Twice the Trouble

Chapter 10

Alissa opened the barn door and walked inside. At first it took a moment for her eyes to adjust to the darker light, but when they did, she saw Adam leaning against a bale of hay.

"All right, my little hellion, let's hear it," he ordered, folding his arms over his chest looking rather cross.

"Hear what, Adam?" Alissa answered with a cocky grin.

"I am not in the mood for your sassy comebacks right now. You know what I mean. Now why on earth did you decide you needed to assault our guest?"

"I told you before, Adam, it wasn't quite like that," Alissa insisted, as she walked over and stood in front of Adam.

"So pray tell then, how was it?"

"Oh very well. I was coming out to ride Freedom and Rebecca was coming out of the barn. I just happened to say something that may have made her angry," Alissa admitted, as she stuffed her hands in her pants pockets and smiled half-heartedly at Adam.

"Oh really. So just what did you say that may have made her angry?"

"Well, I told her not to go into my room again or I would have to knock her on her butt."

Alissa winced and held her breath as she watched Adam's eyebrow rise. That was never a good sign with Adam. Once the eyebrow arched, she knew the temper was not far behind. And she was right, as she jumped when she heard Adam's raised voice.

"YOU SAID WHAT?"

"Oh, Adam, you heard me. I know, I know, it was not a good thing to say, not to mention I used an inappropriate word. But she just made me so mad that I didn't think before I spoke. You know how I am."

Adam couldn't hide his annoyance as he shook his head. "Alissa, when are you going to learn to control what you say, and better yet what you do when your temper takes over? You are the adult here. Or at least you are supposed to be… sometimes I wonder with you. She is only fifteen and a spoiled child at that, so what did you think was going to happen when you said something that rude?"

"I guess I didn't think."

"As usual."

Alissa frowned at that comment, but kept her mouth shut knowing Adam wasn't real happy with her at the moment.

"So what happened to make the two of you end up on the ground fighting?"

"Well, she made a comment about being bigger than me and that I couldn't take her down unless she let me. So naturally I had to take the challenge…"

"Of course you did."

Once again a frown appeared on Alissa's face but she kept talking. "Anyway, I simply went over to her and put my foot behind her legs and…and…well I knocked her feet out from under her and she ended up on the ground."

Watching Adam's face turn from a scowl to totally being annoyed, Alissa continued on.

"So then I walked away. How was I to know she was going to go all ballistic on me," Ali grinned, but noticed Adam wasn't very amused with her story so far.

"I guess she finally lost it and that is when she came after me and lunged at my feet, and suddenly we both ended up on the ground in the mud."

"What did she loose?"

"Oh, Adam, pay attention. Her temper…she lost her temper. Anyway, we rolled around for a few minutes and then I got on top of her and held her arm up in the middle of her back. I told her she needed to apologize or I wasn't going to let go. That is when Joe and Hoss came into the yard and separated us. So see, it really wasn't a big deal."

Tightening his jaw, Adam blew out a frustrated breath as he put his hands on Alissa's shoulders.

"Yes, this was a big deal, Alissa. Just what am I going to do with you? Don't you see how childish that was? Not to mention totally unacceptable treatment for a guest in this house."

Alissa glanced up at Adam and then quickly looked away not wanting to meet his eyes. She knew she was the adult and as such she should have taken the high road and just ignored Rebecca. And most of all, she shouldn't have said anything that might set her off.

Knowing that she had disappointed Adam bothered her the most, and Ali eyed him warily before she responded, "You are right, Adam. I am the adult and should have acted like one. I know I have a temper and usually do things without thinking, and in this case I definitely did."

"Just what is it about this girl that makes you so angry all the time? I know she can be demanding and rather snobbish in her attitude, but I really thought you could see beyond that."

Twirling the end of her braid between her fingers, Ali looked up at Adam then shrugged her shoulders before answering.

"I know you are right, but it really gets to me the way she acts and some of the things she says, especially about you. She has a crush on you, you know?"

Adam lifted his brow in amusement at that statement. "No she doesn't. Why she is only fifteen and I am way too old for her!"

