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“Hey, Pa! I’m glad you’re home!” Hoss Cartwright ran into his father’s arms as soon as he dismounted in the yard.
“Howdy cowboy, I missed you,” Ben replied, wrapping his fast growing middle child in a bear hug.
“I can put up Buck for ya, Pa. I don’t need no help or nothin’. Um…Mama might want to talk to ya inside…” Hoss looked a bit sheepish as he turned away to lead the horse into the barn.
Ben wondered if Hoss had gotten into a bit of trouble, but was immediately distracted by his youngest boy practically dancing on the porch steps waiting to greet him.
“Joe! I missed you, scamp. Were you a good boy for Mama?” Ben asked his mischievous three year old.
“Yeah, Papa, I was good! I helped Mama make cookies and I didn’t make a mess and I didn’t cry at bed time!”
Ben chuckled at the obvious confession of both sins and scooped him into his arms. He kissed his little cheek as they made their way towards the door.
Little Joe leaned in conspiratorily, “Adam was real naughty, Papa.”
“Is that so?” Ben stopped, genuinely surprised for a moment. Well now he knew why Hoss was in such a way. He hated for his brothers to be in trouble and had probably been avoiding the house the whole morning. It was pretty unusual for Adam to get himself into trouble, especially while Ben was away and especially with Marie. Not for years now, anyway.
Sure enough when Ben walked through the door Adam was standing in the “naughty corner” of the main room practically vibrating with frustration. He was fifteen! Not a child. And from the other end of the house anyone could hear the sounds of Marie storming about the kitchen working off some steam from whatever their altercation.
“Mmhmm. Mama spanked him with her spoon!” Joe added dramatically. To the littlest Cartwright getting a swat with the wooden spoon was the worst possible fate. Poor Adam.
“Oh shut up, Joe! Mind your own bu-” came Adam’s voice from his exile.
Before Ben could say a stern word, his lovely wife came charging out of the kitchen waving said wooden spoon in the air and yelled, “Silence! Ne parle pas dans le coin!”
Marie caught Ben’s eye and her stern anger melted. It was first replaced with her beautiful smile to celebrate her husband’s return, but that was short lived and soon transformed into tired distress that bordered on tears and she rushed over to him.
“Oh darling, I’m so happy you are home. I have been a mess. Adam était dehors toute la nuit et j'étais malade d'inquiétude!” Marie threw herself in Ben’s arms and a few of the threatening tears rolled down her cheeks.
“Joe, can you go play in your room for a while so I can talk to Mama and Adam? Don’t worry, Mama is alright. When we’re done I’ll show you what I brought back for you from Carson City.”
Joe’s infectious grin spread over his face at the mention of potential presents and he took off running to obey.
“Now, my love, what happened? Everyone seems to be well. What about Adam last night?”
“It is this hunt for the cougar! Monsieur Coffey set a reward and the men, they have gone mad. Monsieur Whitney allowed some of the hands time off to go. Adam made plans with Ross to join this hunt and split the reward money. I forbade him. This is too dangerous for two boys alone!”
Now things were coming together. The past couple of weeks livestock at some farms nearby to town were killed by what people determined to be a cougar. The families affected generally had smaller farms that would suffer from the losses much worse than a place like the Ponderosa, so it was a top priority for Virginia City citizens.
“And Adam disobeyed you?” Ben’s eyes moved towards the naughty corner and Adam’s shoulders tensed.
“Oui! He did his chores in the morning and told me he would not be home for lunch. But when he did not return for supper I was so worried! The hands that returned had not seen him and there were very few men available because many went to town or to do this hunt. Some men went to check places he might be on the ranch. I could not leave Hoss and Josef!
“I think eventually Monsieur Whitney felt sorry for my pacing. He sent someone to Ross’ home and if they did not know what happened to him then to the sheriff. They did not return until after midnight with news from Ross’ father that they did go to hunt this cat.”
Ben clenched his jaw, hating that Marie was in so much distress and he was not here to help her. And of course, especially because it was due to a litany of wrongdoings from his stubborn but usually well behaved son. He even knew what Adam would say to defend himself, not that it would save his hide.
“And this morning! He comes in as I am cooking breakfast as if all is well and he did not keep his maman up all night mad with worry!” Marie’s temper was flaring now after describing her harrowing evening followed by Adam’s nonchalance when he returned.
It did not escape Ben’s notice that Marie avoided telling him about the conversation between her and Adam when she forbade him from going on the hunt as well as when he returned and ended up in the corner. He was sure she was shielding Adam from more consequences from less than respectful behavior.
Ben rocked her a little and whispered reassurances and apologies into her hair until she was calmer. This wasn’t exactly the embrace he hoped for after being away from his family for a few days. But he supposed fatherhood is predictably unpredictable and at least no one was hurt.
