Setting Things Straight

Emma snuggled into her husband's side and linked her arm in his as he skillfully guided the wagon out of the meadow. The 3 children in the back were talking softly about flying the kites and how much they enjoed it. Emma linked arms with her husband and he smiled at her as her steered the wagon along the dusty trail.

After 20 or so minutes passed, Adam hit a rut in the road with one of the wheels and it caused the wagon to veer sharply so that Emma fell into Adam.

"Sorry sweetheart, I misjudged that," he said.

"It's fine, it happens," Emma replied.

"Adam bent down and kissed his wife on the top of her head, "You OK, darling?" he asked after turning onto the main trail.

"Yes, it's been quite a day hasn't it?"

"Yes darling it sure has. The meadow sure is beautiful this time of year, isn't it?"

"Oh yes, the colours are so vivid and the range of different wild flowers assaults your senses, I can see why Joe used to take his sweetheart's there."

Adam chuckled, "Emma, you say that every time we go there. You know, I doubt Joe's been there in years, well since he's met Amelia anyway."

"Really Adam? I'm not sure how much privacy you get at the Ponderosa living with your father!"

Adam laughed, "No I guess not, but Amelia and Joe aren't married yet and Pa would kill Joe, old as he now is, if he found them in a compromising position!"

"Adam, ssh, the children!" scolded Emma.

"OH they're alright they've all been asleep for the past 10 minutes."

Emma turned around and saw that her husband was correct," How did you know, you haven't turned around since we left?"

"Well for one thing they're quiet and our children even whisper loudly….and the other….well I did have two much younger brothers to take care of and they always fell asleep on the way back from town or the lake when I was driving the wagon. Lulled to sleep by the gentle rocking I suppose. Plus they all got up much too early this morning, so I expect that they are "all tuckered out" as my brother Hoss would say!"

"OH. Well they look very angelic cuddled up together back there." Emma said as she snuggled back into her husband's side.

Adam chuckled softly," They always do when they're asleep, like butter wouldn't melt in their mouths!"

"Adam?"

"Yes sweetheart?"

"Did I do something to upset you when we were ready to fly the kites?" Emma asked quietly.

"Why do you ask?" asked Adam wishing that this conversation would happen later.

"Well I was going to talk to you at home about it, but seeing as the children are asleep….I saw a hint of a scowl earlier when I told you that we used to make kites back when I was a child and then a little later you frowned when I started flying the kite with Annabel."

"Darling, can't this conversation wait until we are back home?"

"Why is it that serious?" she asked in return.

"No, it's just that I'd rather wait until the children couldn't hear us, please sweetheart?"

"Oh OK. Can I just say then that I thought your idea to make and fly kites in the meadow today was a wonderful idea? The children and I enjoyed it and it gave Zach the chance to join in too."

"Thank you darling, I enjoyed it too," Adam said and he turned his head and placed a soft kiss on his wife's lips.

"It's been an eventful day hasn't it?" Emma stated.

"Yes, not exactly the day I envisaged when I woke up this morning, but then it seems to have worked out OK in the end. Do you think that we will need to give Zach some more painkiller, before bed?" asked Adam.

"It would probably be a good idea; it will help him sleep anyway. Adam, what are you going to do about the children's candy?"

"I've been thinking about that, I did say no candy if they misbehaved and they are all going to bed early, straight after supper."

"I know you did, darling, but they did sacrifice their allowance for several weeks by the sounds of it to get our present. Don't you think you are being a little hard on them denying them the candy?"

"Sweetheart, my father always told me that you shouldn't reward bad behaviour, now how can I let them have the candy if they have misbehaved? Much as I agree with you Emma, we have to be consistent."

Emma leaned in and whispered in her husband's ear just in case the children were listening, "And so if that is the case, why did you buy the rock candy, Abraham's favourite?"

Adam turned his face to the side and grinned, "I never said he couldn't have it I just said he wouldn't get any today!"

Emma slapped her husband's arm playfully, "You stinker, you made me think that you were leaving him out!"

"Hey, I'm stern not cruel! You are right, darling, the children didn't have to do anything for us, but they did extra chores and saved their allowance to buy our present and we have to show them how much it means. But no candy today, they can have it in the morning to eat on the way to church."

"Oh Adam, can't they have one little piece before bed, please? I know that they've had their moments today but they haven't done anything really serious and they have already been punished for what they have done." Emma pleaded.

Adam sighed, "Alright, one piece, but then they go to bed and you my love owe me some mighty fine loving, to make up for teasing me this morning." He wrapped his arm around his wife and they sat that way whilst Adam steered the wagon back to the homestead.

"Abraham, Zach, Annabel? We're home, wake up," called Adam, as he pulled the reins and brought the wagon to a halt in the middle of the courtyard.

