Chapter 5
I had a few readers wonder what happened when they got home from the disaster in town, so I added this chapter. Alissa's luck may have just run out!
Warning: There will be spanking in this chapter. If that bothers you, then please don't continue.
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The next morning at breakfast everyone was enjoying their meal when Ben looked across the table at Adam and asked, "Why where you so late getting back home last night, son?"
Little Joe hid a chuckle behind his coffee cup as Alissa suddenly found a lot of interest in her scrambled eggs as she moved them around on her plate while looking down.
Adam cleared his throat and wiped his mouth with his napkin, then he gently reached for Alissa's hand.
"As a matter of fact, pa, I have a big announcement that I would like to share with the family."
Joe looked surprised as he glanced over at Alissa. He was waiting for the big explosion when his father finally heard what had happened in town yesterday. And now Adam was talking about an announcement. Even Hoss stopped eating long enough to look over at his brother waiting for this big announcement.
Adam stood and pulled Alissa up with him as he smiled down at her while she smiled back rather sheepishly, not quite sure where this was going. She hoped Adam wouldn't tell Ben about the incident in town and that he was going to announce their engagement. But she wasn't really sure just what Adam was going to say.
"Pa…"
Suddenly there was a loud knock on the door as everyone turned to watch Hop Sing hurry over and open the front door. A very somber Sheriff Coffee came walking in the door and proceeded over to the table to stand in front of Ben.
"Good morning everyone. I hope you slept well after all the excitement from yesterday. I just wanted to come out and tell Adam that Mr. Collins is not going to press charges against Alissa. And I won't be pressing any charges either."
Then he turned and pointed his finger at Alissa as he gave her a stern lecture.
"You are one lucky girl, Alissa Anderson. Adam paid the fines for the other charges and if Mr. Collins would have pressed charges, you would be going back to town with me to spend some time in jail!"
Alissa's face suddenly went pale and she slumped down into her chair. She was thrilled that Collins wasn't pressing any charges, but now Ben would find out all about the little incident in town yesterday, and she wasn't too sure how he was going to take it. Adam sat down also as he decided his announcement could wait. There was definitely going to be a lot of yelling happening any minute now, and he and Alissa would be in the center of it, he was sure.
Suddenly everyone jumped at the sound of Ben hitting the table with his hand.
"What in blue blazes are you talking about, Roy? What charges? And what happened to Mr. Collins and you that has Alissa involved?"
Ben slammed the table one more time, but this time he looked straight in Alissa's direction as his eyes narrowed and the scowl on his face grew deeper.
"Start explaining, young lady…NOW!"
Alissa started to speak, but quickly closed her mouth when Ben put up his hand to stop her and turned in Adam's direction.
"And just why wasn't I told about this, Adam?"
"You were already asleep, pa, when we got home. I was going to tell you all about it this morning... I just haven't had a chance yet."
Ben sat down and glared at Adam and Alissa as he declared, "Well, you have a chance now. You have my undivided attention… SO START TALKING!"
Ben leaned forward as his expression darkened putting all his attention on Alissa. That look had certainly frightened his sons when he used it on them, but after clearing her throat, Alissa lifted up her chin stubbornly and started to tell her side of the story.
"Well, it all started when Mr. Collins said those things about women and politics. He really made me angry…"
"I know, we all remember the dinner party," Ben said, frowning.
"Anyway, when I heard that there was going to be an election for sheriff, I decided that the women of Virginia City needed to get the right to vote in the election. So I organized a march to protest that very thing. It was going great until some of the stupid cattlemen decided to try and stop it. Then unfortunately, all hel… I mean a lot of men and women ended up arguing and sitting in the mud."
Alissa hid her smile behind her napkin when she remembered the fat toad that had tried to stop her—sitting in the mud on his big backside.
"It really wasn't my fault. I had organized a peaceable march and everything was fine until they interfered."
"So what did you do to Mr. Collins that would have made him possibly press charges against you?"
Alissa grinned rather sheepishly as she muttered, "I punched him in the eye."
"WHAT?"
Ben just sighed and put his head between his hands trying to hold onto his temper.
Then he looked up and said sternly, "Continue."
"Well, when the men started trying to stop the march, everyone was arguing and pushing and shoving. People were ending up in the mud and throwing mud, so it was quite a mess. I just wanted to continue trying to get my march back on track, so I crawled out of the crowd and got to the sidewalk."
Alissa took a drink of water hoping it would steady her nerves.
"Anyway, when I got to the sidewalk I ran into Adam, and he was not looking very happy with me. So I took off to find my sign and hopefully start my march again. And when I saw that Adam and the sheriff were both heading in my direction… for my own preservation I decided to run."
