get out of a spanking. Don't be too hard on her Joe, this young lady seems to have learnt the errors of her way."

That little….

"Oh, and Joseph one more thing…."

Pa walked up and whispered in my ear, "It's real important that she knows that you love her and that all is forgiven and it's over. Letting a child feel abandoned or unloved and wallow in guilt is far worse than a couple swift smacks to her backside." Pa turned to leave , "Alright, you two suppers in ten minutes, I expect you both down there."

As the door closed behind him, I turned my practiced steely gaze on Alexandra. She looked up with those big green innocent puppy dog eyes at me.

"Oh, no, ya can get that look off your face you little con artist. Remind me when your older to teach you how to play poker."

"Already know."

" Why doesn't that surprise me. You know I've got a good mind to …"

"But, Uncle Joe you can't go back on a promise."

"Oh yes I can, you've had one swat , I've had three!"

" Eight actually, but who's counting. Well, I'll scream so loud, Grandpa will think ya really murdering me and then you will be in big trouble."

"Why you little… well, let's just see little Miss Lily Langtree…"

I sat down and put her a cross my knee, before she could start screaming her head off, I flipped her petticoats up over her head and landed one very hard swat to her backside.

"Ahhhhhhh, Uncle Joe, not so hard, come on , give me a break."

Swat, swat, swat , another three quick successive smacks didn't give Alex the chance to put forward any more arguments.

"Ow, Ow , Ow, please, Uncle Joe, Daddy's gonna roast my tail again, you know him better than me, you know what he's gunna' do, my butts toast."

I stood Alexandra up. "Alex that's a little taste of what I'm capable of when pushed. You need to mind me when I'm in charge. Okay? Besides, now your uncomfortableness at supper will look realistic."

"Orthentic."

"Yep."

"Hmmm, do you think Grandpa will think four swats was enough?"

"Nope, come on you need another five."

"Huh, for real?"

"Na, but this time no melodrama."

I sat down on the bed. Alex and I acted out the rest of the expected spanking. I snapped the wet cloth and she yelped. Pa was well convinced, especially when Alex and I came down to supper. She threw herself into pa's arms, rubbing her bottom. Pa had the cushion already on the chair for her. I swear she would have hardly have felt the smacks in the first place and the sting to her rear end wouldn't have even lasted more than ten minutes.

"So you see, Adam and Pa, I kinda didn't really spank her liked she probably deserved, she really only got a couple of swats."

The big room erupted with laughter. Joe looked stunned and somewhat relived that nether, Pa or I were bellowing.

Shaking my head I clapped Joe on the shoulder, "So, Joe, you mean to tell me she conned you out of it again."

"Adam, I gave her a couple of swats and I had a talk to her about what she did wrong, and I recon she won't do it ever again. But yep, damn, Adam she is good."

"Joseph , you will not cuss in this house, though boy you were taken for a ride." Laughed Pa.

"Yeah, well so were you Pa, I mean you fell for it."

"Did I now!" Joe, I well remember your antics when you were a child and I spotted the King of Hearts you left on the dresser."

"You mean to tell me, your demonstration was all an act. Pa, now I know where Alexandra inherited her talent from."

"Yes, well, I was somewhat curious as to what Alexandra was up to."

'Oh pa, you are turning soft, and Joe, you deserved those couple of swats for being so gullible."

"Sorry, Adam, guess I'm not cut out to be parent."

"Not yet I hope," said Pa, "you're only seventeen Joe, and you did good job with Alex, really. You can't be blamed for Alex's misbehaviour."

"Look, Joe, Pa , and this goes for Hoss and Hop Sing as well, I can't tell you enough how much it means to me for all of your support and help with Alexandra. I know we haven't had her for very long, but I can't imagine life without her now. I can't imagine our family without her. And I couldn't have done any of this without you all, your physical support, your love and acceptance of the situation. I'm sorry Joe. All I can say, now ya know what it was like dealing with a young Joseph Francis. "

"Well, Adam, said Pa. "We can't imagine our life without Alexandra either. And you need to know she is verity much loved by every member of this household, this family. In actual fact I've never felt so blessed in my life."

That choked me up , I know Pa feels like that, but when he actually said those words , I'm … well I just hope I can be the type of father he is.

"Thanks' Pa."

"You're welcome son . But Adam you've got to relax a little more. You worry too much. Alex isn't going to turn into her mother or you or any of us. She's is Alexandra and she is going to be a very loved little girl and guided to become, to remain a good person. She is a very normal little girl, albeit smart one."

Pa was right. I do worry too much and I've got to admit, Alexandra weaselling her way out of a well deserved spanking from Joe made me laugh. It so reminded me of him when he was that age. I might have handled things a little differently. Ends up there was more drama to come and I nearly didn't get it right.

