Guns and Switches
3rd story in the Alexandra Series.
Summary: Alexandra has some life lessons to learn. Alex tries to persuade Adam of her reasons for needing a gun. Adam has a little persuasion method of his own in mind. But there is another life lesson for Alex, one that may prepare her for a special but difficult journey. Marty and Adam start courting. Warning: CP of a minor in some chapters.
Disclaimer: I do not own Bonanza, or any of its characters. David Dortort and Fred Hamilton created them and played with them for 14 years. The series is owned by NBC.
Chapter 6: Leo.
It was a beautiful afternoon up at the tree house. It had been nearly two weeks since Adam and Marty had been out for a ride. Between Adams ranch duties and Alexandra's target practice, the two had not the opportunity to enjoy each other's company. During these past 2 weeks Marty had also been busy helping Doc Martin; the calf population was not the only thing to increase with the advent of spring.
Marty had secretly been happy about that, not because she didn't want to see Adam, no, just the opposite in fact. She was falling in love with this man and she was pretty sure he had feelings for her, but there were circumstances that could cause emotional turmoil for the both of them. Marty had come to love Alex; this funny and spirited little girl had captured her heart and she didn't want to do anything that would hurt her. It was important that she not come between Adam and Alex. So she told herself to slow down, back off a little, if things weren't to pan out at least her heart may not break.
Secretly she was happy that Adam would be able spend what little spare he did have with Alexandra and her lessons on gun safety. But not as happy as when, after a long two weeks, Adam Cartwright turned up leading Dreamer into town beaming with pride as he handed her the reins of this now well behaved Stallion outside her house and said, "He's ready and I think it's about time we took him out for a long ride. I believe you, lovely lady, have the afternoon off."
Marty should have made up some excuse, of some girly pursuit, such as needing to wash her hair, but she was sure it would have looked contrived, especially as she just stood there for nearly five minutes in silence taking in the glint in his eye, the dimple in his smiling face and the scent of his aftershave. After all, she was supposed to be taking things slow. He raised a questioning eyebrow, then winked for her benefit and perhaps for the benefit of Mrs "Sticky Nose" Wilburns, who had been watching from the parlour window.
"Give me five minutes to change," she said coolly and didn't run until she was well out of sight of the dashing young Mr Cartwright.
Adam and Marty now lay on the blanket after a light lunch of Hop Sings chicken sandwiches and Marty's billy tea, except Adam had billy coffee.
"You know the tea is just as nice cold poured from a jug full of ice."
"Hmm I'll take your word on that," laughed Adam.
Marty lay back and looked up at the tree house. "You haven't much more work to do on this, Adam; I should make some curtains for it."
"Oh no, you don't. Any fortress worth its weight in gold does not have pretty curtains hanging from the windows."
"I didn't say they would be pretty," sniggered Marty.
"How could they not be," crooned Adam as he bent over close to her flat torso and pressed a soft kiss to her smiling lips.
Marty inhaled, and then paused, "I suppose Alex would not like me interfering anyway," said Marty.
"She likes you Marty, it's just that she has only just got to know all of us, she pines deeply for her mother, and it's not you personally."
"No Adam but it's me; and it is me with you that makes her uncomfortable."
"Uncomfortable, Alexandra? No; just confused. Are you uncomfortable about Alexandra? I mean I can't expect a woman to take on another. .."
Marty knew what he was going to say and stopped him by gently putting a finger to his lips, "Yes you can expect a woman to take on another woman's child. I'm not uncomfortable with or around Alexandra, the fact that I am in lo… like her father very much, who loves her very much makes this easy. However, I'm cautious. I don't want our … friendship to cause her anymore worry, or you for that matter."
"Our courtship, Miss Strawn," he deliberately articulated before kissing away any doubt or a knoble disclaim, "is not a worry. She is somewhat jealous, but we will work through that. Alexandra, for all her gumption and pre deposition for getting into trouble, is a very honest child. She doesn't hate you, she just hates the fact that her mother cannot come home."
