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: An Adam whump, Alexandra won't fair too well in the end either. Spanking of a minor in this chapter.
Summary and re-cap
Adam Cartwright continues to tell and embellish one of Alexandra's adventures to the young and pretty nurse Martha Strawn, as the child sleeps.
After playing a prank on Lydia Anne and inadvertently Miss Jones, Alex is expelled. Over hearing her father discuss the events, with her grandfather and Joe, she runs away, believing Adam is sending her to a boarding school in San Francisco.
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."
Chapter 11: Return of The King Of Hearts and Plan B.
Flashback continued;
Joe and Ben entered the room, to find Adam picking up the pieces of the playing card.
"Adam, what's wrong?" Asked Ben
"Alex has gone… Joe what else was in that survival kit of yours?"
Joe moved over to the bed and picked up the now empty box and the remaining object.
"Okay, if I remember, there was a map, and a compass, knife…. Oh, I remember Plan B, a knife, and a picture of an angel, my angel, you gave me, ohhh, and plans of the tree house up by the lake, you remember, Adam the one you designed and built for me."
"What's Plan B, Joe?"
"Plan B, Adam is run away and live in the tree house until Pa cools down." Informed Joe
"So, Alex has run away because she's scared of me, I'm too angry?
"And, If I remember correctly, Joe, That was probably a wise idea after some of your antics," chuckled Ben.
"I'm glad you two find this all very amusing. Pa, I have never spanked Alexandra when I was too angry."
"Nor did I with you boys, oh, well, maybe, once or twice. You know we get it wrong sometimes. Adam. It's those times we learn from, and one thing I did learn, was that there's no sin in admitting you were wrong."
"Pa, I haven't done anything wrong, YET!"
"Well, you're starting to lose your temper," lectured Ben.
"I'm worried, she's run away, she's out there, a little girl with no idea how to look after self. She hasn't grown up here."
"You're scared, Adam, and that makes you even angrier. It's hard to control that fear when your children are at risk. It's very normal. We will find Alex; she'll be up at the tree house."
"Yeah, Adam it's only up at the south lake, 40 minutes away. And Alex may not have been bought up around here, but ya gotta admit she's a damn resourceful little bugger."
"Joseph, language?"
"It's only us, Pa."
Slap. Ben cuffed Joe up the ear.
"Ow,"
"No excuse!" Scolded Ben.
"Well, I better get going. Pa, Joe, can you stay here in case she returns?"
"Sure, Adam. Oh, and, Adam, some advice…."
"Don't worry, Pa, Your right, she will be fine and when I find her safe and sound I will pick her up, kiss her and hug her tight with every relieved little bone in my body. I will hold her close and make sure she knows how much I love her; we all love her, that she's wanted and will always be kept safe. Then, I'm going to give her the hiding of her life for scaring me half to death!"
Meanwhile up at the lake.
It had taken well over an hour for Alexandra to make it to the tree house. Joe's map was easy enough to follow, But, Leo was small, 12 hands at the most, that with the small wagon she had loaded and pulled behind slowed them down.
Alex thought of bringing Little George, but was aware that he was just too small to survive in the wild, so, true to form and her theatrical style, had left a note for Hop Sing; Deer Hop sing, could ya feed and look afta little George for me. He don't eat much. I will send for him ifin I get work. Please don't eat him, it wasn't his fault ya rum balls got ruined, he was a innocent pawn of ma dastardly deed.
Alex had loaded the small wagon with what few supplies she could gather together in the middle of the night without disturbing anyone in the house. Her booty included cookies, bread, a pot and fry pan, some clothing, blankets, rope and tools, such as hammer, nails, and a small saw. The survival kit provided a list of these needs a long with the compass, a knife (though small) and directions. Alex also made sure she had the small leather bound book, "Shakespeare's Monologues" that her mother had given her, and, although she was kind of mad at her father, a black cotton shirt. She had hesitated before adding a box of matches from Hop Sing's Kitchen and a small riffle she found in the gun cabinet below the stairs. It was Joe's riffle; his first one grandpa had given him for his 14th birthday. It stood locked away in the gun cabinet, often starring back at her when she was relegated to the corner. Grandpa always locked it and kept the key in the top draw of his desk. She knew she would be in big trouble for taking the gun, but then she had no intention of going home and hopefully no one would find her and if they did she wouldn't let them take her back and she wouldn't let them in the tree house, no matter how mad they got at her.
