Trouble uploading: I don't understand why this chapter did not show up. it came up in live preview, I got the alert? I've chapter replaced , but no, hopefully a repost will do it... It's still didn't show up on the public site,yet my alert link takes me to it...I'm working on it, Sorry people, thank you for letting me know.
Warning: This chapter has a M rating. Also the spanking of a minor.
Chapter 13: Initiations and Havoc: Pt 1
Adam bought a tray of hot tea and fresh coffee out on to the porch and sat it down on the small table just in front of the new pine outdoor settee he'd made. He made it for comfortable nights sitting out there watching the summer sky with guests or as in this case very special friends.
It was a clear but warm night and after settling Alex into bed, Adam and Marty took some time to finish the evening off with refreshments and good conversation.
Adam had bought his guitar outside with him intending to strum a few songs later. "How's your ankle?" he asked sitting the tray down.
"Fine, really I don't see what all the fuss is about. It will be fine by morning. I feel such an idiot, rolling it like that."
"Somehow, I'm not sure it was an accident. Alex has been playing tricks on us all day."
"Sure, but they've been harmless, Adam, though the burr under my bustle was a tad embarrassing at lunch. I thought Ben was going to have a heart attack, when I cussed like that."
"You're lucky he didn't wash your mouth out. I bet Alex would have loved that."
"Yes, but it was hard to prove Alex put it there."
"Oh, it was a pretty sure bet, you should have let me deal with it."
"No, let me handle it, besides I've just about thwarted all her efforts. I'd say she's testing me; initiating me perhaps."
"It might be, but she's been getting me too. I'm sure she put salt in the sugar bowl and milk in my boots… That's a new one on me. They better dry out by tomorrow, I'll need them."
"Again these are harmless pranks, Adam. After church this morning, their little tree house gang had a special meeting."
"Oh spying were you?"
"No, me, no… though I did hear a few little things, and it seems each of the children has to perform a prank as their induction into the club."
"Hmm… sounds a little too mischievous for my liking. Any more details?"
"No, and I wouldn't tell, unless of course it was dangerous; I might want to become a secret agent you know," laughed Marty.
Adam cocked his eyebrow. "On whose side…"
"No one's… I'm ribbing you. I remember having a tree house when I was young, my brothers and I would spend hours up there. On really hot nights, father would let us camp out. John, the oldest, had to stay with us. He'd get up and make billy tea and damper bread in the morning. We pretended we were the first outback settlers or great explorers like the Archer Brothers. Really the pranks are harmless. Alex is probably the first to be inducted; she has appointed herself the founding father, I believe."
"I bet. More than likely Alex is hitting two birds with one stone, her club initiation and testing you," suggested Adam.
"Well she's asleep now; I'd say she is done playing us tonight."
"She better be. The mouse thing didn't turn out so funny."
"That wasn't the little mouse fault," laughed Marty, "or Alex's… really."
"She meant to have you jumping and screaming up a storm, scared of the rodent."
"Don't call it a rodent," she said, playfully slapping his shoulder.
"Marty, it is a rodent!"
"Well, it was far more scared of me than I was of it. Alex's face was priceless though, when I opened my bag and cooed at the little thing trying to get out. Then she nearly choked when I picked it up and patted it. If Ben hadn't insited I take it out side, I might have even kept it safely tucked away in my bag… Or dropped back into Alex's cotton drawers," sniggered Marty.
"You're as bad as Alex or Joe. Next thing you know we will have an all out practical joke war going on around here. Nothing more better happen, I have had enough pranks, and people are going to end up getting hurt." Adam said with a tight smile.
"Oh come on don't be such a stuffed shirt, nobody's going to get hurt."
"Yes they will get hurt, because this stuffed shirt is going to start swatting backsides… yours included if you try anything." Adam laughed and suddenly pulled Marty sideways and landed a sharp swat to her backside.
"OW! Spoil sport, I should be able to get one back…" Marty gasped and snapped her fingers with the onset of a bright idea, "maybe that's her test, Alex wants to see if I can out stump her or out prank her. She has no idea who she is dealing with; I grew up with six older brothers, who…"
Adam raised both eyebrows as a warning, and went to grab Marty again.
Marty recognised the look and jumped out of Adams embrace and slid sideways, keeping her backside out of a quick reach. "Okay, that's a no, I take it."
"Yes, it's a NO! Besides you ended up spraining your ankle. You need to keep off it for a couple of days. Which I'm not complaining about, mind you, as Pa insists you stay here."
"Yes that is a nice idea, but if Hop Sing hadn't chased me out with … 'what rodent doing in house, out, out, OUT," dramatised Marty. "And if you hadn't tipped the milk out of your boots, splashing the porch steps I wouldn't have slipped."
"Oops…"
"See, it wasn't the poor little mouse's fault."
"You are getting scary… Again you sound like Alex."
"Oh I don't think there will be any more pranks on us, she was pretty quiet after that. I think she was feeling a little guilty."
"Maybe, but anymore and she will be both sore and sorry. Now tea Miss? It's Chamomile; Hop Sing says it will relax you."
Marty sipped her tea, and then quickly drew back from the hot rim. "Ow it's hot."
"Sorry did you burn your lips?" Adam grabbed the cup and set it back down on the tray, then turned back and tenderly touched Marty's chin, drawing his lips to hers. He drew back from the gentle touch, and smiled, "They are nice and warm," he crooned.
"They're fine," said Marty and placed her fingers on his lips, to delay another advance.
Adam grabbed her hand, holding her fingers in place as he kissed them. "That's good, couldn't think of anything worse than injuring those pretty pink lips." He guided her hands close towards his chest then pulled her tiny waist towards him, tucking her into the crook of his shoulder. "Perhaps we can continue where we left off from last week after the party?"
"Perhaps," laughed Marty. She made herself comfortable against Adams firm chest as he caressed her hair, placing soft kisses to her forehead. She lay her head on his shoulder, thinking back to the last time they had got to spend some time alone.
On the way home one week before.
Nearly an hour after they left the lake the lights from the ranch house came into view. Hop Sing and Ben had obviously made better time, and Adam could see a steady stream of smoke coming from the big room chimney. He pulled the wagon over to the side of the trail.
"What are we stopping for?" asked Marty.
"Just a quick moment…" smiled Adam, "I want to show you something. "
Marty looked at Alex behind her, as Adam jumped down.
"She's fast asleep, we have a small window of opportunity come on," Adam also checked on Alex who was snuggled up behind the seat of the wagon, then offered Marty his hand, "really she's fine." He helped her down from the wagon and they strolled contently to the large tree that framed the dirt trail and driveway to the ranch.
