A/N: Thank you all so much for favouriting and reading my story. I know that the updates have been sporadic at times and my responding to reviews personally has taken a bit of a hit because my phone won't allow me to select the right buttons when i click on the links to log in. Please don't think that I don't value your reviews though because I do you have no idea how much. :)

Thanks should be given to my wonderful beta Dalm who is very supportive of my writing and makes things hopefully so much more readable for you all and of course we mustn't forget my rock and the person I wrote this story for just based on a request out of the blue. We now we are firm friends and it goes to show how powerful words can be. Islaboe, I hope that this story is still as enjoyable for you as it first was and that I do just to the ideas that you had in your head when you first asked.


"Mama, Mama! Looks they's is big berries up there," the excited 5 year old said, pointing to the berries higher up on the bushes that Emma and she were near.

"We'll get to them, sweetie," replied Emma, without looking away from the berries she was currently picking. She had already been pricked by the thorns enough on the lower branches and wanted to avoid doing so again, if possible.

Annabel was helping her mother, supposedly by holding the basket, but due to her excitement just as many berries ended up on the ground as into the basket.

"Sweetie, I know that you are excited, but would you please stop bouncing the basket around like that," Emma pleaded when a pile of the berries ended up on her foot.

"Oops sorry, Mama," giggled the 5 year old and she immediately squatted down to scoop the spilt berries up and put them into the basket.

"Actually, sweetie, why don't you put that basket down for a little while and help Mama collect the berries instead, hmm? But just from this bush, sweetie," she added knowing that Annabel had a tendency to wander off if not given clear rules about doing so.

Annabel couldn't put the basket down quickly enough, "OK's, Mama."


A short while later, all of the bushes in the near vicinity were considerably lighter of their plump ripe berries and the basket Emma had brought along to collect them was full to the brim.

However, it had taken longer than normal to get to this stage, due to Annabel's penchant to taste so many of them and her face and smock showed the full evidence of that to all.

Emma covered her mouth to stop herself from laughing out loud when she looked down at her little girl, after announcing that they had collected enough.

"I's done picketed lots of berries for you, Mama!" she announced proudly.

Emma fought hard to contain her chuckles, "So I see, sweetheart. Oh, I wish your grandmother could see this. It would no doubt remind her of when she first took me blackberry picking!"

Emma withdrew a handkerchief from her skirt and wetted it with her tongue as she stepped over to her daughter then knelt on one knee to start cleaning her face.

"Nooo's Mama, stop it!" complained the little girl, as she shook her head trying to avoid the cotton cloth that was scrubbing against her skin.

"Keep still, sweetie. I need to clean off the berry juice you have all over your face," said Emma and she gently but firmly grasped the little girls chin with one hand to hold her still. "I'm very sorry if you don't like it, baby but it's your own fault. If you hadn't had eaten so many berries and made such a mess, then I wouldn't have to clean you up. Would I, hmm?" she scolded lightly.

"But Mama, I has to tested them for you and Papa. Papa says you have to test it when you is making food for someone!" she said indignantly, as Emma began scrubbing at her clothes and shaking her head wryly at her little one's arguments.

"That's only when you are cooking food, sweetheart and that's only at home with Mama. You must never eat any berries when you are out playing unless Papa or Mama have said it is alright to. Do you understand, Annabel? Not all berries are good for you, sweetie, no matter how nice they look."

"But these one are good for you, right, Mama?"

"Yes, sweetheart, these blackberries are good for you." She smiled, "Although you have eaten so many you might end up with a bad belly later!" chuckled Emma and her hands went to tickle her daughter's stomach making her squeal with mirth.

"Ha, ha, nooo! Ha, ha," the little girl's hands went to push her mother's hands away, as she writhed and laughed. "Stoopppp it, Mama. Ha, ha, ha!"

"Ma? Bellie?" called a young male voice from not too far away.

Emma looked up at the call and she saw Abraham coming across the meadow towards them at a run. Emma quickly made her way to her feet.

"Is there something wrong, Abe?" she asked worriedly.

"Oh no, Ma'am. Pa just sent me to find you because we are all hungry."

"Then we should head back and I can start getting the meal ready."

She walked back over to pick up the basket of berries that they had picked, but as soon as she had it in her hands Abraham was by her side holding out a hand of his own.

"Let me carry that back for you, Ma," he offered.

