Have had much trouble with my computer. Been looked at for three days, but hopefully all back together again. I've decided the children should call Adam Dad/Daddy. It's a little confusing having Ben AND Adam referred to as Pa. Be warned this chapter contains a spanking. Please don't read this chapter if offended by its contents.

Chapter 11

Adam sat and waited to calm down before seeing Davy. Who would have thought Davy could so such a thing. So now it begins, he thought. Davy's coming out of his shell; well I'll need to nip it in the bud before he gets any older. Adam took a deep breath and mounted the stairs and went straight into Davy's room. He found him sitting on his bed looking at a picture book. When Adam entered the room, Davy looked up and smiled.

"I need to clear up a few things, young man, and I want the truth." Adam stated in a clear and authoritative voice, which caused Davy's smile to drop.

"What is it, Dad?"

"Someone has been playing a trick to get another person into trouble. Do you know anything about that?"

"Huh?"

"Someone undid Cathy's good work in the tack room."

"What do you mean?"

"Davy, let's not play games. Uncle Hoss knows Cathy did her chores, he saw the tack room all tidied up, before you untidied it."

"But, I…"

"Before you tell me one more lie, be warned there are consequences for telling lies. Now I want the truth. You are already going to receive a spanking and it will be up to you as to the severity of the punishment. Now tell me why you wanted to get Cathy into trouble."

Davy kept silent.

"I want an answer, young man and I want it now."

Davy started snivelling, afraid to say anything and scared of what his Dad was going to do to him.

"Very well then Davy, let's see if I can persuade you to tell me why." With that Adam sat down on the bed and pulled Davy over and across his knee. Davy yelped at the very first painful swat. "Tell me why you are getting this spanking."

"Because I tried to trick you into thinking Cathy had not done her chores and had disobeyed you."

"Right." With that Adam gave Davy six hard swats when he shouted out, "No more, Dad, it hurts." Adam lift Davy up and placed him between his knees, holding onto his arms.

"It's supposed to hurt, it's to help you to remember not to do bad things and there will be no rubbing, that's part of the consequences. Now, what have you to tell me?"

With tears still in his eyes and trying to loosen his arms, wanting desperately to rub the sting out of his bottom, but Adam held firm.

"I did it….. cos she's always telling me what to do, so I thought I would get her into trouble."

"It was very wrong of you, you know that, don't you?"

"Yes, Sir. I'm sorry I did it."

"Yes, now that you were caught in your little scheme and spanked."

"Yes, Sir. It hurts very much."

"As I said, there will be no rubbing and if I catch you doing so, I will repeat the spanking. Understood?"

"Yes, Sir."

"Now, you have an apology to make to Cathy and you will take over her chores punishment for the next three days."

With a surprised look on his face, Davy said, "What! Do hers as well as my own?"

"Correct. You have a problem with that?" Adam answered, with eyebrow raised, and in a voice that brooked no argument.

"No, Sir." Davy said, defeated.

"In future, Davy, I want you to come to me if you have problems with Cathy. That's what I'm here for. I'll speak with her too."

"Yes, Sir."

"And you'll stay in your room for the rest of the day. I'll bring your supper up." With that Adam left the room. …

Hoss felt it was safe to return to the house.

"But Uncle Hoss, I need to clean the tack room again." Cathy said, as she stopped Hoss and the others from moving out.

"No, darlin', I have a feeling Davy will be the one to clean up the mess he created." Ben said, with a smile and a kiss to her forehead.

"Come on," Joe urged, let's go in, I'm starving."

"That's Uncle Hoss' line."

"Quite right Sweetpea, quite right."

They were all smiling as they left the barn. ….

As they all sat down to supper, Adam informed everyone that Davy would not be joining them.

"Is he to go without supper, Dad?" Cathy asked, concerned for her brother.

"No, I'll take him his supper when we've finished ours. It won't hurt for him to wait a little longer."

The supper was a quiet affair after that and when they had finished Adam took Davy his supper, Cathy went to her room to finish her essay, Ben to his red chair with his coffee and brandy and Joe and Hoss to a game of checkers. Adam returned and sat in his blue chair with a book, not really reading it. The blazing fire was comforting but the atmosphere was silent as all were deep in thought, thinking of Davy's behaviour and its inevitable consequences.

Upstairs, Cathy had just finished her essay and was about to get ready for bed, when there was a tentative knock on her door.

"Come in," she called. The door opened revealing Davy, who slowly walked into the room, but looking back down the hall in case Adam saw him.

"What do you want?" Cathy said, her anger showing.

"I've come to say I'm sorry."

"Well, now you've said it, you can go before Dad finds you in here."

"I know. I don't want another spanking. I can still feel the one he just gave me." He said, as he rubbed his bottom.

