Author's Note: WARNING...this chapter contains the physical discipline of children by way of spanking. This is not done abusively and was considered to be normal for the time period that the story is set in. If this upsets your sensitive nature then please feel free to move on and read something else but don't read the entire chapter only to complain that it upsets you! Other than that all reviews gratefully received :) I will aim to reply to the named reviews as soon as I can, I just haven't had the time recently but be assured that I do appreciate all those that are kind enough to leave a comment. As usually many thanks to my beta who works tirelessly to read the drivel I sometimes send her!
Tantrums Part 2- Princesses' have consequences too!
Recap from last chapter…..
Emma kissed her husband lightly on the forehead and then his nose and then finally passionately on his lips. When they came up for breath she replied. "I'll always support you, honey. Now come on let's stop talking about this and you go and get your brother, father and the boys and tell them it's safe to come back inside for lunch."
"Alright, sweetheart, what about Annabel? Are you going to wake her?"
Emma shook her head as she stood up, "No. I think she could do with the sleep. I'll ask Mei Ling to save her some for us to take home. We are going home after lunch aren't we?"
Adam nodded, "Yes, sweetheart we are." And with that Adam walked to the door and out to head towards the barn.
Adam returned to the house with his father, brother and his sons and everyone sat down at the table. Adam had placed a feather cushion on Abraham chair even though he knew that his father wouldn't approve. The cushion would take some of the pressure off the soreness on his behind but it wouldn't take it away. Adam hated the children squirming at the table and he remembered only too well what it was like having to sit to eat on a tanned behind, having been in the nine year old's place on many occasions.
Ben said the grace and then everyone started digging into the meal of spicy vegetable soup and chunky cut gammon sandwiches that Mei Ling had provided.
Ben was half way through his bowl of soup when the sounds of a horse and buggy could be heard coming into the yard. "Ah, there is your brother, about time too. Mei Ling!"
The cook came out of the kitchen with her hands covered in flour, "You called, Mr. Cartlight?"
"Yes. I'm sorry to interrupt what you are doing, but I believe that Hoss and Miss Caroline have returned. Would you please bring a fresh pot of coffee and some more soup and sandwiches?"
"Yes, I bring now, Mr. Cartlight," Mei Ling said and she wiped the flour from her hands onto her apron as she hurried back into the kitchen.
Outside in the yard. Hoss tied up the buggy and helped Caroline down; supporting most of her weight and then helped her hobble into the house. He had offered to carry her, but she had refused.
"Hey, everybody, we're sorry we are late. Betsy done lost a shoe. We walked most of the way and I had to nurse her the last mile as Caroline twisted her ankle and couldn't walk anymore."
Emma dropped her napkin and made to go and help but Adam stopped her. "I'll go, honey.
Adam quickly went to help his sister-in-law and was joined by his younger brother Little Joe. "Here Hoss let us help her, you go and sort out Betsy."
"Thanks, Adam. I'll be right back, honey, don't try and put too much pressure on that ankle."
"Caroline, put your arm around my shoulder and excuse me for putting my arm around your waist," said Adam and he slipped his strong arm around his sister-in-law's waist. Little Joe took her arm on the other side and as he was shorter than his brother he just tried to steady Caroline. Carefully the two men supported Caroline whilst she hobbled to the table, where Ben was standing and he pulled out a chair.
Caroline thanked Adam, Joe and Ben then sat down on the chair.
"Are you sure that you are OK to sit here, my dear? I can always bring you something to the sofa?" said Ben.
"Thank you Ben, but you can stop fussing, really. It is only a twisted ankle. I'll be fine. It's just a little tender and Eric has already strapped it, see?"
Ben looked down at her ankle and saw that it had indeed been wrapped in what looked like a torn shirt sleeve. "Alright. Well Mei Ling will get you a compress for it after you've eaten then."
Ben and Adam resumed their seats and started eating again.
Caroline smiled at her considerate father-in-law. "Yes, well, perhaps I'll rest it on the sofa after lunch."
Mei Ling bought out another tureen of soup and another platter of sandwiches.
"Mmm, that smells wonderful, is it spicy vegetable soup?"
"Yes, Auntie Caroline and its lovely," said Zach sipping it noisily from his spoon.
"Zach, don't make so much, noise!" scolded Emma.
"Sorry, Mama," replied the little boy and he was careful to sip the soup much quieter.
Caroline served herself some soup and Ben poured her some coffee, with cream and a little sugar just as she liked it. "Thank you, Ben." Caroline said as she accepted the cup.
Everyone returned to their previous conversation and food.
