Good morning all!J'espère que vous allez bien! sorry for the delay, real life has taken over! I will try to do better!

Enjoy!

Difficult Situations 2

Scott found the children in the woods, behind the house. Johnny occupied Sam by building a house of sticks for her. The correction he had inflicted on the boy had put the

child back in line. There was no more jealousy, seeing them having fun together was a pleasure for the man.

Sam spotted Scott first and threw herself against his waist!

"Dad!" She said happily.

"We are done with our chores, sir," John said, unsure.

"Did we do something wrong?" Asked Sam.

"Is there anything I should know?" Replied Scott teasingly.

"No!" They said.

"Okay, sit down, I want to talk to you." John and Sam exchanged looks, but they immediately obeyed.

"I offered Miss Sims the Lancer protection."

Johnny was the first to react. "Understood Scott, no questions will be asked."

"Thank you John. Sam ..., our family is powerful in the region. We sometimes offer our protection to people who need it for awhile. We offer the comfort of a room,

regular meals, security, even a job. We take care of the expenses if necessary. It is often for ranch hands, but sometimes other people we know may need it or even

strangers. When this happens, the rule is not to ask any questions. The person will talk about their life when they are ready. Do you understand?"

"Yes Dad. I won't ask any questions."

"Okay, thank you kids."

"Daddy? Is it a bit like what you did for me?"

Scott was taken aback by the question. It seemed so long ago!

"Well ..., yes, a little bit, it's true, except that you are a child, the rules are different: respect, obedience, and answer questions honestly. I'm not going to put Miss Sims over

my knees if she doesn't obey me." said Scott teasing.

The children burst out laughing!

"It's getting late, let's go home, Sam, before your bath, I want to see your homework, go do it. I'll help you if you need it.

"But it's Friday! I have plenty of time!" She replied.

"You will do what I say! The faster it is done, the faster you will have free time. Starting now,every night I will check your homework. I want weekend homework done on Friday evenings."

Sam huffed, crossing her arms and giving him a glare.

Scott felt his temper mounting! "John, start going home please."

"Samantha," he growled, "I want respect! You don't blow and glare at me!" He rolled the child over his lap, lifted her skirt and administered a single hard spank over her

underwear.

"Ow! ... yes Dad, sorry" she said sobbing.

Scott picked her up and hugged her. "I accept your apology, don't try me again!"

"Yes Dad!"

Later in the evening, Scott knocks on his guest's door. As she opens it he says,

"Evi, dinner is almost ready, would you like to come down? My father and I would like to speak to you in his office."

"Of course, I'm coming, thank you." She had butterflies in her stomach. "Did they change their minds?"

"Sit down Miss Sims," said Murdock. "Are you settled in? Is your room okay with you?"

"Yes, thank you very much, Mr. Lancer, and you Scott!" She said trembling.

"When you are ready, you can talk to us if you wish. In the meantime, as Scott said, we provide you with room and board, you can also load what you need at the

store on our account. there is no limit."

Tears began to flow profusely on her cheeks.

"No need for tears, Evi. I already told you." Said Scott softly.

"For everyone who asks, you just say you live at Lancer."

"Thank you, Mr. Lancer."

"You can call me Murdock. "

"No, I wouldn't dare! But you can call me Evi. "

"Okay, let's go eat." Said Murdock.

Scott went up to check Sam's homework and helped her with some multiplication she had wrong, but overall, she had done well.

"You see? The secret is to get started and finish early! Now, you are free for fun all weekend! Do you see my point?"

"Yes Dad!"

The dinner went well, as Scott had promised, no questions were asked of Evi. Then spontaneously, Sam spoke.

"I apologize for my behavior in class Miss. Sims. I promise that I will never be so rude again!"

"I accept your apology Sam, you are forgiven."

Both looked to Scott for approval.

"Sam, come here," he ordered.

Sam stood up and walked over to her father. Once in front of him, the man lifted her onto his lap, hugging her.

"I'm proud of you Sam! Apologizing like that in front of everyone takes a lot of courage!" He praised. Sam was delighted and hugged her father's chest more.

"I love you Dad!"

"I love you too, baby girl," said Scott. "Go back to your place and finish your meal." he said softly.

"The meal is good!" Sam said. "It wasn't you who cooked was it Daddy?" They all laughed and Scott swallowed crookedly!

"Are you saying, little girl, that my cooking was not good?" Scott growled softly, but by his expression, everyone knew he was just teasing Sam.

"No sir ... that is not what I meant to say!" She blushed. All laughed! even Scott!

"Rita, the cook, was gone with my father and the ranch hands, now she's back too! You won't have to eat my awful food anymore!" Scott teased again.

"But, no Dad, it was good!" She said blushing to her ears!

"She took her evening off to see her family, but tomorrow I will introduce her to you!"

"I beg your pardon, Dad."

"No apologies are necessary! I'm not upset, I can't compete with Rita!" Said the man with a wink!

Scott met Evi's eyes, she had tears in her eyes! He didn't want the children to see her cry! He got up, whispered to his father in his ear, the man nodded, okay, obviously. Scott pulled Evi's chair back.

"Come on Evi, let's go outside for a moment."

Once outside, Evi says "Thank you Scott! You saw that I was going to cry and you kept me away from the children!"

"That's right, why these tears?"

"I am sorry."

"I'm not scolding you, I wouldn't dare! I would like to know what makes you sad?"

"This, the interaction of your family, You ..., Sam is very lucky, you are a good man, stern, fair, kind, generous, humorous ... I've never seen a man like you!"

"Thank you, but you overestimate me, I'm just a man. Come, let's walk to our pond, it's pretty." He took Evi's hand without even realizing it.

"Let's sit down. I'm listening to you." "Scott said kindly, "only if you want to talk to me." He clarified.

"You must be wondering why?, why am I destitute when I have a good salary?"

"I do not judge." Answered Scott.

"I don't want you to think that I am wasting my money because I am in debt ... well, not like you mean it."

"I think you must have suffered a lot, I blame myself, because you've been teaching John for over a year, and I haven't seen anything! I apologize, I should have been

more observant!" Scott had tears in his eyes.

"How can you be so nice! Blame yourself? With everything you do for me?! "She cried.

Scott came closer and hugged her. Evi burst into tears and the embrace of his mighty arms.

Then she began her story ...

"I was born in Dothan, in Alabama. At the age of twelve, my parents died in a wagon accident. I was passed from orphanage to orphanage even to different states. I worked hard and did well at school, despite everything. At fifteen years old, an elderly couple adopted me. They said they would supported me, even paying for me to go on to a university. In fact they made debts upon debts on my behalf. I did not know this at the twenty, two years ago, I finished school. My adoptive guardians died that same year, leaving me their debts, their unpaid rents, my studies ...all my pay is seized by the bank, even while crossing the country to hide."

"Oh Evi! " Said Scott. "We are going to help you. We have the best lawyers in the country!" He explained.

"Have you ever met a man to take care of you?" Scott asks.

"Never. Is there already a woman in your heart?"

"Well yes ...", Evi's face fell! ... "but she is eight!" He teased.

Evi laughed! "You are impossible Sir Lancer!" She replied.