"Will she ever come home?"
"Perhaps one day, if we get the appeal through and can get her well."
"I don't wish to pry, but how… "
"How much do you know already?"
"Not a lot, just that she is in an asylum for the criminally insane, and that you are trying to get her out on appeal."
"She will die if she stays there. I can get her better treatment than some of the others, and money is no object, but she needs to be in a better facility. Unfortunately that won't happen unless we can get the verdict over turned or her sentence reduced with a chance of parole. I am working on finding new evidence."
"Has anything turned up from the telegrams?"
"How do you know about those?"
"I've been spying," she admitted. "And well, Joe told me a few things too, but not in great detail."
"There isn't much detail, yet. I'm hoping to go and see Molly, Katherine's theatre partner, after Alex's birthday. I have about five weeks or so before the cattle drive. Katherine's lawyer, Drew Kennedy is working on it. Hopefully something will turn up so we can at least set an appeal date."
Marty smiled as she traced the frown with a gentle touch of her finger across his brow.
"What?"
"You are a good man, Adam Cartwright."
Adam actually blushed. "Enough about all that." What about you. Have you heard from home lately?"
"Yes, John is still working his way around the country, checking out new designs in mining machinery."
"Grandfather is doing well, though Daniel's and Sean's last letter said he had a rotten bout of fever this summer. They were afraid it was River fever, thank god it wasn't but it gave them a scare. I was ready to head home when I got word that 'Craigmelad' was out of danger and in true form organizing our drive to market."
"Craig me lad?"
"Yep, we call him that. He is a story teller. He always starts off with 'my Da always said ta me, Craig me lad…' or when I was a lad. He's 73 and we all call him Craigmelad," she laughed.
"What happen to your parents?"
"Daddy was killed in a mine rescue, the same one that crushed my Grandfathers legs. I was six. Then mum died four years later. It seemed so unfair. She was helping with a measles epidemic in the black camps. She caught them, so did I and my brothers, but she didn't survive. The doctors believe the virus affected her heart. I can remember how I felt back then; as a little girl. I felt it was my fault, I survived and she didn't. I guess that's why I empathise with Alex and with you."
"I'm not a child."
"No, you certainly are not, but a good man." Marty shook the melancholy away and pushed at Adams chest. "You better get that roof fixed," she said pointing to the tree house.
"Hmm I should, but…" Adam lay back on the blanket next to Marty, "well, I think I have eaten too much and will only make a bigger hole in that roof if I climb up there." He mocked, patting his flat belly.
Marty rolled on to her side and supported her head with her bent arm. "Well perhaps you should do some exercise to burn some of it off," she smirked.
Adam grinned up at the petite freckled face in front of him, and then played with a loose long curl that had somehow escaped the long single plait that lay over her shoulder. "Hmmm, I like the sound of that Miss Strawn, what would you suggest," he flirted.
Marty lent in closer, then slapped his belly hard before quickly rising, "A good run, Mr Cartwright," she chuckled.
"Ooff!" Adam muffled, then quickly jumped up himself and took chase. "Ohh, very funny," he ground out as he chased Marty around the trunk of the tree. "You know it's just a matter of time and I will catch you," he jokingly warned.
Marty wrapped the flap of her riding skit around her waist and took off unencumbered towards the clearing with Adam hot on her cowboy heals. In no time at all, he was within inches of her back. He reached out and crabbed the cotton shirt and yanked her unceremoniously backwards and into his arms. He moved fast and scooped her up, cradling her small light figure in his arms, then marched towards the lake.
"Perhaps a swim is a better activity for such a cheeky young lady."
Marty started kicking, "No Adam, you wouldn't. How would I explain my wet clothes to Mrs Wilburn?"
Adam marched on, determined, "You will dry in no time, we still have all afternoon," he laughed.
"No Adam, It's a brand new skirt… Ahhh."
Adam stopped at the bank and turned Marty sideways as he swung two and fro ready to hurl into the cold lake, only to snap her back quickly and hold her tight against his chest.