"Well she doesn't think so. Personally I think she is going out of her way to make me angry so I don't look good in your eyes."

"Oh, sweetheart, I think you are trying to find something that isn't there."

Stomping her foot, Ali's hands quickly settled on her hips as she exclaimed, "No, I am not! You men are just so blind when it comes to females that you can't even see when you are being hoodwinked."

"Well I am not blind when it comes to you, my little spitfire. I know all about your stubborn ways, your uncontrollable temper and your propensity to swear…even though I have warned you numerous times about that," Adam chuckled softly, as he pulled her into his arms.

"But most important is that I am not blind to your lovely face, the funny way your nose crinkles when you grin, or the way your beautiful hair blows behind your shoulders when you are racing Freedom across the fields. Your irresistible laugh or the way you stomp your foot and set your hands on your hips when you are angry. And especially the tender way you caress my face as you look into my eyes with your unconditional love."

Holding her close, Adam rested his chin on top of her head. She was just small enough to fit comfortably under his chin when she was in his arms, and it was a perfect fit as far as he was concerned. And the way her hair always smelled of lavender was so enticing, that it was easy to want to stay this way forever. But eventually Adam pulled away and looked down at Ali's upturned face.

"So you have nothing to worry about, my love, because my heart belongs to you. Now then, I also know that you are always ready to admit when you have been wrong. And in this instance even though she may have "pushed your buttons" as you so often say, I think you know it is time for you to be the adult and try and get along with her."

Adam lifted Alissa's chin until their eyes met. "So what do you say, sweetheart, will you be the bigger person here?"

Looking into Adam's gorgeous eyes and his smiling face was all Alissa needed to help her agree. He really had made a good point—she was the adult. It wasn't going to be easy, but with Adam asking her the way he had just done, how could she refuse her handsome and loving man.

Heaving a huge sigh Alissa replied, "Very well. After all the wonderful compliments you have given me how can I refuse? And you are right, I am the adult and I guess I should act like one. So from now on I will try and get along with her. And if that doesn't work, then I will just have to knock her on her backside again."

Feeling Adam's body suddenly tense, Ali giggled and quickly added, "No, I am just kidding. If anything happens, I will walk away."

Hugging Ali tightly Adam grinned, "That's my girl. I am glad that you finally realize this, although it was a little late coming. Too bad you didn't think this way before and then none of this would have happened."

"I know, but you know me. I am a little strong willed and just a wee bit stubborn," Alissa playfully laughed, as she winked at Adam. He had to admit that was funny and couldn't help but find himself grinning at that remark.

"Seriously, I promise I will do better and be the adult that I should be and try and set an example for Rebecca."

Ali couldn't keep from frowning slightly because she knew it wasn't going to be easy with Rebecca's personality, but she would do it for Adam.

"I am glad you aren't too mad and I hope you will forgive me for getting into a fight," Ali said smiling, as she placed her arms around Adam's waist and hugged him close.

"Of course I forgive you, don't I always?"

Setting her back from him, Adam's handsome face looked slightly irritated as he added, "But I probably should be very angry with you for what happened, and set your little tail on fire for all the trouble you have caused today. I am sure Pa wouldn't be surprised if I did."

Ali thrust up her chin in pure defiance,"Oh no you don't! That won't be necessary. I think your little talk was all that I needed to "see the light!" Ali assured him, as she met his stern look with a mischievous grin.

"Actually to tell the truth, Rebecca and her spoiled ways are enough to make a minister see red, so I understand you getting mad at her. But you really need to think next time before you act when you are around her or I won't be quite so understanding next time," Adam warned, as he once again pulled her into his arms and rested his hand on her backside, lightly giving it a tap.

"Course now you have to set things right with Pa, and I am not so sure he will be as easy on you as I was. After all, it is his house and he doesn't set too kindly to anyone in the family fighting, especially with a guest."

"I know and I can't wait to talk to him about this," Ali groaned, as she looked up at Adam with a slight trace of a pout.

When Adam saw the look on her face, he had to laugh as he leaned down and kissed her tenderly.