When Marie’s breathing calmed a little Ben looked over at his son who he could tell, even from just the back of his head, had lost some bravado. When he first walked in Adam’s posture was stiff and oozing righteousness, but after hearing how worried Marie had been it looked like he had deflated some. That was probably the reason that his occasionally too-smart-and-sassy-for-his-own-good son had not turned and interrupted his parents' conversation. And now that he had heard Marie’s rendition it looked like he understood his crimes more than he had earlier.
“Adam. Come here, please.” He ordered in his deep voice.
Now that he was asked to leave the corner, Adam didn’t much feel like it. He could spend another few hours there if it meant not facing his father. But when Ben Cartwright tells you to come, you come. So Adam turned slowly and trudged as if through mud to stand in front of his parents.
“Well, do you have anything to say for yourself? Anything Marie did not understand about your adventure yesterday?” Ben asked.
“I…I’ve gone on hunts before. And Ma, I felt like you didn’t listen to me when I tried to tell you. And Pa would’ve let me go. Has let me…We only meant to be out for the day which is why I didn’t leave a note. But we tracked too far into the hills…” he petered out a bit pathetically.
He was feeling very guilty now. If he’d known they would have been away for the night he definitely would have left a note. His attitude this morning was borne from a lot of convincing himself he was right last night mixed with his guilt.
“Well let’s get one thing straight right now, young man. Had I been home, I would have considered allowing you and Ross to go WITH some important stipulations. Two of which would be some geographical bounds as well as returning before nightfall. But, that decision making would have been done WITH Marie. And if she had been adamant that you not go, you would not go. Is that understood?” Ben’s pointer finger was rising throughout his lecture to Adam’s face until he was practically crosseyed.
Adam gulped, he was definitely in big trouble, “Yessir, I understand.”
“And I think you know that whether I am home or not, you are to obey your step mother. Not only when it suits you.”
“Yessir,” Adam answered so quickly it almost sounded like a sneeze. “I was…I was just so frustrated, Ma. Anything I said you just...I’m sorry. I was feeling…”
“Too big for your britches.” Ben finished the sentence and crossed his arms over his barrel chest.
“Um, I guess so, sir.” He wasn’t feeling very big now. Small, is a word some might use.
Marie was a quick to temper and quick to forgive type of person. She also usually tried to minimize any harsh punishments her husband might deem necessary, hence why he did not hear details about her discussion with Adam when he asked permission the other day nor when he returned this morning. But she knew this was not something she could handle with an hour in the corner and a couple well aimed swats of her soup spoon. Adam looked wracked with guilt, maybe rightfully so. He would feel better (in some ways) after a ‘necessary talk’ with his father, and then she could talk to him and set their relationship right.
For now she patted his cheek gently and said, “I know mon fils, you are forgiven. But s'il te plaît, never make me worry so again! My heart cannot take it! We will talk later, yes?”
“Yes’m,” Adam replied to her feet.
She kissed his cheek and then her husband’s as well, “I will check on the baby and leave you.”
Adam followed his father through the yard ruing his stupid ego. If he was supposed to be so smart why did he do so many stupid things? So what if he thought Marie was responding more emotionally than rationally when he told her about the hunt. She cared about him, of course there were emotions!
He knew what would happen if he was caught, this wasn’t Marie’s fault. And not leaving a note in hopes that no one would find out only made things worse. What a coward. It’s not like he was some dumb kid thinking that if they killed the cougar the glory would trump his sin. Not in his house.
And the worst part was that his father didn’t even know the worst part. Worrying and disobeying was a bad enough crime to commit, but worst part was the terrible things he said to Marie. Talking down to her. He went past sass, he had been so angry he had been intentionally condescending. Trying to make her feel guilty or silly or stupid. And she hadn’t even tattled. Was it to protect him, or was she ashamed to admit he would treat her so? He was sick with himself.
He heard his father’s rumble and felt Hoss’ hand briefly on his shoulder as he left the barn. The clank of the belt buckle had him looking up where his father was next to an old saddle stand. But as soon as they made eye contact Adam burst into tears and ran directly into his father’s chest.
“I’m sorry! I said terrible things! I…she…and I was awful. And she didn’t. And I said-” He could only get out half sentences between heavy sobs.
Ben was so stunned he barely knew what to do. This was not a common position with stoic Adam and he couldn’t fathom why his first born was quite this distraught at the idea of a tanning he surely knew was coming. He wasn’t going to get any answers until his son calmed down so he hugged and rocked him like he did Marie earlier, and like he did when his boys were young and inconsolable; shushing and whispering into his dark hair while Adam regained some composure.
