Authors Note: I know its been a long time between chapters this time so forgive me if this one is a little shorter than my normal update for this story. I wanted to get something up for those that have been so patiently waiting! Hopefully I am back in character and you will enjoy this. Thanks as always to my new beta who has to deal with the craziness that I send before you lot get to read something legible! Thanks Dalm! And special thanks to my rock Islaboe, who nags me often to try and get her story updated on here so that you get to enjoy it (or not) too.


After their cookies and milk, Adam sent the children off to wash up themselves ready to go out, whilst he helped Emma clean up in the kitchen.

"How are you doing my love?" Emma asked him, with a kiss to his neck, as he rinsed the washed up plates and glasses at the sink pump.

He deposited the things on the draining area he had made, then he turned to face her and opened his arms to gather her into him. Emma immediately laid her face against his chest.

"I am fine, my love but you know how much I hate having to come home from a trip and spank them."

"Hmm, I know and understand now why... I mean how important it is, that you follow through with your promises. Our children are fine, Adam. None of them seem all that worse for wear and even with their behinds being no doubt, a little sore; they seemed to sit well enough to enjoy their cookies and milk." She looked up lovingly at him. "But now that the unpleasantness is finally over, do you think we might just now concentrate on having a nice day, as a family?"

"Yes, my love I can think of nothing more desirable than to spend the rest of the day with my children and my beautiful wife", as he bent to kiss her tenderly. "So, did you have anything special in mind, for us to do today?"

"Hmm mmm, how about a nice walk? I don't think the children would appreciate a ride in the wagon or buggy much right about now!" she quipped and Adam smirked.

"No, you're right they probably won't. Hmm, a walk sounds like a really nice idea, but how about turning it into a picnic? We could walk them down to the pond. We could take a blanket and we could take the fishing poles too. Then, whilst you relax yourself under a tree, watching Annabel frogging or collecting flowers or running off some of that endless energy she has, maybe the boys and I could catch us some fish, then you could fry them up for us for lunch?"

Emma smiled up at him, "I think that sounds like a wonderful idea, but do you know what goes well with fried fish for lunch?"

"Home-made biscuits?" he asked hopefully.

"Yes," she said, "my home made biscuits," as she pushed lightly against his chest. "Why don't you go and find the fishing poles and a large old blanket and tell the children where we are going? And I will rustle up some fresh biscuits for us. They can cool down a little on the way, in the basket and they will still be soft and warm when we stop to eat for lunch."

Adam bent lower to kiss her again, "That sounds good like a good plan, my love." He pecked her lips again, "I love how you think."

"I love you too, my darling," as she pushed him away. "Now stop stalling and get out of my kitchen, Mr. Cartwright so I can get baking!"

Adam chuckled when he let go of her and backed away, "I'm going, I'm going!" he said playfully, walking backwards to the doorway. Then he turned smartly on his heels and left her to her baking preparations.


Adam found the children coming back down the staircase together. "Abraham, Zach, please go and fetch your fishing poles and a bucket for the worms from the barn. Annabel, sweetheart would you go and get the picnic basket for your Mama and take it to her, please?"

All of the children went to do as they were asked whilst Adam went to gather a large old blanket. He put the folded blanket on the credenza by the door, and then he went outside to gather the boys up to go and dig some worms for bait.

"Zach, you usually find the best worms, son. Where do you think we will find them today?"

"Down by the pond, Papa. Shall Abe and I go and dig for some?"

"No, we will dig for some when we get there, then they will be nice and fresh for the fish, won't they?" he said smiling at the younger boy.

"Yes, Sir, Papa. Are we fishing at the pond, then?" he asked.

"Yes, we are going down there to fish and have a family picnic."

Abraham and Zach grinned at him and each other. "That's great, Pa."

Adam kept the boys outside preparing their fishing poles with fresh string and hooks and he was laughing and joking with them whilst Emma had Annabel's assistance with her baking in the kitchen, wanted or not.

When the biscuits came out of the oven, Emma put them on the side to cool then she cut up some lemons and set Annabel to squeezing them, for some fresh lemonade to take with them. She added water and sugar to the lemons and then bottled up 3 bottles, with the freshly made liquid, with Annabel holding the bottles and then helping her mother to cork them.

"Mama, where we going?"

"To the pond, sweetheart. We are going to have a nice walk and a picnic as a family. Your Papa and brothers are going to catch us some fish for lunch and you and I can collect some nice flowers to bring home for later," answered Emma, packing the picnic basket with the biscuits, bottles of lemonade, some waxed paper wrapped butter and her frying pan. "There, now all we need is something for dessert."

