* After receiving messages I was asked to put another chapter on to this story, as some felt it leaving them hanging. With being so busy with the new school year I've finally gotten around to it and have a new story in the works. This chapter is dedicated to one fan in particular who has been very patient with me. Islaboe, this one is for you. I hope I don't disappoint! :-)

Adam leaned against the fence of the small corral in the front yard of the Ponderosa. He looked over at his wife and sisters-in-law as they prepared the table for the monthly family meal and gave an audible sigh.

"I know exactly how you feel, Adam," Joe said. He, Ben and Hoss had also gathered at the corral and were observing the women from a distance.

"I'm plum wore out with all the extra work Charlotte's had me do these past few weeks," Hoss added glumly. "You'd think a pretty little gal would forgive a handsome fella like me."

The other men chuckled lightly. "Yes, you would think she might," said Adam as he gave Hoss' back a couple of slaps. "You would think they ALL might forgive their handsome husbands and let things to get back to normal."

The women seemed to be enjoying the three weeks of penance their husbands were going through just a little too much. Charlotte had Hoss catch up on repairs on the house which included fixing the wardrobe in the master bedroom, building shelves for the great room, and adding a larger larder to side of the kitchen. Rebecca managed to have more to do the things she wanted such as painting, sewing, and reading. Along with more time for herself she received fresh flowers everyday to place on her vanity. With having seven children and Adam, being the eldest son, handling the business end of the Ponderosa, what Evelyn craved most was quality time with her husband. After giving Adam what seemed to be an endless "Honey do" list she would put aside whatever she was doing and go watch Adam complete the desired tasks. This way she had a captive audience. Evelyn knew all too well that this was a temporary arrangement. Very soon she would have to tell Adam she forgave him and have life go back to the way it was, but for now she was savouring the situation. Millie, too, was able to stand her ground against the formidable force known as Ben Cartwright. She loved having her husband dote on her. Long walks, cuddling up by the fireplace, and small gifts were among only a few pleasantries Millie was enjoying. Like the other women, Millie knew this would only last a couple more days, at the most, but it sure was a grand run.

"Speaking of handsome fellas, why isn't Jamie here for dinner, Pa?" Joe asked.

"Your younger brother is too busy chopping wood and mending fences to be here this evening," Ben stated firmly.

Adam, Hoss and Joe all looked at each other with wry grins on their faces. Being the sons of Ben Cartwright they knew only too well the aftermath of angering their father. Mucking out stalls, chopping wood and mending fences were just a few of the many duties Ben would assign a wayward son. However, the extra chores were not the worst part of their father's punishments. Neither was the tanning that always seemed to accompany comeuppances – it was the lecture!

Ben would begin these infamous lectures with a deep clearing of the throat that sounded more like a bear's growl than a person gaining composure. This initial act was usually followed by the folding of arms across the chest, a furrowed brow and the slight shaking of the head. If all four actions occurred at a slow pace the boys knew to brace for the worse. For fifteen to twenty minutes the rebellious son would then sit in silence while his father recounted the behaviours which had brought them to this point. Then the questions began. "What were you thinking?" "How could you be so foolish?" "Why did you deliberately disobey me?" This was the trickiest part of the lecture. Some of the questions were rhetorical and some were not. Most of the time it was a lose/lose situation for the boy. If he answered when he wasn't supposed to he was barked at. If he didn't answer when he was supposed to the act was taken to be defiant. After the questions finished Ben would pause and pace the floor slightly. You could almost see the wheels turning in his head. Then the list of punishments would be announced, much to the relief of the son. This meant that the torture was coming to an end. After a good solid tanning was administered the boy could finally relax, albeit with a very sore backside. Adam, Hoss and Joe all knew that when their father's "talking to" was over the slate was wiped clean and all was forgiven. Now being fathers themselves, they tried to emulate Ben's example, hoping to pass on the wisdom and torture they had endured.

Adam, in particular, didn't have problems when it came to disciplining his sons, but his daughters were another story entirely, especially the older they became. This last incident involving Lizzie had been especially difficult to deal with. She was now a young woman who was developing her own style, views, and opinions which was a very dangerous thing in Adam's thinking. He had hoped he had handled her punishment well enough as to hinder future disobedience but at the same time gentle enough as to not bruise the fragile sense of self known to exist in adolescent girls. Why Evvy couldn't have just had all boys was beyond him!

"Lizzie, Ma says to come down for supper," Maisy announced as she entered the bedroom she shared with her two sisters.

"I'll be finished in five minutes then I'll come down," Lizzie replied. She was at the small desk in the room fervently writing.

"Look," Maisy snapped, "I ain't gonna be the one to tell Ma and Pa to wait so you better just stop writing in your diary and get yourself downstairs!"

Lizzie gave an irritated sign and spun around to face her sister. "For your information, Margaret Jane, I am not writing in my journal!"

"What are you doing then?"