The 3 children woke at their fathers word's and yawned. "Annabel! Careful you hit my arm!" yelled Zach.

"Shut up Zach, it was an accident. She never meant too. I saw her stretching," said Abraham as he pulled his sister into a hug noticing that she had started to cry.

"I never said she meant it, I just asked her to be careful!"

"Hey now, stop that yelling back there! Zach, apologise to your sister," said Emma as she was helped down from the wagon by her husband.

"But she hit my arm, Mama, it hurts," replied the 7 year old.

"Did she hit your arm deliberately, Zach?"

Sniff, "No Mama."

"No that's right she didn't, Zach it was an accident so you apologise for yelling at her."

"Yes, Mama. Sorry Annabel," stated the young boy after his father had helped him down from the wagon. Adam ruffled the young boy's hair and whispered, "Thank you son. I know your arm hurts and it was probably settling down, your sister never meant to hurt you. Do you need any more or the doctor's medicine now or can you wait until bedtime, remember that it will make you sleepy."

"I don't want to feel sleepy papa, can I wait, please."

"Of course, perhaps your Mama can put some of the doctor's salve on for you, that might make it feel a little better. Why don't you go and ask her to do that for you, whilst Abe and I get the wagon unloaded."

"OK Papa."

Adam smiled at his son and gently pushed him in the direction of the house. "Annabel sweetie, come to the back and I'll help you down."

The little girl did as she was told and Adam picked the little girl up, kissed her on the cheek and lowered her down to the ground, "Go help Mama, sweetie," he said and he watched her run off into the house. "OK Abe, I guess it's you and me, can you unload the wagon please whilst I take care of the horses?"

"Sure, Pa," replied the young boy jumping down from the back of the wagon. Abraham unloaded the blankets, cushions, the two kites and the bag from the store and made several trips back to the house, whilst Adam unhitched the team and led them back into the barn. Undoing all of the reigns and braces Adam picked up a curry comb and brushed through the horses coats and when he was finished, he filled the feed troughs with oats and the water troughs with fresh clean water. Patting both horses on the flanks he left the barn and walked out to move the wagon from the middle of the courtyard.

Abraham had finished unloading the wagon and had just secured the back board when his father came from the barn, "Pa, do you want me to help you move the wagon?"

"No son, it's OK, I've got it, go wash up for supper."

"Yes, sir."

Adam lifted the front of the wagon and with a great heave, he pulled the wagon from the courtyard into its home by the side of the barn. Dusting himself off he went into the house to wash up.

"Ah, there you are Adam, Abraham said that he offered to help you with the wagon but you refused his help."

"Yes I did, because I did not need it and thought that you might need his help, laying the table or something."

"No, Annabel was a good little girl and she laid the table. Zach is resting on the sofa and I've already got supper on, it should be around 15 minutes. I thought we would have the rest of that cold brisket, mashed potatoes and beans, is that OK?"

"Of course, sweetheart, I'll just wash up. Have you changed Zach's bandage and put some salve on yet?"

"No, not yet, I was going to do it next."

"Well don't worry, darling, let me wash up and I'll do it. Abe? Thank you for offering to help with the wagon, I wasn't trying to hurt your feelings by not accepting your offer, you understand that right?"

"Yes Pa."

"Good boy, now why don't you go and keep your brother occupied for a few minutes whilst I wash up."

"OK Pa."

Adam went to the kitchen and pumped some cold water into the bowl, grabbed the bar of soap and quickly washed the dirt and dust from his hands and face. He dried himself with a towel and returned to the family room, Grabbing the doctors supplies from the bag, Abraham had placed on the credenza he walked over to the sofa where Zach was resting.

Taking a seat on the sofa he asked his son to sit up. "Zach, when I take the bandage off the air will hit your arm and make it a bit sore at first, I'll try and be as careful as I can Ok?"

"Yes Papa," replied the young boy.

Adam untied the bandage and slowly unwrapped it from his son's arm removing the gauze as well.

"Ouch, Pp..papa….that hurts," stated Zach.

"I know, son, let me put the doctor's salve on and the new bandage and it will feel much better. Abe, can you distract your brother, please?"

"Yes sir. Zach, after church tomorrow, we're going to grandpa's, Uncle Joe will be there and maybe Uncle Hoss too, we can show them our kite and tell Uncle Joe how we flew it in the meadow…" said Abraham trying to get his younger brother to engage with him.

"Can I tell grandpa that I drew the eagle?" asked the younger boy eagerly.

"Yep, and young can tell him how you managed to fly the kite even with one hand."

"All done, Zach," said Adam. "That should start feeling better in a while and you can have some of the doctor's medicine just before bed.