"Peaches, Mama?" the little girl suggested

"The spiced peaches you mean that Aunt Caroline gave us the other day? Hmm, yes alright. Would you go and ask your Papa to help you fetch me a jar, please? Just a small one, though. Don't try and bring a large one. You may drop it and we don't want a mess to clean up before we go or anything too heavy to carry in the basket do we?"

"Okays, mama. I go ask Papa." The little girl skipped out of the kitchen to go and find her father and ask for his help, in getting the jar of spiced peaches, from the root cellar.

When Annabel returned, carrying the jar of spice peaches as carefully as she could, Emma took it from her and put it in the basket, to go with some oat cookies she had made whilst the oven was still hot. "There now we are ready for our picnic. Go to the outhouse, sweetie and if you want to bring one of your dolls to the pond then you may do so but just one, please."

Annabel went to do as her mother told her.

"Adam," Emma yelled out though the kitchen window, "I am ready, would you ask one of the boys to come and help me with the basket, please."

"Abraham, go and help your mother please."

"Sure Pa," he ran inside to help his mother.

Adam handed the fishing poles to Zach, "Hold on to these please, son. I need to fetch the blanket and make sure that your sister doesn't try and bring her whole toy box!"

Zach chuckled at what his father said and he held onto what he was given.

Adam collected the blanket and he held the door open for Abraham, who carried the picnic basket out, ahead of his mother.

Annabel came running down the stairs then with her doll, Penelope. "No go without me, Papa!" she cried out.

"We wouldn't leave you here alone, sweetheart I promise," he returned scooping her up one handed to sit her on his hip as he held the blanket in his other arm. "Have you been to the outhouse?" he asked.

"Yes, Papa."

"Alright then, I think we are ready."

"I'll lock up, darling," offered Emma.

Adam nodded, "OK, darling." Adam kissed his youngest on the cheek, "Are you going to get down and walk for me?"

"Yes, Papa."

Adam lowered her down to the ground and Annabel skipped away to her brothers. Emma meanwhile locked the door to the house and pocketed the key in her dress pocket.

His arms relatively free now, Adam walked over and he took the picnic basket in his right hand, from Abraham. "You go walk ahead with your brother and sister, son. Annabel, don't walk too far ahead of us please."

"I won'ts, Papa," she returned over her shoulder. She started skipping about holding Penelope.

Emma walked from the porch and linked her arm through her husbands and they began their leisurely walk down the dirt track to the pond, following the children.


It was a lovely warm day and Annabel skipped all the way down to the pond whilst her brothers walked and teased each other about who was going to catch the largest and most amount of fish.

Seeing a large bullfrog sitting on a rock, in the low reeds by the edge of the pond ahead of them, Annabel squealed in delight. "Look, big froggy!" she ran ahead of her brothers but the frog croaked in alarm, at the noise of the intruder and jumped into the reeds out of her reach.

Annabel went to follow him but Abraham ran up to stop her.

"Bellie, no, stop!" shouted the older brother and he pulled his sister back, from following the frog into the reeds. He shook her by the arm, "You know that part of the pond is too deep for you, don't you?" he scolded.

"Let go, Abey! Let me go! I want froggy!" she screeched, struggling against his hold.

"Abraham, let go of your sister," Adam ordered. "Annabel, come here, please," he said, his tone firm and his crooked finger beckoned her.

Abe let go of his sister when he was told to. "I was only stopping her from..."

"I know what you were doing, son," interrupted Adam. "Annabel," he prompted.

Annabel rubbed her arm and scowled at her brother before walking to stand in front of her father.

"Yes, Papa?" she asked looking up at him.

"What has Papa told you about running off ahead of everyone when we are out? And what have I specifically said about playing around near the reeds down here?"

The child looked at her feet, rung her hands together and chewed on her lip before she replied softly, "Not to?"

"Exactly, not to do it. Do you want Papa to have to put you over his knee and smack your bottom again?"

She shook her head hard, making her pigtails fly about. "Noooo, Papa. I's sorry. Me be good. Me be good. No spank, no spank," she pleaded, her eyes growing glassy with unshed tears.

Adam knelt down to face her and he gently took her chin in his hand and tilted it up, making her look at him. He softened his tone. "Papa doesn't want to have to tell you again about the reeds, little one. The water is deep at this end of the pond. Remember Papa told you this before, that the darker coloured reeds meant that they had more water around them at their roots? Sweetheart, when they are clustered together like that it makes it harder for anyone to swim or wade their way out of the water, and the reeds can catch around your feet and you can drown. People older than you have done so and I don't want anything to happen to any of you children, especially my little princess, alright?"

