A HANDFUL OF TROUBLE
Just to recap. Sarah is 8, Peter is 5, John is 2½ and Gillian is 1½ . Mention of spanking in this chapter.
Chapter 35
Christmas morning and everyone was awake. The children were staring at the parcels now under the tree and stockings hanging from the mantle. Which weren't there before.
"What's all this?" Sarah cried.
Ben announced the plan for the day. "You can see what's in your stocking now, then we'll have breakfast and the main presents afterwards."
Sarah and Peter each found a pair of slippers.
"No more walking around in your shoes or socks." Adam informed them.
Then they also found socks and candy and some money. They were thrilled. There were stockings for the younger two too, containing the same things. But they needed some help but John's temper got the best of him as he wanted to do it all himself. So Susan left him to it. Gillian was happy with Susan's help. She ended up giggling.
"Breakfast." Adam called to them. "Come on now."
Both Sarah and Peter were so excited they tried to rush through their food, anxious to get to open the presents under the tree.
"Don't rush," Ben scolded them, "you'll be ill if you do and you will have to spend the day in bed to recover. You wouldn't want that would you?"
"No, Grandpa," they answered.
Gillian didn't understand what was going on but she joined in with a 'NO' of her own, which caused everyone to laugh.
"It will all still be there when you finish your breakfast." Adam told them.
Eventually with breakfast over they were all back over by the fire, which Hoss and Joe had lit earlier, before any of the others were awake.
"Now, the youngest gets to hand out the first gift." Ben informed the children.
So Adam picked Gillian up and moved to the tree. Placing her down, he handed her a present, telling her it was for Pete.
"You give this present to Pete. Okay?" Adam told her.
"K," she mimicked. She then walked, still a little wobbly, over to Peter, Adam having guided her from behind.
"Gill, say, 'for you Pete." Adam encouraged.
"Peee," she said and held out Pete's present.
"Thanks, Gill." He didn't waste any time and ripped off the paper and discovered a new drawing pad. "Oh look, Sarah, a new pad.
"Lucky you." Sarah was happy for him, as she wondered which present awaited her.
"Now for John to pick one," Susan declared.
"Yes," John cried. "Me me." He picked one which happened to be for Sarah.
"Oh, Ma, Pa, for me?" She was almost in tears. When she opened it, the tears did flow. "A bible just for me? That's special, isn't it?"
"Yes it is, sweetheart. For you to keep always. Now you can read it whenever you wish." Adam told her.
Sarah hugged and kissed them both. "Thank you so much. I'll keep it safe, I promise."
"We know you will." Susan said and gave her a kiss in return.
"Now what else do we have under the tree," Ben said.
And so the rest of the morning was spent opening the other many presents. Everyone loved what they had, including all the adults. Books and games for the youngest, as well as new clothes. The youngest were growing like weeds and were always needing larger sizes.
Suddenly Peter pulled at Sarah's sleeve and whispered "where's ours….you know."
"Oh Lord, I forgot. I'll go and get it." She quickly got up and almost ran to the stairs when she suddenly remembered the rule.
"Good girl," Adam praised.
"I'll be back in a minute." And off she went on her quest. She returned quickly and approached the group with one hand behind her back. Peter joined her. Sarah produced a large envelope with a smaller one attached to it. "For you, Pa and Ma, from Pete, Gill and me. Read the letter first." Sarah held Peter's hand, still a little nervous they'd not like it. How wrong she was in her thinking.
"Oh, darlings, this is the best gift ever." How on earth did you manage it?" Susan asked, with tears in her eyes. "Thank you so much."
"We got the paper from Mr Murphy at the Mercantile, got Gaynor Everton to do the drawin' then Mr Murphy got the frame done."
"What a beautiful thought to have a drawing done of us as a family," Adam said, hugging the two children.
"Come here, you two," Sarah instructed, as she held out her arms to them. More hugs and kisses took place.
"Time for some lunch," Hoss announced. Rachel laughed and thought even on Christmas Day Hoss was always thinking of food. Everyone made their way to the table, Hop Sing had prepared sandwiches and cake, as well as their drinks.
A half hour later, Susan whispered to Adam, "you go now and I'll stay here. I'm sure I'll be able to hear their screams from here."
"Okay," he whispered back. He stood up and told Sarah and Peter to follow him to the barn.
"What for?" Sarah asked in sudden panic.
"We ain't done nothin' wrong, you said so."
Susan sat there smiling, along with the other adults.
"Just wait a minute. Nothing bad is going to happen, I promise, unless, of course, there is something I need to know about."
"No, Sir," they answered quickly together. The adults laughed at their reply.