Zach looked back at his father surprised that he was finished and he saw the new bandage. Slowly he moved his arm, it was still sore but it already felt a little better. "Thanks Papa."

"You're welcome, son. "

"Supper! Everyone to the table please!" yelled Emma.

After everyone, including Annabel had eaten their fill, Adam wiped his face with the napkin and he sat back in his chair, "Children, today has not been a gala day for any of you, however your Mama and I have spoken about it and we have decided that we wanted to acknowledge the sacrifice of your allowance to buy us such a lovely present for our anniversary. Therefore you may have one piece of candy before bed, but you will all still be going to bed after supper, this is not because you are being punished although that is what I said earlier. It is more because you have all been up a long time, having gotten up before the sun this morning and I don't want us to be late for church tomorrow. Your Mama and I will also be having an early night. Abraham, I purchased some rock candy for you, it is in the bag with the other candy."

"Thank you Pa, but you said I wasn't allowed any candy," said the 9 year old.

"I know I did and normally I would not have allowed you to have any for being rude and disrespectful to your Mama. However you and your brother and sister did not have to save your allowance or do extra chores to buy something special for your Mama and I but you did and I… no we… want to thank you all very much for that. So….you can all have one piece of candy, a short story and then bed and sleep, you can have the rest of the candy to eat on the way to church tomorrow."

"Children you may all leave the table and I think your Papa deserves a kiss and a thank you, don't you?" said Emma and seeing three nodding head she continued, " Go on then, go up and get ready for bed then come back downstairs and we will all sit and listen to your father read a story. Abraham, please help your brother with his nightgown."

"Yes ma'am," replied the older boy as he followed his younger brother and sister in thanking his father before heading off up the stairs.

10 minutes later, three children arrived back downstairs in their nightgowns and took a seat on the sofa. Emma and Adam were sitting in an armchair each and there was a pot of coffee on the table and 3 small cups of hot chocolate. "Annabel, your chocolate is still a little too hot for you even though I've added some extra milk, please be careful and blow it before you drink it," said Emma as she helped the little girl up onto the sofa.

"OK, who turn is it to choose the story?" asked Adam as he passed each child the small bag of candy he had purchased for them at the store.

"I think it's my turn Papa," replied Annabel, "But I want Zachy to choose tonight because I hurted him at breakfast.

"Now sweetie, we've been over this, you shouldn't have thrown your toast but you didn't mean to hurt your brother."

"Please Papa?"

"OK sweetie, but then you forget about it, OK? Zach already forgave you and you were punished for being naughty."

"Yes Papa," agreed the little girl and she snuggled up to her middle brother, "Zachy, you can choose the story."

"Well Zach, what story do you want?" asked Adam.

"Can we have Handsel and Gretel?" asked the middle child smiling at his younger sister. Annabel loved the story of Handsel and Gretel.

"Sure," said Adam, turning to the story in his book of Grimm's Fairy tales, he began.

When Adam finished the story, all 3 of his children had fallen asleep huddled up next to one another. "I told you they were tired," he chuckled.

"Yes and the hot chocolate probably helped that, still I think Abraham probably heard most of it and they know the story well enough already. I'll take Annabel up, can you manage both boys?"

"I think so, Abe will probably be OK to wake up and he'll walk, I'll carry Zach," replied Adam. Adam gently woke Abraham and then pried Annabel away from her other brother and passed her into her mother's waiting arms.

"Abe? Time for bed, can you walk in front of me and open the doors please, whilst I carry Zach up?" Adam said softly.

"Arrrrwwwhhh, Yes, Pa," yawned the oldest child.

"Good lad," Adam patted the boy on the shoulder and he put the injured arm on the younger boys chest and then picked him up carefully so as to not disturb the sleeping child. "Come one then Abe, let's get you and Zach to bed."

Adam followed his oldest up the stairs to the boys room and settled both of them into bed, pulling the covers up and tucking them both in. "Goodnight Zach, sleep tight," Adam said as he placed a kiss on the younger boys forehead. Then crossing back to his other child he leant down to do the same, "Goodnight Abraham, sleep tight."

"Goodnight, Pa, see you in the morning and Pa? Thanks for the candy."

Adam caressed the little boys face, "Abraham, you are a good boy most of the time and you are right, you are growing up and will need to be allowed to try things on your own, but try not to do it too fast, OK?"

The little boy smiled at his father, "Yes Pa."

"Goodnight, son," Adam said turning down the light and walking quickly from the room, shutting the door softly so that it clicked.

Adam walked down the stairs and found Emma clearing up the cups. "Annabel settle OK?" he asked.

"Yes, she's out cold. Let me just wash the supper things and then I'll join you in bed."

