Twice the Trouble

Chapter 11

"Oh quit your whining. I am not too thrilled with this job either," Ali said frowning, as both girls stood in front of the chicken coop surveying the job ahead.

Ben had gotten both girls up bright and early before he left for the day and had instructed them to get started as soon as they ate breakfast.

"But I have never even been around a chicken coop, much less gone into one of the disgusting things."

Turning towards Ali with her hands on her hips Rebecca continued ranting. "You know, this is all your fault."

"My fault? Now you listen here, missy. I will admit I had a part in the argument, but I won't take all the blame. So quit your bellyaching and let's get started."

Ali reached over and undid the wire that kept the coop gate closed and started inside. When she turned to see if Rebecca was following, all she saw was Rebecca standing perfectly still not moving an inch.

"Well what are you waiting for? This won't clean itself, you know."

"But…but it is so dirty in there. Those chickens, well they um…they well you know. They do their business on the ground," Rebecca said wrinkling her nose, as she looked all around the coop.

"Yep, they sure do. That is why it needs cleaned. And the nests need new straw so let's get busy. You start raking and I will go and get the wheelbarrow and shovel so we can shovel the droppings into the wheelbarrow."

"Now just a minute there. Why don't I go and get the wheelbarrow and you start raking?" Rebecca protested, as she stood her ground with her arms folded across her chest.

Ali took a deep breath and tried to control her temper. She had promised Adam she would be the adult and as such she would let the little brat have her way if it kept the peace and got the job done. The quicker they got done, the quicker she could be away from this annoying girl.

"Very well. You go and get the wheelbarrow and I will start raking," Ali agreed, as she started over to the side of the chicken coop to grab the rake.

Rebecca suddenly grabbed her arm as she asked, "Wait…just where is the wheelbarrow anyway?"

Ali just shook her head in frustration as she answered, "I think it is in the barn. So just walk your little self over there and get it."

"Very well," Rebecca huffed, as she stomped past Ali towards the barn.

As she was walking in the direction of the barn, she looked up and saw Percy coming out of the barn carrying two buckets of oats. He was headed down to the corral to feed the two new horses that had come in yesterday. Thinking quickly she waved her hand to get his attention.

"Oh, Percy dear, would you come over here please?"

As soon as he heard her voice and saw her smile, Percy couldn't get to Rebecca fast enough as he hurried over to her with a silly grin on his face.

"Hello, Miss Rebecca. How are you today? Is there something I can do for you?"

Placing her hand on Percy's arm Rebecca smiled sweetly and said, "Why I am fine, Percy. But I do seem to have a bit of a problem. I apparently need the wheelbarrow and I just don't know where to find it. Could you please go and get it for me, dear boy?"

"Why of course I can get it for you, Miss Rebecca. You just wait here and I will be right back. I sure wouldn't want you to overdo today. I know how hot it is and how sensitive you would be to the sun if you did too much."

Setting the buckets down, Percy turned and hurried over to the barn and went inside. A few moments later he emerged pushing the wheelbarrow in front of him. Ali had been busy raking the ground in the chicken coop and hadn't really noticed what Rebecca was up to, and actually didn't really care until she looked up and saw Percy pushing the wheelbarrow. Dropping the rake she stormed out of the chicken coop and headed for Percy and Rebecca.

"Now just a minute there! How come you are pushing the wheelbarrow, Percy? Rebecca is supposed to be doing that," Ali declared, as she stopped in front of Rebecca.

"Oh now don't worry about it, Alissa. Percy was just being a gentleman and helping me out. Of course you wouldn't know anything about that because you never act like a lady, so I am sure most men wouldn't offer to help you," Rebecca snickered, as she smiled at Percy.

Moving in closer towards Rebecca until they were only inches apart, Ali looked up at Rebecca and glared. "Now you listen here, you little witch. The only reason you are not sitting on the ground this very minute is because I promised Adam I would not loose my temper with you. But you are coming real close to me going back on that promise!"

"Oh for heaven sake, what difference does it make who gets the stupid wheelbarrow as long as it gets to the chicken coop?"

"The difference is that you are suppose to work right along side of me…not have someone else do your work. And Percy is not suppose to help at all. So pick up the damn wheelbarrow and move it!"