Annabel glanced up and nodded, "Yes Papa, I's sorry. Me listen now."

"I know you will because you are a good girl. Now, if you want to go chasing and catching frogs, you do so in the grass over there."

Adam pointed to the shaded area at the other end of the pond, where it was cool due to the trees shading it and there were some small rocks and long grass. The pond often overflowed there, when it rained heavily and so it was cold and damp and the frogs were known to love it.

"Yes, Papa. Me promise. Me be good now!"

Adam bent her head down towards him and he kissed her on the forehead, "Alright, sweetheart go and play," he sent her off with a gentle pat to her bottom.

The little girl ran off to see what she could find in the grass and Adam stood up and dusted his pants off. "Ok, boys why don't you go see if you can start finding us some worms for bait whilst I help your mother get settled." The boys nodded and they turned to go and do so. "Oh and Abraham," Adam called out.

"Yes, Pa?"

"Well done. You did the right thing stopping your sister, just be careful that you don't hurt her when you grab her in future, if you can please."

"Yes, Sir I will. I never meant to hurt her arm, Pa I swear?"

"I'm sure that you didn't, son and what you did was very well done and I would rather she had a sore arm than get hurt any other way, but she is a little girl with a much softer body than you or your brother, so be mindful of that in the future, will you?"

"Yes, Pa," nodded Abraham.

"Alright go on then, I'll catch up with you shortly."

Abraham nodded, "Come on Zach, you know the best places to find the fattest worms, let's go." The boys hurried off with their bucket and makeshift small spade.

Adam and Emma were left with the fishing poles and the picnic things, as well as Annabel's doll, which Emma had rested in the basket.

"Darling, why don't we find somewhere to put the blanket where you can sit comfortably and watch our little one?" suggested Adam with the poles.

"Yes, ok." Emma looked around and she spotted a nice place, just under a small tree nearby, where she could watch Annabel and her husband and the boys fishing. "Just there I think," she pointed. "Under that tree there. It has some shade but catches the sun too, so it should be warm."

Adam walked to the place indicated, with her and he placed the picnic basket down and picked up the blanket.

"Ooohhh. Mama, Papa, look what I's got," they heard and an excited female child ran over with a small toad clasped to her chest in her arms, that she had just caught. "Froggy," she showed them proudly opening her hand a little.

Adam shook out the blanket then spread it out on the ground. "Hold on, princess," he said as he worked. Then he turned his attention to her. "That is not a frog, princess. That is a toad."

"Froggy!" insisted the little girl.

"No, sweetheart that is a toad, not a frog. A toad has all warty rough and tough like skin, see," he lectured. And he showed her with her finger, what he meant by a wart on the amphibian's skin. "Feel that? They are warts. Now, many people say that you can catch warts from touching a toad's skin but I don't think that that is true. My brothers and I caught many toads when we were young and none of us ever got any warts." He took the toad from her and walked back to the grass and he lowered to the ground in a crouch and let the toad jump off.

"No, Papa. Me wanted to keep him," wailed Annabel from beside him.

"Annabel, we cannot keep them. We do not have anywhere to put them. There are no water sources near the house or suitable grass lands and so you can go and play and catch what you can but we are not taking any creatures home with us today, like before. And yes, I will be checking your brother's pails just to make sure, so don't even think of trying to sneak a frog or toad home," he warned, having had experienced that with her, in the past. The scenes at the church made their way into his thoughts.

He stood up and patted her behind lightly, "Stop pouting, little one and go play nicely or go collect some flowers for your mama." Annabel crossed her arms over her chest in a little huff. "Or of course, young lady I can make you go and sit with mama on the blanket and play there. It's your choice, Annabel. What's it to be? Are you going to go and play nicely? Papa is going to find your brothers and see what fish we can catch for our lunch and I need to know that you are going to be good for mama."

Annabel unfolded her arms, "Me want to go look for frogs, Papa." she said softly.

"Alright then, go and do that, but no more pouting and huffing, young lady or I will make you sit on the blanket with mama, got it?"

Annabel nodded, "Yes, Papa."

Adam walked away from her and back to the blanket and his wife, as Annabel disappeared back into the grass to search for more frogs.

"She's upset with you isn't she, for letting that toad go?" asked Emma.