The warm night and full moon provided a clear view of the ranch silhouetted against the pink haze of a spring sky. Beyond the house the Sierras stood; tall and majestic on the horizon, yet gentle with the last of the winter's snow still on their peaks. In the stillness of the night they could almost hear the numerous waterfalls that were tucked in among many of the mountains huge boulders, as the snow melted and weaved its way through the valleys heading to the lakes promising an early summer with a plentiful supply of cool water.
"Beautiful isn't it?" said Adam. "When I was younger, after Marie died and the incident in Elk, I couldn't wait to get to the east; to get away from here, the hardships, death, dust and heat. I wanted civilization. But, it was here too, all along, but I didn't recognise those subtle qualities until I was older. As a boy, Yuma had instilled in me a love of the land, its beauty, but I still saw the cities as being civilized, this place was beautiful, but raw and naturalistic. Now I look at that…" he said pointing to the homestead sitting in front of the mountains. "And hear life all around it. It is the most civilized thing I have come to know."
"Because it has family," mused Marty.
Adam turned Marty towards him, "Yes, that is why I came back."
"You don't want ever to go back to the big cities."
"Every now and again. Actually, with San Francisco being so close I get a taste of city life, though Boston is very different."
"You never wanted to try other places farther away?"
"Once… I thought about the sea; like my father had once done, and my grandfather. I even thought I might explore your Australia… Still might…" Adam winked and gave a cheeky grin before pulling Marty in close for a passionate and warm kiss.
Marty was the first to withdraw. Savouring the taste, she turned and looked at the view of the ranch house, leaning her small frame back against Adam's chest. "It is beautiful Adam."
"Yes," murmured Adam, but he was no longer looking at the view on the horizon, he had seen it many times before. He looked down over Marty's shoulders at her profile and admired the beautiful young woman he cradled against him. He leant down and started leaving soft kisses to her fine neck, caressing her silky hair as he moved it from the flesh he longed to touch.
Marty melted into the moment. Content she closed her eyes, savouring the sensual contact and his manly scent. After a few minutes she turned once again into his body, letting his kisses continue and over her cheeks and then coaxed them finally to her lips.
There they both paused and looked into each other's eyes, before moving in complete unison and kissed, deep and passionate. There they explored each others being, tastes and heat, all the while caressing, touching and some simple nibbling; when more oxygen was required.
Adam pulled her in close with one hand gently on her small waist and then let his other hand wander to Marty's exposed cleavage that his oversized black shirt had allowed. He was tantalised by the crest of her velvety and firm breasts. He wanted more; to explore the transitions hidden beneath the thin cotton of her camisole, but he dare not. He felt her body tingle and instinctively pulled her closer.
Marty's skin did indeed tingle and subconsciously she moved her arms up to grasp Adams neck and deepen their kiss, both then getting a taste of the electric sensations between them. Adam's hand was naturally guided down when Marty had lifted her arms and now cupped the side of her full and wondrous breast. He meant to pull away, even though he sensed the invitation, but control and propriety was called for. And he would have expected it of himself, had Marty not released her lips from his mouth only to take up residency behind his right ear. She snuggled lovingly into Adam's neckline, liking the warmth of his embrace. Her pert nose nuzzled the sensitive spot just behind his ear, the very tip of her tongue lightly flirting with the vein which connected his heart to his brain, which wasn't in proper working order at that particular moment in time.
Adam tried not to stiffen as the last thing he wanted was to discourage Marty's inquisitive nature, but, his entire system was suddenly very much attuned to her antics. He closed his eyes for a brief moment, moving discretely and savoring the implied intimacy. His body reacting on its own to the stimuli the woman provided, Adam groaned lowly; a deep rumble vibrating his entire being, and he dipped his head just a bit, his mouth covering the sweet, fragrant flesh of her own neckline. He made gentle contact, hoping to move Marty as much as she had moved him.
Adam felt Marty shiver as she pulled a little back to get air, her warm breath dusting his sensitive skin. The sensation had him searching for her mouth again with a muffled groan of desire ignited even further when his thumb brushed the small raised nub of her own body's want, protected but not dormant under her camisole.
Marty's almost inaudible squeal of delight nearly sent both lovers over the edge, if not for the sudden murmur coming from the wagon.
"Are we home yet?" yawned Alex.
Realising that they were not as safely away from the wagon as they first thought, both Adam and Marty quickly pulled apart. Blushing and aware that they both had been dissolving into the heat of each other's desire and passionate exploration, they stepped back from each other and looked over at the wagon.
Adam, took a large breath, "Nearly Alex; go back to sleep, baby."
"MMMM, okay, daddy."
They watched, and waited listening for the sounds of Alex getting herself comfortable, in the wagon once more.
"We better…" they both said, trying to catch the breath neither wanted to, but both needed to.
"We better get going, Adam."
Adam took both her hands and turned to face her, still keeping enough distance to be in control and see each other's face by the light of the moon. "Martha Strawn I need you and want you to be my wife. he declared. "I love you, will you marry me?"
"Adam…" Marty was enchanted and a wave of flutters played joyfully within her stomach, then travelled to the brim of her eyes. "Adam you're just swept away with the moment, it was reckless and…"
"Yes, I am swept away," he caught a lone tear with his finger, and moved in closer, his strong body touching hers, "but I get swept away by you, whether you are two inches from my lips or sixty miles away in town." Adam closed in slowly and laid another gentle and long kiss to her lips. He left his lips there, juts touching projecting the warmth of his sincerity and promise.
Marty didn't move when he released his lips as slowly as he had joined hers. She gave a small smile as her eyes met his, shining with her emotion. "Adam I love you and yes I will marry you…But… There are things we both need to consider before we make the commitment."
"My heart has already made the commitment."
"Mine too, but there is …"
"Alex."
"And Katherine… and…"
"Robert."
Marty put her hand to her cheek, "Robert, you know about Robbie?"
"Yes."
Marty scowled, "so you've had me checked out… My… My…personal…"
"No, Mrs. Wilburn filled me on a few things."
"Harumpft, the old sticky nose; you know she just can't resist being the matchmaker. She pointed you out within the first week I was here. I was determined not to have her try and set things up, she…"
"And she didn't. She was talking about you in Potters store one day; that's all. I heard her say, you were once married to a young man, Robert, and that he had died."