Gasping at Ali's rudeness, Rebecca turned to Percy as she said smugly, "See, Percy, this is what I have to put up with. This girl is so rude and so crass that she can never stop swearing, just like a saloon girl."

Suddenly Ali made a fist and shoved it in front of Rebecca's face as she warned, "You are coming mighty close to getting a black eye, you annoying brat!"

"Why you evil person! Get your fist out of my face this instant!"

"Or what?" Ali asked, grinning wickedly.

"I'll…I'll knock you down again," Rebecca declared, as she reached over and shoved Ali's shoulder.

Well that was all it took to get these two back into the fray as Ali instantly pushed Rebecca back, almost knocking her off her feet. Rebecca looked startled at first, but soon that look turned to anger as she grabbed Ali's hair, and soon both girls were pulling hair and yelling about how they were going to yank each other's hair out by the roots.

Now Percy was still basking in the glow of being called a "man" by Rebecca and it took him a second to realize what was going on right in front of him.

Not sure what to do, he put up his hands and quickly tried to get between these two as he shouted, "Ladies, now ladies, please stop this! Someone is going to get hurt!"

Of course his words went unheeded because by now both girls had a hold of each other's hair and were pulling and tugging for all their might. Elbows and hands were going everywhere as they grappled, each trying to get the upper hand. As Percy put his head down and tried to get between the two fighting girls, someone grabbed a handful of his hair and he yelped loudly and quickly stepped back, not sure what he should do next or even if it was worth it to try and stop these two crazy females.

Finally Alissa had had enough as she put her foot behind Rebecca's leg and made a sliding motion that easily took Rebecca's legs out from under her and she started to fall to the ground. The gesture had surprised Rebecca so much that she grabbed hold of the front of Alissa's shirt to keep from falling. Trying to get Rebecca to let go of her shirt, Alissa forcefully pulled her arms back away from the tumbling girl. But unfortunately Percy was standing slightly behind Alissa and her left elbow connected with a powerful blow to Percy's stomach. A whooshing sound could be heard coming from Percy as the air went out of him and he grabbed his stomach and leaned over moaning.

Alissa had been too busy trying to get Rebecca's tight grip off her shirt so she didn't end up on the ground also and didn't hear Percy's moaning. She decided to give one final pull and finally Rebecca released the strong hold she had on Ali's shirtfront, although the pocket on Ali's shirt didn't fair as well and suddenly ripped.

Regrettably for Percy though, when Ali had pulled back with all her might her elbow once again found the dear boy. Only this time it connected with his right eye. He had been bent over holding onto his stomach and Alissa's elbow had been perfectly lined up with his eye. So when she pulled back, not only did she get Rebecca's hand off of her shirt, she landed a perfect shot to Percy's eye.

"OWW! OH MY GOSH, I AM BLINDED!" Percy yelled, as he fell to the ground and rolled around with one hand on his stomach and the other on his injured eye.

"Oh Percy, what happened to you?" Ali cried, as she turned to see him rolling on the ground.

"You are what happened to me! You hit me in the stomach and now my eye. I will be blinded for life!" Percy shouted, as he continued lying on the ground.

Ali kneeled down by Percy when she finally realized what had happened. "Oh, Percy, I am so sorry. I didn't know I had accidentally elbowed you. I was so involved in trying to get Rebecca's death grip off of me that I didn't realized my elbow had hit you. Are you going to be okay?"

"No! I may never see again," Percy complained, as he sat up holding his eye. "Rebecca is right, you are an awful person!"

"Oh, Percy, I am so sorry. I really didn't mean to hurt you. Let me see your eye."

By now Rebecca had crawled over to where they were sitting and watched as Percy moved his hand away from his eye.

"Oh no, it is starting to swell! What did you do, Alissa?"

"My elbow must have connected with him when I was trying to get YOU to let go of my shirt."

Turning back to look at Percy's eye Ali let out a low whistle, "Oh dear, it looks like it is going to be a pretty good shiner, Percy. I really am so sorry. Let's go get a cold cloth to put on your eye to keep the swelling to a minimum."

"CHICKENS!" Rebecca shrieked, as she got up on her knees and pointed.

