: : Summary : : The O�Connell girls are older, and as beautiful as Evie. They are beginning to find interest in other guys, the innocent type of interest, and their looks, so read and find out what happens
A few days had passed since Rick�s return, and while Evie worked, Rick had taken over trying to teach his daughters, though they were not giving him a very easy time. While he was fighting in the war, they had gotten used to Evelyn being both parents, and Rick had anticipated that they would try every test in the book to see what limits he would set. Louisa was by far the easiest to handle, but the other two put him through one test after the other. Now they were supposed to be doing what he had assigned them in math, and the only one doing anything was Louisa.
�Lets go down to the beach,� Elizabeth suggested. When she suggested that, Louisa looked up.
�But daddy says we have to do our arithmetic,� Louisa stated.
�Fine you stay here. Mum would let us go,� Rebecca replied. Both girls put on pretty violet sun dresses, and their sandals then snuck out of their room and made it outside without anyone catching them. They held hands, and ran to the beach finding Tommy and Macky there playing ball. Those two boys were twelve, and did what the girls wanted them to do.
�Elizabeth do you want us to make you a sand castle?�, asked Tommy
�Yes please,� she said. They played, and had a good time while Louisa did her studies. It was a while later, when Rick went to check on them, that he found only one daughter doing what she was supposed to be doing.
�Where are your sisters?� he asked, not happy at all that they had left.
�I don�t want to tattle or they will be mad at me,� Louisa replied. Rick had a pretty good idea where they were, and knelt down in front of her.
�If I guess will you tell me?� For a moment she considered what he was saying then nodded her head.
�They went to the beach didn�t they?� he asked.
�Yes,� she replied. Rick gave her a kiss and went to deal with them.
~*~
Tommy, and Macky had horses and the girls were riding with them on the beach laughing as they road fast. Riding was the only time they didn�t mind getting messy.
�Make him go in the water again,� Elizabeth said as she held on to Tommy for dear life. He did and the warm water splashed up on them making them both laugh. Rebecca and Macky took a more leisurely pace, and she was the first one to see her father�s arrival on the beach.
�Oh no my daddy,� she said seeing his angry look. Macky road her over to Rick, and he helped his daughter off of the horse taking her hand in his. Elizabeth saw her father, and told Tommy to ride as fast as he could, and they went far down the beach.
�Dont you think you should go back? He�s not going to be happy,� Tommy tried to point out.
�Well my mother is the one who tells us what to do, so I don�t have to listen to him,� she said. Always one to please her, Tommy didn�t ask anymore and the two of them road down to the little Pavilion where a carousel was. Tommy tied his horse to a post and they road the carousel for a while then got back on his horse and road back up the beach.
�Let�s surf,� Elizabeth said. Rick was no longer there, and Elizabeth was happy for that. The water was warm, and the two of them got in splashing and riding the waves, having a grand time for the rest of the morning until it was lunch time. Then Tommy had to go home, and Elizabeth walked up the field toward the house not worried about anything her father would do, knowing he couldn�t punish her. When she walked into the kitchen, Rick was sitting at the table reading the post.
�You young lady are in big trouble. Sit down now!� he said. He didn�t yell but the tone in is voice drove all of Elizabeth�s confidence away, and she did as she was told.
�Now. I know I haven�t been around much, and I realize that your used to your mum taking care of things, but I�m still your father, and like it or not you will listen when I ask you to do things. I�m tired of you and Rebecca not doing as you are told. Both of you are old enough to know right from wrong, and from this time on when you choose not to listen to me, you will be punished without warning.� Rick spanked her, then sent her to her room, and went outside punching the side of the house. He hated using physical punishment, but Evelyn, when he had called her, agreed that this time both girls needed something more than a grounding.
�Daddy your hand is bleeding,� Louisa said softly. Rick turned around and looked at his hand feeling the pain. Taking his good hand, Louisa led him into the house and had him sit down at the table. Amazed, Rick watched as she got iodine, sticking plasters, and ointment, as well as a bowl of warm water and soap gathered. Once she had what she wanted, she put them on the kitchen table and took his hand putting it in the water. She cleaned it with the soap and then patted it dry. Next she put the medicine on it then put ointment and sticking plasters on it.