"Well I sure hope you've done left me some of that there food, I'm famished." Hoss said when came into the house. He unbuckled his gun belt and threw it on the credenza with his hat and quickly walked to the table.
Taking a seat opposite his wife and next to Emma, he smiled at the boys and then started serving himself a plate of sandwiches and filled his bowl with soup.
"Coffee, son?" Ben asked as Hoss made short work of two of the sandwiches.
Hoss swallowed, "Yes, please, Pa. Man that sure is a long way to the Henderson's when you have to walk nearly half of it. How's your ankle holding up, honey?"
"It's fine, sweetheart, a little tender perhaps but it's not really bothering me."
"Good. Hey Adam, where's that little girl of yours?"
"She's napping Hoss and we didn't want to wake her, she's had quite a day and we will be going home just as soon as we've all finished lunch. Did everything go OK at Amelia's?"
"Yep, I reckon," Hoss looked at the children before he said anything else. "Uhm….. well there was no problem with Amelia staying here last night and err…Caroline asked if Amelia could join her on her trip and Mr. Henderson said that it was OK."
"Are you going on a trip, Aunt Caroline?" asked Abraham.
"Abraham, don't be so nosey," scolded Adam.
"Sorry, Pa. I'm sorry for asking Aunt Caroline." Abraham said as his head dropped.
"It's fine, sweetie I don't mind you asking. Yes, Abraham, I am going to San Francisco for a few days. Uncle Hoss is treating me to a shopping trip as he Uncle Joe, your Pa and Grandpa, will be very busy working and I simply can't get the dress I want in Virginia City. Amelia is coming with me to keep me company on the stage."
"Abe, now that you have your answer, will you please finish your sandwich and soup." Said Emma curtly.
The boy looked up at his mother and blushed but nodded that he understood that he was being warned.
15 minutes passed and both Zach and Abraham had eaten then fill and drunk all of their milk and had been excused to go and sit on the sofa.
"Adam, you OK, you look kinda bushed?" Hoss asked.
Adam sighed and sipped at his coffee, "It's been quite a trying day already, younger brother and I'd rather not talk about it if you don't mind."
Hoss looked at his father and Ben reached out and patted his arm. "I'll tell you all about it later, son."
"Sure, Pa. Adam, anything I can do for ya?"
Adam shook his head, "No, but thanks for asking."
"I'm finished, honey. Will you all excuse me please? Adam, I'll go and pack up and will be ready to go whenever you are." Said Emma and she stood up from the table and pushed her chair in.
"Alright, sweetheart I'll just finish my coffee." Replied Adam.
Emma called the boys to her and they were given instructions to go and collect their things and return to the main room. Whilst the boys were off doing as she asked, Emma went up to Adam's old room and made the bed and then returned downstairs.
By the time Emma returned to the main room, Adam had finished his coffee and had excused himself to go and hitch up their buggy.
15 minutes later he returned to the house and Emma and the boys said their farewells to everyone, including the boys getting hugs from their Grandfather, Uncle Joe and Aunt Caroline. They thanked Mei Ling for the meal and Ben for asking them to stay and Adam had apologised to his father for all of the drama caused by his children. Ben had just smiled and said to him that it was nothing serious and to not worry about it.
Hoss had offered to go and fetch Annabel from the spare room and so Adam helped his wife and the two boys into the buggy and Hoss carried the still sleeping child out to the buggy where he placed her into her mother's grateful arms.
"She didn't even stir, Adam, that's one completely tuckered out little girl."
Hoss caressed the little girl's face before planting a soft kiss on her cheek. "Goodbye sweetie." He stuck his hand into the back seat and shook hands with both boys, "Now you boys be real good for your Mama and Papa, you hear?"
"Yes, Uncle Hoss." came the reply.
"Alrighty! 'Bye Emma. Adam, I'll see you in the morning I reckon." Hoss stepped back from the buggy. "Bye all."
"Goodbye, Hoss, we'll see you next Sunday if not before," replied Caroline.
"Goodbye Hoss, see you bright and early tomorrow morning." Adam kicked the brake off and clicked the reigns and the buggy took off out of the yard at a trot.
The ride back to Adam's homestead took half an hour and it was very quiet. The boys were well aware that Adam was not in a very good mood and neither of them wanted to rile him. Abraham had been allowed to take the feather pillow with him even though the buggy seat was padded, however the bumping of the buggy over the roughen terrain was making life very uncomfortable for him and he was very glad to see the house when then neared it.
Annabel had remained asleep on her mother's lap and Emma rested herself against Adam who had put his arm around her as he steered the buggy at a steady pace.