"Thank you, Abraham, that's a very nice offer," she replied, as she handed over the basket, with a warm smile for her son. "You are such a helpful boy. I am so very lucky you are my son," she added and her hand went to softly touch his cheek.

"Aw Ma, don't!" he said shyly and he pulled his head away from her hand.

"Why? There is no one here to be embarrassed in front of is there? And I want you to always know how much I love you and how proud I am of the good and polite, as well as dashingly handsome young man you are becoming."

Abraham smiled back shyly, his cheeks blushing bright red. "I know, Ma."

Annabel meanwhile, had taken the opportunity to go and pick some flowers she thought were pretty coloured nearby. Her small hands full of them, she ran over to her mother.

"Mama, Mama! Looks some pretty flowers!"

Emma took her attention away from her son to look down at her daughter. "My, my, they are very, very pretty, sweetie. Are they for me?"

"Uh huh," Annabel nodded hard. "Do you likes them, Mama?"

Emma winked at Abraham as many of the 'flowers' were in fact weeds. "Yes, sweetie I do like them, but would you please carry them back for me and you can show them to your Papa?"

"Okay's, Mama." She answered happily and she held onto the flowers as if they were the most precious flowers ever.

Emma put her hand to her daughters shoulder to keep her close by, as well as guide her as they all walked back to the place where they had left the picnic blanket, all 3 singing a song as chosen by the youngest of her brood.


"I found them, Pa," announced Abraham when they arrived back at the designated picnic area.

"So I see." Adam held up the biggest fish caught that morning to show his wife. His finger was in its mouth. "I think this one will feed all of us for lunch, don't you?"

Emma eyed the huge fish, "Oh my gosh, yes. I do hope you boys are hungry!"

"You know I am, Ma," returned Abraham.

"I am, Mama. Why I'm so hungry I could eat a whole fish!" announced Zach, who was kneeling down finishing the ring of rocks around the fire pit he and Adam had dug out. They had then built it up with stones around the pile of firewood, to stop the fire from burning the dried up grasses nearby.

"Even the fish that your father is holding?" asked Emma with a wink at her husband.

Zach's cheeks blushed and he stood up and dusted himself down. "Uh, well, no. Maybe not that one."

Adam reached for and ruffled his son's hair affectionately. "He might not manage to eat it all alone, but meet your master fisherman, darling. He landed this one almost entirely by himself!" added Adam proudly.

"You did? Zach that is wonderful. I bet your Uncle Hoss will be very impressed when you tell him and your grandfather all about it."

Zach just smiled a small smile and then bit at his lip as he toed the ground with his foot. "It weren't really me Mama. Pa caught it really, Mama. It was too heavy for me to pull out."

"But it was your fishing pole and your bait, son and you managed to bring it in as much as you could. There's nothing wrong with asking for some help when something is too heavy for you," added Adam getting the boy to look at him, so he could see how earnest he was being.

Abraham scowled from behind his mother. He was proud of his brother for landing the biggest fish that day, he was, but he was also jealous of the attention it brought Zach from his mother and he wasn't sure he liked it one bit.

Adam caught sight of the boy's scowl out of the corner of his eye. "Why don't you put that basket of berries down, son and lets you and I leave the others to prepare the fish, hmm? I'd like to talk to you about something. Zach, play with your sister and keep her out of the way of the fire and out of the water whilst your mother cooks the fish, please! Annabel, stay with your brother!" he ordered.

"Sure, Papa, I'll watch and play with her," said Zach. He offered his sister his hand. "Come on, Bellie lets go find some frogs."

Annabel was happy to comply with her father's orders if it involved frogging again, so she took off with her brother without a second thought, the 'pretty flowers' abandoned without thought.

Adam laid the large fish down on the metal plate Emma had just put down on the ground by the fire.

"Would you like me to fillet up the fish before I go, darling? I have already cleaned it."

"If you would please, Adam. You know how much better you are that I am with a knife and anything slippery."

Adam nodded and he knelt and quickly skinned and filleted the fish for her into 5 portions, 4 larger sized and one small portion for Annabel, who didn't care much for fish but they insisted that she ate it the same as them, as it was good for her.

Whilst Adam prepared the fish for her, Emma went about selecting everything else she needed for cooking. She put the frying pan, on the now hot fire, to start heating it up ready for cooking with and added butter to it to melt.

"Am I in trouble, Pa?" asked Abraham nervously, as he hovered near the area waiting for his father to finish his task.