Marty nodded, but remained silent for a moment. "Yes… I need to tell you about Robbie, that's all true. I would have told you earlier, but I don't talk about it, mainly because we weren't married for very long, and frankly it was a mistake. He was a nice young man, but we were both too young and impetuous. Grandfather and John especially were against it from the start. But I got my back up… Thought I knew myself so well, we eloped. We were foolish seventeen year olds. He was a miner, and was killed in a cave-in three weeks after we were married. I felt terrible, he'd taken the job to prove that he could support us, and he was killed within a week of starting the job. My guilt was overwhelming; I knew I wasn't in love with him and I was too weak to tell him. Robbie died thinking that I was the best thing that had ever happened to him. His family were the opposite of mine. They loved the idea we were the young couple so in love. Even after his death they believed that I was the best thing that had happened in his short life, and I didn't deserve that… he didn't deserve that."
"Robert deserved believing you loved him, everybody deserves feeling that. You are a good person for letting him and his family have that."
Marty turned and faced away from Adam, "John and Graigmelad, were about to drag me home, and I was more than willing to go. Robert's family fussed over me so, they had other sons, but of course one that gets taken so young…Well, they became a little obsessive of me. I couldn't tell them how I truly felt. It would have broken their hearts. So I left and studied nursing in Brisbane for a year, then went home to grandfather, and worked the station with my other brothers. I helped set up the bush nursing program with some of the missionaries, visiting the different cattle stations and the mines as well as the black camps. But, Robert's family were always in touch, too close. Then when John was coming out here to set up mining connections, I took the opportunity and travelled with him."
Adam took hold of her shoulders and turned her back to face him, "I don't expect you to jump at a life with me and Alex. I just want you to know how I feel about you. You have done nothing wrong, and it is part of your past you should not be ashamed of. I have no concerns about your past. I want to know everything about you and I love you more after what you just shared. We have a lot to discuss, but it's you that must do the considering here.
Marty smiled and let Adam pull her towards him. He wrapped his strong arms around her body and held her gently. "Your story is similar to mine and Katherine's. We were young, and in the heat of the moment made a bad decision; I feel guilty about that. Katherine went through hell on her own, all because of that night. It was more than just lust, we had a great friendship and had feelings for each other; we thought it was love, it may have been, young love, but I don't think I was in love with her, not now. Katherine barely knows me most of the time. The doctors believed she may have first been exposed to lead poising then. She used to paint the backdrops for the theatre, white washing them before the painted new scenes. The night before they left Elk, was even more traumatic, but at least she was away from the theatre long enough to get rid some of the poison from her system. She and the baby would have never have survived any more prolonged exposure."
"That was the night they were attacked, and you shot the owner, Frank Hallett?"
"Yes, she got a break for sometime before she went back. Williameena owned half the 'Star and Garter'. It was the best way they could make a living, but Katherine became sick again. They didn't know about the lead in the paint. Then the incident two years ago, when she shot that young man, sent her mind to the brink along with her physical health. I think she is in love with the snippets of memories that she has of those early days. And when I visit, like you, I haven't the heart to tell her differently. The other bits and pieces of the memories are tainted with trauma, so except for Alex …"
"But, Alexandra believes..."
"One day, she'll understand, but for now all I want her to know is that she is loved and that her mother is loved, and that I will do everything in my power to help whatever life she may have left, knowing that her daughter is loved and safe."
"Well that's important, but Alexandra is not going to accept me so easily, the situation is complicated and…"
"Unusual, but we will take it all as it comes, that is if you will, because Alex the child is not going to be your real worry. You need to consider if you want the legacy that Katherine, may leave. Before you say yes, you have to know that I intend to get Katherine out of jail, intend to see and pay for her care, in a reputable hospital."
"And bring her home, if by chance she is well enough?"
"She will never be well enough, not physically, not mentally."
"But, you will bring her home, if she is ever able to travel. You will bring her home to her daughter and to your wife, who is a nurse, and will care for her like she is the much loved mother of the child your wife has grown to love also"
Adam stepped back, taken in by the selflessness and nobility of her statement.
Marty smiled then laughed shaking her head, trying to lighten the moment, "You are right, it's unusual; fair dinkum strange you lot are, if you ask me."
Adam pulled her in, and gave another soft and gentle kiss, "I love you, Marty Strawn and together we can do anything."
"I accept your proposal Adam, but I think we need to keep it our little secret for a while, at least until we can mellow Alex a bit more."
"Yep, stage one; Alexandra Cartwright, she'll come around; I did."
"We better get her home, come on, I'll drive."
"No you won't; the wagons heavy. Have you handled a long wagon before, Marty?"
"Adam, it's only five hundred yards, how hard can it be… race you!" Marty took off, but didn't get her foot higher than the wagons step up when Adam grabbed her waist and spun her around, then quickly climbed onto the wagon in front of her and took the reins.
"You coming slow poke," he laughed.
"Shhh, you'll wake Alexandra."
They soon pulled into the yard and Adam helped Marty down from the wagon.
"That didn't look so hard," said Marty.
"Okay muscles," laughed Adam, "you unload and I'll put the horses away."
"No I'll put the horses away and you unload."
"How's bouts, Joe here puts the horses away and I'll unload, "chuckled Hoss coming from the front door.
"Hey, you got back fast," said Marty.
"Been home near fifteen minutes, where you two been? You shoulda been just behind Pa and Hop Sing."
Adam and Marty blushed. Hoss noticed and rolled his eyes. He pushed his tongue into the side of his cheek as he nudged his older brother before he started to unload the wagon. Joe unhitched the horses, while Marty climbed back onto the wagon and tried to lift a dead weight of a sleeping child out.
"Here, give her to me," offered Adam, "Alex come on, wake up, we'll get you to bed."
Alex groaned and scrubbed her eyes as Marty pulled the child to her feet, then passed her down to Adam.
Adam held Alex in one arm and propped her snugly over his shoulder before helping Marty down.
"You carry her upstairs. I'll get her undressed and into bed," suggested Marty.
"No, daddy can do it," mumbled Alex.
Marty raised her eyebrows at Adam before dropping a sad expression.
"Come on we can do this together," Adam whispered in Marty's ear and put his arm around her. The three of them then walked together through the big door.
End flashback.
Alex lay in her bed on her side peering out the window at the night sky. She could hear the soft murmurings and giggles of her father and Marty as the talked on the porch. She hadn't been that tired when she had gone to bed, but pretended to be. Things had got a little out of hand with the pranks today and she figured she was skating on thin ice as her Uncle Joe had put it. She huffed and rolled back to lay on her back and bought her arms up under her head thinking of the past week's events, and those to come…..
Dad and Marty are sure acting strange, well stranger than usual. Reckon it's got somethin ta do with that night up at the lake. They's all canoodlin more; all the time. They oughta be careful; dang fools look like two love sick cows, though I ain't never really seen too many love sick cows.