Adam nodded, "Yes, she is but she'll get over it," he lowered to give her a kiss. "Now, I must leave her you to your supervision. I have a fishing contest to setup with our boys, nothing like a little healthy competition between us all, eh?"

Emma laughed, "Just don't pout like your little girl when one of your son's catches more fish, Adam. You know both our boys have gotten to be quite good fishermen these days."

Adam chuckled, "Good, then we won't ever starve then will we?" he grinned, before collecting up the poles and going off calling to the boys.


After helping the boys find a nice bucket-load of fat worms, in the softer earth around the pond, Adam and his son's baited up their hooks and then tossed their lines out into the pond to try and see what they could catch for lunch. The pond was not as full as the lake with fish but it was still always a good place to come and catch your dinner. They were all very hopeful of being successful today.

Emma meanwhile was lying back relaxing in the shade, on the blanket by the tree. She was using the tree as a makeshift backrest whilst knitting little booties for Little Joe's upcoming addition, as well as sparing one eye every so often to watch out for her daughter, who was having fun chasing and catching a few different sized frogs and toads in the deeper green grass nearby. Which Annabel then of course brought over to show her mother, much to Emma's mutual disgust and amusement.

What her daughter found so fascinating with the horrible slimy things, Emma didn't know, as she had hated anything like that when she was her age, as most little girls did. However, as long as Annabel was enjoying herself and she kept a good hold of her catches when she brought them over to show her mother, then Emma was quite content to let the little one carry on with her quest to find the biggest she could find. Annabel had been quite disappointed in not getting her little hands on the enormous bull frog, that they had seen when first arriving earlier, at the pond.

The sereneness of Emma's day was broken suddenly by a little girl's squealing, with overdone excitement. Emma looked up from her knitting to see Annabel emerge from the grass full of giddy excitement at what she had in her hands and she quickly brought it over to her mother, to view her latest 'catch'.

"Look, Mama. It's almost too big for my hands," she gushed happily, putting the greenish brown amphibian, with huge bulging eyes and shiny skin, almost full into Emma's face.

"Oh yes, it is a big one, sweetie. Very nice. But Mama doesn't like them as much as you do, so could you please not put them so close to her face?" said Emma recoiling backwards on the blanket.

"Oops, sorry, Mama."

Annabel cradled the frog against her chest so it wouldn't get away from her, as she was having trouble coping with it, in her small hands.

"That's quite alright, sweetie, just try and remember next time please," requested Emma.

"Yes, Mama," she said contritely and then took off at a run to where Adam was standing, pulling in a large fish on his line. "Ooh, Papa that's a real big one." She showed him her frog. "Look, Papa, my froggy is almost as big as your fishy."

Adam removed the fish from the hook and stuck it on his string, which now had a total of 3 fair sized fish on it.

"Yes, very good, little one. Are you playing nicely for Mama over there?" he asked removing a cloth from his pocket and wiping his hands off, so he could kneel down and have her come and sit on his raised knee for a cuddle.

The little girl immediately sat on her father's upraised leg and nodded, "Uh huh. I is playing real nice Mama, ain't I?" she yelled out towards Emma.

"Yes, Adam she has been very good, in fact she has been enjoying herself immensely. She's spent the last hour showing me a variety of sizes of frogs and toads that she has caught. Haven't you sweetie?"

Adam smirked, as he knew how much she hated frogs and toads. Well, not so much in general, she just didn't care for them to be anywhere near her.

"That's very kind of you doing that for your Mama princess, but do you think you could give Mama a rest from that now and do something different, hmm? What about picking some nice flowers for Mama or asking her to take you to see if there are some berries around, that you can collect for Mama, to make a nice pie with when we get home?" he suggested looking over at Emma, who mouthed a silent 'thank you' to him in return.

"Hmm…" replied Annabel, cocking her head a little to the left. Catching frogs and toads was a lot of fun but she liked picking flowers and picking berries was good too, especially when she was allowed to eat them as she picked them. She liked picking the biggest and softest fruit from the bushes when she was allowed to.

"Alright, Papa. Me go help Mama pick berries now."

"That's a good idea, princess." He kissed her cheek, "Don't you go spoiling your lunch though. Remember, your Mama is going to cook some of this nice fish for us, shortly."

The little girl hopped off her father's leg. "I won't, Papa." She ran to let the frog go and after Emma had stowed her knitting for the time being and cleaned Annabel's hands with a wet cloth enough, they walked off hand in hand, to see what juicy berries were around.


Reviews as always welcomed a appreciated. I apologise if I have become a little lack in replying to individuals. I treasure all comments from my readers.

Ulls x

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