Alexandra started transferring her supplies to the tree house. There was only one entrance to the impressive structure. A rope ladder hung down from the floor of a trap door and tall skinny pole, similar to the ones seen in Virginia city's new fire house, cantered in the middle of it's opening allowing a quick and effective exit. It had a trap door with a cut down the middle. Once closed it provided some protection from any cool drafts. Four small windows were on the front and back of the tree house while only two were on each of sides. This allowed the occupants almost a 360 view of the meadow and the lake that sat to the left of the trees huge trunk. Alex suspected that these openings were made small as a safety precaution, in case of Indian attacks maybe. A ferocious war painted Indian would not fit through the windows, or probably the trap door due to the obstruction of the fireman's pole.
In the other corner of the space was a securely hung hammock. Alex added her blankets and tested its strength. The rest of her new abode was scarce in furnishings; however there was a box that doubled as a small table. In it Alex found , a sling shot, which was great as hers had yet to be returned, a bucket of acorns, ammunition and a couple of detective novels and other reading material including a book about King Arthur and the Knights of the round table. Skimming through, it she noticed the picture of a catapult which answered her question to the use of the only other object in the tree house. Planted under one of the windows was crude looking frame with a long arm and spoon. This place was a fortress. The house itself sat feet off the ground on two huge horizontal branches, forked and strong enough to cradle the tree safely amongst its foliage.
Little did Alexandra know that a pair of inquisitive eyes watched her, safely hidden by some small bushes nearby. Alex had worked steadily, almost forgetting that she had run away from home or the reasons for it. Consumed with the adventure she was now having and energised by her independence and responsibilities, she took the time to go to the lake and collect clean water. Leo was the first to get a cool drink from the clear water of the lake. She then dipped her hat in the water and cupped an amount to run through her short blonde and now mattered curls. She replaced the hat in similar fashion to the way she had seen her father do on a hot afternoon. As she turned around she was startled suddenly by a figure now standing in the clearing.
A small boy, not much older than her, stood their silently watching. Dressed in buckskin britches, fringed at the sides, and decorative apron attached from the waist, he held a small spear in one hand and a stick with several fish skewered in the other. The boy wore no shirt, His long black hair fell to his bare tanned shoulders, secured with a leather strip.
Both children stared at each other for some time, examining each other's contrasting appearance. Alexandra smiled, somewhat excited by the fact that she had probably meet her first Indian. Her opponent, however did not appreciate her fearless gesture, he considered himself an Indian brave worthy at least of trepidation from any white man, or woman, or GIRL! He manufactured a nasty and vicious scowl in response.
Alexandra laughed; she could recognise bad acting at ten paces. "How!" she announced, holding up her hand.
"How what?" Articulated the boy.
"Oh, ah, How did ya catch all those fish?"
"With my spear, here at the lake before you came."
"How come you speak such good English? What's ya name anyway? where do ya live? is it far from here? Have ya ever scalped anyone?"
"You ask many questions. Are you not scared of me?"
"Nope. Ya gonna cook them fish. I can make a fire, I have matches, see." She said pulling the box from her pocket.
"You have not eaten?"
"Not since yesterday."
"Very well. Start your fire, we will share one, the others I have caught for my mother and must return soon."
"Good." Alex quickly collected firewood and started a fire. The boy attached one of his catch to a long stick and sat on a rock and rotated it over the flames.
"You do not need the fire sticks you know, I will show you how to make a flame from the flint rocks."
"Thank you, ahh, what's ya name?"
"Lajoci."
"Thank you, Lajoci, I sure could use that, these here matches ain't gonna last long."
"Why are you here?"
"I live here now. My names Alexandra Car…, my friends call me Alex, you wanna call me Alex?"