They been trying ta talk ta me about somethin. Reckon I knows what it might be. Dad sure likes her; reckon theys thinkin of getting married. Don't know how that's gonna work out, maybe not so bad, it could kinda be like Yuma and the Paiutes; some of them have more than one wife. Yuma had lots of momma's... Still we ain't Paiute. Besides my momma and daddy never got married, cause momma went away, and theys were jist kids like Uncle Little Joe and Daisymae, so dad wouldn't have two wives.
Marty's real nice an all, and she's no prissy female like some of them others in town. She can do lots of things. She sure don't scare easily thet's fer sure. I thought she'd jump a mile when she'd seen that mouse in her purse. Dad hasn't figured it was me that done it, but Uncle Joe worked it out; guess me going up an asking ifin she had any peppermints in her purse was a bit of a clue, that an the fact that Uncle Joe's a darn good detective.
Guess Dad's entitled ta have a friend, still I ain't sure it's gonna work out and ifin it don't work out, Dads gonna be awful heart broke, just like momma was. She said she could never love another man, she'd love me and Molly and that was good enough fer her. Loves is sure dang stupid. But they jist can't see it. Dad and Marty did look kinda stupid when Dad held out the chair fer her at lunch today, "Miss Strawn allow me," he goes like we were havin high tea with the queen or something and she was a lady in waitin.
Hmmf, she sure didn't sound like a lady when she jumped up and cussed something fierce, "Ow…bloody hell', she screamed when that burr done pinched her ass real good; shoulda been wearing more petticoats. Grandpa was real funny, his eyes near done popped outta his head, her cussing like a sailor an all. I wonder why sailors cuss so much, guess they see some bloody big fish, like whales, but whales ain't fish, they's mammals. Grandpa done told me that; bloody big mammals theys are.
Think I better not play no more pranks on them, though. I'm gonna hafta find another way ta let them know how dang stupid theys look, and that I ain't real impressed about their secretive canoodling, without tellin me what theys got planned. There's a lot has ta be taken under circumcision, and I don't reckon theys even thought about it enough, dumb love sick cows. Hmm, that reminds me I set up a few other, mishaps, reckon I better undo them. Best I wait till everyone's gone ta bed, sure hope Dad doesn't want a cigar afore bed, though.
The tree house gang give me most of them practical joke ideas. Lydia Ann had some real good ones, though theys was a little nasty. She said she tried them on suitors that had tried courtin her ma when she was a lot younger; last year. Though now she reckons she'd probably wouldn't mind havin a new Pa, at least her momma would stop missin her daddy so much and maybe smile again. Guess I should be wantin' the same thing for Dad, but I keep him smiling … a lot.
Anyways, Lydia Ann's gonna go through the initiations fer the tree house club, too. Josh reckons it's only fair we gives those wanting ta join the opportunity. We ain't gonna be reclusive or exclusive, selective or somethin like that, even Lajoci gonna initiate. I don't hafta do an initiation task, seein it's my tree house an all, and I'm the in ogre ural president, which means first one, or a nasty one… I'ain't sure. Don't think I'll be a nasty one. But, then Willy reckons the presidents gotta be a role model fer his men, so I said I will help anyone, iffin I can.
We made this secret pact, that what is said in the tree house stays in the tree house, even ifin it means a tannin. We wasn't really in the tree house we was behind the church after services today. But we all reckon it was a special unordinary meetin' and it was on holy ground, so the tree house rules stand. Josh came up with the initiation idea.
Everybody, includin me, had ta come up with a prank ta pull… A big one; on as many people as possible, and in town. They's had ta write it down and we put it into a hat. So, me, Daniel, Jessica, Lajoci, Lydia Ann, Josh and Wily all wrote down something. Harrison James don't write, plus he's only four years old so he can't join the gang anyways, but Josh had ta bring him with us so we done decided that he could be our mascot. Besides Josh reckons we havta think about succession, which means havin someone ready ta take over in case somethin goes wrong, plus we's all one day gonna be to old ta fit into the tree house.
Josh then mixed up all the folded bits of paper afore he let us pick them out. The rules are that yer hafta do the prank between now and after the Harvest Dance next week. Yer can ask any other gang member ta help yer, but only one and then youse gotta help them with their prank, so yer can have a partner in crime. That's what Josh called it. Nobody's supposed ta know what prank each person is goin ta do, but when theys pull the prank, theys gotta shout Tree house in Paiute; which isShing'wauk kanni . Then we knows it a initiation prank and those who done the prank get inducted inta the club.
Its secret cause ifin anyone of us is caught during the process and tortured, we's don't know who is responsible fer it. Everybody pulled out a piece a paper outta Josh's hat. There's was a few groans, but then everybody went real quiet like trying ta figure out how's theys were gonna their prank. Willy asked Lajoci ifin he could help him. Lajoci said he would try, then he read Willy's orders, it was like we was all on a secret mission, jist like the Pinkerton's. Lajoci smiled; he slapped Willy on the back, and said, "Willy my friend, this is an easy one, however we have only one problem." Theys then went off inta the corner of the church wall ta whisper.
I don't need no partner for mine, cause I got a real easy one; I jist hafta get into town afore Tuesday. I reckon I could manage it. We all got school fer two more weeks afore spring break and round up season, so I reckon I could sneak off straight after school. I sure hope it works out, it's gonna be a might funny.
So today was a bit of practice at bein sneaky, too, though I didn't mean fer anyone ta get hurt. But then that weren't my fault really either. Dad shouldn't jist thrown the slippery milk inta the garden more carefully. At least now's I know milk gets real slippery afore it dries out, its cause of all the good fatty cream that Hoss's milker makes. Erica's milk will even be better, she still ain't ready to be a full on milker yet, I guess she still don't have breasts.
I can't sleep, now, it sure is gonna be exciting next week. Meybe I should try and get that cigar jist in case…
Alexandra huffed then swung her covers back and tip toed out of her room and down the hall to the staircase, "Dang it; everybody's still up."
"Alexandra?" called Ben, "back to bed."
"Where's dad?"
"Not far, just out on the porch."
"With Marty?"
"Yes." Ben looked at her dejected looking scowl. "Come here, you want a cuddle before going back."
Alex nodded then slid down the banister to the first landing.
Joe looked up from his game of checkers with Hoss and giggled, "you're gonna end up with splinters in ya backside if you keep doing that."
Alex giggled, and ran to her grandfather and jumped up onto his lap, "Joe's right, no more sliding down the banisters. He should know how dangerous it is," mocked Ben.