Marty sighed in relief, but screamed again as Adam suddenly lunched forward with another feigned throw, this time actually letting her get a little airborne, before snatching her back safely with a bellowing laugh.
Marty didn't trust him not to try the threat again and rightly so, for as he prepared to swing her out for the third time she lashed out and grabbed the front of his shirt, piping all the buttons off.
"Oops," whispered Marty as she was drawn back to his now bare chest. "Gosh Adam I'm sorry", she lied while trying to ignore his scent and resist the urge to run her fingers over his taut muscular torso."
Adam looked down at his unbuttoned shirt and revelled for a moment in the closeness of their bodies.
They both blushed slightly as he dropped her legs slowly but gently to the ground and took her in an embrace. "Don't worry about it, I have enough black shirts to last me six years." He said seriously, looking only at her eyes.
Marty touched the shirt and ran her fingers down either side of the seam, feeling the textures of material and human flesh. "If we can find the buttons, I will sew them back on for you, when I get back to town," she breathlessly offered, before meeting his gaze.
"Hop Sing can do that," he whispered, meeting her lips just a breath away from hers.
"But I want too," she quietly murmured into his lips, touching ever so softly.
No more words were spoken for a long time as they embraced and kissed. Softly, respectfully at first, then with a deep passion that neither believed they had ever experienced. Taking air, as they caressed each other's necks, they weaved their fingers under the softer curls of each others hair line.
Adam could feel the tight muscles of Marty's back as she arched at his touch, stretching her soft skin and defining the bones of her spine, which seemed to ignite a prickle that waved over his own skin and reached the depth of the muscles nudging them alive for what he hoped was eternity.
For Marty, her fine cotton blouse over her firm laced bodice gave little protection from the tingle of her own flesh. She stepped back a little and searched his huge brown eyes, taken back by their sincere and enchanting window of desire. A desire, she was certain, that was as equivalent as hers. She stretched up to his lips again, letting her cotton covered breast brush his hand slightly, as it moved down and rested on her waist. His hand drew her in for yet another deep and sensual encounter.
Adam finally spoke as they came apart, cradling her head gently, "Marty, we ought to… I do not wish to take liberties… I th…"
"Well I do…" Marty took a huge breath, understanding Adams need for control as well as hers, "but perhaps a cool swim is needed after all."
They parted.
"Phew, Yep, good idea." Adam walked over to the lake lay down on the grass and stuck his head in the cool water.
Marty laughed and moved back to the blanket, thinking it may be best if she packed up.
Adam brushed his wet locks, spraying his back with the cool water, as he walked back to the blanket to help Marty with the picnic basket. "I'm sorry, Marty if my behaviour was too forward."
"Don't be sorry Adam, it was beautiful and consensual, believe me, but there should be… I mean, I want…"
"Want commitment."
"Yes, to some extent, but not now, not yet … It's too early for us to go there, I want to… I lo…"
"And I love you," said Adam, clear and resonant.
Marty had to contain the sting that came to her eyes. It was real, those words were real. He said them and he meant them. "Adam… I love you too, but there is more that I need with such a commitment."
"Alexandra's blessing."
"Blessing perhaps, acceptance would be brilliant, but respect would be the best start."
"She respects you."
"She respects me as an adult, because that is expected, that is insited upon by you and society. But it has to be an intrinsic one. Surely you understand what I'm saying. You had other women come into your father's life, then two new mothers. Did you accept them and if so when?"
"Inger was easy to accept, I was very young. But, with Marie it took a little longer. She was young and lively, not very motherly at first. Pa, Hoss and I had done without anybody, except for Hop Sing, for a long time. I felt we didn't need anyone."
"So when did that change?"
"I soon saw that Hoss needed her and then Pa. She never pushed me, and soon enough, I guess I respected her for that. We ended up being great confidants and she knew of so much of the cultured life that I longed for. It was her that continually encouraged me to apply for college. With her death I nearly did not go. But pa honoured her wish, her dream for me."