When they pulled up outside the front door, Adam unwrapped his arm from Emma and helped the boys down from the back seat. He then took Annabel from Emma's arms and one handed, helped his wife down before following her and the boys into the house.
"Shall I get her into her nightshirt, honey?" Adam asked as he headed for the stairs.
"No, just put her to bed as she is. She can have a bath after supper and I'll change her then."
"No. Alright, I'll put her to bed. Abraham, Zach, you are restricted to your room until supper."
"Yes, sir," replied the boys sadly and they followed their father up the stairs.
Adam entered Annabel's room and bent down, pulled back the covers and then carefully lowered the sleeping child to the bed. He pulled up the covers, tucked her in and then kissed her forehead. "I hope you will let me talk to you when you wake up, sweetie." Adam brushed back the hair from the little girls face and stood up and looked down at her. The tear tracks remained on her cheeks and he surmised that she had probably had cried herself to sleep, believing that her father had been unfair to spank her earlier. Adam carded his hands through his hair, sighed and then quietly left the room.
When Adam returned downstairs, Emma handed him a glass of brandy and pointed at the armchair. Adam sat down in it and Emma sat on his lap with her own glass of brandy. Adam was surprised and raised an eyebrow as Emma practically never drank brandy.
Emma noticed her husbands raised eyebrow. "What? It been a tough day and I thought I would see if it would help me as much as you."
Adam took a large swallow of the harsh liquid and then put his glass on the nearby table. When Emma did the same and then started coughing Adam pulled her too him and patted her on the back until the coughing stopped.
"You should have been sipping it, Em. It's pretty harsh on the throat if you're not used to it."
Cough, "Yes," cough, "it sure is, why do you drink this stuff?"
"Because it helps me relax after a long day," Adam chuckled. "Next time you decide to join me, my love then you better sip it."
Adam turned Emma's face so that he could look into her eyes and he leant in for a kiss. The two of them kissed for a few minutes. "Oh, honey, it's been such a trying day. Are you still intending on spanking the children at bedtime?"
"I don't know Em, I probably should follow through with it as I did say that I would but I'm not sure that I want to go through with it now. Plus I think I have made my point and they will think twice about doing the same thing again."
"Mmm," Emma kissed Adam again. "I think you have too, but if you don't follow through will the children think that you make promises that you won't keep?"
Adam sighed, "Maybe your right, perhaps I should just give them a light spanking, just to reignite the sting so that they go to bed with a slightly sore backside. Yes, I think I will do something like that. We'll see. I can't believe your change of heart, Em, normally you try and stop me spanking them. Are you coming around to my way of thinking now?"
"No…oh, well….maybe on occasion it is more effective, but it's not something I would want to actually do unless I had to. I would still prefer it if you would try some of my methods first…but I can see why you use spanking as a consequence."
The two of them kissed more passionately and then Adam pushed Emma away gently. "Christ! I'm sorry Em, I forgot that I haven't unhitched the buggy and taken care of the horses yet. Why don't you make a start on supper and I'll go and sort out the horses and chop some more kindling."
"Alright, sweetheart." Emma slid off Adam's lap and headed for the kitchen.
Adam stood up, stretched and then headed for the front door, cursing the fact that he had forgotten to take care of his animals care before he had sat down to relax. This was a golden rule that Ben had brought his boys up with i.e. that the animal's needs came before theirs.
He made short work of unhitching the buggy and putting it away before taking good care of the two horses. He fed and watered them well, then started brushing all of the dust and tangles out of their coats and then washed them down with a wet cloth. Satisfied that the horses' needs had been well taken care of, he grabbed an axe and went out to chop some kindling.
"Abe?"
"Yeah?"
"Do you think Pa's still gonna spank us at bedtime like he said?" Zach asked his older brother.
Abraham was lying face down on his bed as it was the most comfortable position he could find. He turned his head towards his younger brother. "I'm not sure, Zach. He might, unless Mama can talk him out of it. If she does we'll probably still get a lecture about doing as we are told and being more responsible. Well I will at least. You know Zach we both keep getting into trouble because of Annabel and I'm getting a little tired of getting spanked."
"You saying that it's all her fault?" Zach said angrily, getting defensive in support of his little sister.
"No. But we both gotta stop letting her talk us into doing things that we know are wrong. Pa said that to me in the barn and he's right. We're supposed to stop her from doing stuff if we know it's wrong not get ourselves into trouble trying to help her."
"Yeah I guess, so," replied the younger brother.
"Abe, do you think Papa spanked Bellie too hard? She sure was yelling real loud at Grandpa's."