Adam didn't answer him instead he turned to Emma.

"All done, sweetheart. Abe and I will return in time to eat with you."

Emma looked at him and he smiled back at her so she was fairly certain that the walk with her son was just to have a talk and for nothing else.

Adam stood up and brushed the dust off his knees before turning and walking over to the older boy. He put his arm around his shoulder. "Let's go take that walk now shall we, son?"


They didn't walk far away from the other,, just far enough so Adam was sure that the other children wouldn't overhear. He stopped to turn and face Abraham and laid his hands lightly on both of the young boy's shoulders.

"I saw the scowl on your face when your mother and I were praising your brother earlier, son. Does it bother you that much with us doing that? I thought you would be proud of him for landing that huge fish? You are normally the one that is there and encouraging him that he can do things, if he tries hard enough."

Abraham glanced up cautiously into his father's eyes, "I was... I am…. I mean…I just..." his eyes lowered and his head went downwards. However, the forefinger of Adam's right hand reached under and it raised his son's chin back up gently.

"Has maybe a touch of the green-eyed monster gotten to you?" Adam asked gently.

Abraham closed his eyes and he swallowed and nodded his head. "I didn't mean to be jealous of him, Pa."

Adam sighed and reaching for him he brought the boy firmly into his chest and wrapped his arms around him. "It's ok, son I know." Adam rubbed his son's back and he dropped a kiss on his head and said, "Your mother and I love you all equally, son and we don't ever expect you to always act perfectly."

Adam then leant backwards so he could look down at the boy. "But Abraham, listen carefully to me. I don't want you to be jealous of hearing your brother getting praised, any more than I want him or your sister to be jealous when I or your mother or anyone else praises you. Being jealous of someone just leads to resentment and that resentment poisons people in their hearts."

"I know, Pa and I'm real sorry I will try harder to not get jealous."

Adam smiled down at him, "I know you will, but remember if you need to talk things through with someone, your Ma and I will always be there to listen to you and give advice and so will your uncles and your grandfather for that matter, if for some reason you don't think you can talk to us."

"Yes, I know that, Pa and I will come talk to you if I need to, promise."

"Good." Adam brought him back into an embrace then slapped him lightly on the back. "Come, we should get back to your mother and the others. I don't think your brother could eat all of that fish alone!" he chuckled, before releasing Abraham.

"No, I don't think he could either, Pa and anyway I am starving," replied Abraham with a grin.

"So am I son and I am hungry for that fish and some of your mothers biscuits!"

Abraham chuckled and Adam patted him on the back before looping his arm around his son's shoulders. They returned to the others the way they had left, with his father's arm around his son's shoulders, but young Abraham Cartwright's heart was a lot lighter than when they left.


"Look at this one, Bellie," shouted Zach lifting a multi-coloured frog with a yellowish striped crown to his head.

"Ooh, pretty!" the little girl exclaimed and she reached for it. "Me hold, Zachy. Me hold."

"Alright, then. Here." He told her to put her hands together and then he put the frog on them and told her to carefully close her hands, so as to hold but not drop the large frog.

"Ooh its heavy, Zachy," she said but she raised her hands nearer to her body and gazed down with glee and wonder at the creature that didn't seem all to distressed to be held by a human. It just croaked out its chorus to the children and the environment in general.

Zach laughed out loud at his sister's joy at handling such a large colourful frog, especially when she started mimicking its croaks as if they were holding a conversation.

Emma meanwhile kept one eye on and both ears aware on her younger children as she fried the fish in the frying pan. Butter with a touch of lemon and pepper for Adam and herself and with just butter with a touch of lemon for each of the children.

When the fish was ready for eating she set it to the side of the fire, on a metal plate set on the stones to keep it warm and she unpacked the basket onto the blanket with all the items still carefully wrapped in the paper that Emma had wrapped them in. She opened the paper up on each item, so that they could easily be seen and taken.

"Zach? Annabel? Come wash up please, lunch is ready!" she yelled. At the same time she turned her head the other way, when she heard the crack of a dry stick being stepped on, as her husband and eldest son emerged through the brush, which separated them from the meadow.

"Ah, good timing, you two. Go and wash up please, lunch is ready."

"Excellent," said Adam with a grin at his eldest. He released the boy and told him to go make sure that he brought his brother and sister back with clean hands and no little gifts for his mother from his little sister.