Hoss, Ben and Joe followed them out to the barn. They arrived at the barn to find two new ponies, saddled and waiting.
"It's about time you both learned to ride properly." Adam told them. "The ponies are yours from all of us, saddles, tack and all."
Peter screamed out loud, "a horse of my own," he yelled in joy.
Sarah on the other hand was stunned into silence, shedding tears.
"Sarah, are you alright?" Adam asked, kneeling down to her level. "Sweetheart?" he hugged her to him.
"Oh, Pa, you've given us so much."
"All of us had ponies at your age," Hoss spoke up.
"You have to learn to ride," Joe added. "Can't go very far if you don't."
Ben came into the conversation, addressing both children, "and we'll all be here to help you, but of course your Pa will be the head teacher. A Happy Christmas to you both," he said.
"Thanks Grandpa." Peter said. Sarah was still hugging Adam.
"Let's have a slow ride around the yard, just to get to know the ponies and they you." Adam suggested. "Tomorrow I'll begin to instruct you on how to take care of your ponies, which is more important than riding."
"Really?" Peter said.
"Of course," Hoss said. If you want anything you have to work well, you have to keep it maintained."
"Maintained?" Peter asked. "What's that?"
"It means you should always look after anything you have, to keep it in good condition, including your horse." Joe explained.
"That's good, coming from you," Hoss teased.
"Oh, I see." Peter said.
Sarah had now recovered and wanted to see her pony up close. "What's his name?" She asked Adam.
"That's for you to decide. But I should tell you it's a girl pony."
"Oh. Can I have a think about it or do I have to decide right now?" Her horse was a light chestnut with a dark chestnut mane.
"No, take your time. The same goes for you, Pete."
With Peter's pony looking a bit like Sport, except for no blaze and two white socks, he had already come up with a name.
"I don't need no time, I know now," Peter quickly said, and after studying his horse's colour and markings, "I'm goin' to call him Geronimo." He said with a great big smile.
"That's a long name for a horse," Joe pointed out.
"Yeh. Yours is Cochise." Peter argued.
"Yeh, but I call him Cooch for short." Joe explained.
"Okay. Then I'll call him Nimo. How's that?"
"Sounds perfect to me," Hoss said.
"Okay then," Ben declared, "let's get on with the ride around the yard."
And so for the next hour the party of five worked hard in the yard, and when he started to feel the cold, Ben decided to return to the house.
Then at supper that evening, the announcement came from Hoss, that he and Rachel were expecting another baby in August. There were many congratulations and brandies in celebration of the forthcoming arrival.
The day ended as the previous day, the children falling asleep as soon as their heads hit the pillows. And later, when all the adults too were in their beds, Susan whispered to Adam.
"Read me the letter again, please." Adam picked it up from the bedside table and read it quietly aloud.
'Dear Ma and Pa,
I dont no the rite words to say, but here goes. This is from Gill as well, even if she is to young to understand. You could show it to her when she can read like me. We want you to no how much we love you and to thank you for letting us live with you and for adoptin us. Without you, we dont no what would have happend to us. I'm sorry for how I was in the beginning, but that was only cos I didnt no you and thort youd be horibul to us. But now we no diferant. The drawin is to show you we are a family, even Ma holding our new baby brother or sister. Im hoping for a sister. Boy babys are anoying.
So with our love and thanks for everythin. Love from Sarah, Peter and Gillian xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Her spelling and punctuation need some work," Adam commented, with a chuckle.
"Plenty of time for that. I really think she is going to grow up very wise from all she already knows and from the education she is about to receive."
"Yes, I agree. She's a strong-minded young girl, and I think will go far, especially with you as her mother. Come, let's get to sleep." Adam gave her a goodnight kiss.
"Goodnight, Adam and sweet dreams." …..
New Year's Eve arrived and with it the annual party to celebrate the beginning of a new year. So while the family at the Cedars were enjoying breakfast, the children were firing questions at Adam and Susan.
"Who'll be coming?" Peter eagerly asked.
"I hope you haven't invited anyone from the Samuels family." Sarah said, as she wasn't anxious to meet up again with Andy Samuels any time soon.
"I did invite them." Adam told her. Sarah's deep sigh and pout told all. "But…."
"But what, Pa?"
"They turned the invitation down, probably for the same reason you don't want them here."
"Good." Sarah said, as she started to rise from the table, but Adam caught hold of her arm.
"Just a minute, young lady." He sat her back down. "Listen to me, Sarah. When you get back to school, I want you to do your best to speak rationally with Andy or ignore him completely. I don't want to receive a report from Miss Stone telling me of more bad language or, heaven forbid, to hear you have been fighting."