"I dunno, Zach. Pa's never been mean. Sure he spanks hard enough to make you feel it for a good while, but he's always fair. Why? Do you think he was too hard on her?"
"Well, yeah. She was screaming, Abe and darn it she's only little. I done told Papa that I didn't want him to spank her 'cos she hit me in the eye but he still did and I ain't never heard her carry on like that before!"
"Zach, she punched you in the eye because you beat her at a game and you've got a real shiner coming. Plus, she's the reason why you got your arm burnt. Why are you defending her when she keeps hurting you?"
"Because she's our little sister! And anyway she didn't mean to knock the coffee out of Papa's hand," hissed the younger boy.
"So what, she did mean to punch you today, didn't she?"
"Yeah, but Papa didn't need to spank her for it, I said it was alright."
"He did too! You and I wouldn't be allowed to hit each other. Why should Annabel get away with it?" Abraham rubbed at his sore behind. "I think she deserved a spanking for getting us both into trouble this morning. If she would have just waited until everyone was awake then Pa was going to let us go and see the ponies again anyway."
"Take that back?"
"No, because it's true. I know it's my fault that I got the belt as I took her, but if she would have let me sleep then neither of us would have got into trouble."
"Yeah, well who's the one who's always saying that they like a little danger eh? You play with fire and Papa burns your behind."
"Shut up, Zach. I still say that it's Annabel's fault we got into trouble."
"Is not" insisted Zach.
"It is too!"
Zach rolled off his bed and was halfway across the room to argue with his brother physically when Emma threw open the door to their bedroom. "Just what the heck is going on in here?"
When she didn't get any answers Emma glared at both boys. "I suggest that you two get into bed and stay quiet, because if your father comes up here to have to sort this out, I think you will be very sorry. Now I don't know what the problem is but it stops right now. Do you both hear me?"
"Yes, Mama." Replied Abraham quickly. Zach turned and scooted back to his bed, "Yes, Mama."
"Good. Now you may read or play quietly but unless you need the outhouse I want you to stay in bed. Annabel is asleep and if she wakes up because of your arguing I will be coming up here before your Papa gets to you. Clear?"
"Yes, Mama," replied both boys quickly, alarmed that Emma was being so forceful.
Emma turned on her heels and left the room. She took a few steps down the hall and then waited to see if the boys were doing as they were told. Not hearing anything, she carried on down the staircase.
Adam came in the door just as Emma reached the bottom stair. "Annabel awake yet, honey?" he asked.
"No. I just had to go up to sort out a little disagreement with the boys. They were making too much noise and I was worried about them disturbing Annabel."
Adam frowned, "Anything you need me to go and deal with?"
"No sweetheart, I've handled it for now. Do you think we should let Annabel sleep until supper?"
"Hmm, that's a tough one, if she stays asleep all afternoon she might not sleep tonight and you know how she is in the mornings if she doesn't get enough sleep. Perhaps we should give her another hour and then wake her." Replied Adam.
"Alright, honey. I'm making stew for supper. Would you like some coffee now, I've put some on."
"Coffee would be great, sweetheart. I've filled the kindling boxes and topped up the wood store by the way. Let me go and wash up and then we can sit down together for the coffee."
Emma went up to wake Annabel at 3 o'clock. She took up a drink for all of the children with her, dropping in to see the boys first. Abraham had fallen asleep but Zach was reading quietly when his mother knocked gently and then opened the door.
"Hi, Mama. Abe's asleep."
"So I see. I've brought you boys some milk. I'm going to wake your sister up now, but she will be restricted to her room, just like you boys. If she comes out of her room, I want you to send her back, alright?"
"Yes, Mama."
Emma put two glasses of milk on the dresser and smiled at her youngest boy. "Good boy. How are you feeling? Does your arm hurt? Do you need me to put some more salve on or can it wait until bath and bedtime?"
"It's alright, Mama it can wait." Emma was nearly through the bedroom door when her son called her back. "Mama, I'm sorry for yelling earlier."
"I know, sweetie, go on drink your milk."
"Yes Mama."
Emma closed the door on the boy's room and walked the short way to her daughter's room. She knocked gently and then entered. Annabel was still asleep but she had thrown the covers off and was sprawled out across the bed.
Placing the tray on the bedside table she sat on the bed and gently shook the little girl's shoulder. "Annabel, sweetie, it's time to wake up."
Annabel opened her eyes and stared up at her mother. "Mama, is it morning already?"
"No, sweetie, it's still Sunday afternoon."