"Very well, it is easier than Alexandria. But, you are a child you cannot live here. This is the Ponderosa, The Cartwrights own all this land, they do not just share it with anyone."
"They share it with you don't they?"
"Yes. My father has taught me to speak the white man's tongue. He was taught by a boy when he was a boy. That boy was Adam Cartwright, he and my father are good friends."
Damn, Just my luck. Figures. Thought Alex.
"My grandfather is the chief of the Toi Ticutta tribe, we are Paiutes. During the spring melt we move down to the valley not far from here. Ben Cartwright and my grandfather have agreed on this. But you are a child, a girl child; you cannot live here by yourself."
"Oh, yes I can. You don't have to be a boy to be brave, or catch fish or make fires, or fire guns. So, you stand to pee, that don't make ya braver than me."
"You are a stupid female. You will be eaten by an animal. You will not taste good, but you will satisfy a beast."
"Oh, ya makin' that up."
The children laughed while they ate their fish. Lajoci continued to tell wild stories about his bravery, including the capture and skinning of a bear as a rug, a gift for his mother. He confessed to scalping many white men and counting coup on several Shoshone braves.
"Well, I must go, Alex, my mother requires I return with our morning meal. Then I have much hunting to do with the other braves."
"Wait. Can you come back tomorrow?"
"If my father will allow… I mean, if my father has no need of my skills as a great hunter. He is also a great hunter, but I am better. You should collect some berries; I will show you the ones to eat. Also make sure you have fresh water with you in the dwelling. I will show you how to set up some nets to catch fish. I will also show you how to set a trap under your tree, it should keep large beasts from eating you."
"Hmmm. Good idea."
Lajoci and Alexandra spent the next hour collecting berries and setting traps. Alex grew in confidence and was feeling as brave as her new found friend about living in the wild. Lajoci showed Alexandra how to set a simple, but effective, animal trap with rope tied to a tree. They then camouflaged its large noose and slip knot under a thick bed of leaves.
"You will be safe Alex; this trap will catch any wild angry bears. The loop will wrap around his leg and spring him up towards the branch upside down. If you are lucky no bear will come and you will catch a rabbit instead, which you can skin and eat for your supper. But, do not forget to set the trap again. I must go. My mother will be unhappy with me… uh because I have not bought back the deer I promised to catch. I have spent too much time helping a defenceless girl."
"A rabbit?" Alex hoped the trap caught neither a bear nor a rabbit. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea after all. Waving goodbye to Lajoci, she ate the last piece of fish and doused the fire. Thinking about the bears and the stories Lajoci had told, Alex decided she may just be better off gathering a few more supplies. Joe's rifle hadn't any shells, so why it might scare a human away, it was hardly going to scare an ornery animal. So, Alex went about collecting more acorns for the sling shot, making hard mud pies for the catapult and collecting berries in case a long battle was to ensue. After her busy work she then retired to the safety of the tree house to snooze.
Meanwhile back at the ranch.
Adam saddled sport and added supplies to his saddle bags. Hop Sing and Ben stood around filling him in on the missing items that Alexandra had appropriated. Each time they added an object to the list, Adam hastened his preparations. Then Joe suddenly came running out of the house.
"Adam, wait. My small rifle is missing from the cabinet."
"What?"
"Don't worry, it's not loaded."
"What about the shell boxes?"
"There aren't any… I mean, there weren't any. I haven't used that rifle for two years. There were no shells left and I never replaced them when I got my new rifle last Christmas."
Adam sighed with relief, then gritted his teeth as the anger rose, "That little lady is going to be in for one hell of a surprise when I get my hands on her. That has been my number one rule. We have talked about it and talked about it. And, she has been warned."
"Adam, just get going. Alexandra probably left at first light; she has at least three hours up on you." Advised Ben.
"Yeah, Adam don't worry. The tree house is real safe. I often went up there by myself."
"You did?" Asked Ben.
"Yeah, Pa, when I was old enough and all, Mitch and me and a couple of the gal... uh the fella's would often have a camp out."
"Hmmm."
Adam mounted Sport, raising an eyebrow at his younger brother before turning and heading up to the lake.