“I–was–terrible–Pa,” Adam finally got out between hiccups. “I–was–mean.”
Ahhh, there it is, Ben thought.
“I was so mad at her. I guess I didn’t expect her to say no. And she kept calling us little boys even though I never even really got to be a little boy. Not like Hoss and Joe.”
Ben did understand, his eldest shouldered a man’s responsibility at a very early age. They were true partners. He had more of a reason than other boys to balk at being treated as some immature youth. It was difficult for him to cope with being mothered again, though after four years he and Marie had developed a special relationship.
“And when she wouldn’t listen to reason, my mouth ran away with itself. I wanted her to feel bad. She’ll never forgive me! I said such awful things!” Adam broke down again, though not as explosive as before.
“Of course she will. She would forgive you anything, she loves you. Though you obviously have not forgiven yourself for losing your temper and speaking in anger. You said she wouldn’t listen to reason, I think what you mean is she didn’t agree with your reasoning. I have a feeling you were not listening to her reasoning very well either. And while you are a very smart young man, you do not always know best. You are to obey your mother and father, and trust that they are making decisions in your best interest. And not throw a tantrum like Joseph if you don’t get your way.”
Adam blushed and hung his head. After all that indignation about being treated like a little boy he really had acted like a little boy.
“I forgive you as well, although I’m very disappointed in your choices over the past few days. I’m happy to see you regret your actions, but you know better than to be so disobedient and disrespectful.”
“Yes, Pa. I know I’ve earned a tanning. I’m so ashamed.” Adam took a shaky breath.
They began the unfortunately familiar ritual with Adam ending up laying over the saddle stand. He grabbed the frame and squeezed his eyes closed, but he doubted he had any tears left to hold back at this point.
Ben steeled himself as his son got situated. Like all fathers he hated this part of raising his children. Of course no one wanted to hear ‘it hurts me more than it hurts you,’ but now that he was a father he realized the truth to that, though he knew better than to say it to his sons. Both of them would suffer this punishment, but hopefully it would help Adam reign in his temper in the future and quash rash decision making. It also seemed like Adam would have a difficult time forgiving himself and a sore behind for a few days might remind him he faced his consequences.
With that thought, he doubled his belt, raised his arm, and snapped it across Adam’s bottom. Adam jerked but didn’t make a sound. And on it went. Ben paused briefly to assess Adam’s response before working his way down until Adam was red to mid thigh. Starting from the top again, the belt snapped over already sore skin and Adam groaned. As the second pass of the belt hit where it would hurt most when in the saddle, the boy let out a dry sob and stomped his feet.
The third time over his already sore bottom left Adam gasping with each whip of the belt. He clenched his hands on the frame until he thought he would crush it to dust, but it was something to take his mind, however slightly, off the fire in his rear. He barely noticed when his father had stopped. It took an absurd amount of concentration to pry his hands off the wooden frame and then he gave himself permission to hang limply and try to calm down.
When he stood up and refastened his britches, Adam peeked up at his father beneath his eyelashes not sure if he was really forgiven. He was rewarded with his father’s open arms that he gratefully sunk into. He normally wasn’t one for so much physical affection, but for some reason he craved it at the moment.
Later, after he had limped up to his room feeling sore but a little lighter, there came a knock on his door. When he granted entrance he was a little surprised to see Marie come in with soup, freshly baked bread, and a little jar of cream that he and Hoss had occasionally snuck from Hop Sing after being punished.
“Thank you, Ma, but Pa will still expect me at the table.”
“Non, he and I will take your brothers to the stream for a picnic. You may have this up here and read your books without any interruptions.”
“Thank you, ma’am,” Adam wanted to apologize but didn’t know how to start. Her smile didn’t make it seem like she hated him, but how could she not?
She set down the tray and forced him to look at her with her delicate finger, “I know what it is like to say things you don’t mean in a temper, mon fils. I think you have seen me in a temper once or twice?” She smiled slyly at him, making him grin. “I was hurt, but I forgive you. Forgave you ages ago, darling. You are young and will make mistakes. I am old and I make mistakes! Fortunately for me I do not have to worry about my father’s paddle any longer. But no more of this face, yes? I forgive you, and you forgive me for worrying over you, hmm?”
“Oh, Ma, there’s nothing for me to forgive! I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean anything I said. I behaved so badly.” A couple tears rolled down Adam’s cheeks, but Marie didn’t let him look away yet.
“Then it is settled. You made a mistake and are forgiven and we are friends again,” she kissed his cheek and gave him a motherly hug that felt too good to be true. “Sadly, your papa will want you at the table for supper so make use of everything on that tray.”
She tossed him a wink over her shoulder as she left him alone for an afternoon of blessed solitude.