The little girl rolled over and then yelped as her backside began stinging again. Tears formed in her eyes and she rolled back onto her front and sent her hands back to rub her backside. The events of earlier in the day began to return to her consciousness and she became upset.
Emma saw the tears and pulled the child onto her lap. "Now, there will be no need for any of that sweetheart. You are home now and everything is going to be just fine. Your Papa and I have forgiven you for being naughty earlier and apart from a sore bottom you are OK." Emma hugged the child to her and Annabel hugged her mother back as she sniffed back the tears.
"Mama my bottom is hurting."
"I know, sweetie, it will probably sting a bit until tomorrow. Hopefully this will remind you to not sneak out or hit people just because you are upset. It's not very comfortable is it?"
The little girl shook her head into her mother's chest.
Emma wiped away a few stray tears from her daughter's face, "You just remember how much your bottom hurts the next time you think about being naughty by leaving the house without permission or hitting someone. Your Papa doesn't like spanking you sweetheart but he will if you break the rules. Now, I've brought you a glass of milk. I want you to stay awake now or you will not sleep tonight. You may play quietly in your room but you are to stay in here until I or your Papa comes and gets you for supper. Do you understand?"
Annabel nodded and Emma handed her the glass of milk and held her daughter whilst she drank some of it. "Do you need help with the chamber pot, sweetie before I go back down stairs?"
Annabel nodded and Emma helped the little girl take care of her needs, noting the still pink backside when she pulled up and tied the sashes on the pantaloons.
Then kissing the child on her forehead, she put her back on the bed, handed her the doll and then left the room to go and join Adam for some coffee.
After Emma got herself and Adam some more coffee and she checked on the stew, she settled down in Adam's arms. They sat next to each other on the sofa and they talked about the possibility of Amelia being pregnant and filled each other in properly on the relative discussions each of them had been party too.
At 6 o'clock Emma went up to get the children whilst Adam set the table, transferred the stew into a serving tureen and then he carried the tureen to the table before returning to the kitchen for the bread that Emma had already sliced.
The family sat down quietly. Adam said the blessing and then Emma served everyone a bowl of stew and began asking who wanted bread.
When the children finished their meal, Adam sat back and addressed them, trying to get Annabel to look at him but she would only look at the table or Emma. "Alright, children, if you have all finished I want you to go with your Mama and have your bath, then you will sit on the sofa as your Mama and I want to speak to you before you all have an early bedtime."
The boys stood up and headed for the door to the bath house and Emma and Annabel followed them. Adam meanwhile cleared the table and returned everything to the kitchen.
30 minutes later….
Adam had stored the left over stew, washed the things up and had cleaned up the kitchen and wiped down the table. Usually all of the housework was left to Emma as Adam worked on his father's ranch all day and did all of the outside chores at the homestead that the children were unable to take care of, but tonight he reasoned that she had enough to do with bathing the children.
When he returned to the living room, 3 children were sitting quietly on the sofa in their nightshirts with Emma sitting in Adam's favourite armchair.
Adam stood in front of the fireplace and stared down at his children. "Well, it has not been a very good day today has it. All three of you have been naughty and have had to be punished for disobeying rules that you know have been made to keep you safe. Now, your Mama and I are very disappointed in your behaviour today but we have been talking since we returned home from Grandpa's and we have decided that tomorrow is a new day and we want you to start afresh in the morning. You will still be restricted as I said and will be having an early bedtime tonight and tomorrow night as well. I want you to all think hard about what got you into trouble today as I do not want to have to spank you for the same thing ever again. Do you understand me?" Adam spoke firmly but his tone was stern rather than harsh.
"Yes, Papa," was said by all 3 children.
Adam nodded and sighed as he took a seat. "Abraham, come here."
The oldest boy did as he was told and as soon as he was close enough, Adam pulled the boy down across his knee and delivered a single hard swat over the nightshirt clad behind.
"OW" Abraham yelped as his backside was still very sore from the spanking he had taken earlier plus the 4 licks of the belt and the single swat had reignited the sting. He waited for further swats to be delivered but was quickly set back on his feet, pulled into a quick hug and kissed on the forehead.
"Alright, son, you are done. I love you very much. Please don't make me have to punish you again for a long while, OK?"
"Yes Pa, I love you too," the boy replied as he rubbed quickly at his stinging behind.
Adam nodded to the stairs, "Say goodnight to your Mama and head up to bed and I don't want to see you until the morning."
"Yes, sir. Goodnight Pa," Abraham turned and headed over to his mother and was pulled into a hug.
"Goodnight, sweetheart, I love you," said Emma.
"Goodnight, Mama, love you too." Emma released her eldest and he quickly made his way up to his room rubbing his backside all of the way.
