BEING A FAMILY

Chapter 3

The following morning everything was normal, or appeared so, but Davy was very worried what his Pa would do if he found out about what he was planning to do that day. All the men went out to their allocated tasks for the day and Grace drove the children to school, hoping to speak with Abigail.

"Hello, Abigail."

"Hello, Mrs Cartwright."

"Grace, please."

"Thank you, Grace it is."

"I would like to talk with you regarding your proposition. I love the idea."

"Oh, wonderful. I hoped you would." Abigail said with excitement in her voice.

"Can we discuss it today, while I'm here?"

"Well, I would love to, but I have duties here right now. How about we talk at recess. Can you stay in town?" Abigail asked.

"Yes, I could do that. Yes, that'll be fine. I'll call back in a couple of hours then."

"Fine. I'll look forward to it." ….

Joey, Andy were together with Davy, telling him of the plan for that afternoon. Joey took the lead.

"You tell your sister you're not feeling well and you're going home."

"On my own? Cathy won't let me go home on my own."

"Your Ma is here isn't she?" Andy asked.

"Yeah…." Davy said, wondering what they had in mind.

"Well you tell your sister you'll go home with her."

"I don't like telling lies," he thought for a minute, thinking of his Pa, but he so wanted to make friends, "but okay."

The plan was ready to put into action. But Davy was petrified; lying and disobedience. He was going to be in big, big trouble. ….

"Adam suggested adding another classroom to the side of the school building. He wants to finance the project." Grace informed Abigail.

"That's very good of him. I know Adam has strong feelings for everything educational."

"Yes, he has. And he told me it shouldn't take more than a week to build. He said the idea would be to recruit men from all over to help, which will allow the extra room to be built in no time."

"It all sounds fantastic. I must give my thanks to Adam when I next see him, and I'll let it be known around town what is happening."

"Good. Okay then. I'll see you when the room is finished. Bye for now Abigail." She said, and gave Abigail a hug as she took her leave.

"Bye Grace, and thank you for everything."

They had taken more time than expected for their discussion, and Abigail had left her eldest pupil in charge. The lunch break was imminent.

…..

Davy lied to Cathy, telling her he wasn't feeling well and was going home with Ma. She believed him, why wouldn't she? Cathy never saw her Ma or Davy leave, she was too engrossed with Alice.

Davy made his way to Joey's home and waited in the barn. Joey and Andy were laughing together in the school yard.

"He's such an easy target." Joey said.

"We'll leave it a while before we try something else later." Andy said.

Still laughing, they made their way back into school for the afternoon session.

…..

Adam arrived at the school to collect Cathy and Davy, when he saw Abigail approach him. He still felt apprehensive in her presence, especially when he was alone with her, as now.

"Hello, Adam. I just wanted to thank you for taking charge in setting up the extra classroom," she said, smiling at him as only she could and holding out her hand. Adam gulped and shook her hand in acknowledgement.

"Let's hope it proves successful." He said.

"Oh, I'm sure it will. Ah here comes Cathy. She's doing so well now. Perhaps she will take after you. Have a good journey home." With that Abigail left the two alone.

"Where's Davy?" Adam asked.

"He went home with Ma at lunchtime. Said he wasn't feeling well."

"Okay then. Better get going." Adam then mounted Sport, leant down and lifted Cathy up and placed her in front of him.

"I like it when we ride together instead of me and Davy riding the same horse alongside you."

"I like it too." Adam tied the reins of the other horse to the pommel horn and they were off.

…

Davy had waited for what seemed like hours and the others hadn't arrived. Then he thought, maybe he'd got the wrong ranch. It must have been Andy's and not Joey's ranch he had to go to. And he'd missed out on a ride too. Then he made the decision to find his way home, where he was sure to receive the wrath of his father and the infamous "necessary talking to."

…

Adam and Cathy arrived home.

"You go ahead and start your school work. You're doing very well I'm told. Well done, sweetheart."

"Thanks, Pa. I'm beginning to like school, I think." Cathy said, giving Adam a little smile.

"Off you go then", he said, giving her a helping hand into the house with a friendly swat to her backside. He turned and led Sport to the barn. By the time he'd sorted Sport out and entered the house, there were raised voices.

"What's going on?" He asked.

In a worrying tone, Grace told Adam what Cathy had told her.

"It seems Davy told Cathy he wasn't feeling well and that he was going home with me. Well he didn't."

"I swear Pa, that's what he said to me." Cathy said, fearing they wouldn't believe her.

"I believe you sweetheart. So where is he? That is the question."

"He's obviously up to something." Joe said, with a chuckle.

"No need to add to the problem, Joe," Ben admonished.

"Reminds me of you Joe. Going off. Never knowing where you were." Adam added.

"And I well remember the outcome of those 'going offs'." Joe said, rubbing his backside for emphasis.

Hoss laughed out loud. "Well you weren't the only one."

"Well, while you are all talking about your pasts, Davy is still missing." Cathy said, trying to steer everyone to the problem in hand.

"You're right Cathy, but you could have put it in a more respectful manner." Adam scolded.

"Sorry, Pa, but I'm worried about Davy."

"I know you are."

"What are you going to do, Adam?" Grace asked, starting to get anxious about Davy.

"Go look for him. And he'd better have a real good explanation when I catch up with him." Adam said as he made his way to the door. "Anyone care to join me?"

"Me, Pa. I'm coming with you." Cathy said, as she started to follow him.

"No you're not. You'll stay right here and start your school work."

"But I won't be able to think straight while you're gone."

"Cathy, darling, I'll be glad of your company while everyone is gone. We'll worry together. Maybe we can work on your school work together." Grace offered.

Ben, Joe and Hoss all grabbed their hats and gunbelts and followed Adam out of the house and made their way across to the barn. Adam quickly re-saddled Sport and was waiting for the others when all of a sudden Adam heard crying and saw a sad small boy appear around the side of the barn. Adam immediately dismounted and ran to Davy and picked him up and hugged him tightly.

"Are you all right?"

"Yes, Pa. Just a bit scared. Wasn't sure of my way home. I've been walking a long time."

The others came out of the barn, having heard the voices outside.

"Davy, are you all right?" Ben asked with concern for Davy's welfare.

"Perhaps we should leave these two alone." Hoss suggested.

"Right." Joe agreed. "Pa, let's go."

"Alright, son." And Ben followed Hoss and Joe back to the house.

Adam was still holding Davy, when Cathy and Grace came running up to them.

"Davy, Davy, where have you been." Cathy shouted as she ran up to them. Grace followed at a more ladylike pace.

"Davy, sweetheart, are you all right?" She cried as she stroked the side of his face. "So glad to see you're not hurt." Then she gave Davy a kiss. "I think a hot bath is needed here, judging by the state of you."

"Yes, you're right Grace. Let's get you sorted and THEN we'll talk." Adam said in such a way that it left Davy in no doubt what was going to happen.

Still in tears, Davy said, "I'm sorry I lied to you Cathy."

"Yes, I think you'll soon know all about that." Cathy said, as she and Grace walked back to the house.