"I'm finishing the writing assignment Ma gave me as punishment, Miss Nosey Rosey!"

"Serves you right if ya ask me," Maisy sneered.

"Well I didn't ask you, so just get out!" Lizzie yelled.

"I don't know why you're so sore about things, Lizzie. We were all punished for what happened when Ma was gone," Maisy said softly and began to approach the desk.

"No, I guess you wouldn't seeing as you and the others got off so easy," Lizzie barked.

"EASY?! We all got paddled just the same as you, Elizabeth! Plus me and Luke and Benny all got extra chores too!"

"Child's play," Lizzie snorted. "Were you given an hour long lecture on responsibility? No! Were you forced to apologize to all the aunts and uncles for something that wasn't your fault? No! Were you given a bible verse and told to write a thousand word essay on it? No! Were you told that you wouldn't even be allowed to attend the church socials for the next year? No! So do not dare to presume that you and I were given the same punishments!" Lizzie was now out of her seat pointing a loading finger at Maisy.

"So that's the reason you're so riled up," Maisy smirked. "You ain't allowed to see Wyatt."

Lizzie plunked back down into her chair and slumped over the desk. "Just go away, will you?" she sighed.

With feeling only a shred of remorse, Maisy moved over to the desk and picked up the paper Lizzie was working on. "Which bible verse did she give ya? Maybe I can help. I had to learn all sorts of verses at the orphanage when I was bad and I was bad a lot!"

Lizzie gave a slight grin. "Mark chapter seven verses 21 to 23. It's written on the top of the page."

Maisy looked at the top of the page and read:

21. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,

22. Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:

23. All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.

"I can't read half of what this says, but it doesn't look good," Maisy said with a puzzled expression. "Don't know why they're still so mad about everything. You didn't murder anyone."

"It's because they are unfair, that's why," she grumbled then took the sheet out of Maisy's hand. "I couldn't read it all myself either. I had to look up what fornications, covetousness and lasciviousness meant."

"What do they mean?" Maisy asked

"When we want you to know what those words mean then we will tell you, Margaret Jane," a voice said, startling the two girls. They turned around to see Adam leaning against the bedroom's door frame, his arms folded over his chest. "Both of you were told to come down for supper, were you not?"

"Yes, sir," Maisy gulped then bolted passed Adam into the hallway.

"Were you eavesdropping on our conversation?" Lizzie asked her father boldly.

"You will watch your tone, young lady! I believe you are in enough trouble as it is."

"Why, Pa? Why am I in more trouble than anyone one else, including Uncle Jamie? All I did was try to help and I've paid for it for the past three weeks! All the other children get to play and do as they like and I'm still confined to my room writing stupid essays about murderers!" The second Lizzie was finished her little rant she immediately regretted it and when she saw her father raise an eyebrow and start to walk towards her, she knew her life was about to end. Adam's reaction, however, was not what she expected.

"As you have been told repeatedly, you are the eldest child and this comes with many responsibilities, responsibilities which are not to be taken lightly. You took it upon yourself to take charge over a situation that was not yours. Children were in harm's way, property was damaged and your mother and aunts outing was ruined. Elizabeth, you need to learn that failure to meet your obligations will result in consequences. In your case, the higher you are the harder you fall. I thought our discussion regarding this subject was dealt with but I see now that I may have omitted some points. Perhaps I need to have a talk with you after the relatives go home?"

Lizzie jumped up from her seat. "No, Pa, that's not necessary," she said quickly. "I know what you mean."

"Good," Adam smirked then put on a more stern expression. "Now, you are to come down for supper and join the family. After supper you will help with the dishes then return to your room and finish the essay assigned by your mother. Do you understand?"

"Yes, sir," Lizzie answered meekly.

"I know that you are frustrated and angry but if I get even an ounce more of sass from you, you will be frustrated, angry AND sore. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes, Pa."

Father and daughter made their way to the front yard and proceeded to dine with the other Cartwrights. When the meal was finished, Lizzie helped with the dishes then went back up to her room as instructed. After children were in bed Adam and Evelyn sat together on the settee in front a rich and warm fire.

"Lizzie was uncharacteristically quiet this evening. Was there anything wrong?" Evelyn asked.

"Your daughter is becoming rather too big for her britches lately, my dear," Adam replied wryly.

"MY daughter? Are we back to yours and mine again? Really, Adam you can be so juvenile sometimes."

"I'm just following your lead, Evvy," he laughed. "Besides, I'm not the one handing out scripture verses having to do with the great atrocities of life."

"Oh hush up, you!" she snapped playfully then gave his right arm a light punch.

"All kidding aside, though," Adam said after a time, "I worry about Lizzie the most out of our children, Evvy. She's not the girl I knew. I'm not sure how to handle her."

"Maybe that's your problem right there, Adam. You tried to 'handle' me once and that didn't work at all. Lizzie and I are alike in many ways. She will settle down soon."

"I hope you're right, Evvy. For her sake and mine, I sure hope you're right."