Chapter 2

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The next morning as everyone was enjoying breakfast, Ben decided it was time to break the bad news to Adam. He knew Adam was not going to like what he was about to tell him.

"Adam, we have all that branding to do and I'm going to need everyone I can find to help out. So that means Hoss and Joe will be tied up with me for the next few days."

"Of course, Pa, but what about me? I assumed we all would be helping with the branding. Do you have something else for me to do?"

"Well, I was coming to that. Someone has to stay and help Alissa with Percy. I think he might be a handful, and she might not be able to handle him alone and will probably need some help. So you will be staying here to help her just in case."

"Great, just what I wanted to do this week…be a babysitter to a spoiled little dandy!"

Adam looked over at Alissa and scowled. Thanks to her suggestion, he was stuck at the ranch babysitting instead of helping the family with the branding. Not that branding was the best job on a ranch by any means, but it certainly beat being in charge of a boy who had just about used up all of Adam's patience with his childish behavior.

Alissa returned his scowl with a saucy grin as she said, "Oh come on, Adam, as I said before how hard could it be? It will definitely be a lot easier than branding, and I think you got the better of the two jobs!"

Joe and Hoss both let out a laugh at that remark as they pictured their older brother babysitting this little dandy for the next few days. Branding was starting to look better already.

"Alright then, enough said on the subject. By the way, where is our houseguest anyway?" Ben asked, as he looked at the stairs.

Just as he said this, Percy appeared on the landing of the stairs in all his usual finery. Today he decided to be a little more casual and wore a white frilly shirt with a green velvet vest and pants to match, but had left his black scarf in the room. He still carried his white handkerchief and placed it to his nose as he slowly descended the stairs. Scowling when he got to the bottom of the stairs, he brushed at his velvet pants at some imaginary dirt.

"The dust in this miserable wilderness is appalling," he complained, as he came over and slouched down in his chair.

"Glad you decided to join us for breakfast, young man," Ben commented, as he handed Percy some eggs.

"I hope you are hungry this morning because Hop Sing certainly has prepared a lot of good food for you."

"I usually just eat tea and toast for breakfast. The other is hard on my constitution."

"Your what?' asked Hoss, as he looked over at Percy with a bewildered expression.

"Never mind that, Hoss. Now you just eat whatever you want, young man. Joe, Hoss and I have work we have to tend to on the ranch. But Adam and Alissa will be staying here to watch out for you. So you have a good day, Percy, and just make yourself at home."

Ben stood up and started for the front door, "Boys, let's get going, times a wasting and we have a couple of long days ahead of us."

Joe and Hoss started to follow Ben, but not before Joe couldn't resist making a comment to Adam before he left.

He leaned down close to Adam and put his arm around his shoulders as he smirked, "Yeah, Adam, you have a good day too!"

Then Joe quickly stepped to the side as Adam's hand just missed smacking him on his shoulder. He continued laughing till he reached the sideboard to put on his holster and hat, but suddenly stopped laughing as soon as his eyes met his father's stern glare.

"I don't need a babysitter," complained Percy, as he threw the toast he was buttering on his plate.

"I am not a baby!"

Adam lifted his brow in amusement at that comment as he sat there slowly sipping his coffee.

"Of course you don't need a babysitter," assured Alissa.

"We are just here to show you a good time around the ranch, aren't we Adam?"

"Oh yes, that is what we are here for," Adam said dryly.

While Ben was waiting for Joe and Hoss, he couldn't help but grin at Adam's comment. He felt a little sorry for Adam having to be saddled with this spoiled young boy, but someone had to help Alissa. And if anyone could bring him in line, Ben knew Adam could. That is if he doesn't strangle him first Ben chuckled to himself.

"We will see you in a few days then everyone."

Grabbing his saddlebags, Ben turned and went out the door with Joe and Hoss laughing softly as they followed behind him.

But right before Joe went out the door, he turned and grinned as he just had to get in one more smart remark, "Now, Adam, you be sure and pace yourself cuz we sure don't want you to overdo while we are gone."

An apple suddenly sailed through the air and hit the front door as it was hurriedly closed. Joe had seen Adam reach for the apple and quickly shut the door before it hit its intended target.

"Uncivilized farmers," scoffed Percy as he just shook his head after witnessing this latest little bit of foolery between brothers.

Shrugging Adam simply responded, "Yes, I am sure we aren't as civilized as you city folk."

Trying to smooth things over, Alissa smiled and quickly changed the subject.

"All right then, what would you like to do today, Percy?"

"I don't know. What is there to do in this awful wilderness?"

Adam just sat there trying to hold on to his temper. He really wanted to tell Percy what he thought he COULD do today, but decided to be the adult in the room and poured himself more coffee instead.

"Would you like to go fishing? That is always something fun for boys to do. I had a lot of fun when Adam took me on my first trip."

"I don't know that I want to touch something as disgusting as a fish," grumbled Percy.

