Guns and Switches.

Previously; Alexandra, Adam and Marty had returned to the Ponderosa, after being given the all clear from Doc Martin. Ted is on the mend and telegrams have been sent starting the appeal and the request for Katherine's release from a San Francisco jail for the criminally insane.

Warning; parental discipline of a minor in this chapter.

Chapter 23 : Epilogue. Don't Go Pokin' An Angry Bear

Adam was in the attic and dusted the last of the cobwebs from his black shirt. Memories from his childhood enveloped him, as he glanced around at all of the remnants of his brothers' school years; he picked up his old and weathered art kit. He flicked through the few sketches still in there and the dried up and well used watercolour tablet; the one Marie had given him the Christmas before she died. He thought of Marie and the time it took him to allow her into his life. Then on her encouragement of his artistic pursuits and the notion of going to College. Well, he thought, time to have the much needed talk with Alex and so he continued the search for the item that may help impress the lesson he had in mind for her.

After finding what he was looking for, he returned all their keepsakes back to where they had been, even taking the time to line them up against the shapes they had made in the dust, like he was securing the past and their memories back safely. He descended the ladder and placed the treasured item on the floor, before folding the ladder up and locking the attics' trap door. He then picked up the heirloom, he had spent almost an hour looking for, and repositioned the small dust cover, before making his way along the hallway to Alexandra's room. He walked in and put the covered object on Alexandra's desk.

Alex was rousing herself from sleep. "Hey daddy," she said rubbing at her eyes."Can I get up now?"

"Sure, but I want to have a little talk first," said Adam grabbing a chair. He turned it around and straddled it facing Alexandra.

Alexandra sat up, and kicked the blanket off her bare legs."A talk? A real one; a little one or a big one?" she asked tentatively.

"A real big talk about all that happened yesterday," he replied looking her square in the eye as he hung his arms over the back of the chair and clasped his hands together.

"But dad, I retracted Mr. Barkley to sort that all out ..." Alexandra stopped mid sentence and looked curiously at the lumpy looking object now sitting on her desk. "Hey what's that?" she pointed out.

"We'll get to that in a minute. Your lawyer, Mr. Barkley and I discussed your situation last night and I must say he represented you well," he smirked. "I've made my decision based on his recommendation and his perspective..."

"Perspective?"

"His view," clarified Adam.

"Oh, you mean, my perspective, dad, he's representing me," corrected Alexandra, crossing her arms over her chest.

"Yes, yours, his and MINE, missy, so just use you manners here and don't get all sassy on me. I'm still the parent and will have the last say..." this time, he thought.

"Sorry, daddy." Alexandra uncrossed her arms. She tucked her legs up under the petticoat she'd slept in and then sat her hands in her lap.

"Hmm, good. Alexandra yesterday is a prime example of the consequences of certain actions. Those consequences could have been a lot worse, but as it turned out there were some things that actually turned out for the better."

"The bad man getting caught and momma being innocent?" suggested Alex.

"Yes."

"So, I'm not going to be punished for gettin' Marty and Ted hurt?"

"No you're not going to be punished for that. Not at all and you're not to blame yourself for another person's bad choices. But..."

"There's always a but, usually my butt!" scowled Alex.

Adam tried not to laugh, though Alexandra was pretty much spot on, her butt always did seem to be in the firing line. Adam was reminded of a similar history pertaining to Joe. Little Joe was very active and spirited, all in good form. He and his father were tough on the kid at times. Hoss had always thought perhaps too tough. However, Joe had never lost his zest for life or adventure and stayed grounded and for the most part safe and seriously unharmed. With that in mind, both Adam and Ben had always proclaimed their methods a success.

"Yes, well Alexandra, you really only have yourself to blame for your butt being at risk of a blistering. You broke the rules yesterday, and there are consequences and punishments for that. But we will deal with them just one at a time."

"Okay dad."

"Right then, let's just go through the rules that you broke. What was the first mistake you made?"