Alissa wasn't sure she really wanted to tell the rest of this story because Ben was looking angrier by the moment, if that was possible. He already had a scowl on his face and she knew his patience had left a long time ago. But when he narrowed his eyes and continued looking at her with that fierce expression, she knew she had to tell him the whole story.
"That's when I saw Mr. Collins leaning up against the wall with a smirk on his face. And then he had the audacity to start applauding while he was smirking. Well, that was just too much for me to take…so I let him have it!"
Alissa looked down at her hands as she made a small fist.
"You know for a big man, he isn't very strong if a little thing like me can knock him down with one punch."
As soon as this comment was out of Alissa's mouth, the family reacted. Joe practically choked on his coffee, Adam just shook his head, and Hoss slowly lowered his head and whispered, "Oh Lordy."
The only one who didn't seem to worry about Ben's reaction was Alissa. She just sat there and folded her napkin and then laid it on the table as she looked over in Ben's direction smiling.
Ben slowly counted to ten and then turned and looked at his old friend.
"What did she do to you, Roy?'
"Well, I heard the whole commotion going on and headed to main street. When I made my way through the crowd, I suddenly got hit right in the face with a bunch of mud. When I looked over to see who had thrown the mud, I saw Alissa and knew it was her that had done it."
"Hey, I told you that was an accident!"
"Enough! I think I have heard enough," Ben exclaimed, before letting out a long sigh.
Then he sat in his chair for a moment, slowly collecting his thoughts. Finally he stood up and put his hands on the table as he leaned forward glaring at Alissa.
"I think the time has come for that little trip to the barn, young lady. I have been more than patient with you, but my patience has run out!"
Ben started to walk toward where Alissa was sitting as she quickly stood up and declared, "You can't be serious, Ben! You really wouldn't do that. Anyway, it is all over now and Roy said no one was pressing charges. So we can just chalk it up to a day that people in Virginia City will talk about for quite some time to come."
With a saucy grin she added, "After all, it is rather boring in town on most days anyway, so this will give them something to gossip about."
Ben growled in frustration as he started to grab for Alissa's arm when Adam stepped between them.
"Wait, pa. I want to tell you something first. Then if you still want to punish Alissa, you can."
Alissa frown as she muttered, "Thanks a lot, Adam. Whose side are you on anyway?"
Adam turned towards Alissa and once again reached for her hand.
"I started to tell the family some news earlier before Roy arrived. I think now is the time to do it."
As he put his arm around Alissa, he turned back toward the rest of the family and smiled.
"Last night I asked Alissa to be my wife, and she has done me the honor of accepting my proposal."
Joe jumped up and slapped Adam on the back and quickly hugged Alissa.
"That is great news, you two! No wonder you were late getting home," he winked.
Hoss came over and picked Alissa up and spun her around before setting her back down. Then he gabbed his brother in a big bear hug.
"That is such good news, Adam. It's about time!"
Ben stood there in shock for a moment before he reached over and put his arm around Adam's shoulder and squeezed it. Then he leaned over and kissed Alissa on the cheek.
"That is wonderful news, you two. But do you think now was the appropriate time to announce it?"
"Thanks everyone for the congratulations. And yes, pa, I think now is the appropriate time. You were getting ready to administer a much earned trip to the barn to Alissa for her outrageous behavior. And as her guardian you would be more than justified to do so. But now she is engaged, and as her fiancé I think her behavior from now on should be dealt with by me."
Alissa thrust up her chin as she said sarcastically, "Hey, I'm still in the room. Would you two stop talking about me like I am not even here?"
Roy cleared his throat loudly enough to get Ben's attention then he said, "Well, congratulations you two. I think I will let this little discussion be a family matter and I will head back to town."
Putting on his hat, Roy quickly headed for the front door and left closing it quietly behind him.
Ben chuckled softly as he looked over at his son.
"You are right, Adam. It will be your place from now on to keep her safe and hopefully under some kind of control before she destroys the whole town."
Then Ben turned and shook his finger at Alissa.
"Now you just remember this, young lady. You can be sure if Adam ever shirks his duty in trying to control your outrageous behavior or your propensity for putting yourself in danger, I will be more than happy to step up and take his place. And I won't be gentle. Do you understand?"
As a saucy smile edged the corners of her mouth Alissa said, "Yes, Ben."
"Good…welcome to the family, Alissa. Now come here and give me a hug."
Ben pulled her into his embrace and hugged her tightly. Then he turned to Hoss and Joe and motioned his head towards the door.
"We have lots of work waiting for us boys, so let's get to it."
As the rest of the family made their way out the door, Alissa turned and smiled at Adam. It was obvious that they wanted to leave these two alone to talk.
As Alissa came and hugged Adam around the waist, she whispered, "I love that family of yours, and I am so glad that I am going to be a part of it now."
Adam hugged Alissa for a moment before he lifted her chin with his finger as he looked down at her smiling face.