�Who taught you how to do that?� Rick asked as he moved a strand of hair from her face.
�Mother did, and aunt Genevieve,� she replied. Rick helped her put the first aid supplies away then watched as she climbed the stairs to her room.
~*~
In their room Elizabeth had cried herself out, and now lay on her bed sniffling. Rebecca had gotten spanked earlier that day, and was busy playing with her doll house with Louisa.
�Why did you tell daddy?� Elizabeth asked.
�He guessed,� came her soft reply. Not happy with things in general, Elizabeth faced away from her sisters ignoring the sound of the door opening and even the hand on her shoulder.
�Can we talk?� Rick asked.
�I liked it better when you were not here,� she said turning to face him. Her words stung more than smashing his fist into the side of the house, and not sure what to say to her Rick stood there in stunned disbelief.
�I�m sorry you feel that way, but I�m not going away again,� Rick said, trying to find a way to get through to her.
�We don�t need you here. Mother works more now because your here, and I liked it better when it was just the girls,� she said. Rick tried a few more times to get through to her then left her room going to the master room, shutting the door behind him. Having heard what her sister said, Louisa decided to let Elizabeth know just what she thought.
�Your selfish,� Louisa said as she walked in.
�I am not. I�m being practical. Daddy would rather fight in war, and then come home thinking he can do what he wants to us. Well he can�t and I wish he would go away again and never return.� Having never been so angry in her life, Louisa balled up her fist and punched her sister square in the mouth, then ran out crying. Elizabeth sat in stunned disbelief. Louisa was the gentle natured daughter, the one who did as she was told, the one who didn�t lash out, and now she had.
�She really did hit you,� Rebecca said, also stunned, noticing her sister had a split lip.
�I want mother,� Elizabeth replied then started to cry. This had been the worst day of her life, and all she wanted to do was get away from it all. Not sure of how to handle things, Rebecca ran to her parents room and knocked on the door.
�Daddy Elizabeth got a busted lip from Louisa,� Rebecca called out. Rick had been laying on the bed when he heard that and hurried to the door.
�Why did she do that?�
�She heard what Elizabeth said to you I believe,� Rebecca replied. First Rick went to the girls room expecting more rejection from his daughter, but when he went to her she went willingly into his arms and just cried. While daddy tended to Elizabeth, Rebecca went to find Louisa.
~*~
In the garden, by the fish pond, Louisa sat crying her heart out, afraid that their daddy really would leave them. She lay on a soft mossy patch of land feeling more afraid than she ever had, not noticing their mother�s approach. As Rebecca had been going out to find her, Evelyn had arrived home from the museum, and had been informed of what had happened between the two. She had been angry until she found her daughter so upset, then all of her anger melted away, and only love and compassion remained. Kneeling next to her, Evie gathered her baby against her.
�Daa daddy going away gain,� she managed, then cried harder.
�Shhh. No angel daddy is going to stay with us. He knows that Elizabeth didn�t mean what she said. Shhh.� Louisa continued to cry convinced that he was going to leave, and Evelyn was glad when he came outside.
�Hey I�m not leaving you,� Rick said taking her in his own arms and holding Evie�s hand with his free hand.
�But Ella was mean,� she said all out of breath.
�I know those words were not what she meant honey, and I�m not leaving you. I made a pinkie swear remember?� Rick asked. Louisa took in a few deep breaths and let them out, then lifted her head from his chest to look in his eyes.
�Your really never going again?� she asked. After giving her a kiss on her nose and lips Rick shook his head.
�Never again,� he said. That got a smile then she frowned.
�I hit Ella mother,� she said facing Evelyn.
�I know angel, and that was not nice, but I think you know that hitting your sister is not something you should do. Still, you are grounded with them until Alex and Megan arrive on Saturday,� Evelyn said. Louisa nodded and they all went inside to check on Elizabeth and start winding down before supper and bed time.