"Oh come on now… go and change and we will go and have a wonderful time," Ali suggested, as she smiled at Percy.

"Change! Why do I have to change? What is wrong with what I have on?"

"Don't you have something… a little more sturdy to wear?" asked Adam, as he glanced at Percy's velvet pants.

"I know… he can wear some of Joe's old clothes. I think they might fit him," offered Ali, as she stood up waiting for Adam's answer.

"Fine, I will go and get him some clothes and take them to his room."

Adam threw down his napkin and walked over to the stairs and took them two at a time.

"There—problem solved. Let's go and teach you how to fish, Percy."

Percy slowly got up with a heavy sigh and headed for his room. Once he was in his room, he saw the clothes that Adam had placed on his bed. Picking them up and briefly looking them over, he quickly threw them to the ground in a disgusted huff.

"If they think I will wear this country bumpkin clothing then they are crazy. And now they want me to go on a sweaty trip to catch some slimy fish. We pay people to do that manual labor."

Feeling miserable Percy let out a frustrated whine, "I am so miserable here."

Then he sat down on his bed and started to sulk.

"I wish I could make them feel as miserable as I am," he muttered, as he leaned forward with his chin in his hands.

Then as he sat there sulking, an idea slowly came to his devious little mind. Maybe while I am here, I CAN make them just as miserable as I am he decided, as a sly smile came to his lips while he started to form his little plan.

oooooooo

Peeking slowly out of his bedroom door, Percy checked to see if the coast was clear. When he didn't see anyone, he quickly headed downstairs. There was no one in the great room, so Percy decided to start working on setting his little plan in motion.

He walked over to the dinning table and picked up the sugar and the salt bowl. He then proceeded to change the sugar into the salt bowl and the salt into the sugar bowl. Smiling to himself he waited for the others to join him.

"Glad to see you have changed," Adam said briefly, rolling his eyes as he came down the stairs.

Alissa had changed into her jeans and was following behind Adam as he motioned for them both to follow him as he headed for the front door.

"Let's get going then."

After they went out the front door and were walking towards the barn, Adam turned and asked Percy, "Do you know how to ride a horse?"

"Of course I do!" Percy said frowning, as he glared at Adam.

"Very well then, you can saddle your own horse. I will show you which one is yours."

As Adam walked down the row of horses deciding which one to pick for Percy, Percy noticed a burr on the ground and quickly picked it up and hid it in his hand. A wicked smile slowly appeared on his face as he followed Adam down the row.

Percy quickly saddled his horse and waited for just the right moment when he could follow through with phase one of his plan. As soon as he noticed Adam turn his head, he quietly walked over and placed the burr under Sport's saddle blanket. This ought to do the trick he smiled smugly as he went and got on his horse.

When the three riders eventually came out of the barn, Sport kept dancing around as if something was bothering him. Adam quickly pulled up on his reins trying to get him under control, but Sport continued to move around erratically. Finally Sport couldn't take the discomfort any longer and started to buck trying to get rid of whatever was sticking him. Adam was so taken by surprise at Sport suddenly bucking that he quickly ended up in the dirt on his backside.

"What the devil is wrong with you, Sport?"

Alissa quickly got off her horse to see if Adam was all right. As she was kneeling beside him, they both heard the sound of laughter coming from Percy's direction. Percy couldn't contain his laughter any longer as he looked down at the both of them grinning.

Adam's eyes narrowed as he looked up at Percy. "Do you know why this happened, boy?"

"I guess you aren't a very good rider," taunted Percy, smirking.

Adam started to rise to go after Percy, but Alissa put her hand on his arm and held him back.

"Now, Adam, you don't know that Percy had anything to do with this. I'm sure something just spooked Sport and that is why he bucked."

"Somehow I don't think so," Adam grumbled, as he stood up and brushed off his pants.

Limping slightly, Adam went over and started checking out his saddle and all around his saddle blanket. Finally as he put his hand under the saddle blanket, he felt something suddenly stick his fingers. Frowning, he proceeded to pull out the offending burr and held it up in front of Percy.

"I suppose you don't know anything about this, young man," Adam challenged, as he narrowed his eyes and stared Percy down.

With a very innocent look on his face Percy casually answered, "Why no, sir, I can't imagine where that came from."

Adam had just about enough of this smart mouthed boy and started to go for Percy, when once again Alissa put her hand on his arm holding him back.

"Now, Adam, let's just go fishing. Nothing is hurt but your pride. We aren't even sure Percy had anything to do with it. It could have gotten on your saddle blanket before you saddled Sport."

Adam just growled as he went over and got on his horse. Lucky for Percy Adam had his back to him, or he would have seen the wide smile that crossed the little brat's face. First phase in my plan accomplished he grinned ever so smugly.

TBC

My goodness but that boy is trouble, and his pranks aren't over yet! But somehow I think he will learn that you aren't going to win when you are dealing with a Cartwright...especially one by the name of Adam.