Marty smiled, and then nodded. "Respect is always a good start."
Adam bent down and kissed her gently. "Thank you."
"Come on don't start that again."
"Ah Miss Strawn, trust me I have the control of a perfect gentleman." He said bowing, before he put on his hat.
"Good for you," she said and mounted her horse, just as well, because I haven't, she mused, as she clicked and sent dreamer off at a slow canter towards the ranch.
Adam watched her take the lead, took another deep breath then tipped his hat in a silent salute to Marty and to Marie, before digging Sport up and cantered to the left of Marty's dusty trail.
oOo
Alex had bounded into the barn after doing her afternoon chores. She had put Leo away nearly an hour ago, towelled him down and brushed him. But, she hadn't made up his feed, so she grabbed a bucket and added a dipper of chaff, and a few oats. She then went to her equine friends stall and added the mix to his feed bin in the corner. She sat down in the soft hay near his front legs and patted his girth.
"That taste good don't it Leo? Tomorrow ya can have a biscuit of Lucerne; ya like that won't ya?" Uncle Hoss says it tastes kinda sweet ta a horse kinda like candy does ta me."
Alex stopped patting for a moment and laid her hands in her lap, and fidgeted. "Leo, I gotta talk ta ya. I need ya advice."
Leo snorted and looked up from his feed bin for a moment before returning.
"Sorry. When ya done eatin' of course." She apologised and waved him back to his task. "Its jist that I reckon I'm in big trouble. You know, Leo you is jist about my bestest friend and I need ya listen cause I need your help."
The pony stopped again and threw his head in their air, and pawed at the ground.
"Okay, gosh dang it, but ya as slow as a wet week. It ain't like thems vegetables ya eatin there, havin ta work around them, eating ya meat, then stuffing them in ya taters, so ya can't taste em. You should take a leaf outta Uncle Hoss book; he don't mind eatin anything, corse he does take all night though, only cause he feels it's a sin ta not finish everything on his plate. His Pa musta done put some strange notions in his head. My daddy always says I shouldn't turn my nose up at good food, there be some poor little child in the world thata give their right arm for a good meal, like the little starving babies in Africa. I don't reckon he's right there. I don't reckon anybody give there right arm for a feed. A cannibal probably swap his vegetables for ya right arm. Lucky we ain't got no cannibals here."
Leo had given up eating his chaff, though he hadn't left much, and moved to his water bucket. Alex quickly got up and moved to the front of his stall and lifted the bucket so Leo drop his head into it and draw some of the fresh water. She put the bucket down, and waited for her friends' full attention.
She knew she had it when he stopped drinking and lent his neck into her chest, for a rub.
"Well, it all started with this dang ole assignment Miss Jones's gave us. I done fished the bill of rights, all of it, in my bestest writing. And all I needed ta do was add the last bit about gun safety that dad had me write out a hundred and fifty times. I was gonna glue it to the bottom. So I went ta grandpa's desk ta get the glue, jist like I done before. But then when I was getting the glue, I spotted grandpa's matchsticks. There real long for when he lights his pipe, ya see."
Leo snorted then bobbed his head up and down. Alex went over and grabbed the brush and started to comb his mane.
"Hmm," she affirmed. "Anyways as ya should know, The Bill of Rights is very, very old. Last month Lydia Ann made an old looking sea map on the journeys of Christopher Columbus for one of her projects. We was all real impressed with the authentic looking poster. Miss Jones had given her a big fat A fer it. Lydia Ann had bragged about how she created the effect by burning the edges and adding a wash from cold tea. The cold tea bit was a good idea, but since I had already done all my bestest writing on the paper, I reckoned the tea would smudge my letters. It wouldn't look authentic at all, unless of course The Bill Of Rights was floating around with all that tea at the Boston Tea party, but they done didn't write it in their bestest handwriting till after that."
