Trail's End

Chapter 1 : New Beginnings

As the time for the next train season neared the fellas were both sad and excited. With the passing of Major Adams, they would be working for the Western Trails company, and a Mr. Chris Hale.

Mary was six months pregnant and the boys had settled into life on the ranch. They were proving to be just as good at finding trouble at home as on the trail.

"Flint ole boy, I don't know what to expect this year, but I don't mind telling you that I am getting just a little restless. Why, I don't know if I can wait two more weeks to leave for Missouri," mused Bill.

"Well Bill, I did kind of want to ask you to do me a little favor before you all pull out for the trail. Mary and I were wondering if you would keep an eye on the boys while we took a few days to go on a shopping trip," asked Flint with just a hint of a mysterious smirk.

"One last trip, before the baby comes, huh, you bet I'll be glad to," grinned Bill, slapping Flint on the shoulder.

"It shouldn't be too, difficult, with all the new hands settled in to their assignments you should be able to concentrate on the boys… And relax," emphasized Flint.

"Huh, have you met your boys? I sometimes think they don't know the meaning of relax; why they are probably plotting something even now," joked Bill, enjoying the chance to poke fun at his friend.

"That's why I'm leaving you in charge. As you know Matt is on restriction for that prank he pulled at the livery last week, and you just never know what Mark may scheme up next. And Luke might be fine unless he and Steve get a wild idea. Mary and I want to come home to a house still standing, and you and Wooster know the boys the best."

"You and Mary have a great time, I and old Charlie will ride herd till you get back, I promise," assured Bill.

"Thanks we will only be gone four days; Mary will relax knowing you are in charge."

~oOo~

So all was set, when Flint and Mary left the very next morning. Bill looked forward to not having much to do as he checked with Tyler, the ranch foreman, and Wooster. The ranch was in order and all the boys had left for school, promising to come straight home. Bill, and Wooster sat on the back porch enjoy a game of cards and a cup of coffee when time for the boys to get home rolled around, as they heard the sounds of boys heading to the barn, Bill noticed that Mark was not with them.

"Matt, Where's your brother," he asked.

Matt passed Bill a note, as Luke answered, "The teacher said you have to come to the school and fetch him," Luke cast a quick look at his Uncle Bill, looking on the verge of tears.

Bill rubbed his hand across his face and growled under his breath as he opened the note…

Mark will remain here with me until a parent can come for him

He was caught cheating on the math test today and when I asked him to

explain he refused to answer.. Perhaps, he will answer you. I will wait

at the school for you.

Signed,

Miss Parker.

"Wooster, you're in charge of these two, while I get to the bottom of this; that okay?" Bill asked growling once more as he folded the paper and placed it in his shirt pocket.

"Sure thing, Bill, I'll rustle up some grub and have the boys do Mark's chores too," nodded Charlie enthusiastically.

Bill started toward the barn, wishing that Mark would have waited for Flint to get back before he got into another mess. He saddled and took off at a gallop; anxious to get this behind him and back home.

When he arrived at the school he tied his horse and proceeded up the steps.

"Miss. Parker, I'm Bill Hawks, I don't believe we've met. I've been left in charge of Mark and his brothers for a few days."

"I am sorry that we had to meet under these circumstances, but I just can't seem to get through to Mark that it is important that he pay attention in class and then when I caught him passing this…" she passed Bill a carefully written copy of fifteen problems. "I can assure you that is a copy of the test I had just given, with all the answers," the flustered young woman explained.

Bill turned for the first time to Mark, who was standing in the corner, "Mark, come over here please." Mark dropped his eyes to the floor as he walked toward his Uncle, not liking the look on his face.

"Son, Miss Parker asked you a question earlier, about why you were cheating. I think you had better answer her, right now !"

"I was not cheating," answered Mark just above a whisper.

"Then how do you explain this," said Bill handing him the answer sheet.

"I've never… seen it before," answered Mark with a nervous stutter.

"Mark Spence, I took that note out of your hand myself. Why would you say you've never seen it before?" questioned Miss Parker.