As soon as Adam's horse left the coral, Ben turned to Hop Sing, "Hop Sing, wait here in case Alex comes back. Joe mount up, we are heading up there."
"Pa, Adam's not going to need our help, I'm sure he can handle a runaway 10 year old."
"Oh, I'm sure he can, I just don't want to miss any of the fun. I'll bet my bottom dollar that Alex will give Adam a real run for his money."
Joe giggled, "Pa you are wicked."
Just then Hoss rode into the yard.
"Hey, Pa, little Joe, was that Adam I just seen high tailin' outta here?"
"It sure was, Hoss," said Ben.
"What's he in such a dang fired hurry about?"
"Hey, Hoss, you too tired for a short ride to the lake, the old tree house?"asked Joe.
"I'm real pluckered out, Joe, why do ya need to go up there?"
"Alexandra has run away and she's holdin' up there. Adams gone to bring her home. It's going to be real interestin."
"You right, I ain't missin' that."
"Good, come on, we will fill you in on the whole story on the way there."
Three Cartwrights mounted three horses and rode out three abreast and headed after the fourth Yankee granite head eldest Cartwright son. Hop sing waved at their shrinking forms, softly humming to himself, "Dum de lump didli ump didli ump dildli da da."
20 minutes later on the trail to the lake.
Adam was half way to the lake, when he spotted Yuma riding towards him, flanked on foot by his 11 year olds son Lajoci.
"Adam Cartwright, my old friend, it is good to see you."
"Yuma, Lajoci, it's good to see you too. Are you down camped in the valley?"
"Yes, there is good hunting there this year. You must come out for a meal. Kimama will be happy to see you again; it has been a long time."
"It sure has. I'm sure Lajoci was still an infant the last time I saw him. Why he is almost a man. It will be no time before he is hunting with you."
"If the boy had patience, he may live long enough just to do that just that. One more year and he will accompany me on his first hunt. But, the boy has other ideas. He left early this morning to fish nearby, but did not return. I have searched all morning and found him on his way home only now." Yuma looked down at his son, scowling, "His mother is waiting, so if it is an angry bear he wishes to face, it will come sooner than he expected."
Lajoci hung his head down, embarrassed that his father was scolding him like a small child in front of their good family friend. "I did catch the fish father, but there were not many in the creek near, so I kept moving further up the banks to the lake. And I speared five."
"Five? You only have Four," commented Yuma.
"I shared a meal with Alex, a helpless girl up at the tree house."
"Alexandra. Is she alright?" asked Adam.
"She is very fearless for a girl. She lives in the tree house."
"Alex is my daughter, and she does not live there. I am on my way to bring her home. Thank you Lajoci for helping her. Thank you Yuma. I best be going."
Lajoci looked up, "Adam Cartwright?"
"Yes, Lajoci?"
"Will you tell Alex that I did make up the story of the angry bear."
"A daughter. Adam, this is good to know. Good luck to you though. Please bring her to see us soon." Said Yuma.
"I will and soon, I hope."
"Yuma looked down at his son, "Well Lajoci, I think I need to get you back to your mother, come get up here in front of me."
"Father, I think it will be more of a comfort if I walk beside you."
"That may be and that is too bad." Yuma grabbed the boy and swing him up in front of him. The boy winced slightly as his father seated him, then Yuma turned his horse and rode off.
At least Alexandra was safe. Adam's relief was enormous. She was safe, she had food, and it appears was having a great little adventure. Well, Miss Alexandra Cartwright, I think you are just about to change your mind about that. You may have found yourself an angry bear after all.
The Tree house.
Alexandra heard the sound of hooves approaching the tree House. She ran to the small window and spotted her father arriving. She quickly dropped the shutters to the front windows and continued to watch from the side.
Leo was tied to a small bush. Adam dismounted Sport and tied the horses together. Walking past the fire, he doused the last of the burning embers with dirt. He turned to look at the fortress that now housed Alex.
Little did either know, that Ben, Hoss and Joe had arrived just before, but remained hidden behind some bushes. They had seen Adam talking with Yuma and had taken the opportunity to slip off the trail and circle the clearing and the tree house. Then found cover to watch.