"Dad, I don't got to admit to anything."

"Really, very well, Alexandra. No you don't have to admit to anything, because the facts are there, so I'll just pronounce judgement," he said sternly. At least I'm not going to get an epic story nor will I try to get answers that are harder than pulling teeth, he mused silently to himself.

"But dad..."

Adam held up his hand, "No you had the opportunity. So, you are one; on restriction. When you are at school, you will spend your breaks in the classroom with Miss Jones, doing extra work before the end of the school and summer vacation. When you are at home, you will do your chores under the supervision of me or one of your Uncles. You will not be out of eye shot from any adult, except when you are asleep. And, bedtimes will be straight after supper each night."

"For how long, daddy?"

"Two weeks."

"That's too long dad; fourteen whole days; golly, I'll be bored outta ma brain. My lawyer shoulda done got me a lesser sentence than that. Harumpht, maybe I shoulda paid him, though I don't have no money... yet," she mused out loud.

"Yes the Money, young lady, it was obtained with the aid of a lie."

"But it's my money ain't it dad?"

"Alexandra we are not going to go over the semantics of that. You disobeyed me by changing the slip to a withdrawal; that's fraud, but simply put a lie. And you know how I feel about lying and you know the punishment." Adam glared at her, waiting... "Alexandra you know the punishment."

"You telling me, or asking me dad?"

"Alexandra," he warned.

Alex huffed again, "A spanking!"

"Yes, a spanking, one I may administer after our talk here. It will also cover you skipping school. Alexandra I will only tell you this once, if you ever skip school again, you will end up over my knee for a sound spanking. Your education is important. And you are safe there, so you are never to leave there without permission again, do you understand that?"

"Not really dad. What iffin Miss Jones went crazy or somethin, and started teachin us bad things, of course some of the little kids mighten know they's are bad things, only us wise bigger kids. We'd hafta maybe tell someone, maybe the sheriff, like what iffin she was teachin us ta rob a bank, or pull faces at the good Reverend Mitchell behind his back. What iffin she got kidnapped by common poncho's..."

"Comanchero's," corrected Adam...

"Yeah, them, and they told us ta stay there and not tell anyone or ta go for help and all, afore they killed her or sold her, like I heard they done to peoples. Iffin they jist painted her face or somethin or dressed her up in bright coloured shawls or wanted her ta fix one of them up with some good food, or have her teach their youngin's ta be better citizens, then maybe we wouldn't have ta rescue her at all, but still I reckon we should probably try and sneak out of the school house jist in case. Then..."

"Alex you would not get into trouble, if it was an emergency situation. That's just common sense. No more 'what ifs, just don't skip school, or else you will find it very uncomfortable sitting at said school for a week at least. Now, do you understand?"

Alexandra sighed, "Yes, dad."

"Good because the same goes for you going into a saloon, and doing magic tricks, or being in there for any other reason..."

Alexandra went to interrupt, but Adam cut her off.

"FOR any other reason, than an EMERGENCY."

"Am I getting another spanking for that too, or are yer jist going to add more ta the one I already got commin?" she asked nervously.

"Neither, not this time and hopefully there won't be a next time. I'm going to trust you on that one."

"Thanks daddy, I think."

"Trust, that's what I want to talk about, Alexandra. The first thing you did wrong yesterday was take your mothers journal. The contents of that journal are not for your eyes. They are your mother's private thoughts. I suppose she will want you to have it, one day. But, that's a long way away, when you're older and wiser and can understand some of the things written by her. We could just keep it closed and neither of us read it, but I think it may have some answers for both of us. But, I will make that decision when the time comes. It had a note on it for that very reason. You disobeyed me and took it, tried to open it when you shouldn't have. I wrote the note knowing that you would most likely find it one day, either by accident, or doing what you had been doing...Snooping! Snooping has got to stop, little lady. The point is, I trusted you. I believed you would read my note and do as I asked. I trusted you to obey me and keep your mothers writings private. Trust is a two way street Alexandra. I was hurt, because there have been many times you have chosen to do the wrong thing because you did not trust me."