"Yes, Sir," Abraham smirked at his father's words and he took off at a run to go get them.

"Is there anything I can do for you, darling?" asked Adam and he crouched down next to the fire where she was still kneeling.

"No, sweetheart just go and wash up yourself, please."

"Alright." He pecked her on the cheek then stood and walked down to the pond to wash his hands. He was standing drying his hands on a towel when Abraham ran back with his brother and sister.

"Got them, Pa. Hey you should have seen the frog Annabel was holding and talking to. It almost looked like she and it were really talking to each other, Pa. Right, Zach?"

"Yep. Honest, Papa. Bellie was croaking at it and the frog was answering her, I swear!" laughed the younger boy.

"Froggy pretty, Papa. And he talkeded to me. He was a frog prince," exclaimed the little girl.

The boys quickly bent down to wash their hands whilst their sister talked to their father.

Adam crouched down to her. "It's talked to you, not talkeded, sweetheart. And that's wonderful, I hope you didn't kiss it though as you are far too young to get married, no matter whom the prince is that comes along and asks me for your hand."

Annabel giggled,"You be silly, Papa. I's not getting married."

"I should hope not. Not yet anyway," he smiled, "but don't you remember that story I read you before from your story book about a princess that kisses a frog and it turns into a handsome prince?"

"Ooh yes, Papa I remembers. Do you think iffin I's kisses a frog it will turn into a prince?"

Adam chuckled. "No, sweetheart I don't, it's just a fairy story." He tickled her ribs to make her laugh. "Who knows though, maybe you are going to grow up talking to the animals, but right now we need to get you washed up for lunch or that lovely fish your brother caught will get cold," replied Adam and picked her up to carry back down to the pond to help her get her hands washed.

Annabel let her father wash her hands and he used his handkerchief to dry them off.

"Papa, I don't like eating fishy," she whined at him.

"I know, sweetie and I am sure that your Mama will have remembered that and only cooked you a little piece so that your brother can see you eating it. Will you please try it for him, hmm?"

Annabel pouted as her father dried her hands, but eventually she gave in. "Alright's, Papa. Me try."

"That's my good girl!" Adam praised.

Adam finished with her and then pocketing his handkerchief, he picked her back up to carry her back to the blanket, walking behind the boys.


The Cartwright family talked and laughed loudly as they recounted the events of the morning over their lunch of fried fish with home-made biscuits. They had the lemonade that Emma had made and bottled up, to drink along with their food and followed the fish course with the oat cookies and spiced peaches, that had been packed in the basket for desert.

All of them ate and enjoyed the fish, even Annabel, who was only given 3 or 4 mouthfuls of fish, that had been broken up by her mother. And, then they all partook of the delicious dessert. It tasted all the more sweet given their surroundings.

After eating they sat or lay out propped on their sides on the blanket whilst digesting their meal and relaxing. Emma and Annabel listened along to the boys laughing about their beating their father at fishing in both amounts and sizes of fish, and about how Adam almost got pulled into the pond by 'the one that got away!'

Emma then had Adam and Abraham laughing as she explained about Annabel's 'helping' her pick the blackberries, especially when she explained how just as many berries ended up in the little girl or on her face and smock, as in the basket.

Annabel and Zach's attention had waned by this point and both were by now playing separately on the bottom area of the picnic blanket.

Annabel having an imaginary 'tea party' using the left over lunch items with her favourite doll, Penelope and Zach playing with some of his wooden toy soldiers that he had brought along in his pants pockets.

"Zachy, I wanna play hide and go find," whined the little girl when she had had enough of 'tea parties'. "Play with me?" she asked him.

"Uhm, yeah okay."He carefully put away his soldiers inside his napkin not wanting to run about and loose them. "Mama, Papa, can we go and play hide and seek, please?"

"Adam?" asked Emma wanting his OK as well.

"Yes, Zach you may but don't go too far," answered Adam.

"Oh we won't, Papa. Abe, you playing with us?"

"Uh yeah, OK. I'll count first whilst you and Bellie hide, alright?"

Zach nodded, glad to not be it first and he stood up along with Annabel.

"Mama, you's has to watch, Penelope. She's still hungry and thirsty so she can't come and play with us."

Emma held out her hand for the doll. "I will look after Penelope for you and see that she finishes her lunch and then your Papa can take her to show her all the fish he and the boys caught this morning, whilst I clean up. How about that?"