Alexandra could see her father standing in front of the tree house. He looked angry, with his arms crossed and was chewing the side of his cheek. "Alexandra Cartwright, I know you're in there, now come on out," he yelled, "come on we need to have a little talk."
Alex poked the gun nose through the small opening of the window, "Ain't no Alexandra Cartwright here. Heard she went a joined a circus."
"ALEXANDRA! I know that gun is empty, but you know not to touch a gun and now you pull one on me. No warnings this time, little girl, I will spank you backside till your teeth rattle!"
Alex quickly withdrew the gun. "Well, ifin I was your Alexandra, you'd have to catch her first."
"That is only a matter of time." Rolling up his sleeve, Adam stormed toward the ladder of the tree house, but before he taken more than two steps a slushy muddy purple mass hit him fair in the chest. Adam examined the organic cannon ball, dirt and berries loosely packed with water, that had been catapulted out of the window.
"Alexa….ukkkkk." Adam choked, as another one hit him on the side of the face and filling part of his mouth. Before he could act, another barrage of the purple mud pies assailed him. They actually stung and Adam tried desperately to deflect them.
Joe and Hoss were finding it difficult to smother their laughter. Joe's giggles were quite distinctive and had Adam heard them he would have blown his boiler. Fortunately for his brothers, his yelps were loud, as was the war cry he bellowed, as he gave up the defensive tactics, bit the bullet and ran towards the rope ladder.
With Adam now under the safety of the floor of the tree house, Alex could no longer send any of the earlier prepared missiles. Adam climbed up the ladder and flipped open the trap door. The small opening was a tight squeeze and there was no way Adam was going to fit his broad shoulders through the space; hindered by the oily wooden post that served as a fireman's drop and quick exit. Whose bright idea was that?, he thought, Mine!
Alexandra giggled, a little. Her father's head protruded out of the hole on the floor, he looked like a beheaded ghost in one of them Knight books. There was a moment of panic, before she realised that her father could not fit through the opening.
"That's it, Alexandra, you are in so much trouble. Now you get down from here. We are going to go home, you are going to one sorry little girl."
"I ain't coming home and I ain't scared of a spanking, but I ain't coming home for you ta jist send me away."
"Alexandra, I'm not going to send you away, why do ya think that?"
"I heard ya talking, ya promised me that ya would never send me away not ifin I was the worst kid in the whole world. Well, ya broke ya word, Adam Cartwright."
"Alex I'm not going to send you away. You shouldn't have been eavesdropping. You didn't hear the whole discussion. Now if you just come down here, I'll show you I mean it I will give you a guarantee that I will never send you away." Adam tried to reach an object in his pocket but his arms were held tight. He was going to have to go back down the ladder then come up with one arm raised. His twisted his shoulders sideways and dropped down halfway so that he could reach up with one hand.
Alex however wasn't having any of It. "Don't even know what that means, them just big words, Dad, I mean, Adam Cartwright."
With that Alex poured a half pale of water through the hole and slammed the trap door's lid. She quickly retrieved the pocket knife and cut the knots that secured the rope ladder to the floor of the Tree house. The ropes remained on the floor, kept in place by the lip of the closed door.
If the water was meant to cool Adam off, it didn't. Once again Ben and the boys laughed from their front row seats of the circus that was being played out in front of them. Adam was fuming. He attacked the rope ladder, scaling its length within seconds and flipping the door open in one smooth and fluid motion. Of course that meant he was unprepared for the immediate free fall that transpired once the severed ropes were free of their anchorage. He landed hard and loud on the seat of his pants. An encore of the slamming of the trap door added to his booming voice.
"ALEXANDRA!"
Alexandra wavered just a little, fearing that she may have hurt her father, but then she heard him bellow her name. She went to the window and opened the shutter and watched Adam appear just below her. Whew, he was alright. But his eyebrows were the angriest that she had ever seen. Even when he pushed the wet hair back off his face, his eyebrows never changed. He grabbed his hat and used it to dust off his pants. He then stood there looking down at the Stepson's rim and ran his fingers over it, thinking, but his eyebrows never changed. He slapped the hat against his pants, looked at his 10 year old, granite stubborn headed Yankee spitfire, then raised those same eyebrows and smiled.