"I didn't really trust ya dad, not in the beginning, but I trust ya now."

"Do you? I understand that you didn't trust me in the beginning. But, two years later, you know me; know I have your best interest at heart, and should trust me to make the right decisions. Decisions about keeping you safe and have you grow up into a good person." Adam stared for a moment wanting his words to sink in. He then stood up and turned the chair around to face Alexandra's desk. "Come here, Alex," he said.

Alexandra climbed off her bed and walked over to her father. Once there, Adam lifted her up so she was standing on the chair next to him. She stood there fidgeting for a moment paying with the ribbon on the top of her petticoat and wriggling her toes on the base of the wooden chair. Adam then pulled off the cotton cover of the mysterious object on the desk, revealing a model of a log house; a miniature of the Ponderosa's big house.

Alexandra's eyes went wide. "Gosh look at that dad, did you make it?"

"Yes I did, when I was about thirteen. My pa was extending the cabin he'd built when we first arrived here. I built the model after he, Marie and I worked on the plans. Then I helped him build the real house just like it, along with Hoss," said Adam, still proud as that day years ago.

"And Uncle little Joe, " added Alex.

"No, Little Joe was just a baby."

"Gee Grandpa must have trusted you a whole lot ta let you make that and then help build the house. Did he let you have saws and axes and stuff? Boy dad, that coulda been real dangerous, but you are real clever."

"Thank you Alex, and that's right Grandpa did trust me to help. It was a very big thing for me to have his trust like that. It also helped me. I knew I wanted to be an architect and build and design things. I knew that would mean going to College. Little Joe's mother helped me study and realise that dream. Point is sweetheart, this model represents this home, this family and all the trust we have in each other. Look I can still take the walls apart, so you can see how the structure of the house holds up the walls." Adam lifted the roof, and then slid out the miniature logs from between one of the walls and the horizontal holds and noggins.

"That makes it so you can see inside too, dad."

"Yes, it does, but we couldn't build a house like that, with one side just open. We couldn't build the walls without all this support, or have a roof over our heads, and we definitely would not be safe in a house that didn't have any walls. The walls and the supports are like the trust we have for each other, Alexandra. If that trust is broken our walls just aren't as strong; our family is at risk. I need to know that I can trust you, Alexandra, and that you trust me to make the right decisions."

"So you sayin', I broke one of the walls, yesterday dad, and the house coulda fallen down."

"Yes, darlin' that is what I'm saying. When you disobey me, or do something that places you in danger, it weakens my trust in you. I don't say not to do something or give you an instruction because I'm being lazy. I don't say no to things, just because I don't want you to have fun, or I want to do everything my way..."

"Oh dad, but you are bossy sometimes..."

"Alexandra, just listen. I am bossy because I am the boss of you, that's right; I'm the parent and you have to trust that. I have to trust you. Right now, if this wall represented your trust..."

"Itta be all broked."

"Not all broken, Alexandra, but you see, I can't put all the logs back until I could trust that the wall would hold. I have to learn to trust you again."

"How are ya gunna do that dad? I try ta be good, honest I do," pleaded Alexandra, with her big green eyes and a trembling lip, indicating she was on the verge of tears.

"You are good Alex, but you are disobedient sometimes, mischievous and forget about the dangers of your actions. You're only eleven, I know, but you're not a baby, either. You need to do as I ask. You need to prove that to me over the next two weeks, before I can put this wall back." Adam lifted the model and placed it on Alexandra's tall dresser.

Alex followed his path. Pivoting on her bare feet she twisted around on the chair, feeling sad and disappointed about the house in disrepair and the notion that she was responsible for it. Tears dropped from her eyes. "What iffin I forget again, dad?" she sniffed, "The whole house is gonna fall down cause of me. I betcha ya think ya made a big mistake bringing me here ta live. Like a big clumsy fee fi fo fum giant, that stomps on things without even knowin' they're doin it," she dramatised while at the same time, scrubbing the tears off her face.