"No that's not fair, let me help you and then we can have our own early night," replied Adam following his wife into the kitchen.

Washing up done, Adam and Emma returned to their bedroom. Adam undressed, folded his cloths and pulled on his nightgown whilst Emma did the same and then Adam slid into bed and Emma sat at her dresser brushing through her long brown hair. Adam watched his wife brush the knots from her silky hair, enjoying the way that the hair flowed around and caressed her slender white neck. 'Mmm, I think that neck needs some attention.'

When Emma finished brushing her hair, she turned down the light and climbed into bed next to her husband and snuggled close to him. "Happy Anniversary, Adam," she said, turning her head to kiss him. The couple kissed passionately and Adam started caressing his wife's neck whilst planting soft kisses on his lips, and working his way down her face.

"Adam, please…..please stop doing that," said Emma breathlessly, as she tried to ignore the pleasure she was feeling from Adam's caressing and kisses.

"Mmm, but why darling, you promised to show me….just how much you love me, don't you remember….." said Adam between kissing his way up his wife's sweet slender neck, whilst he caressed her arm and shoulder, working his way gently down the soft white skin.

Pushing her husband away from her, Emma put her hand to Adam's lips, "Adam….please….I want to talk."

"About what, darling? I thought we had talked enough on the way home in the wagon," Adam said as he looked into his wife's eyes.

"Well, I know that we did talk earlier but we never talked about what I really wanted to say," replied Emma.

Adam stopped caressing his wife and propped his head up on his hand with his elbow on the pillow, "Darling can't this wait until tomorrow? It's been such a trying day and all I want to do is show you how much I love you on our anniversary."

Emma turned onto her side and lay facing her husband. "I know you do and I do too, but we have to talk first." She paused, "Look Adam, I know that you were raised by your father who was on his own most of the time whilst raising you, but our children have two parents. I don't think that you mean to, but you undermine me when you take over the discipline of the children, even when you just scold them."

"What? When?"

"In town earlier today you did it, I was perfectly OK scolding Abraham but then you came and interfered. I can manage our children's discipline perfectly well! After all how do you think things go on around here when you are away on a cattle drive or something? Just because we disagree on spanking doesn't mean that I don't have my own way of controlling the children's behaviour!"

"You mean because I chastised Abraham in town earlier? Darling did you not see the scowl he gave you when you told him to get into the wagon?" Adam asked.

"No I didn't but that is beside the point! I told you I had handled the situation yet you felt the need to add to it," Emma stated angrily.

"Of for Christ's sakes, Emma. The boy was being disrespectful!"

"Then you should have told me," said Emma sitting up abruptly. "Adam, when the children see that you don't trust me to manage their discipline, then you are sending them the message that I am not to be listened to!" Emma took a deep breath and sighed, "Sweetheart, I need you to show me support. If the children complain to you, I need you to tell them to mind me and if you see them doing something then of course you must manage that but we are supposed to be equals in this family. You promised me that we would always have an equal say in the raising of our children. I don't always agree with you spanking them but I see that at times you are proved correct and that their behaviour does improve after a spanking."

Adam sat up and took his wife's small hands in his, "Emma we are equals, but sometimes I think that you are too soft on the children, especially the boys, they need a firm hand."

"Well that's as maybe, Adam, but we should then talk about it. I'm sure that as they grow older and experience teenaged tantrums then I will need to learn to be a little tougher on them, but for now I need you to allow me to discipline them MY WAY. If you don't like it or think that I am being too soft on them, then you should talk to me when we are alone and explain why and maybe I might think that you are right, don't you think?"

"Yes, OK. I'm sorry if you felt that I undermined you, I guess that even though we've been married 10 years I still fall back into the way I was raised, especially when the boys are disrespectful, it takes me back to helping Pa raise little Joe. Now there was a mischievous little boy that would have given our boys a run for their money! When Pa was away I'd often have to tan him for being sassy or down right disrespectful of everyone around him."

Emma smiled weakly at her husband and he grinned back, "So, Am I forgiven?" he asked.

"Maybe!"

"Maybe? Why maybe?"

"Well, I think I deserve a proper apology don't you, Mr. Cartwright?" Emma said playfully.

"OH? Well….Mrs. Cartwright, I apologise for my behaviour in town today, I'd like to make it up to you by making love until the dawn's light comes. Would that be sufficient penance?" Adam said as he leaned in for a kiss.

Emma opened her lips slightly and she and Adam shared a passionate kiss, his tongue lightly flicking into her mouth and engaging with hers.

"Mmm, well Mr. Cartwright, I do believe that I can accept that apology," and Emma allowed her husband to lay her down whilst his hand gently unbuttoned her nightgown.