Adam knocked on the door, "Come in," came the sullen reply.
"Amy, honey are you alright?" Adam asked sympathetically, going over and sitting by her.
"I'm fine, Adam." Amy replied, getting up, and moving away from him.
"Honey, you know better than to talk to your mother like that, to anyone like that. You know I won't tolerate it, and I don't expect your mother to tolerate it either, she did the right thing in spanking you, not in the right way, but-," Adam started to explain to her.
"I knew you'd take her side," Amy replied snidely.
"Honey you have to understand-," Adam started again.
"No you need to understand! You need to understand what she has treated me like all these years, she hardly ever noticed I was alive, didn't care what I thought, most the time I was taking care of her, not the other way around, and now all of a sudden she wants to start being a mother, because she has someone like you to back her up? NO! It shouldn't work like that!" Amy explained hatefully, trying to keep from shouting.
"Okay fine, but you need to understand something right now, if you talk to me in that manner that you just did again, I will not hesitate to take you over my knee, and give you a good tanning, do you understand me?" Adam asked seriously, Amy just nodded her head, "Good. Amy, I know you're angry right now, but that gives you no right to be disrespectful towards me, I don't care if you speak your mind, but you have to be respectful, okay?"
"Yes Sir," Amy replied dropping her head. "Adam, it's not fair."
"Amy, I know you, and your mother have had problems in the past, but she wants to change that, and you should to, it would be better for you if you did." Adam replied.
"What gives her the right to spank me? Just because she calls herself my mother, you have to act like one in order to claim that right!" Amy stated.
"Sweetheart, I know things have been tough for you, especially lately, I'm sorry, but things are going to get better, your mother wants to start being your mother, and she will start being your mother. You have to understand that your mother was scared-," Adam started.
"SO WAS I," Amy shouted, then saw the look on Adam's face, "I'm sorry." Adam stood up, and walked over to her, "Adam, I'm sorry, please don't!"
Adam grabbed her arm, and landed five swats to her backside, which was enough to bring tears to Amy's eyes. "I told you I will not tolerate you being disrespectful, I should spank you more than that, but we'll see how the rest of this conversation goes, you better watch your step, understand?"
"Yes Sir," Amy replied meekly. "I'm sorry, but I was scared to, Adam. She wasn't the only one going through that, and I was the kid, I shouldn't of had to be the strong person for her."
"I know, sweetheart, you shouldn't have been. I'm sorry you did, but that's over now, don't you think we should all just move past this, don't you want your mother to be your mother?" Adam asked.
"Does that mean she still gets to spank me?" Amy asked.
Adam laughed a little at that question, "Yes Amy, she's your mother, she does have the right to spank you...when you're doing something wrong."
"Guess it won't be that bad, I mean the spanking she gave me didn't even hurt." Amy replied with a slight smile.
"Well, then I guess I'll have to make sure it does-," Adam started to say in a joking manner.
"No, nevermind it hurt, it hurt. I won't do it again." Amy said frantically, moving her hands behind her to cover her backside.
"Okay then, but I do think you need to go and apologize to your mother, you were very rude, and disrespectful." Adam said sternly.
"Yes, Adam I know I do. I didn't mean it, you know? I just go so mad!" Amy replied.
"I know, that happens sometimes, BUT I don't want that to be a normal thing, understand me?" Adam asked with raised eyebrows.
"Yes Sir, I understand, it won't happen...too often," Amy replied with a smile.
Adam started smiling, "Oh too often, huh, too often," he repeated after her, and then pulled her to him, and started tickling her.
"Okay, okay, okay, it won't happen!" Amy replied giggling.
"I didn't think so," Adam replied smiling, "Come on let's go down, and remember NO attitude, or those few swats a few minutes ago will seem like a bee sting, understand?"
Amy opened her eyes wide, and nodded her head, "Yes Sir, I understand."
Adam, and Amy headed downstairs, Joe was still upset with Elizabeth, and Elizabeth looked more worried than ever, Amy called out, "Mother?"
Elizabeth stood up quickly, turning to her daughter, "Oh Amy, I'm sorry-."
"No mother, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said those things, I don't hate you." Amy said sadly.
"No Amy, you should hate me, I never was a mother to you, especially after James had died, I may not have technically abandoned you, but I abandoned you, and I'm sorry. I'd like to change that now though, if you'll allow me? Honey, I know this is no excuse, but I never had someone in my life to show me what a mother should be like, you'll have to bear with me, but I plan from now on to do my best at it, I hope you can forgive me?" Elizabeth explained, tears running down her eyes.
"I understand mother, I forgive you, I hope you can forgive what a brat I've been?" Amy asked shamefully.
"Of course darling, I'm also sorry that I spanked you-," Elizabeth started.
"No Elizabeth, she deserved that spanking-," Adam started to reprimand Elizabeth.
"Yes mother, Adam's right I deserved that spanking, no matter the past, I shouldn't have treated you, or anyone like that, I'm sorry." Amy interrupted Adam, she turned around to look at Adam, he returned her gaze with a proud look from him.
"Well I'm sorry for the way that I spanked you, that was definitley wrong." Elizabeth said sincerely.
"That's okay, it didn't really feel-," Amy started to say jokingly.
"Uhmmm." Adam cleared his throat.
"I..mean, it hurt real bad, but it's okay," Amy replied quickly getting the meaning of Adam's clearing of the throat. Joe just snickered at her.
Elizabeth smiled embarrasingly, "Well, I guess I don't really have much experience in spanking, I'll probably leave that up to Adam."
"I'd rather you didn't," Amy said rubbing her backside from the remaining sting left from those few swats Adam had given her upstairs. Adam, Joe, and Elizabeth all laughed about that.
"Hey uh..Amy why don't we go out, and check on that new little filly of Hoss's." Joe suggested trying to change the subject, Amy looked up at him gratefully, they both went outside.
As soon as they walked out the door, Elizabeth turned to Adam, and said, "Oh Adam, I've messed up so badly. I'm such a horrible mother."
"You are not a horrible mother, you've made mistakes, everyone does. Amy doesn't seem to hold that against you, and neither do I, so don't worry about it anymore." Adam stated. Elizabeth nodded her head in agreement, "Alright then, let's move on. You don't have anymore old dead husbands that I should know about, do you?" Adam asked jokingly.
Elizabeth laughed slightly nervous, "No..of course not, Adam. Hey, when's dinner going to be ready, I'm starved," she added quickly, trying to change the subject, hoping Adam didn't catch her nervousness.
"It should be ready anytime I think," Adam replied with a smile, noticing the slight nervousness coming off of her, but decided it was probably just stress from the day.