"Sweetheart, calm down, don't cry. Don't let your imagination run away with you. You'll still get things wrong, Alexandra, and I will correct you on them, but I really want us to work on this trust thing. Especially when it comes to being safe or feeling scared or just not knowing what to do about a problem. I want you to stop thinking you can do it all by yourself all the time. Look at this house; it takes more than one wall to hold it up."

"So yer need me too?"

"Exactly, we need you too. And the day I found you was the happiest day of my life. I will never regret anything about the existence of Alexandra Cartwright. I regret having to punish you sometimes, but that's not the same as wishing you were never here. I love you very much; always will, no matter what."

Alexandra scrubbed at her eyes all the while nodding her head. "I love you too daddy and I don't have any regrets either, only the same ones as you; the one's when you have ta punish me. Boy, we had a few regrets lately then, dad, maybe you should have a bit of a break from the daddy person that has ta discipline their kid."

Adam laughed, "Good try. If it wasn't for your lawyer, little lady, you'd be getting a spanking every night and have to go early to bed."

Alexandra sighed and jumped down from the chair. She went over and pulled her dress off the hook in her closet. "I best go get my cores done afore supper, then," she said.

"Your afternoon chores have been done. Uncle Hoss did them for you, thinking that your shoulder may still be a little stiff and sore."

"Oh, that's good, dad, but it's okay, I kin hardly feel it at all."

"Good because, we have one more regret we both need to deal with. We can do this now, and you'll have it over and done with, but sitting a little sore at supper. Or we can wait till after, when I put you to bed, though we have guests for supper tonight and you might not want them knowing you are being spanked. They are your options," explained Adam.

"I don't like either of them options, dad. I don't want a spanking at all and I don't reckon its fair ya asking me when I want it, cause I never want it."

"Well, best get it over with then, come here." Adam walked over to the bed and sat down. Alexandra hadn't moved from her closet door, so Adam called over again, crooking his figure at her, "Alexandra come here."

Alex took a step forward and then hesitated.

"Alexandra" warned Adam, "You are only going to make this worse."

Alex eyes widened and Adam was sure he made his point. However he was wrong; instead of Alexandra walking towards him, she reversed, stepping back into her wardrobe and slamming the door.

"I've changed my mind; we can do this later dad, and have no regrets for now," she announced from the cupboard.

"Regrettably Alexandra, you lost that option when you didn't move towards me. Now come out of there, and I repeat you are just going to make it worse."

"How do I know that, dad? I mean I knowed it... it was gonna be bad anyway. I think yer forgot what a spanking feels like, dad. And, Iffin I don't know how bad it was gonna be in the first place, well, how am I gonna know how bad, or worsa it can get. It's already bad, worse, as far as my recollections. And, Iffin I don't get spanked at all, how worsa can that be... like maybe the worse thing about not getting spanked is never getting spanked, cause two negatives make a positive, so then that's the best thing about not getting spanked, or getting caught and then not getting spanked," Alexandra explained from the safety of her wardrobe.

Adam could well envision her animated explanation, and shook his head. "Alexandra you're thinking out loud and it's illogical. If you do not get out of the cupboard, and I have to come and get you, your spanking is going to be longer, harder and on the bare."

"Haven't I got some thinking time still, dad; you know like countin' or something?"

Adam pinched the bridge of his nose, then leant down resting his arms on his bent knees. "Three, Alexandra, you have to the count of three. One..."

"No don't count out loud, dad; I can't think. Jist count to yerself..."

"Two..."

"No dad!" yelled Alex in panic, "Start back at one, and I'll start with you, then say the rest to yerself; you know, in your head like, then we'll be at the same number an all."