Annabel's head was cocked to the right as she thought about that proposal. "Hmm, OK's Mama."

Emma and Adam exchanged grins as the little girl handed over her prized doll to her mother.

"Bellie, hurry up and go hide with Zach. I'm gonna start counting," warned her older brother who had positioned himself on a nearby rock with his hands covering his eyes.

"Oooh, ohh, Mama I's got to hide," she exclaimed excitedly.

"Alright, baby. Remember what Mama said about wandering off too far, sweetie. And no climbing any trees to hide this time. You are not doing that without your Papa watching!" scolded Emma.

"Yes Mama, I's promise."

"1...2...I'm counting, Bellie!" warned Abraham loudly.

Adam turned her away from her mother and lightly patted her bottom, "Quickly now, sweetie go and hide before your brother finishes counting."

The five year old didn't need any further prompting. She and Zach disappeared quickly through the brush into the meadow. Adam and Emma watched them until they saw Zach hiding in the long grass and their little one heading to the tree stump at the side of the meadow, to hide herself. Then smiling at each other, they returned to relaxing on the blanket. Adam propping himself up against the tree and Emma laying back against him, her back to his front.

"Pass me another biscuit, darling?" Adam requested.

Emma sat up and reaching for the nearby basket she buttered him another one then passed it to him. "I thought you had finished eating."

"I had then I smelt those excellent biscuits of yours in that basket again and I had to have another!"

"45, 46…47…48… 49...50! Coming ready or not!" yelled Abraham loudly and he took off at a run through the brush.


"Isn't this lovely, Adam? Just us, having a lovely day together as a family," said Emma happily.

The sky was still blue, the clouds were white still in the distance, and it was a warm but comfortable end of summers day.

Adam swallowed the last of his biscuit before he answered her. "Yes it sure is, my love." He turned her head then started placing light kisses down her neck. "I have missed this. Just being at home with all of you is all I thought of during the long quiet nights on the cattle drive. That is why this time I knew it would be my last one."

"Ha I found you, Zach! Now I just need to find our little sister!" announced Abraham loudly from across the meadow.

Emma slipped her hands inside Adam's larger ones and turned her head up to look at her husband. "I enjoy seeing them all playing together like this. They weren't like this when you were away I can tell you, but that is because they missed you as much as I did. I think."

Adam lowered his head to claim her lips with his own in a passionate kiss and his hands squeezed hers. Emma reciprocated the kiss just as passionately.

"Found ya, Bellie. You're it this time, Zach!" yelled Abraham.

Adam and Emma broke apart at that and Adam released her hands to bring his right up to gently stroke her cheek with a fore finger. "I love you so much, Emma Cartwright," as he nipped softly at her lower lip and added, "and I promise you here and now that I meant what I said, I am never going to go away and leave you or my children for more than a few days ever again. It is not worth it. I miss you all too much."

Emma brought her own right hand up to caress against his face, feeling his afternoon bristles growing there. She made him look at her by clamping him in place gently with both of her hands. "I know that you mean every word, my love, you always mean what you say," she gazed lovingly into his deep hazel brown eyes. "I love you more and more everyday my handsome man, because of the love you always show towards me and our children. You punished them all just only this morning, for their misbehaviour, yet look at them, darling. They are out here playing happily together as if they haven't a care in the world and they are like that because of you, my love.

As their father you demand good manners and good behaviour from them at all times. However, you show them first and foremost that you love them and want to teach them right from wrong, not beat it into them. I don't always agree with your methods at times, Adam but right now I would challenge anyone to show me a better father to these children." Emma brought him down to kiss him on the lips. "I love you with all my heart, Adam Cartwright."

"Papa?"

Adam's eyes went to the left at the name calling to see Zach standing there a few feet away. And he and Emma carefully separated. "Yes, Zach?"

"I'm sorry but Annabel has run off saying she doesn't want to play hide and seek anymore now and Abe has gone after her. Abe, told me to come get you as Annabel has run off down the track that leads to that old shack you said we was to stay away from."

"Aw hell!" Adam exclaimed. Emma moved off him and Adam leapt up to his feet. "Zach, stay here with your mother, please." he ordered sternly.

"Yes, Sir."

"I won't be long, darling. I'll fetch her back, but I think it's maybe time we went home. Perhaps you should pack up whilst I go and fetch her." Adam pecked Emma quickly on the cheek before running off through the brush and across the meadow towards where his other children had headed earlier.


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