Later that evening at the dinner table, Maisy was still fuming over what had happened in the bedroom. Like always, Mary had gotten away with doing whatever she pleased. Since coming to the ranch, Maisy couldn't recall a time that Mary had been punished for bad behaviour, other than a few extra chores or a little scolding. Adam, especially, had a soft spot when it came to disciplining his youngest daughter. Mary knew this fact and used it to her full advantage.
"So did anything exciting happen today?" Adam asked his wife and children after grace was said and the food dished out.
Lizzie, Benny and Luke began to snicker, but said nothing. Maisy just concentrated on her plate, pushing her greens around with her fork.
"Am I missing something?" Adam enquired.
After giving her older children a stern look, Evelyn responded, "There were a couple of incidents that needed to be handled, but nothing too serious, Adam."
Adam wiped the corners of his mouth with his napkin. "So who were the participants in these incidents, Evvy?"
"It was Maisy, Pa," Mary blurted out before Evelyn could answer. "She got in trouble at school then attacked me when she got home."
Maisy was about to leap out of her chair until she felt a hand on her shoulder. Evelyn quickly reached over to Maisy – who was sitting kitty-corner to her – and held the girl's shoulder, hoping to prevent an explosion.
"Mary, that's enough," Evelyn chided then looked at her husband. "Adam, I will discuss everything with you after dinner, if that's alright?"
"Of course, Evvy," he agreed.
Over the next ten minutes or so the family contently ate their meal and socialized. Feeling the mood to be light, Mary took the opportunity to try and get something she wanted for quite some time.
"Pa, did you happen to see the silver comb Maisy has?" she mentioned casually.
Maisy just about choked on a mouthful of potatoes when she heard Mary's question. She was about to say something but decided to see how the conversation would play out. Would Mary finally get enough rope to hang herself? Maisy sat back to watch and find out.
Upon seeing Maisy's reaction to Mary's enquiry, Adam proceeded carefully when responding. "No, Mary, I have yet to see Maisy's comb," he said in between bites.
"Well, it sure is pretty, Pa," Mary continued.
"I'm sure it is."
"If I got one just like it, it would make my new Sunday dress even more beautiful."
A little smirk appeared on Maisy's face. Mary's rope was about to get longer.
"Mary, you have plenty of ribbons for your hair," Evelyn reminded her. "I'm sure you can find some to match your new dress nicely."
"Ma, ribbons are for little girls," Mary complained, "I want a comb for my hair."
"Mary, you ARE a little girl; a little girl who has enough hair accessories for the time being."
"But, Ma, I need…"
"Mary," Adam interjected, "you do not NEED a hair comb. What you have is more than most girls, so I suggest you be grateful for the things you do have, young lady, instead of requesting more."
"Yes, Pa," Mary sighed then slumped down in her chair in silent protest.
This is it, Maisy thought, there is no way Pa is going to put up with Mary pouting like a two year old.
However, to Maisy's dismay, Adam gave Mary a little smile and a wink then finished eating his meal – as did the rest of the family.
"This is so unfair," a defeated Maisy whispered to herself as she leaned forward on the table and rested her chin on her hand.
"Margaret Jane, please stop slouching and finish your dinner," Evelyn softly reprimanded.
"Yes, ma'am," Maisy grumbled then straightened her posture and continued eating. So unfair, Maisy repeated in her head. You'll get your medicine one of these days, Mary Cartwright, and I hope I'm there to see it when you do!
Maisy's prediction of Mary's comeuppance came two weeks later when Evelyn and the children made a trip to the mercantile. As Evelyn, Maisy and Mr. Guthrie worked together filling the Ponderosa's rather large order, the other children strolled about the store looking at the various merchandise on the shelves and tables. Lizzie and Benny went straight for the book shelves while Luke checked out some horse tackle in the back room. Morgan and Jake raced to look at the toys, but not Mary, her attention was drawn elsewhere.
Over on a wooden table – amidst ladies' hats, ribbons and scarves – lay a shallow, velvet-lined box filled with beautiful combs, brooches, and other accessories. One in particular caught Mary's eye. In the corner of the box lay a five pronged, silver gilded, wooden hair comb. Its fan was a carved butterfly pattern with little glints of purple added – Mary's favourite colour.