"Why, Uncle Joe, did you end up with splinters in ya backside?"
"No, just a sting when Pa caught me, and swatted my backside...Hard."
"Why is it that children must always slide down those things?"
"Were you ever a kid, Grandpa?"
"I certainly was."
"Didn't ya ever have any fun?"
Hoss and Joe giggled. "Hard ta imagine ain't it, Alex?" laughed Hoss.
Alex looked to the front door, "what's Dad and Marty doing?"
"Talking," said Ben. "Do you like Marty?" he then asked.
"Sure I do. Dad and her are good friends. Dad needs friends too… I guess."
"I think we have a little girl that's a little jealous, maybe a little worried, you want to talk about it."
Alex played with Ben's shirt, "maybe one day, Grandpa."
"Okay," he whispered and kissed the top of her head, "Now up to bed."
Alex paused at the bottom of the stairs and walked over to the small table where Ben kept his port and Adam his cigars. She stopped when she heard giggling waft in from the open window above Ben's desk, "Don't sound like theys doing much talking," she scoffed.
"Alexandra, bed!" ordered Ben, with the hint of a threat, as he pretended to hoist himself up from the big red chair.
Alexandra's eyes went wide and she scooted off, forgetting completely about the dumb cigar she had meant to retrieve.
Adam and Marty had been talking and laughing while they finished their coffee and tea. They now leaned into each other, cuddling contently. Adam told a few tales about Joe's antics and pranks as a child which had Marty reminiscing about some her childhood adventures on the cattle station her grandfather ran.
They paused when they heard Ben terse tone sending Alex back to bed.
"Hmm, maybe you better go and check on her," suggested Marty.
"I will as soon as I go up… Shortly, but how about a song; just one before we retire, Miss Juliette," He leaned and pecked her lips, before leaning over to retrieve his guitar.
"Oh, My Romeo, you are going to serenade me?" mocked Marty, melodramatically fluttering her eyelids.
"Yes I am, I'm going whisk you off your feet with my good looks, my undeniable charm and of course my infinite talent," laughed Adam as he bowed.
"You know I can play the guitar too."
"Really?"
"Yes probably better than you, here let me show you."
"Hmmm, my guitar…" Adam clasped the instrument close to his chest. "Well, you know it's just tuned right; you've got to be careful it's like riding another man's horse… or serenading another man's woman," he said flirtatiously raising his eyebrows, then added a wink.
"Oh fiddly dee, give it here. I'll play you an Australian ballad you'll like it; it's called, The Wild Colonial Boy."
"Oh I know it."
"Good, you sing the harmony then."
Marty picked up the Guitar and settled it comfortably on her lap. It was a little big for her and she had to slouch a bit forward to get a full fluid stroke at the stings.
"There was a wild colonial boy…" Marty strummed the strings and cued Adam to come in with the second line of the song … "Jack Duggan was hi…" Twangggg, boiuinggg, when all of a sudden two of the strings snapped flicking up and making a totally debauched sound. Marty screamed when one of the taught wire strings hit her in the face close to her eye. She dropped the guitar and grabbed the bleeding cut before Adam could grab her.
The whole house heard Marty's scream, Including Alex. "Oops, I forgot about the Romantic serenade prank, this don't sound good." she murmured and jumped out of bed.
Ben, Hoss and Joe made it to the big door just as Adam was escorting Marty in. He sat her down on the settee, "Let me see, did it get you in the eye, let me see." He asked pulling gently at her hand.
Marty wouldn't move her hand away. "I don't think so, but, I've cut my cheek close to it. Better get something to stop the bleeding."
Ben pulled out his handkerchief, "here, this is clean."
Hoss took it, "let me have a look, Miss Marty, it might need stitches."
Hoss mopped up the blood, and examined the wound. "It don't look deep enough fer stitches, but I reckon we should give it a good clean. Let's get her into the kitchen Adam, Hop Sings got some of that black ointment, its good fer hoof absences it will help close it up, so she don't have a scare."
"She's lucky she didn't lose an eye," snapped a concerned Adam.
"Yeah, big brother, but she didn't, so stop yer panicking. And help me get her into the kitchen."
Adam went to pick Marty up, intending to carry her, "Adam It's my face that's hurt Not my legs, pleases I can walk."
"You're ankle is sprained, remember."
"Hmm, well I can limp into the kitchen, I limped in here didn't I; stop mothering me."
Joe had gone to the porch and now returned with the guitar, in his hands, "Here Adam, looks like you tuned the strings a little too tight."
"Here Miss Marty lean on me ifin ya feel dizzy," offered Hoss. "Joe go wake Hop Sing up; tell him ta get his kit."
"Too tight! It was perfectly tuned…" Adam was examining his guitar when he heard a gasp coming from the stairs.
Alex had wondered down to the bottom step and had been watching. She felt sick with worry. The prank was just meant to spoil a romantic moment; no one was supposed ta get hurt. Marty wasn't even the one supposed ta…
Adam snapped his head up at stared at his daughter, guilt written all over her face. "Alexandra, is this your doing; one of your stupid pranks? You know not to touch my guitar. Marty could have lost an eye, well explain yourself," growled Adam.
"I will ifin ya let me, Dad. It was just supposed ta be a silly…"Alex stopped mid sentence. Her father looked like he was going to explode. He bit the side of his lip, twitching the corner of his mouth at the same time. Then came the eyebrows. Her father's eyebrows could say a lot of things, these said; he wasn't happy, these said; he was fuming.
Adam started rolling up his sleeves, which wasn't a good sign. It was always something he did when he was determined to break an undisciplined colt. Then came the march… towards her.
For Alex it was time to run. She went to run around the other side of the coffee table, but Adam stalked her and blocked her path, remembering the last time she broke and tried to run for cover. There was no where she could go except backwards up the stairs. She wished with all her heart that she could slide up the banisters as well as down; it was the only way she would have been able to out run her father, and angry father at that. There was also nobody to help her; they had all headed off into the kitchen to help Marty. The showdown was completely devoid of onlookers or anyone who could save her hide. "Daddy I'm sorry I didn't mean to…"
"Save it Alexandra."
Adam lunged and Alex screamed turned and ran up the stairs. She felt as if she were airborne by the time she got to the landing and for a moment thought she had managed to magically fly up the stairs. But, she soon realised she was in the firm clutches of her father who had grabbed her unceremoniously around the waist and hoisted off her feet, only to be carried against his hips as he descended the steps and headed towards the blue chair.