Leo poured at the ground, letting her know he was just a little annoyed. Alex threw the brush next to the stall. "Okay I'll get on with it, but ya really should know about the Boston Tea party. I'll explain that another day. So where was I…, Oh I remember, well I grabbed two of the extra long matchsticks and headed on up stairs. After I carefully glued each sheet of paper to the bottom of my scroll, I cleared ma desk and poured some water into the wash basin, just to be on the safe side, then struck the long match and started singeing the sides of the scroll with the flame and then I done stumped the flame with ma wet fingers. I only did a bit at a time. When I finished one side I started on the other, thets when the disaster happened."
Leo whinnied and shook his head.
"Yeah, I knowed, I jist don't have any luck. I was half way through when all of a sudden a real high flame went up from the sides. I dang near wet my knickers, but like dad's always telling me, I stayed focused. I dropped the scroll onto the floor and stomped on it. I still had the long match in ma hand and I was real careful to keep it away from my clothes while I done a dance on the flame on the floor. I was sure relieved when all them flames were out. I blew out the long match, I forgot all about that, lucky it hadn't done burnt my hand off, anyways I laid the match across the bowl. That's when I spotted the curtain on fire. Thing was when I had the match I was holding back behind me, ya know when I was stomping the scroll, some of the flames jist got a mind all their own and licked the bottom the hem of the window curtain. It shoulda been too far away, but well I wasn't watching the curtain, just ma dang ole project. The wind must have blown the curtain in and touched the flame I was holding, ya think the wind could a blown out the match for me, but, oh no, it didn't and the curtain, jist one side of it, started burning."
Leo' eyes went wide and he hopped from one foot to the other.
Alex nodded; acknowledging Leo's chastisement. "I know I know, it was dang careless of me and it was real scary, but I'm here ain't I, and well the house is too. I grabbed the bowl of water and throwed it on the flames. Boy it was close." She sighed, and then bit her lip. "This is where I shoulda done another right thing; one of the curtains was real burnt up. Plus there was a real mess everywhere. And well, nobody done come a runnin. So I pulled down the curtain, jist the one and pulled dother one across. Then I cleaned up all the water with the curtain and tucked it under my mattress. I rolled up ma scroll, I was going ta be handin' it in tomorrow, so no one was gonna see the burnt edges. But then, I figured they was gonna notice that I only had one curtain on my window. So I done sneaked down to grandpa's desk, pretendin ta return the glue, in case anyone came in, and then took his big scissors outta his drawer. When I got back up ta my room I jist cut that curtain in half and pushed it ta either side of the window. The room looked as good as new. Ceptin for the smell; ya wouldn't know there was any fire at all. I left my window open so that the smell would go. And well by supper time it was."
Alex smiled as Leo nudged her shoulder. "Yeah I was lucky, Leo. And I kinda pulled it all off, ceptin I feel real guilty, and I could live with that fer a while, and hopefully I would jist forget about it an all, but well I dang got a huge fat A+ on my project. Miss Jones was right proud a me and best of all; Lydia Ann was real put out. But, Miss Jones is gonna put them all on display at the library, for Independence Day celebrations. Well, Dads jist too smart he's gonna figure out how I done made it look authentic. And well I can't out and out tell him a lie. He's gonna be real mad, and grandpa seeing it his house an all. I ain't supposed to have matches on my own or play with matches even though I wasn't playin'. I shoulda, jist told them at the time. But, well dad was letting me practice with the gun and I was doing real good. He woulda stopped it an all. He woulda said I was too irresponsible ta hold a gun, ifin I could be safe with fire. Plus I done disobeyed him, and now I'm in worsa trouble cause I hid it. I don't know what ta do. Do I wait and jist pray ta Jesus, that no one has got their thinking or spicious caps on, though I don't reckon Jesus will be too happy with me anyways; I done broke some of his rules too, so he probably ain't gonna answer that prayer."
Leo didn't react; just starred at his owner with his long nose inches from her face and his huge dark eyes clearly on hers.
"Ya disappointed, I know."
Leo turned his head slightly and nodded it up and down three times.
"And I should tell them, now, afore it gets a worsa sin?