"Come on, little one, let's go and face the music. It won't be so bad," he chuckled, as he grabbed Alissa's hand and started for the door.

"That is easy for you to say," Ali laughed, as she reached around behind Adam and playfully pinched his rear end.

"Hey! What are you doing?"

"I just couldn't help it, Adam. You have such a cute little butt," Alissa giggled, as she opened the barn door and took off running as Adam gave chase.

oxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

Things in the house weren't going quite so smoothly as Rebecca hadn't stopped crying since Ben entered the house. He kept trying to calm her down, but she just sat on the settee and cried even harder. Hoss sat on one of the stairs looking totally perplexed with how to deal with a crying girl. Women of all ages confused him with their behavior and this one in particular was starting to wear on his nerves. Joe had started to come out of the kitchen with his coffee and a cookie he had cleverly taken when Hop Sing's back was turned, but when he heard the racket and saw Rebecca, he easily turned around and headed back to the safety of Hop Sing's domain.

Finally Ben had enough and stood in front of Rebecca and declared, "Rebecca, that will be quite enough! I know you and Alissa had some kind of disagreement, but all this crying is getting us nowhere."

As soon as Ben raised his voice Rebecca instantly stopped crying and looked up at Ben. She had hoped if she carried on long enough he would just send her to her room. But obviously that little idea was not working, and from the look on Mr. Cartwright's face, she realized she was going to have to do a lot of explaining about what happened.

When Ben noticed she had quit bawling, his eyes abruptly narrowed as he said, "Now then, start at the beginning and tell me what happened today."

"Well I was walking out of the barn and Alissa came up to me and told me that I had better not go into her room again or she would have to knock me on my…uh…my butt."

Then she blushed three shades of red for using that word as she watched to see what Ben would say.

When he didn't do anything but frown and say, "Continue," Rebecca blinked and continued on with her side of the story.

"Well I…uh…I told her she wasn't big enough to do that to me and the next thing I knew, she had tripped me and I landed in a puddle of mud!"

Ben crossed his arms over his broad chest as he ordered, "Keep going."

"Uh…umm…then Alissa said some things and started to walk off. I really don't know what came over me, but I became so distraught from the pain of falling on the hard ground that I ran after her and we both ended up on the ground."

"Is that when Hoss and Joe came and separated you?"

"Yes, but not before she practically broke my arm as she held it behind my back," Rebecca whined.

"And Joe had to really threaten her and raise his voice before she would let go," Rebecca complained, as she wiped at a nonexistent tear hoping to make it more dramatic.

"She is right, Ben. Everything she said is true, although she did exaggerate on a few things," Alissa explained.

She had been standing in the doorway when she heard what Rebecca was saying to Ben and walked over to where Rebecca was sitting and sat down on the edge of the settee as she looked up at Ben. Adam followed behind Alissa, but decided to stand behind her and placed his hands on her shoulders as he waited to see what his father was going to say. He knew it was going to get a little heated in here and wanted to give Alissa a little moral support.

"So, young ladies, let me get this straight. From the sounds of things you both had a hand in all this mess. Is that correct?"

Ben stood in front of both girls and furrowed his brows as he glanced from one girl to the other. That look had made many a man shake in his boots when he had looked at them that way, and it was having the same effect on both girls as they nervously sat there in front of him.

"Yes, Sir," Ali said, as she quickly looked down at the floor which was starting to look mighty interesting.

Rebecca's mouth set in a determined pout as she answered, "Well I think she was more to blame than me."

Before Ben could answer to that comment, Alissa took a deep breath and replied, "She is right, Ben. I probably am more to blame than she is as I am the adult and should have known better. She is just a child and really hasn't experienced someone like me. I can be a force to be reckoned with when I get angry."

"That is for sure," Adam chimed in, as he grinned briefly.

Sitting up straighter on the settee Rebecca whined, "I am not a child. I am fifteen almost sixteen and in two years I will be having my coming out party."

"Well be that as it may, you both acted like foolish children today and as far as I am concerned are both to blame. I do not abide fighting of any kind and am appalled that two girls would even stoop to that level," Ben declared, as he leaned forward glaring at both girls, then he started to pace with his hands behind his back.