Unfortunately, I also didn't realise that Alexandra was not asleep. Upstairs, she had heard Pa's laughter and Joe's animated version of events. She of course was pretty restless about my coming home and the hand of doom as she put it. Alexandra had snuck out and positioned herself at her favourite eavesdropping spot, third step from the top, and as usual only heard part of the conversation going on in the big room.

"Your right, Pa, but what am I going to do if they don't accept Alex back. We can't school her at home for the next six years."

"Yes, you can, Adam. You are the most qualified."

"Pa, this ranch takes up a lot of time, it's a lot of work. It takes all four of us to run it, with twelve ranch hands."

"Hey, Adam we can pick up the slack, I could be doing heaps more."

"Joe you are doing a man's job as it is. You by far the best breaker we have. But, it's not just the ranch and the stock, it's the mining camps and the lumber contracts. Pa and I are always having to go away. We are really the only ones that are equipped enough and experienced enough to handle that side of the family business."

"Adams kind of right, Pa, besides that, it can get pretty lonely out here, she needs friends her own age."

"Well, that's another consideration. Alexandra's had never been to school until she came here. She has mainly socialised with adults and not always some that we would see as good role models. The best thing for Alexandra may be a boarding school. There are some real good ones in San Francisco. That's not too far away. She could come home during school breaks, we could visit her there, she would be with children her own age and girls in particular. I may have to send her there."

Alexandra sat at the top of the stairs. Tears started to well up in her eyes and then spilled over as she swallowed the painful lump that had risen in her throat. Now, the whole prank really hadn't been such a good idea . A spanking may have been worth it, but being sent away was possibly the worst thing that could ever happen to her.

Alexandra quietly slipped back into her room, then threw herself on her bed and cried and sobbed. She hadn't felt this scared and lost since the day she watched her mother leave town in a stagecoach handcuffed to a State Marshall. She had weighed up the risks, now she was ashamed for being so dumb. She was going to be sent away from the Ponderosa, where she was safe, where everybody made her feel safe and wanted, where she had grown to love them all and they loved her, she knew it. Well they loved her, but maybe they were ashamed now too. She couldn't blame them. Adam Cartwright was her Daddy. He promised to always keep her safe, he said she belonged and she could stay forever. But, maybe he couldn't do it, maybe, It was just too hard and she was just too much trouble.

We continued to debate over the situation. Pa, actually, got quite heated.

"Adam this is what I mean, you stress too much and you jump the gun. I know you always consider the options and like to nut things out, but you don't know what is going to happen come Monday. Abigail may have calmed down some. For goodness sake, we are even seeing the funny side of it all now. Put this all in to perspective. You don't need to make any decisions until you know that outcome. I will tell you one thing though, as far as I'm concerned, it won't happen . You won't be sending that little girl away, not from you, not from us. We can get a governess if need be, but Alexandra is home and home is where she will stay until she is old enough to venture beyond the Ponderosa if she wishes."

Alexandra wasn't the only one swallowing the lump in her throat. Pa's order, so to speak was moving. I had once worried that my innocent indiscretion over ten years ago and my determination to have Alexandra with me, may have been selfish and a burden my family should not have been lumped with. That worry had not crossed my mind since the night at the lake. Unfortunately it had crossed the mind of one small ten year old girl.

The next morning I came down to breakfast to find Hoss, Pa and little Joe all sitting down to breakfast. The boys had been up early and had completed my share of the morning chores.

"Hey, Adam you look like you could do with a strong coffee." said Hoss.

"Thanks, Hoss, I must admit I didn't sleep to well."

Joe looked sheepishly at me, "so did you have that necessary little talk with Alexandra then?"

"No, Joe. I thought she was here. Her beds empty. Pa have you seen her this morning?"

"No, Adam, I thought she was still asleep."

Hop Sing came in from the kitchen with afresh pot of coffee.

"Hop Sing, is Alexandra with you?"

"No Mista Adam. No see little Alex this morning. Not collect eggs either like she supposed to."

I headed up the stairs back to her room. There on the bed was Joe's upturned wooden Box; the Survival Kit. Beside it lay several playing cards and a fake beard. On the floor were the remnants of one of the playing cards. The King of Hearts, decapitated, torn and scattered, with no sign of one Alexandra Cartwright.

TBC

Chapter 11: Return of The King Of Hearts & Plan B

A.N. Sorry for the long chapter, but I wanted to play around with Adams role as a loving and learning father. So really a bit of an ode to the Adam Cartwright character and what could have been. I hope that came across and there wasn't too much drabble or repeativeness. Please tell me, if there was, I tried to cut it down. Anyway, please review.

In memory of Pernell Roberts. It is one year, this month since his passing.