Leo again starred at Alexandra.
"No doubt bout it, huh? Meybe I should tell grandpa, he don't paddle as hard as dad, though he can sure bellow louder, but I got that commin, don't I?"
Leo nodded.
"Ya right. I gotta tell him tonight; I don't think I could sleep with this black mark on ma soul no more, be damn with the consequences. I jist hope I can sit by the time of my birthday party."
Leo snorted, as he threw his head up slightly.
"Hardly likely… Ya reckon?" Alex hung her head, disappointed.
"Dang it!...Ya right, it's the right thing ta do, I'm risin' eleven years old, I gotta get more manured and face up ta things like a grown up. Dad trusted me enuff ta teach me ta handle a gun; I gotta live up ta that trust, be growed up bout all this." said a much more determined and confident Alexandra.
Alex grabbed Leo's long face and pulled it towards hers and promptly kissed his brilliant white blaze.
"Gee Leo, I cin always trust you ta give good advice; don't know what I'd do without ya. I hope you ain't too mad at me."
Before heading back into the house, she bent down to retrieve the water bucket, and then yelped at the top of her lungs when Leo promptly took a small nip at her conveniently placed backside.
"OWWW, Okay, Leo I get the point. Ma ass gonna be smiting enough without ya taken a chunk outta it."
oOo
It was after supper and Alexandra had been sent up to get ready for bed and was sitting in her room, the burnt curtain in her hands.
Alex had said her goodnights to everyone with a promise from her father that he would be up to tuck her in and read the rest of Hans Christian Andersons, book of fairy tales. They were up to the poem of the Little Match Girl. Alexandra, flushed with guilt, had requested that perhaps they skip that one, and could they read The Little Mermaid instead. She also asked if her grandpa could read it to her instead of Adam. Marty, once again, had stayed for dinner and Alexandra had suggested that perhaps her father would enjoy some more time with his friend. Adam had agreed; The Little Match Girl, though a beautiful story was very sad and, yes indeed, spending more time with Marty was an added bonus, along with what Adam perceived as Alexandra's subconscious consent.
So when Alexandra heard the knock at the door, she didn't hide the curtain, but sat their ready to face her grandfather with the evidence of her crime.
"Come In, Grandpa," she spoke loudly, though with a touch of trepidation.
To her surprise Marty walked in and smiled. "Alexandra, I know you were expecting your grandpa, but could I read the story to you?" the young woman asked.
Alex quickly hid the curtain behind her back, "Ahh, dontcha wanna spend some more time with my daddy?" she stuttered.
"Sure I do, but I've spent a lot of time with him lately and I would like to spend some time with you," edged Marty.
"Ohh, ya sure? Daddy probably gives better cuddles than I do."
"Well, I wouldn't know, I haven't had many cuddles from you. I really can't make a fair comparison." She explained as she sat down on the bed next to Alex.
"Well, I was kinda expectin grandpa, and not that ya ain't probably a good story teller and all, but I gotta tell him somethin, real important. I got a real big problem."
"Oh dear, that sounds serious, can I help?"
"Meybe, I done consulteded with Leo already and I reckon I got a plan, but ya hafta promise not ta tell, I gotta tell this myself, I jist don't know how ta do it, I never made a confession afore."
"A confession?"
"Yes ma'am." Alex pulled out the burnt curtain and showed Marty.
"Oops, how did this happen?"
"It's a real long story, but it happened last week, and well I gotts to own up to it now, so ya can't tell.".
"Well it's good that I won't have to tell, because you are, but why didn't you tell someone about this when it happened. It sounds like you have made things worse for yourself by waiting so long." Marty said gently with a small smile.
"Ya might be right, but then it could really been worsa for me ifin I didn't learn how ta shoot a gun. Daddy would not have shown me anymore or let me practice. He's been teachin' me about responsibilil…lity and he woulda thinked this was real bad and irresponsibil..lity."
"Well he is right in some ways, Alex, but it would have been just as responsible for you to own up to all this when it first happened."