"Three!" Adam jumped up, and headed for the cupboard. He could hear Alexandra rummaging around in there, as he grabbed the door handle and pulled. It opened slightly before it was suddenly yanked back. Adam opened it again, this time not so fast and peered into the opening. Alexandra had managed to tie one of dress sashes around the door handle and attached it to the hanging dowel of the wardrobe. "Alexandra this is what I mean when I talk about trust. You trusting me and me trusting you."

"Oh, I trust ya dad. I trust that ya gonna set my tail on fire, and well I want to knee- goat- she- ate some more, somethin my lawyer shoulda done better. I ain't supposed ta be going over anybody's knee. Harumpht, its jist like Grandpa says; iffin ya want something done proper, ya gotta do it yerself!" she added with annoyance.

"Negotiations are over, Alexandra." Adam tried to get his hand through the narrow opening and untie the sash, though his frustration won out and he yanked the door harder. With that, the door flew open and pulled the hanging rod with it. The rod snapped in half when it hit the door jam, effectively causing all of Alexandra's clothes to land on top of her crouched form in the corner. Adam quickly jumped forward, worried that the shelf above could give way. He pulled the bundle of clothes with Alexandra out and then collapsed down on the floor, in front of the wreckage; panting and dry rubbing his face.

Alexandra untangled herself from the array of dresses petticoats, sashes and coats as best she could. She popped her head out from the mountain of cloth, like a volcano blowing its last puff of smoke, then looked at the, dark, dark, scowl on her father's face. Turning slowly she looked behind her at the wardrobe, noticing the broken rod. "I guess that's another log we ain't gonna be able ta put back, dad, though you done a fine job on the wardrobe shelf it's still solid. Yer sure are a good builder..." she smiled as she turned back to Adam, "ain't yer, Daddy?"

Adam stood up, a low growl coming from his lips, and before Alex could escape the confines of her self- made mountain, he hoisted her out and tucked her securely under one arm. "Well you sure made this a lot harder than it was intended to be, Little Lady. I'll go as far as to say you made a mountain out of a molehill." he said waving his spare arm about, "Just look at this mess!"

"Dad, yer exasperatin'; making it sound worse than it is."

"You mean, exaggerating, though exasperated pretty much sums it up as well. And If I am, at least now I know where you get it from," he quipped as he took two long strides to the edge of Alexandra's bed and sat down. In one smooth motion, he had the child over his lap and landed a mighty firm swat to her petticoat covered backside.

Alex yelped and started to kick, but Adam was quick to capture her legs with his right one. Tipping her forward, he held her firmly around the waist and drew her close into his body, making sure there was no room for movement, or escape.

Alexandra realised her dilemma, "Yer can't blame me fer trying dad; yer said, I gotta think afore I get myself inta a dangerous situation."

"A dangerous situation, Young Lady, is just where you are," said Adam calmly and in control, though in fact he was trying not to laugh like, whah, hah, hah, and say; I told you so. He flipped back her petticoat and stated paddling her backside; the cotton britches providing little protection. "Ten smacks," he announced, "for your age and playing hooky from school. You can count them in your head," he added with sarcasm, before laying down a volley of swats, quick, hard and fast.

Alexandra wasn't about to correct him about her age, nor could she count. She trusted her father knew his numbers better than she did, besides, she was too busy yelping and wriggling as each sting set her bottom on fire.

Ten swats and just as many seconds later, Adam stopped, letting Alexandra catch her breath, and to make sure she was duly chastised, but not distraught. Tough little mite that she was, Adam also wanted to make sure she knew she was being punished for her misdemeanours and not believe he was still angry. "Alexandra, I'm not doing this because I'm angry..."

"I'm... soorry, dad, owwww," she cried , "I won't ever skip school again," she sniffed.

"Good, now for the lying; we've had this discussion before, so it's another ten smacks for that, Alex."

"But, daddy..."