Alex smiled back and went to give a little contrived wave, but there was something about the smile, it was more like a leer, a dangerous smirk. Alex dropped her hand and followed his gaze to the trunk of the big tree that cradled the tree house.
She tried to warn him, as he walked towards it, "Dad, no, lookout there's a…"
"Whoaaaaaaa!" Adam's foot was snatched in the ropes slip knot that Lajoci and Alex had so successfully camouflaged. He was suddenly lifted off the ground and now hung upside down with his arms flailing over his head, six inches from the ground.
"Bear Trap! Well, I'll be a monkey's butt, it worked," exclaimed a surprised Alexandra.
Hoss went to jump from the bushes to help his upside big brother, but was stopped by his father's hand and a shout from Alexandra.
"Hold on Dad, I'm coming." She climbed out of the side window and scaled the branch that held the rope her father now swung from. She then started to cut the rope.
"No, Alex, don't do that," yelled Adam, trying to hoist himself up, "Give me the knife, Alexandra."
"No, it's alright, Dad I can do it."
"No, Alex, don't cut the roooo…."
Again Adam was on the ground, flat on his back.
"Oopps…Hey, Dad are you okay?" Alex was about to jump down, but saw the expression on Adam's face and the deep growl that came from his throat as he tried to get some air back into his lungs.
"THAT'S IT !" Adam got himself up off the ground and started to climb the tree, not taking his eyes off the branch that Alexandra was now sitting on. Self preservation kicked in and the little girl quickly got up to make her way back to the safety of the tree house.
"Not this time, young lady. When I get my hands on you…"
"Dad, wait, I'm willing to talk, you jist stay there and we can talk, okay?"
Adam ignored her plea, and continued to scale the branch heading to the roof of the tree house. Alex was dexterous enough to swing herself through the small window. She only just made it. Adam jumped from the tree to the roof, hoping to drop down and swing himself feet first into one of the small openings. However 190 lbs was just too heavy for the weathered roof of the long ago built structure and Adam went right through it, landing in the hammock, which immediately spat him out, like the thing had just tasted one of Hop Sings nasty tonics.
Alex ran, making it to the fireman's pole and slid down. Within seconds Adam was hot on her tail. She spotted some bushes and headed straight to them and dived. Her uncle Hoss caught her.
"Huh, Uncle Hoss, Grandpa, quick save me."
"Well, hey there, pumpkin. Don't think ya betta hide in here."
Hoss was right. Adam had spotted her jump through the bush and was heading straight for it. They all watched on curiously, as Adam suddenly stopped and went over to sport and grabbed the rope from his saddle horn. Alexandra's eyes went wide.
"He's gonna lynch me!" She then took off running towards the open meadow.
"Alex come back here, he ain't going to lynch you," whispered Hoss, "Pa, ya think we better help here? Adam does sure look mad."
"Yeah come on boys. Though he has sure got a reason to be mad. Alex is as stubborn as him. He has sure met his match."
Joe was still giggling; "I don't think he's too mad, his bark has always been worse than his bite, jist like you Pa."
"Well, I have a feeling his bite going to be pretty hard this time."
Adam was too busy to notice his family members emerging from their hiding spot. He had also gave up the chase. Instead he rotated a lasso over his head and sent it with the precision and accuracy of the cowboy that his was in the direction of the stray calf. The stray calf, that was his runaway daughter didn't have a chance in Hades when the rope dropped over her small body and was quickly drawn around her waist. She was stopped in her tracks and fell to the ground, a perfect reimbursement; quite harshly on her backside. Adam then started to real in Alexandra slowly, dragging her scrawny little butt through the grass and dirt, as well as through some thorny weeds. Alex struggled to keep her butt off the ground. But, it was hard enough for her to hold onto the rope that was around her waist.
"Daddy, wait ya rippen' my britches."
Once close enough Adam stormed over, removed the lasso then scooped her up, carrying her under one arm he marched over to the nearest log and sat down. Adam wasted no time in putting Alexandra across his knee and landed one very hard wallop to her the seat of said britches.