That was her cue to kick and wriggle, trying to lesson his grip, adding, "No please, Daddy jist listen…"
Adam did not respond. He marched past the side of the blue chair ready to plonk himself down taking, Alex with him and over his knees. However, there was a sudden jerk to the fluid exercise he had planned, when Alexandra grabbed the high back of the chair and pulled herself forward against her father's downward stoop. She almost succeeded; her waist was free and her thighs almost, when Adam swiftly grabbed the back of her night shirt. "Alexandra Cartwright; you, young lady…"
"Daddy, Grandpa says yer shouldn't spank when you're… Ow…"
Adam slapped Alex's hands that were gripping the chair and as soon as she let go, he sat down and placed her firmly across his lap, and starting swatting her backside, her cotton nightshirt offering little protection.
Alex tried work her arms and legs at the same time, but found it impossible, especially with the searing swats that had started fast and accurate. All she could do was yelp and punctuate that with ferocious kicks.
"Nooo, Ow, ow," kick, smack, "ow ow, ow," Smack, "OW," Kick 'ow, kick ow kick ow."
The beat was kind of offbeat, but Alex was sure her father's rhythmical hand to butt composition was deliberate. It was no serenade, but that soon didn't matter. Her kicks hadn't delayed or lessoned the hard swats her father delivered. All the kicking had managed to do was flip her nightgown up and around, so before she knew it a new volley of smacks set her backside alight.
Adam grabbed the interfering garment and gathered it at her a waist under his tight grip. His large hand made quick work of her now bare behind and all Alex could do was yelp until the tears came. The smacks were still loud and clear as only flesh to flesh can resound. Her yelps had turned into sobs, racking sobs and pleas.
"I… owww, hic… said…I wassssowww, hic …swor…rryyyy."
Hoss and Hop Sing were dressing Marty's laceration while Joe and Ben handed them what they needed when called upon. But, their concentration was interrupted with the unmistakable sounds of a child being spanked.
Joe started to head inside when Ben stopped him, "Joe, stay out of it…"
"But, Pa, Adams, real angry."
Marty pushed Hoss hand away and went to get up.
"Marty, Adam is her father, and the child is well deserving of the punishment. But it should have been put a stop to earlier than this, when they were harmless childish pranks."
Marty went to protest, but Ben put up his hand, halting her forthcoming statement." I understand what you thought you might achieve. And Adam will not go too far."
Marty nodded and sat back down.
"Keep yer head still, Miss Marty, this oil will seal the cut, but we need ta it hold it shut fer a might."
All that was easy said, but each set of eyes in the room blinked at each slap and yelp that echoed through from the big room. When the sound changed, Ben recognised the sound of bare flesh getting stinging swats and he moved to the archway, intending to let Adam know, he hoped by his mere presence, that he was perhaps, as Joe suggested, too angry to punish his granddaughter. He was relieved when he got to the door to find that Adam was in control and had stopped after a good five swats and that now was standing Alex on her feet. Though, it perturbed him that his oldest did not comfort the child, now racked with sobs, standing in front of him, hopping on the spot nineteen to the dozen, rubbing her bottom and with her head down.
Adam turned Alex sideways pulled her hands away and landed another firm swat to her backside, "Now you get up to your room, and get into bed." He sent her towards the stairs with one more smack.
A sobbing Alex turned around, "But… sniff huff… I wanna… sniff huff… tell Marty I'm … sniff huff huff…"
Adam stood there with his hands on hips. "Alex, now… We will be having another conversation about this in the morning, I'm too angry about your behaviour, right now."
Alex burst into a fit of wails as she climbed the stairs and stopped at the top, where her remorse and distress turned into a moment of rage. She scrubbed at her tears and took a huge breadth. "Well so am I angry, sides it was meant ta be you that…that… strumbeded that stupid ole guitar… not Marty… Ya… Ya… STUPID OLE ROMEO." She yelled then ran to her room crying at the top of her lungs, that they could still hear until she slammed her bedroom door shut and threw herself on the bed.
Adam went to take off after her.
"ADAM!" Shouted Ben.
"Pa, did you see that… you wouldn't have put up with that, and I'm sure as…"
"No, perhaps not, but you admitted yourself, Adam that you are too angry." Ben spoke softly. "You need to calm down and then settle with the child before you go to bed. You need to assure her that all is forgiven and that Marty is fine. Yes, you need to teach her Adam, but you need to listen to her side of it now too."
"Pa, Alex has been playing tricks all day; I should have put a stop to it earlier."
"Yes you should have, submissive parenting is one thing, suppressing your displeasure at bad behaviour is a sure way to have your temper get out of hand."Ben said with a frown.
Adam took a breath, relaxed taking his hands off his hip and sat down in the blue chair. He took another moment, squeezing the bridge of his nose. "We figured she was just testing us, testing Marty, making her look foolish; maybe to see if she would stick around, I think she is jealous."
"I think so too, and perhaps there was not madness in your earlier methods, but that is another reason why you need to calm down a little and then let Alex talk." "Now you better get in there with Marty. The poor girl thinks you've murdered the daughter that you love so much, all on account of her."
"Great! Women, Pa how are supposed to figure them out, small or tall their… a… "
"Not just women, Adam, little boys too." Ben laughed, "Oh, so, so, easily you forget, Adam."
oOo
It was past ten o'clock and Marty was now fast asleep, and probably Alexandra too. Adam sat at the table, knowing he must make it right with his daughter before he went to bed. He sipped on the last of a hot cup of coffee Hop Sing had handed him before he went to bed. Marty was fine, it was a nasty cut on her cheek, but Hoss was pretty sure it would not leave a scar or get infected. Still with that and her ankle Adam intended to take Marty in to see doc Martin in the morning. Marty wanted that too, suggesting that perhaps once there she best stay clear of Alex and Adam for a couple of days. That they were best sorting things out between them without her being there to avert an openness they needed to have with each other. Adam hoped Marty wasn't getting cold feet. He couldn't blame her, besides Alex's behaviour today; his situation was a pretty big risk for anyone to want to take on. He was still thinking about that suggestion when he heard soft murmurings coming from the big room.
Adam stood up and left his cup in the pail of soapy water Hop Sing always left in the trough and walked into the big room. Just as his father had done some hours before he now stopped and watched from the kitchen archway at the end of the dining room.