"What are you talking about now, Rebecca?" Ali asked sharply, as she started to stand up. But it didn't take her long to understand what Rebecca was talking about as a chicken dashed right between her legs.

Then when the rooster came strutting by it dawned on Ali what had happened as she gasped and pointed at the rooster. "Oh crap, I left the gate open and now all the chickens are running around everywhere. Don't just sit there you two, get up and help me guide them back into the coop!" Ali shouted, as she took off after the rooster.

"How can I chase a chicken when I can't even see?" Whined Percy, as he stood up holding his eye.

"Oh for heaven sakes, Percy, stop whining and help me. And you too Becky," Ali shouted over her shoulder, as she made a wild dive for the rooster but came up with nothing but dirt.

Standing up and dusting off her skirt Rebecca snapped, "I am not about to touch those disgusting creatures. They could bite me!"

"Yeah, well if Ben comes home and sees his chickens running loose you are going to have a lot more to worry about than some silly chickens biting you. Now get going and chase them towards the coop," Ali ordered, as she got up from the ground and picked some straw out of her hair.

"Well I didn't start this mess and I certainly am not going to jeopardize my eyesight over some wayward chickens," Percy grumbled, as he headed for the barn.

Ali quickly turned around and walked over until she stood in front of Percy with her hands on her hips.

"Now you listen here, Percy. I am truly sorry for your eye, but I can't do this alone. Now I am not a violent person, but unless you want me to blacken your other eye, you better help me!"

Percy's eyes widened at Alissa's show of temper and decided he better do as she ask for now. He had seen her temper before and he wasn't about to risk another black eye, although he didn't think she would really do it.

"Very well, but not because I am afraid of you. It's only because I don't want to face the wrath of Mr. Cartwright, even though YOU were the one who left the gate open," Percy pointed out, as he started for a stray chicken that had just darted past him.

"Well I am NOT touching one of those creatures and that is final!" Rebecca insisted, as she headed for the house only to be grab by her arm and spun around to face a very frustrated and angry Alissa.

"Do you remember what Mr. Cartwright told you? He said he doesn't want any more trouble from you or he may just decide to warm that pretty little bottom of yours. And I can definitely tell you that he is not a person who makes idle threats. Don't you think if he comes home and sees we are still fighting and his chickens are running all over creation…he may just be a tad bit UPSET! Now put a sock in it and quit your complaining and help me!"

Looking confused Rebecca replied, "Where would I put a sock? And why on earth would I want to put a sock somewhere. It certainly isn't going to help with the chickens."

"Never mind, just get busy," Ali said, as she rolled her eyes and quickly headed for the two chickens that had just run past her.

"Very Well. I certainly don't want to have Mr. Cartwright angry with me, even though you are the one that left the gate open. So really you should be the one getting into trouble. And if he says anything to me, you can be sure I will be more than happy to tell him so."

"I am sure you will, you little witch," Ali mumbled, as she headed for a chicken.

Putting her hands out in front of her, Rebecca started talking to the chickens hoping to encourage them to move towards the chicken coop.

"Shoo little chickies. Time to go home you dreadful creatures."

Of course the chickens paid absolutely no attention to Rebecca and calmly kept pecking at the ground hoping to find something new to eat. Ali wasn't having any better luck as she tried to guide the wayward chickens away from the barn and towards the chicken coop. If she got one to start in the direction she wanted it to go, then the others would simply head off in opposite directions.

Percy had gone into the barn and came out with a feed sack hoping to shoo some of the chickens with the sack, but was not having very good luck either with his idea. It was starting to look like some kind of crazy square dance with the chickens weaving in and out of the tired and frustrated trio. That was until the sound of someone shouting made everyone stand perfectly still. Even the chickens were startled enough to stand still for the moment.

"JUST WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?"

TBC


Well readers, I thought it might be fun to let you decide who is doing the yelling, and the Cartwright that gets the most votes will be the one that has to deal with this mess. You can choose between Adam, Joe or Hoss because Ben has already left. But please don't forget to tell me what you think of the chapter too!


As always, I so appreciate guests and members alike who take the time to leave me such wonderful reviews, and your comments inspire me to write even more. Thank you so much. ~ Sierra