It's just not fair, thought Mary as she gently picked up the delicate comb. Maisy has such a pretty comb and won't let anyone wear it but her! She would be so jealous if I had a comb like this.
She had never wished to have something so much in her life, and this desire now caused quite a dilemma for Miss Mary Cartwright. Part of her wanted to put that comb in her pocket and walk out of the store. The other side, however, knew how wrong it was to steal anything, especially something she was already told she could not have. As Mary contemplated what she was going to do, it was as though an angel and devil appeared on each of her shoulders voicing their opinions.
Stealing is a sin, Mary Cartwright, said the angel, if you get caught your Pa will skin you alive! Plus, maybe one day Maisy will let you borrow her mama's comb. Fat chance of that ever happening, the devil countered, Maisy ain't never gonna let you see that comb again, let alone wear it! Besides, Mr. Guthrie has so much in his store that he wouldn't miss a little ole hair comb for such a pretty girl. Even if he did notice it was gone, he wouldn't know that it was you and the Ponderosa does so much business with the store that it will eventually be paid for. Why should you suffer while Maisy has what she wants?
Mary's heart raced as she ran her fingers over the butterfly fan. Her little friend in red was right, why should she suffer? The comb was only 45 cents – a small price to pay for a girl's happiness - and her father, uncles, and grandfather spent much more than that when they shopped at Mr. Guthrie's store. It could be a bonus for the patronage the Cartwrights have shown over the years. "Yeah, a bonus, that's it," Mary whispered to herself. After cautiously scanning the store to make sure she wasn't being watched, Mary quickly clasped the comb in her hand and stuffed it into one of her pinafore's front pockets.
Mary did not scan carefully enough, for the second she put the comb in her pocket that was the moment Evelyn and Maisy turned away from the front counter and spied her five-finger discount. Maisy was about to burst with joy when she discovered that her mother had seen Mary also, but held her excitement inside. There was no way that Mary was going to sweet talk her way out of this one. If anyone knew the repercussions of stealing in the Cartwright family it was definitely Maisy. Have fun sleeping on your stomach tonight, little sister! Maisy secretly gloated to herself.
"Maisy, please gather your brothers and sister together and go wait for me in the buckboard," Evelyn instructed, her eyes still focused on Mary.
Maisy noticed that her mother used the singular form 'sister', but knew better to point it out. She just replied, "Yes, ma'am," then went to gather the others and fill them in on Mary's sticky fingers.
As Mr. Guthrie carried a crate full of supplies out to the wagon, Evelyn quietly walked up behind Mary and placed her hand on the girl's shoulders and spun her around.
"Oh, hi, Ma," a startled Mary said with a wide-eyed expression. "Is it time to go?"
"What did you put in your pocket just now, Mary?" she asked in a firm tone.
"My pocket?" Mary repeated nervously.
"Yes, Mary, your pinafore's pocket; what did you just put in your pocket?"
"Nothing, Ma," she lied.
Evelyn reached into the pinafore's pocket and pulled out the silver hair comb. "I didn't know that nothing came in a silver butterfly pattern," she quipped angrily then placed the comb back in the shallow box on the table.
Mary was frozen with fear. I shoulda listened to the other side, she thought as she waited to see what her mother was going to do.
"You get yourself in the wagon this second, missy!" Evelyn said through gritted teeth and pointed to the door.
Mary instantly obeyed, almost running into Mr. Guthrie in the process as he was coming into the store.
"My, she's in a hurry now, isn't she?" Eli grinned. "Is everything alright, Evelyn?"
"Everything's fine, Eli, thank you for your concern," she sweetly relayed with a fake smile. "Adam will be in later this week to settle up and pick up anything we missed."
"That's just fine, Evelyn. Give my regards to the rest of the family."
"I will and my regards to yours, Eli," she shared then exited the store.
Outside, Evelyn ascended the wagon with Luke at in the driver's seat and instructed him to begin for home. In the back of the backboard, Mary sat silently - looking down at the wagon's bed – refusing to make eye contact with any of her siblings. Maisy, however, leaned back with her hands behind her head, basking in her victory.
"Hey, Lizzie, what's that funny word you read about again? You know, the one that means it's gonna come back to you?" Maisy asked her sister.
Puzzled by the question, Lizzie replied, "What, ya mean karma; that word?"
"Yep, karma, that's the one," Maisy smirked. "It sure is sweet, ain't it?"