"I'm ownin' up now, that's responsible, ain't it? Besides, I was bein responsible ta myself; I needed ta learn how ta use a gun, jist in case. I knowed enough ta handle a gun in an emergency, though I could always do with some more practice an all, but I could shoot a gun ifin I had to. That's responsible too ain't it?"
"No that's conniving, Alexandra."
"What's that mean?"
"Well, it means it's a very sneaky way to get what you want, for whatever reasons. I don't think it's a good way to gain peoples trust. I think your daddy won't like that at all."
"Ohhh, so being conniving is worsa than lyin' and nearly setting the house on fire cause I shoulda not been using matches in the first place all by myself?"
"If you had told your father what had happened in the first place, there would not be a lie. There would only be a careless accident."
"Because, I done disobeyed a rule?"
"Yep."
"You ain't helpin much Miss Marty, now I don't want ta tell nuffin ta nobody. I cin jist bury this curtain and hope fer the best."
"And that would be really dishonest."
"Okay so that's even more worsa isn't it?"
"Yep."
"You gonna tell?"
"Nope, but I think you should."
"Meybe I'll just sleep on it."
"Do you think you can? When I was a little girl, I could never sleep when I had such a huge weight on my mind."
"Yep, me too. But I gotta think how I aims to tackle this."
"Well, I think you should perhaps start with all the good points of this situation."
"Which good points?"
"Well, you're owning up to it now, of your own accord. You've seen the errors of your ways. And you didn't burn the house down…"she laughed trying to sound positive.
"Yeah, that's cause I took cautions, I had water and everythink. I put out the fire real fast. I stayed focused jist like dad's been tellin me too. It ain't the same as staying focused when ya gotta gun, or trying to listen to Reverend Johnson sermon on a Sunday when ya don't understand what he's saying, ceptin that ya should be honest and it's real easy ta be templated by the devil and do wrong, cause it feels good. But, I ain't been templated by the Devil, honest, I was jist trying ta get a good grade on my project and make it look authentic. And dad's gotta app… appp, be happy with that don't he? I mean, he's always going on about how good book learnin is, and how ya should try and get good grades, and that trying ya best is real important. And well I got a real good grade. And that's a real good point ain't it?"
"So far that's two," said Marty holding up her fingers.
Alexandra frowned. "Only two? I don't think two's gonna be enuff for dad ta think I'm a responsible leven year old and not give me the spanking of my life. I won't be sitting or ridin Leo fer a week when he's done with me. Me an Leo's gonna hafta walk ta school. I'll have ta stand up ta eat and wear lots of petticoats when I go ta school so I don't feel them hard seats. I won't be able ta climb any trees, or play marbles in a dress and petticoats. Willy Fitzgerald's gonna whip the championship right outta from under ma nose. This ain't gonna be good."
"No perhaps not," said Marty biting at her lip and really feeling for the kid at this stage.
"Ya could talk ta him for me… he trust you an all."
"Yes he does, but I think that would be wrong of me to tell him before you do. Trust me; I think you will feel a lot better if you tell him. I will hold your hand while you do, and if he starts yelling real loud, I'll snatch you up and run like the dickens. We might have to hide out for a while until he calms down. But we would eventually have to come back and then we'd face the music together."
"You would do that for me?"
"Sure I would If your life was in danger, I'd even take the blame for you. But you life isn't in danger. Look, I know it is scary to admit when you have done something wrong. You are a brave little girl and I am proud of you for deciding to tell your daddy and grandpa what happened. I will always do my best to protect you, you can depend on me. You will always have the face the consequences but you won't have to do it alone.
"He's gonna tan my hide something fierce. It's gonna hurt like the dickens fer sure."
"Yep, probably, but your daddy loves you Alexandra, he may spank you, and give you restrictions, or extra chores…"
"Oh he'll think of all sorts of mean things, tortuous things."
"Really, torture?" I don't think so."
"What ifin he takes my birthday from me? I gotta turn leven."