"I have never had to deal with girls before and I am not sure how severe I should be. I know how I would have dealt with my boys if they had done what you two did. We would be taking a trip to the barn and sitting comfortably for them would become a thing of the past for a few days."

Finally coming to a decision, he stopped pacing and stood in front of the two sitting on the couch as he placed his arms across his chest once more and leaned in closer.

"So now you two, since you both seem to like playing in the dirt so much, I have the perfect thing for you to do tomorrow. The chicken coop still needs cleaning beings Percy hasn't had a chance to get to it yet today because of your foolishness. So I think it will be the perfect project for you two, and then you can work together and hopefully learn how to get along. First thing in the morning you two will have chicken coop duty. Are there any questions?" Ben asked, as he towered over the two girls just daring someone to complain.

Alissa rolled her eyes and thought of all kinds of things she wanted to say, but for once she decided to keep her mouth shut and just shook her head. Rebecca on the other hand was totally shocked that Ben would even think she would dirty her hands with their ranch work and jumped up, prepared to tell him what she thought.

"I will not do that kind of servant's work! My father would be outraged if he knew you expected me to do that. This whole thing was not even my fault," Rebecca shouted, as she became angry.

"Little girl, I will not be talked to in this manner in my own house. I am the adult here—you are not. And further more, you will NOT raise your voice to me or any other adult around here. Now you better sit down right this minute…while you still can!"

Shaking his finger in her direction Ben proceeded to lecture her further. "Your father gave me permission to treat you as I would my own children, and right now I am very close to turning you over my knee and giving you a much deserved spanking!" Ben declared, as he leaned in close to Rebecca, raising a menacing eyebrow at her defiance.

The look on his face made Rebecca slink back down on the settee as she swallowed nervously and suddenly turned very pale. Even Alissa sat back further on the settee after witnessing Ben's anger. You just didn't sass him when he was lecturing you. That is if you knew what was good for you. But then no one said Rebecca was the sharpest tack in the drawer Ali thought, as she watched her squirm. It took all of Ali's will power not to smile at Rebecca's discomfort. But as much as she wanted to do that, she just sat there with a straight face.

"So, Rebecca, do you want to go up to your room and finish this little discussion or will you be joining Alissa cleaning the chicken coop tomorrow? It is up to you."

Ben stood there waiting for her answer as the muscle in his jaw flexed, which was a sure sign he was barely holding onto his temper.

Hesitantly looking up at Ben's stern face, Rebecca cleared her throat and then spoke barely above a whisper, "I will help Alissa clean the chicken coop."

"Smart choice," Ben said, as he walked over to the table and poured himself a cup of coffee. "Next time I won't give you a choice."

After downing it quickly he turned and called to Adam, "Well we have already lost some of the day dealing with this. Let's get going!"

Percy had just come in the front door and heard some of the conversation and hurriedly stepped in front of Ben before he could go out the door.

"Mr. Cartwright, I will be happy to do the chicken coop. The ladies don't have to do that."

"Oh yes they do. But if you want to watch and make sure they do a good job, then that will be fine. But mind you, don't you do any of the work for them or I will hear about it and then you and I will have words. Do you understand?"

"Oh yes, I understand," Percy gulped, as he kept fidgeting with his hat trying to get some more nerve to ask his next question.

"Uh, Mr. Cartwright, then would it be alright if Rebecca and I go riding today?"

"No, I think she needs to spend the rest of the day in her room thinking over what she has done. Tomorrow after she helps clean the chicken coop, then you two may go riding."

Heading out the door Ben called over his shoulder, "Well, don't just stand there, Adam…times a wasting!"

Adam leaned down and quickly kissed Alissa before heading for the door. "See you tonight, sweetheart, and please stay out of trouble."

Smiling sarcastically Alissa grumbled, "Oh I will, I need to save my strength for tomorrow."

TBC

Once again, thank you for all the wonderful reviews! I truly enjoy reading them all. ~ Sierra