Adam didn't give Alex the chance to finish her, 'but daddy'; he quickly administered the ten wallops to the same degree and fiery results as the others.

Alexandra 'owed' and yelped, cried and pleaded, with each, until finally she wailed a very loud and sincere, "I'm sooorry for... lying, dad, oweee... Honest."

Adam stopped. "I believe you, Alexandra, but..." he sighed, as he lifted her slightly and grabbed the drawstring to her cotton draws and undid them. He pulled them down to the edge of her trapped thighs, "trust me next time I say, you'll only make it worse, Alexandra, that I mean it."

Alexandra felt the cool breeze on her burning buttocks, and revelled in the relief for just a moment, before she realised what her father had just said and what he was about to do, "Oh... No... n... owe owe oweeee," she yelped as Adam applied three very sharp slaps with his open palm to her bare backside.

"That's sooo... oweee, much... wors..a, dad."

"Yes, and now next time you'll have a frame of reference," he announced.

"Oweeee...What's... a ...frame...of...reference," asked Alex as she sobbed over his lap, trying to catch her breath.

"It means you will be able to imagine just how worse a spanking can get," he explained, as he repositioned her cotton britches. Adam then started rubbing circles around her back, trying to stop the hiccupping that had stated. When after a couple of seconds it didn't subside, he lifted her up and sat her on his knee, still patting her back as she sobbed. "Shhh, it's done; no more skipping school or lying and defying me, especially when I ask you to come to me."

Alex nodded and grizzled and sniffed all at once, glad it was over and sorry she had only managed to make things worse. "Grandma Willy always... said...don't pi...peeve...off...the ...people with...power."

"Good advice. Hoss would say; now, Alexandra, Possum, don't go pokin' an angry bear," laughed Adam doing his best at impersonating his younger brother.

Alex looked up at Adam, still sniffing she managed a big smile."But yer... weren't real mad or... angry were...ya... daddy... bear?"

"No, I told you that last night, remember."

Alex scrubbed at the last of her tears. The good thing was her dad wasn't angry at her, neither did he yell at her once during their discussions, even when she locked herself in the cupboard. "I know ya... love me, dad, she pouted, and...and...I'm sorry...I'm such...a...bad..."

"Ahh Uhh!" said Adam placing his finger on her lips. "You are not bad, naughty sometimes, definitely, but I love you all the same, and very much."

I...love ...you too, ceptin...not all of...you. I don't like... yer hand!" she said grabbing his hand and slapping his palm.

Adam laughed, "Not even when I'm rubbing your back, hey?"

Alex shook her head, "no, not even," she said, but snuggled into his chest

anyway.

They sat there for a few moments longer, letting the afternoon sun warm up the room and infiltrate their embrace. Adam kissed the top of her forehead, and pulled back the wet curls from her face. "Come on; you best get dressed for the afternoon, our guests will be here soon," whispered Adam.

"Who's commin' dad?"

"Remember, I invited Mr Barkley, and..."

Just then they heard three horses, trot into the yard.

"That sounds like them, now", announced Adam, and put Alexandra on her feet, while he went to the window. He looked out, "Yep, here they are. Alex you..."

Adam tuned around to find Alexandra gone. He could hear her running down the hall, then landing at the bottom with her customary jump. He shook his head and turned back to the window. Below in the courtyard, stood Roy Coffee, Clem Foster and Jarrod Barkley. In front of them stood one very irate Alexandra Willameena Cartwright with her hands on her hips, dressed only in her pantaloons and petticoat, scowling and pointing an accusatory finger.

"You Mr Barkley ain't my lawyer anymore. You're a lousy knee -goat-she ater, so I'm un-retracting ya, that means; you're fired!" She announced as she stamped her foot, turned and marched back into the house, rubbing her backside furiously.

THE END.

A.N. Just the end of this episode and learning curve for Alexandra. Thanks heaps to Lajoci for all the great betaing and advice with this story. Keep a look out for the next story... Telegrams.