He could see his father seated in the big red Chair, obviously with Alexandra in his lap. Her small feet hung over the armrest, bobbing with her sobs. She must have only come down, probably looking for him, or perhaps not. He wondered if she would be too scared to approach him, whether he could still make her feel safe and even brave enough to sass him. His father was right, he had been far too angry with her, and while the spanking had not been deserved or overly harsh in his opinion, the fact it was done in such a way; giving Alexandra no opportunity to explain and even apologise was something he thought he would never do. It saddened him that his little girl sought the comfort she needed from someone else, a responsibility as a parent that he had just failed miserably at. So he stayed there and silently watched the exchange, hoping to get some insights as to how best to mend their roles of father and daughter, he'd been so happily developing over the last eighteen months.
Ben rubbed circles around Alexandra's back, trying to warm her and reduce the racking sobs. He had not seen the child this upset since Leo had died, and that he reminded himself was not all that long ago. He chastised himself a little, he'd forgotten what it was like for the young ones, how their grief could manifest itself in so many ways, not so unlike adults, but they often were quicker to get on with life, and up to mischief, then fears and guilt and worries would suddenly resurface.
"Shhh, sweetheart, Daddy's just outside, having some fresh air. You know, he will be glad you're still awake, he'd hate to go to bed not being able to tell you how much he loves you. You know that don't you?"
Alex sniffed, and looked up into her grandfathers eyes, "I think ….so…"
"What makes you think so?"
"Cause, even though… he's mean… he wants… me ta be… good… and…he kisses me goodnight, every night, ceptin to…night."
"He's going to go looking for you just to that. What else does he do that tells you he loves you?"
"Does he still love me… the… same as the first time?"
"No, he…"
Alex choked back a sob.
"Ahh let me finish… he loves your more, more and more each day, he doesn't think he could love anybody more than he loves you, he doesn't think he could love you anymore than he does, but he does, everyday, he learns more about you, what a feisty , special little rapscallion he has…" Ben tickled her belly, trying to get her smile, "I know, because I'm his Pa. I know that there were times over the years that your daddy was so lonely. I haven't seen that person for a long time. Not since he found you."
"He did find me too, didn't… he?" hiccupped Alex. "I went a hid… ya know… I thought he didn't really want ta keep me… but, he wouldn't… give up…the Yankee… granite Head."
"That is right, he doesn't give up. He won't give up on you. What about him, are you going to give up on him?"
"Fer a while, till… my butt…ain't sore no more… And…I don't wanna… have a convar…station with… him," she sniffed.
"Why, don't you want to have a conversation with him?"
"Cause… I don't…know what… ta say…what I …should tell him."
"Is it about Marty? Is that why you were playing tricks on Marty and your daddy all day?"
Alex nodded, "sorta, but I didn't want anybody ta get hurt …that's what I was tryin not ta do."
"I don't understand?" frowned Ben.
"See… neither will daddy, cause I can't explain… it."
"Maybe you should practice your conversation on me, first. Sit up, take a big breath… Now…When you're ready." Ben smiled down at Alex and smoothed away the hair from her eyes.
Alex sat up straight on her grandfather's lap, scrubbed the tears still on her cheeks and took a big breath, then rolled her shoulders back.
Adam ducked back behind the kitchen wall, hoping he had not been seen, and listened to Alex rehearse her conversation.
"I like Marty, a real lot. Not like I like my friends at school an all, a little bit different cause she's a grown up and all and she's real clever. Like she can ride and even shoot and she knows how ta heal people, she makes ice cream, now that's real different. And she's real pretty, kinda a bit like my momma, except for her eyes, and she's taller and she don't sound nothing like her, guess really its only the blonde hair that is like momma's. She's funny and she smiles a real lot even though she probably should be growling, like taday with the mouse an all. She ain't sad like my momma. I knowed she likes me too, and that kinda makes it real hard, cause she is real nice ta cuddle, she smells real nice, not that you and Hoss, and Uncle Joe, and…"
"Your daddy?"
"And my daddy, smell bad or anything, though Uncle Joe, does smell a little stinky when he's been breaking horses all day, or when he'd done snuck inta town and had a few drinks at the saloon, when he shoulda been mendin' fences, or says; hey Alex pull my finger. Marty smells nice all the time, just like all the dancing girls at Grandma Willameena's."
"Yes she does smell nice. So, if you like her so much, why all the tricks today. Don't you want her ta be your daddy's friend, your friend?"
"I knowed daddy likes her, and I think he should have a bestest friend an all, but I don't want him ta marry her, he says he loves her and peoples who love each other get married all the time. I heard him, he say he loves her and they oughta sought things out… Me out."
"When did you hear this?"
"Last week, but I only heard a little bit, when I woke up in the wagon. Then I went back ta sleep. Then they's been cuddlier and things all week, every time they see each other. Well I can tell that theys falling in love and well… they shouldn't, cause…"
"Because, you already have a momma?"
"No. I know momma will always be my momma, and I knows she real sick. I want her not to be so bad, but I knowed that it needs a miracle, and I'm still hopin an all. But, it's gonna be a real sad day ifin it the miracle don't happen, even though ya know it won't, or ya kinda expectin it won't. But, I still hope jist liked I hoped they's wouldn't hang my momma, and well they didn't so they may jist be able to make her all better too."
"And then, where would Marty fit in; is that what you are thinking?" Ben asked gently, feeling he was getting to the crux of the matter.
"Sorta, but then Yuma and Daddy's story kinda made it a bit better, cause they both had different mama's. Yuma had two mommas at once. Old Winnemucca has five wives; he sure is a busy chief. Betcha he doesn't have time ta serenade each one of them. Guess ya never know though, cause well he does have five, and so he must be kinda romantically gifted somehow."
"Okay, then, so you are alright with your daddy and Marty seriously courting then, you just a little jealous that your daddy is spending more time with Marty than you. If I remember rightly that was how your daddy felt when Marie came, then she had little Joe and…"
"And she died."
"Yes, darling she died, but we had a very special five years after Marie had Joe, all of us."
"But, you were very sad, and Daddy was very sad. My Molly told me that my momma met my daddy when he was very sad about his momma dying. She said it was his third momma, his real momma, then Uncle Hoss' momma and then Uncle little Joe's momma. And she was the longest momma he had. And he loved her, he couldn't help it he loved her, he… he… told me he was mean to her at first…"Alex threw herself into her grandfather's wide and comforting chest and cried.
Neither Adam nor Ben realised it, but they too had tears streaming down their faces. Alex started crying because she was not able to express her worry, her fear, while Adam relived that time all over again.
Ben started to rub Alex back again, "shhh shhh,"he cooed, though feeling the emotions of that time long ago, building up in him. He remembered that night in the barn after he had punished Adam for running away and being mean to Marie.