"We still have some things to discuss, Alissa. And I think now would be as good a time as any."
Adam grabbed Alissa's hand and walked over to the settee. He put Alissa on the settee, and he sat across from her on the table in front of her. Then he took both of her hands in his as he started talking.
"I was serious about me being the one who would be responsible for your safety and behavior, Alissa. So I think it is time we get this settled so you know what you are getting into."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean that when I was one of your guardians, I let you get away with a lot that I probably shouldn't have. I knew you were new to this area and things were a little strange for you. But time after time when I told you something to keep you safe, you totally ignored me and went ahead and did what you wanted without any regards for your safety or the safety of others."
"But…"
Adam put his finger against her lips to quiet her and continued on.
"But the time has come for me to make you understand that when I say something it is for your safety, and even though you may not want to do it, you will do it or suffer the consequences. Up until now, there have been no consequences and that is my fault. But starting today, you will know just what those consequences will be and hopefully will think twice before you put yourself in danger."
Adam frowned as he leaned in toward Alissa.
"There is also the subject of lying. I want you to understand that we cannot start a marriage with a problem of not being completely honest with each other at all times… No exceptions!"
Adam tipped up Alissa's chin as he looked into her eyes. "Don't you agree?"
"Oh yes, I certainly agree. And I promise I will try to listen when you tell me not to do something that will put me in a dangerous situation. And even though it was just a little lie, I won't lie to you ever again."
Grinning, Alissa stood up and threw her arms around Adam's neck as she said playfully, "Enough lecture time, let's start kissing!"
Adam slowly removed her arms from around his neck as he held onto one of her hands.
"Yes, there will be kissing, but not quite yet, young lady. We have to get something out of the way first."
After making this last remark, Adam easily drew Alissa over his knees and quickly tossed up her skirt and petticoats! Then he held her hand on her back as he firmly held her in place.
Completely shocked and embarrassed, Alissa didn't say anything for a moment until she suddenly realized she was looking at the design in the carpet instead of Adam's beautiful eyes. Then the first smack hit and she had plenty to say!
"What are you doing, Adam Cartwright? You stop it this very instant! Ow! That hurt!"
"I know, that is the whole point behind a spanking. It is suppose to hurt and hopefully send a message to your brain not to do what you did to end up here in the first place."
Swat! Swat! Swat! Swat!
Alissa started to struggle now as Adam continued to bring his hand down on her bottom.
"This is an outrage, Adam Cartwright. I have never been spanked before in my life, and I don't like it one bit! Now stop this at once!"
"That is quite obvious because if your father would have done this, then maybe you would think twice before putting yourself in dangerous situations without a thought or care for the consequence!"
Swat! Swat! Swat!
"Are you going to promise me that you will not put yourself in dangerous situations anymore?"
"No!"
"Very well, I can do this all day. But I think you may want to rethink your answer."
Adam quickly delivered ten more hard swats to her already tender bottom making her suddenly rethink what she had said as tears started to cloud her eyes.
"Well? Will you promise me?"
As the tears rolled down her cheeks, Alissa decided that maybe she needed to do what Adam said and rethink her situation. She knew Adam could keep going, but her backside was already on fire and she didn't think she would be doing much sitting if he continued for much longer. So Alissa finally answered, barely above a whisper, "Yes, I promise I will try to do better."
"Good…that's a start."
Adam delivered three more sharp swats just to make sure she got the message, then finally pulled Alissa upright and stood her in front of him as he drew her into his arms.
"I love you with all my heart, little one, but I will not let you endanger yourself with your usual carefree manner anymore."
Adam hugged her tighter as she leaned against his broad chest trying to regain her composure. Finally she drew back and frowned at him as a lone tear slowly slid down her cheek before Adam gently wiped it away with his thumb.
"You have a very hard hand!"
"So I have been told," Adam said, grinning.
"I went easy on you this time, Alissa. But if we ever find ourselves in this position again, I won't be so gentle."
Alissa rolled her eyes, "You call that gentle?"
Then she reached back and rubbed her backside before she realized what she had done and quickly looked embarrassed.
"Is this what I have to look forward to when we are married…a wife beater!"
Adam's brow arched in amusement as he tried to keep from smiling.
"Only if you misbehave!"
Alissa stomped her foot as she angrily declared, "Oh, Adam Cartwright, you are so infuriating! And I am not sure if I will even marry you now or not."
Adam grinned as his eyes danced playfully while he reached to pull her into his embrace once again.
"Come here my saucy wench. It seems you mentioned something about kissing!"
Then he lowered his head and captured her mouth with his soft full lips and kissed her until she forgot all about arguing as she melted into his loving embrace.
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I hope you enjoyed this added chapter. If so, please let me know. And now onto Adam and Alissa's adventure with Percy!