"Zach, your turn, come here please." Commanded Adam.
Zach obeyed and stood in front of his father. Adam could see that the boys bandage had been changed for a clean one.
"Your arm feeling better son?" he asked.
"Yes, sir, Mama said that the skin is already peeling, she said that means that the new skin is already growing underneath. That's good isn't it Papa?"
Adam smiled and nodded, "Yes, son that's very good. I'm glad that you heal so quickly, but you still need to keep the arm covered and to be careful with it. Your eye is going black and that also means that it is going to be feeling better soon. The black colour means that the bruising is coming out, it will then look worse than it feels. Now, let's address your behaviour."
Adam quickly tipped his son over his lap and delivered a single hard swat like he had to Abraham's backside. Zach yelped just as Abraham had done before but did not fight his father. Adam was a little firmer with Zach's swat not because the boy deserved it more, but because he had spanked Abraham a lot harder earlier in the day and Zach had only avoided a full spanking then, because he had been hurt by his sister.
Adam quickly righted the boy and drew him in for a hug and kissed him on the forehead. "No more lying or covering up for anyone, right, son?"
The boy sniffed and rubbed at his backside which was now smarting. "Yes," sniff, "sir."
"Good boy, now go and say goodnight to your Mama and then off to bed and stay there until the morning, clear?"
"Yes, sir." Sniff, sniff.
"Goodnight, son, I love you."
Zach hugged his father again, "Goodnight, Papa," sniff, "I love you too."
Zach quickly said goodnight and received a hug and a kiss from his mother and then he too fled up the stairs.
Annabel remained on the sofa, she looked so lost and forlorn sitting alone on the sofa that Adam steeled himself for what he was going to do in the next few minutes. Please don't fight me sweetie. He prayed silently.
"Annabel, come here."
Annabel remained on the sofa and shook her head.
"Annabel!" Adam scolded a little louder.
The child remained on the sofa but her hands were holding on tightly to her nightshirt and tears were streaming down her face.
"Annabel, please, don't make me come and get you, young lady. I don't want to have to spank you properly again but I will."
Annabel remained on the sofa and so Adam sighed and went to pick her up. He grabbed at her hand and hauled her to her feet and then she began yelling lashing out with her stray hand and kicking with her feet, "Nooo, Nooo… Mama….. Mama…."
Adam picked her up and went to carry her back to his chair when she caught him flush in the groin with her foot. "ARGGGHHHH" he yelped and he fell to the floor, releasing the distraught child as he fell.
Emma was beside him instantly and Annabel ran for the stairs as soon as she was able.
Adam clasped his groin with both hands as he groaned and rolled about on the floor, eventually curling up into a ball as the most comfortable position. His world span and he felt nauseous and dizzy. The pain was excruciating. Adam's eyes filled with unshed tears of pain and he started sweating.
Emma stroked his face as she tried to get him to stop moving.
"Oh, GOD! Em it hurts so much." Shit this is worse than getting kicked in the leg by that stallion last week.
"I know, sweetheart but it will pass soon. Take deep breath and you need to try and stay still and relax. Come on try and relax for me, honey."
Adam took several deep breaths and stopped rolling about so much. "That's it, honey, that's it." Emma said softly as she caressed his face.
As the pain receded a little, the nausea cleared and Adam remembered that he had been holding his little girl when he fell to the ground. Oh, GOD, I hope I didn't hurt her. "Em, … is Annabel hurt? Did I…. fall on her?"
"No, sweetheart, she is fine ran straight upstairs as soon as you let her go. I think she was just scared. I don't think she meant to hurt you."
"Oh thank, GOD. I was worried that I might have landed on her."
"No, she only fell half a foot or so and it was onto the rug and away from you. Can I get you anything, sweetheart?"
"Do we have anything cold?"
"No, there's no ice left in the outside store. How about I get you a cold bath ready? That should help a little, shouldn't it?"
"Yes, a cold bath should help. Can you go and do that now, Em? I'll be OK if you leave me for a few minutes."
"Are you sure, Adam?" Emma asked worriedly.
Phew, Adam took a deep breath and blew out slowly. "Yeah, honey, I'll be fine, just go and get that bath ready for me will you, please?"
Emma kissed Adam on the lips and then left the room to go and get the cold bath ready.
10 minutes later she returned and helped Adam get to his feet slowly and then supported him whilst he limped painfully out to the bath house. Emma helped Adam undress and climb into the bath, noting the swelling in his groin. Adam slowly lowered himself into the bath and he sighed when the cool water soothed his pain.