"I'm sorry Pa, I don't know why I was rude to Marie, and I know it was stupid of me to run away. I was always going to come home, I just needed to think, I guess"
"Think about what Adam? You didn't like Marie when she first got here. I understand that. It was a bit of a surprise to you boys, but I didn't mean to exclude you, it just happened so fast. But, you like Marie now; you read together, she is so proud of you. What changed? Joseph; is Joseph taking her attentions away from you?"
"No Pa, but she nearly died, she nearly died having Joseph, and I don't think you should let her have any more babies."
Adam on the other hand had conveniently forgotten the discussion that night and the true core of his worries. He had got over them, expressed his fears to his father and they had talked long into the night, putting a lot of those uncertainties to rest. His, now logical and mature mind told him that, but he still remembered those feelings and was drawn back to those very same fears he thought he had purged long ago. He wiped the tears from his eyes and walked into the room, determined to control his emotions.
Ben looked up at him, apologetic for the resurfacing hurt he could see in son's eyes. He had sensed Adams presence earlier and encouraged Alex to express her feelings for his benefit. Perhaps he even sensed it was the same thing, how could two children be so much alike.
"It's okay Pa," said Adam softly as he bent down and picked up his child. He cradled her gently with one arm and patted her back with the other as she snuggled into his neck. "Let me hold you angel. Alex, I want you to know that I was afraid of loving Marie, because I didn't want to love another mother, I didn't want to feel the hurt and be afraid in case died, like my other two."
"But, she did die, didn't she daddy."
"She did."
"And I told him that night in the barn." Ben hesitated, trying to recall Adams exact words. "Your daddy; my little boy, told me he was afraid Marie would die, and that I would be sad, and Hoss and Little Joe would be as sad as he had been when Inger had died. He told me that he wanted to stay strong so that he could look after them, like he had with Hoss. But he couldn't do that if he was too sad. He couldn't love Marie, because if she died he wouldn't be strong enough to look after his brothers …"
"And my Pa…" Adam stroked Alex's hair keeping her tucked in the crock of his neck where she couldn't see his uncontrolled tears. He so wanted to stop; he could also see that he was torturing his father.
Ben scrubbed at his own tears and took a breath; he looked his son in the eyes. "And his Pa…" repeated Ben. " I told him that it would be alright, that Marie was not going to die, that we would have a happy normal family life together, all of us. That is what I wanted the most for him, that is what a father always wants, the most for their children which includes being loved and being taught right from wrong, being respected, but most of all being loved and loving others, family and friends; all sorts of love."
Alex lifted her head, "But daddy, Marie died anyway. Grandpa made ya a promise he couldn't keep. What ifin Marty dies, or gets sick like momma, or goes away. We would have loved her and then we would be so sad, daddy. I don't think I could be as brave as you. I miss momma so bad sometimes. If something happened to Marty or any of you I don't think I could be happy ever again."
Ben reached out and rubbed Alexandra's bare legs that hung from her father's arm. "Yes I made your daddy a promise I couldn't keep. I didn't think I would ever lose a third wife, a third love. I didn't mean to break that promise to him."
"You didn't Pa, I was a kid, you settled my fear, I needed to believe you and I did and I gained so much in the short time we ended up having."
Ben appreciated his son's sincere words. "But, I could keep Marie's promise and your daddy kept his to her. I was so sad; your daddy had to look after his brothers. When I stopped feeling sorry for myself and realised how special my time was with Marie, I realised she had given all of us something that I treasured."
"You gave us lots Pa, believe me, I may not have realised it then, but you gave all of us so much, most of all you gave me Inger and you gave me Marie."
Ben nodded, "Marie always wanted you to go to college. She had put money away for your first year's tuition… when I came home, that was my only goal, encourage you to go. Accept that you should go."
"Thanks Pa." smiled Adam. "And then … Miss Alexandra, Pa took me on a trip to Elk and I met a beautiful young girl called… now what was her name again…" Adam teased trying to lighten the mood, feeling that such a burden had indeed been lifted from his shoulders.
"Katherine… Katherine Williameena," answered Alex.
"That's right the most beautiful girl in all of Elk."
"But, she dressed like a boy dad, just like I did."
"Yes the most beautiful looking girl that dressed like a boy in Elk."
"Did you like her Daddy?"
"Very much, Alex; she was funny and pretty and clever, and very happy. She made me happy."
"Even for a short while?"
"Even for a short while."
"I guess Marty makes you real happy too. Yer never know daddy it could be for a real long time this time."
"Yer never know. It could get real scary though, and we might have to take some chances."
"Yep, but I reckon those chances will be there whether Marty's with us or not."
"Hmm, you have a point."
"So then I guess we might as well have all the fun with Marty while there ain't no chances ta take. Ifin you can do it I can too. I guess she deserves ta be happy too dad. You know, ya should not dilly dally around; Life's too short, ain't that right Grandpa?"
"That's right, Alex."
"Okay, we will talk a lot more about this. Time for everybody to get a good night's sleep."
"Alright Dad, but I don't think yer should tell Marty about me thinking she might die and all. It might give her notions about you, and well she thinks yer the ant' pants an all, yer might jist scare her off."
"Alright, as long as you don't play anymore trick s on her."
"I won't …maybe, besides that trick was meant for you. I could jist see yer getting all lovey dovey…. Like them serenading opre singers, 'Oh salami, you are me little letpchtein loverrrrr , sung Alex, "then Twangggg," laughed Alex.
"You rat bag… Here kiss your grandfather goodnight." Adam leant Alex over to Ben as he pulled himself up from the big red chair. Alex grabbed him around the neck, and the proceeded to smother him in Kisses, "thanks for the practice grandpa. Guess I'll have ta wait ta tell Dad everything tomorrow, when we have another convarsation."
"Guess so," said Ben returning a kiss, and Adam a wink before slapping his boy on the back. "Night, you two."
"Night Pa", Adam switched Alex onto his other arm and lent in to give his father a heartfelt hug of thanks. Ben opened both arms and received it with revered pride. Then was shocked when his boy, rising thirty years old, moved in even closer and kissed him on the cheek.
No more was said, as three generations of Cartwrights bounded up the stairs to their beds energised with the truth of hope and the love of family.
TBC
Initiations and Havoc part 2- The kids have their day.
A.N. It's a long one; consider it two chapters in one and a weekend read. There were also a few little details that didn't come out in the last chapters. Plus we needed some Romance and a few little plants for upcoming events. Big shout outs and heartfelt thanks to Lajoci, who betaed this extremely long chapter and another to both Callih and Lajoci for the nice little extras they suggested in the romantic scene. Sorry if we've missed mistakes, feel free to point them out, and I will fix them.