"Owwahhh," they both yelled.
"Daaaad, there's prickles!"
Adam could not win a trick, now embedded in the palm of his had were several fine thorns.
"Wait, Daaaad, there's probably more, Daddy please."
"Well, I can fix that," undeterred from the task at hand, he stood Alex back up, unfasten her britches and put her back over his knee. Then grabbing her cotton underdraws pulled them back revealing a small and slightly pink bare bottom. "All clear!" he announced, then proceeded to turn that shade of pink bottom into a very red little bottom, by applying several hard smacks to it.
Alex stated to kick and yell as soon as she felt her draws removed. Each smack was announced with a list of Alex's misdeeds this very afternoon, starting with the taking of Joe's gun and the attack on her father.
Alex tried to protect her backside by throwing her hand back and blocking her father's large hand. "Daddy, please no more," she sobbed.
Ben moved forward leaving Hoss and Joe standing nearby, and spoke gently, "Adam."
Adam stopped, looked at his father and gave an understanding nod, "It's okay, Pa."
Holding Alexandra firm with one hand, he tapped the palm of her small one, that nowhere near provided enough protection to her bare backside. "Well, that depends, Alexandra, are you ready to behave and listen and talk without hitting me, swearing at me, threaten me or running away? because if you aren't, young lady, I will hold you here, over my knee in your present predicament all night, if need be."
"I don't …kkk…care ifin ya…hhhh hold me all….nnnn night, jist…ssss stop smacking ma aassssss."
Adam chocked on a laugh that nearly escaped which wasn't easy considering neither Hoss or Joe could control their outburst.
"Boys!" Admonished Ben.
"Alexandra! I said no cussing."
"Okay…,dddd Dad, I jist…fff forgot that….www one."
Adam picked her up and adjusted her cotton draws. He sat her on his knee, tucked her into his chest and rubbed her back gently. Alex turned in further taking the pressure of her stinging behind. Adam looked over her shoulder and smiled at his Pa, then to Hoss and Joe.
Adam watched their sympathetic expressions as Alex begged, "Please don't send me away daddy, I'll be good, an ya can tan ma hide ifin I ain't, but don't send me away. I love ya, even if ya are bossy. And I won't ever throw mud at ya agin' or try ta hurt ya. But, ifin ya send me ta some silly ole school, I'll jist run away, I'll run away all the way home, Daddy, I'll jist keep coming back home no matter what. So, now ya hold me for as long as ya a mind ta, cause I ain't going nowhere."
Ben waved the boys away, indicating that they should leave. Alex was alright; in fact his grandchild was much more than that. Alexandra Cartwright had it pretty much right. She was home. She had fought for a home. Adam would handle the rest. He was proud a proud man. And, it was high time they were all home.
Adam watched them leave still rubbing Alexandra's back as she sniffled. "No, Alex you aren't going anywhere. I'd tried to tell you that, but you didn't listen. You might try and hold that temper of yours a little. If I've got the story right it was your temper that got you in all this mess in the first place. And no more eavesdropping. You didn't hear the entire conversation. I was really scared when you ran away. You could have been hurt. You are too young to be here out by yourself. But, I promise you I won't send you away, I guarantee that no one will ever send you away or take you away from me or your home."
"Is a guarantee better than a promise?"
" Just about." Adam reached into his pocket and pulled out a playing card. The King of Hearts, looking a little worse for wear as it was hastily glued back together, but never the less intact.
"Here, my guarantee." He handed the card to Alex.
"Dog gone it, Dad. I coulda used this about twenty minutes ago."
TBC
Chapter 12 The Essay – Why Young ladies should (not) Fight. By Alexandra Cartwright.
A.N. Oops… another long chapter, but I wanted to have a little fun giving Adam a bit of a run for his money. Hope you enjoy. Please review. Please.
I hope thery're aren't too many mistakes this time. I've had a couple of busy days.
P.S, I did do a little research about The Paiutes of Nevada, Very interesting. Check out Sarah Winnemucca born 1841.