"It'll last too, believe me, I know. Why did you do it, Davy?"

"I wanted to pay you back for all the things you've made me do in the past. I'm sorry."

"Sorry you got caught, you mean. For once I was believed only because Hoss saw the tack room after I'd done it, or I would have been in the sore state you are in now. I can't believe you tried to get Dad to give me a spanking for something I didn't do."

"I'm sorry. D'you think I'll be okay by tomorrow?" Davy asked, still rubbing his bottom.

"Maybe, but I wouldn't bank on it." She smiled, knowing she had been through the same thing before.

"And I wouldn't bank on it either." The stern voice brought them both to attention. Davy turned to face his Dad, protecting his bottom at the same time.

"I told you to stay in your room, young man. I don't like being disobeyed."

"I wanted to tell Cathy I was sorry. You said I was to do that."

"Yes, but I want you to do it in front of everyone. So you will apologise again at breakfast. Now go back to your room." And as Davy passed Adam he earned himself another hard swat to help him on his way. A yelp came from Davy as he trudged back to his room.

Adam then turned to Cathy.

"Did you finish your essay?"

"Yes, Dad, I did. I hope Mrs Myers will think its okay."

"I'm sure she will. Now come sit with me." He held out his hand for Cathy to take it and quietly led her to the bed where he sat them both side by side. Adam put his arm around Cathy's shoulder and kissed her forehead.

"You know I love you and always will."

"Yes, Dad, I know you do."

"I want you and Davy to always remember that I'm always here for you both. I'm here to teach you right from wrong, to guide you in life. For instance, and I've said this before, when you lie, you're protecting yourself; it's like saying you don't trust me to be your father and that really hurts me to think that's how you feel. So please, in the future come to me whenever you're feeling uncertain or afraid, let me be your father."

"Yes, Dad. I understand you." But there will always be times when that can't happen, like THAT woman, Cathy thought.

"The reason Davy tried to get you in trouble was because he told me how you keep telling him what to do. Is that true"

"I suppose so. But he annoys me sometimes."

"Well, in future I want you to tell me if it happens again. Understand?"

"Yes, Dad."

"Now I want you to get to bed, okay? And be fresh for school tomorrow. I will talk to Davy about what I've just told you. And I hope in future you and Davy will be better for it."

"Yes, Dad."

"Oh, and by the way, your chores punishment has been lifted. Davy will be doing them instead. It's your lucky day." Adam informed her, smiling. He reached out to Cathy and placed her between his knees, put his arms around her, pulled her to him in a tight hug and placed a loving kiss on her cheek. "Now change into your nightdress and into bed. I'll pop in a little later to make sure you're okay."

"Alright, Dad." She said, hugging him back and giving him a kiss on his cheek.

Adam stood up then and left Cathy to get to bed as he his way back downstairs. ….

"Let's hope that's the end of it." Adam said as he made his way to his chair.

"And Davy?" Ben asked.

"He'll be taking over Cathy's chores for the next three days."

"What happened with Davy, Adam?" Hoss asked, concerned for the young lad.

"He got his first spanking."

"Ouch!" From Joe. "I well understand how he must be feeling and hurting."

Hoss smiled at that. "I guess he deserved it."

"Any coffee left?" Adam asked.

"It's fresh," Ben said, "I asked Hop Sing to refill the coffee pot. He just brought it in. But I thought you'd prefer a brandy right now."

"Right, Pa, thanks. I think I'd like to have a coffee too. Punishing one's children in not easy." Adam drank the brandy almost straight down.

"This I know." Ben replied, looking at all his sons with complete understanding.

"Didn't stop you though, Pa, did it." Joe added.

"I am the father," Ben said, "and know my duty if I wanted my children to grow up with the right outlook and respect in life. Maybe one day you will understand as Adam is beginning to understand. Now I'm ready for bed." He said, rising from his chair and making his way over to the stairs. "Maybe you should all do the same. Goodnight all." Ben proceeded up the stairs and out of sight.

"He's right," Hoss stated, as he too made his way up the stairs, leaving the unfinished game of checkers. "Goodnight you two."

"Goodnight, Hoss." Chorused the two remaining brothers.

"You go on Joe, I'm having another coffee and brandy first."

"I'll have one with you, Adam." Joe said as he gathered up the checkers things and put them in the box.

Adam poured two brandies. Joe joined him and silently the two drank down their drinks. Once done, they both made their way upstairs. Saying their goodnights, Joe went into his room, while Adam checked on his children. Both were fast asleep. He smiled and went on into his own room and after divesting himself of his clothing and donned a nightshirt, which was a must these days, since having his children, laid down in his bed and within a short time he was in a brandy induced sleep.