"Arrgggghhhhh, that's better," he said and he sat down in the cool water.
"I'll be OK Em, please go up and check on Annabel will you?"
"Are you sure you will be OK?"
"Yes, honey, go on, I need to know that our little girl is OK."
"Alright, I'll be back as quick as I can." Emma leant in for a kiss and then left the bath house and headed inside to go up to her little girls room.
Emma opened the door to Annabel's room and looked around but she was unable to see her daughter. After checking that she was not under the bed or in the cupboard before realising that she knew exactly where the child would be and she headed back down the hall to the boys room.
Emma knocked on the door and then entered to find Annabel being comforted by her oldest brother. Abraham was lying on his side as his backside was sore and Annabel was on the bed next to him clinging to her brother for dear life and her body was shaking with sobs. Abraham was trying to calm his sister by stroking her back as he held her using the technique that his parents often used.
Emma crossed to Abraham's bed and leant down to prise the little girl away from her brother. "It's alright sweetheart, Mama's here."
Annabel pushed away from her brother and allowed Emma to pick her up and she snuggled quickly into her mother's arms and wrapped her own arms around Emma's neck and began crying hard. "I…I… s… ..rrrryyyy…..mm…ma…Mama.. I….sorr….yy."
"Thank you for looking after your sister, Abe, but I'll take her back to her room now."
Emma hadn't even reached the door before Abraham call out. "Mama, is Pa OK, I heard him yell."
"He's going to be fine, sweetheart, don't worry, now settle down and try and go to sleep and I'll see you in the morning, OK?"
Yes Mama."
"Goodnight, boys,"
"Goodnight, Mama." Emma shut the door with one hand and then carried Annabel back to her room. Sitting down on the bed, Emma rocked her daughter until she calmed down and her crying turned into hitching breaths.
"Ma…mmm…Mama… I… soorr… sorry. is…is….pp…. pa..Papa….go… gon… gonna … b… be…o…OK?"
"Yes, sweetie, your, Papa, is going to be, OK, but he's hurting at the moment. You kicked him in a very sensitive place. Now I know that you are sorry and you didn't mean to hurt your Papa but you did. And, you hurt Zach earlier because you lost your temper then too, didn't you?" said Emma her voice turning stern in the last statement.
Annabel nodded her head. "Yes…ma…Mama."
Emma wiped away the tears from her little girl's eyes and then lifted her chin so that the child was forced to look at her. "Young lady, you have got to learn to control that temper. Now your Papa told you when Zach got hurt the other day that you were supposed to count to 10 before you did anything. You didn't do that and you got spanked because you didn't practice the method that you learnt did you? Today you have lost your temper twice and each time you have hurt someone when you felt angry haven't you?"
"Yes…." sniff, sniff.
"Well you have been very naughty, little one and Mama is very disappointed with your behaviour. I'm very sorry but I can't let you continue to do this and as your Papa is not able to deal with you I am going to." With that she took a deep breath. Please God, help me do this properly without hurting her too much. And then she quickly placed the child over her knee, lifted up the nightshirt to bare the child's bottom and she raised her hand and delivered 3 quick firm swats to the bare bottom, noting that the pink tinge that she had seen earlier was now an angry red tinge. Annabel didn't have time to kick but she did yelp and cry on each swat.
Emma lowered the child's nightgown, righted her and sat her on her lap, with her bottom over the sides as she held the crying little girl, rocking her as she sobbed and sobbed. Annabel clung tightly to her mother as Emma cooed soothingly as she told her little girl that she was sorry that she had to spank her, but that she was very naughty and that if she couldn't control her temper then Mama would join Papa in setting her tail on fire.
Eventually Annabel's crying slowed again and Emma stroked her hair until she felt the child go limp on her and she looked down and saw that Annabel had fallen asleep. Emma kissed the little girl on the forehead and then stood up, turned back the covers and then lay the child down on her front and gently covered her up and tucked her in.
Emma made it down the stairs until she reached the bottom stair when she sank down, sat with her head in her hands and released her own tears. Oh, Adam seeing your child cry so much because of something you've done is so hard. How do you manage to do this all the time?
Emma cried silently for a few minutes before she remembered that Adam was still in the bath house alone. She dried her eyes and stood up to go and see how he was.
"Adam? Are you still in there?" Emma called when she opened the door to the bath house.
"Yes, sweetheart I'm still here. How is Annabel?"
Emma sat down on the bench behind the wooden bath tub and regaled Adam with what happened upstairs.
"Oh, sweetheart, you didn't have to deal with her, I would have seen to it."