"Yes, Sir. I mean no, Sir."
"And make sure Pete steers clear of Andy too. I don't want him to follow your lead." Adam turned to face Peter. "You understand that Pete?"
"Yes, Sir."
"Good. You'll be able to make friends of your own, soon enough."
"All good advice," Susan said, in support.
"Just remember the consequences of anything happening like that again, Sarah. And the same goes for you Pete."
"Yes, Sir." A spanking was the last thing he wanted to happen.
"Yes, Sir. I'll do my best. Oh, by the way, what does rationally mean?" Sarah asked.
"It means if Andy has a go at you, you tell him NICELY to leave you alone, and no bad language. And if he doesn't, then you tell him you'll just have to report him to Miss Stone, who will no doubt tell his parents. That just might do the trick."
"Thanks, Pa. Can I leave the table now. I need to get ready for the party. Jemma is comin' right?"
"Of course." Susan joined in. "I'm happy that you have become good friends."
"Yeh. We've even formed a group at school. There's four of us now." She told Susan.
"Well, that's good to hear. You're settling in real well."
Adam was giving Sarah one of his lifting smiles. "You're going to be a great scholar, I can tell. Now off you go, no more talk of school until the sixth of January."
"What happens if the snow is too thick?" Peter asked.
"Well, then you'll have lessons at home, with me and your mother." Adam informed them.
"Oh!" Sarah pouted. She was thinking she would be able to skip school altogether if the weather prevented travelling to Virginia City.
"Go on with you. Go and get ready. You have two hours before we need to leave." Adam said, and as she passed him
he gave her bottom a tap to help her on her way. …
The family arrived at The Ponderosa, giving everyone time to get things ready. Luckily the snow had stayed away so all who had been invited would be able to attend.
"Sarah, sweetheart," Susan called. I brought your work clothes with me in case you wanted to help, and you can't do that in your party dress."
"Oh, I should have thought of that. Thanks, Ma. I'll go change right now." So taking the carpet bag from her mother, Sarah scurried into the house, and when she saw that nobody was inside, she raced up the stairs to change but hadn't noticed Hop Sing coming round the corner from the kitchen who scowled at her disobedience.
As the day wore on, the house was at last ready for the party with lanterns strewn around the outside and having everyone's help all the food was also ready. All they needed now was the guests and they were now beginning to arrive.
While they were waiting for everyone to arrive, Susan took Sarah aside and spoke to her about her running up the stairs.
"How did you know?"
"Hop Sing saw you and told me. So…." Susan now looked at Sarah with a no nonsense expression, "I give you this one last warning not to do it again, otherwise your Pa is going to know of your disobedience."
"I'm sorry and thank you. I don't want a necessary talk with Pa."
"Of course not. So make sure I don't see you running through any house again. Understand?"
"Yes, Ma" Sarah hugged Susan. "Thanks." …
The party was a success. Sarah and Jemma had a great time, who went off together to the barn so Sarah could show Jemma all the horses, telling her of all their names and of her new pony she had for Christmas.
"You'll have to come and stay with me so I can show you Beauty," as she had named her.
Meanwhile, Peter had made friends with Mickey Soames, who would be starting school the same time as Peter.
"I'm excited to be going to school, weather permitting." Peter told Mickey.
"Me too. I like reading and will be glad to be able to read more." Mickey told him.
"We can have adventures together, too," Peter said, "you know, go off hunting and stuff."
"Yeh, sounds good."
"Let's go and have some more food. I'm starving." Mickey said.
"Okay." And they both made their way to the food table in the house. ….
Knowing folks had to be getting home and wishing everyone a Happy New Year, all of the guests started making their way home. The final toast would be at midnight in each of their own homes.
With all the children safely in their beds, midnight approached, Ben and his sons and their wives toasted in the new year. Ben wished for everyone to have a happy and healthy new year, and said how much he was looking forward to greeting the two new members of the Cartwright family, one in February and the other in August.
"Happy New Year," they all said together, took a sip of their drinks and spent the next couple of minutes giving kisses to each other.
"I'm exhausted," cried Susan. "I need my bed. Thanks, Ben, for your hospitality today, it's been wonderful."
"My pleasure. I'm sure we're all tired out." He said.
"We'll clean up in the morning," Rachel proposed.
"Right. Well goodnight all, see you in the morning." Adam said, as he helped Susan up the stairs. …..
Once ensconced in their bed, Adam turned to Sarah and said, "It was nice to see Sarah and Pete making friends."