"No, Alexandra, He won't take your birthday, he can't,"
"Oh I mean my birthday party. Thata be mean and tortuous. Ya won't let him torture me will ya, Marty?"
Marty tried not to laugh. "I won't, but you really need to tell him. Why don't I walk down with you; you can tell your dad and your grandpa together."
"Good idea, that's two against two."
"No, Alex," laughed Marty. "I'm not against anyone; I'm for doing what's right. Trust me you will feel better when it's done, a heavy heart and shame is a lot worse than a sore bottom."
Alexandra started to tear up. "Ya right, Miss Marty, you and Leo give real honourable advice, I trust ya." With that Alex threw herself into Marty's arms and sobbed.
Marty enjoyed the moment, nearly shedding a bucket full of happy tears herself. She rubbed small circles around Alexandra's back until the child stopped crying.
Marty lifted Alex's chin. "You know," she said wiping the rest of the child's tears away with the gentle touch of her fingers, "your cuddles are so much nicer than your daddy's."
"I like your cuddles too; they are different but jist as good. So, I hope ya aint's just sayin that," sniffled Alexandra.
"No, you said you trust me didn't you."
"Sure I did, but ya real nice too, and I seen ya face an all when ya make them googly eyes at dad. Ya love sparkin, I knowed," teased Alex playfully.
"Come on we better get this done," nudged Marty.
"Yep, afore I chicken out," sighed Alex.
Adam hadn't been long standing at the door, only long enough to hear someone's sobs. He'd been curious when Marty had offered to read to Alex, appreciating the woman's motivation to get to know Alex better, even though he rather fancied a romantic walk in the moonlight. He tried waiting in the big room, while Hoss and Joe argued over a chess game. Adam tried reading Dickens's, new novel, 'A Tale of Two Cities' in the blue chair, while his father flipped through the territorial enterprise for the third time that week. He tried, but it was only for twenty minutes or so before his inquisitiveness won out. He snuck up quietly hoping to hear Marty's animated version of a bedtime story and hopefully the inklings of Alex acceptance of the pretty young nurse.
Adam nearly burst in through the doors when he heard the tears, not sure really whether they were Marty's or Alexandra's. Really, he laughed at his over active imagination. Alex wouldn't sock her in the nose would she? But, he waited and was relieved when he heard Alex say she trusted Marty and that she gave good cuddles. Hmm things were looking up, he thought and gently knocked before entering with a warm smile plastered all over his face.
That smile waivered a little and for a moment he was confused when both his favourite girls jumped with fright, then blushed. He caught the fleeting image of Alex and Marty pushing some object back and forth before Alex pushed it unceremoniously under Marty's seated bottom.
Marty snapped a look at Alex's panicked expression, and for a brief second, she thought Alex may have planted the evidence; after all Marty did say she would take the fall for Alex, if she had too. Nooo, she wouldn't set me up, she's jist hiding it, delaying the inevitable. "Alex," she whispered from the side of her mouth, "what are you….Your dad's going to think I…. Alex?" you wouldn't… she silently pleaded with her eyes.
Alex cocked her head to the side, "Huh?" then realising what the situation may have looked like and what Marty may be worried about, she whispered back and smiled, "Don't worry, Marty, trust me."
TBC
Chapter 7
The Truth Is A Far Far Better Thing.
A.N. Another big shout out to Lajoci for some fantastic suggestions and input. So Please review, I have bugged Lajoci silly with my musings over this chapter and the development needed for upcoming ones.
Citation: Source: sorry, site won't let me cite websites. Hans Christian Anderson wrote The Little Match Girl And The Little Mermaid, in 1836, But they were not translated into English by H. P. Paull until 1872, (so for the purpose of my tale I pretended they were. ) Charles Dickens wrote A Tale Of Two Cities, in three parts/ Books in 1859.
Some trivia: The character Charles Dickens appeared in a Bonanza episode. He was played by Jonathan Harris (Doctor Smith of Lost In Space fame). 200 year old Charles Dickens celebrates his birthday on the 7th of February.