"No, don't be silly, you have been dealing with your aal the time and I think that it's time that she learnt that Mama is in agreement with her Papa about making sure that she learns to behave. How are you feeling now, honey? Is the cool water making things easier?"
"I'm feeling better, sweetheart, in fact I am going to get out of the bath before I get any more like a dried prune." Adam showed Emma his hands that had taken on the wrinkled water effect of dried fruit. "Will you hand me that towel behind you please, sweetheart?"
Emma turned and grabbed the towel then she held it out for Adam to wrap around himself when he stood up.
Adam grunted a little when he put his leg over the bath tub as it stretched his groin but he wrapped the towel around his waist and then Emma wrapped her arms around him, not concerned with him being wet. "Oh, sweetie, I was so worried about you."
"I'm fine, Em, a little sore still but I think I can walk OK now. Howe are you fairing, honey? You look like you have been crying?"
Emma pulled Adam's head down for a kiss, "I have been crying, Adam. I don't know how you do it."
"Do what, sweetheart?"
"Spank the children. It hurts me so much to see our little girl crying because I spanked her. Do you think I may have been too hard on her?"
Adam hugged his wife tightly to his bare chest. "No, sweetheart you could never have been too hard on her, you are to gentle for that. How many did you give her?"
"Just three, but Adam her little bottom is now red."
"I'm sure that she is fine, sweetheart. Remember she was already spanked earlier today so her bottom would probably have been a little pink still."
"Yes it was, Adam but…."
Adam put a finger to her lips and halted Emma's words. "I'll go and take a look if you like, sweetheart but I don't think for one minute that you were any harder on her than I would have been. Come on, let's get back inside and I can get dressed and then I'll go and check on the children."
"Yes, your right," replied Emma and the married couple left the bath house with Adam's arm around his wife's waist and they returned to the house.
After getting dressed in some loose cotton underdrawers, Adam dressed in his most comfortable pair of jeans and a shirt. He went to the main room and poured himself a large brandy and swallowed it down to help with the remaining discomfort. Whilst Emma offered to make them both some hot chocolate, he slowly walked up the stairs to check in on his miscreants.
Adam pulled Emma into his arms and kissed her hard on the lips, "I've checked on the boys, Em and they are both asleep and Annabel is fine. I've checked her bottom and it is already calming down to just a deep pink. By morning I suspect that she will not feel much more than a little discomfort, but if you want we could put on some of that salve the doctor gave us for Zach."
"Yes, I think I will do that for her sweetheart if you don't object. I think we have punished her enough don't you? and I don't want her whining when she gets up."
"I have no objection, Em but please just this once, eh?"
Emma nodded her head, "Yes, just this once, I promise." Emma kissed Adam on the cheek and then collected the salve from the kitchen and went to put some on the little girl's bottom before she also sneaked in and put a little on Abrahams too.
Adam heard both doors open and close and he smirked to himself. I had a feeling that you couldn't help one child out without doing the same to the other. I love you so much sweetheart, but you are far too soft with the children. He slowly sat himself down on his armchair which he had padded with an extra couple of feather pillows and waited until the mother of his children came back down the stairs to join him.
"Abe's bottom still sore?" he asked casually.
"Yes," replied Emma automatically before her hand went to her mouth as she realised that she had let the cat out of the bag.
Adam chuckled and shook his head then sighed.
"You're not angry with me are you, Adam?" Emma asked hesitantly.
"No, sweetheart, I'm not. I should have known that you wouldn't have been able to sleep knowing that Annabel had been made more comfortable than Abraham. Come here, honey."
Emma rested herself carefully on the chair so as to not put too much pressure on Adam's thighs and Adam enveloped her in his strong arms. "Oh sweetie, I'm sorry that you felt that you had to spank our little one. It's not easy is it?"
When Emma shook her head, Adam continued. "Em, I feel just the same way about it which is why I don't like having to be the one to spank them. However, they have to learn to obey the rules and someone has to be the one to enforce them whatever cost that is to them. Now, I don't mind you putting the salve on this time but I do not want you to go behind my back and do this again, hmm?"
"I won't Adam, I promise."
"Good, sweetheart because we need to be together in this or the children will play us off against each other. If they think that you will do anything to ease their discomfort then they will lose respect for me and take you for granted and we wouldn't want that would we?"
"No Adam." Emma looked down at the floor, "I'm sorry for going behind your back and putting the salve on Abraham's behind. Do you forgive me?"
Adam tilted his wife's face up with a finger and then kissed Emma gently on the lips. "Of course I do sweetheart. Now about that hot chocolate? And then I think I also could do with an earlier night, care to join me?"