Pete especially. Now he'll have some to talk to straight away when in school." Susan added, as she snuggled in to Adam.
"I'm so happy we decided to adopt them all."
"Oh, yes." Adam concurred. "It's good to see them living a life they deserve and thriving from it. And soon we'll have another," he said, placing his hand on her stomach. She then placed her own hand on top of his.
"What a large family we've become." Susan held her breath for a moment. "Large enough, don't you think, Adam?" She said this with a smirk on her face, which Adam couldn't see as her face was turned into his chest.
"It does seem large enough, five in all, but we could still have more children should the Lord will it so."
"What if I don't want any more, it is always such a strain…..maybe we should consider abstinence until it's safe for me to be unable to conceive again." Susan waited for the outburst. Whether Adam heard her clearly or not, she didn't know, for he remained silent for a few moments….then,
"What! You know you don't mean that, don't you?"
"I do mean it. I don't feel I can go through another pregnancy."
"Has this something to do with your ambition as a Specialist Midwife and author." He was trying to keep calm, Susan could tell.
"No, Adam. In any case, you could find sexual release from a number of willing 'ladies' in Virginia City."
"What!" I hope you don't mean that." He was almost shouting now.
"Ssh. You'll wake everyone up. Keep calm."
"Keep calm, keep calm? How do you expect me to keep calm with what you've just thrown at me?"
"Adam, let's just sleep on it. It'll look different in the morning."
"I don't think so."
"Yes it will. Let's sleep now." And with that she managed to uncurl herself from around Adam and lay back down to sleep. "Goodnight, my sweet Prince." Adam gave no 'goodnight' in reply. Sue was grinning and wondered if she had gone too far and what the consequences would be.
Sleep was impossible for Adam. His mind actively going through all Susan had said to him. 'Abstain'? She surely hadn't meant that, had she? And to give her approval for him to go dallying with the 'ladies' of Virginia City! This was all so unlike my Sue. Maybe in the very beginning, yes, to annoy me, but we have come to love each like no others. On the other hand she'd better not be joshing with me or she'll feel it. I bet she think she's safe because of the babe's imminent arrival, but I can wait until a more appropriate time to deliver my retribution. That of course is if she is just teasing me.
Sleep finally got to him, although fitfully so.
….
Over the next few days Adam and Susan did not mention her disclosure of no more love-making, but concentrated on the children's needs, especially with Sarah and Peter starting the new school term. They had two full days at school when it started snowing with a vengeance, so school at home commenced. Sarah was given the task of writing up her essay on President Abraham Lincoln and Peter was continually interrupting her wanting to know what she had written.
"Get lost, pest." Sarah grumbled at him.
"Sarah, don't say things like that."
"Sorry, Ma, but he's annoying when I'm trying to work."
"Leave her be, Pete," Susan scolded. "I told you some time ago, Sarah will read it to us once she has completed it."
"Okay. Are you goin' to help me with my reading, Ma?" He asked.
"Of course. You're doing really well. Let's have a session right now."
His McGuffey reader was proving good for Peter. The repetitive use of words was a good learning tool, which helped Peter. There were always questions after the stories had been read which helped him too, and with Susan's help, Peter was good at reading out loud now and when congratulated on his efforts, gave Peter confidence. Susan told him that Miss Stone would eventually be asking pupils to read out loud in class.
"I can do that." He said with confidence.
"I know you'll do very well."
So during these snow days Sarah worked hard on her essay along with other school work given by Adam. But she was more interested in her essay, which annoyed Adam.
"You have to learn to do things that you don't always like, just like myself. There are many things I don't like doing, but if I didn't then our ranch would suffer and that we have to avoid at all costs." Adam told her. "Understand?"
"Yes, Pa. I must work hard at the subjects I don't like."
"That's right. You need as much knowledge as you can learn to help you later in life."
"Just like Ma. She went to school for a long time, didn't she?"
"That she did, and look at her now."
"Yes, Ma is a very smart."
"She certainly is."
Then Sarah changed the subject. "Ma told me that the baby is due very soon."
"Yes, sweetheart. Another two weeks to go. I hope you'll be good enough to help your mother, as she will need time to recuperate from the birth."
"Oh, yes, I can't wait."
"That's good to hear.
Adam continued to tutor Sarah, especially in relation to her spelling and grammar and he could see she was beginning to improve.
Life continued on in this way until on January 22nd Susan started her labour and the house was turned into chaos. Lia taking charge of the youngest children, entertaining them with games. Adam was once again having thoughts of losing her. So along with Ben, they paced, awaiting the outcome, both thinking of Elizabeth, Ben's first wife and mother of Adam.