"Young man, I'm in no mood to play games, now you answer Miss Parker, and tell her the truth or I'll have to get at the truth another way, and neither of us will like my methods."

Mark knew without asking that Uncle Bill meant that he would be in for a lickin, and he was right; that he wouldn't like it, but Mark wanted to be a part of the roughrider gang. All of the older boys were a part of it and they had told him that if he wanted in, he only had to get the paper of Miss Parkers desk and copy it out, then give it to Otis and put the original paper back; which he had succeeded in doing while Miss Parker had taken the younger children outside for a cool drink at the well. Now, when he felt that note slip under his hand on the desk, he had no idea what it was and Miss Parker grabbed it before he had a chance to see it, but as he looked at it now he knew it was the paper he had copied and passed onto Otis. Wondering how it ended up back on his desk, he looked at the two adults and tried to decide whether to lie, or not speak at all; which of those two options would get him in less trouble?

"Mark; It's time for an answer," demanded Bill as he looked into Mark's eyes.

Mark gritted his teeth and looked right at Miss Parker, then clamped his mouth tight and stared back at the blackboard.

"Mark! I will give you just one more minute to answer Miss Parker or I will put you over my knee, right here; right now!. When Mark continued to glare, Bill sat down on top of the front desk, picked Mark up and placed him face down over his lap.

Swat, swat, swat, swat, swat…He brought his hard hand down five times across the boy's buttocks, and then stood Mark up.

"Go stand in the corner while Miss Parker and I finish our talk," ordered Bill, giving Mark a little shove toward the corner.

"Mr. Hawks, the usual punishment for cheating is a two day suspension, and I would still like an explanation, so I will expect to see Mark with an adult on Monday."

"Yes ma'am I'll see to it. I apologize for Mark's behavior. Mark; let's go…Thanks again Miss Parker," offered an embarrassed Bill.

Mark walked over with a sad look on his face, but just when Bill thought he would speak, he lowered his head and shuffled to the door.

Bill looked at Miss Parker and tipped his hat and walked out the door, stepped up into the saddle before reaching down to lift Mark up in front of him.

"I'm in real trouble ain't I?" said Mark as he looked over his shoulder and up at his Uncle Bill.

"We'll talk later, I've got some thinking to do," answered Bill, growling under his breath and tried to calm his temper.

They rode the rest of the way to the ranch without a word, when they dismounted at the barn Tyler took the horse and Bill looked down and spoke. "Get on up to your room and don't come down unless you're ready to tell me the truth."

"Yes, sir," answered Mark as he turned and trudged toward the house, looking like a condemned man on his way to the gallows.

Bill swallowed a laugh, as he shook his head and muttered, "Stubborn, stubborn, what'll I do with him for two days?"

~oOo~

An Hour later, there was a knock on the door to Mark's room, "Come in," called Mark; a little nervous about what would happen next, but knew that Bill would be fair.

Bill walked in and sat down on the chair next to Mark's bed. "Are you ready to explain?" asked Bill looking deep into Mark's eyes.

"I can't sir, except to say I… was not… cheating."

"Mark, Miss Parker got the cheat sheet from you, are you telling me she lied?"

"No sir, but I can't tell," said Mark looking at the floor.

"Is whatever secret your keeping worth getting to spend two whole days doing extra chores and another trip across my knee?" asked Bill, tipping the boys chin up to meet his gaze.

Receiving that same blank stare, and the same refusal to talk from the boy, Bill rubbed his face with his hand and released a sigh. "Mark I'm not sure what made you think that this stubborn refusal to answer is a good thing, but I can assure you it is not. I want some answers and Miss Parker deserves your respect and to be answered as well. So I will ask you once more; Why did you cheat?"

"I didn't Uncle Bill, the paper was not mine." answered Mark.

"Where did it come from and how did you get it?" gritted Bill losing patience with all the beating around the bush.

"I can't tell you; I just can't," pleaded Mark and watched as the color began to rise in Bill's face. He was just a little scared; Uncle Bill was getting really mad. Bill rose and paced to the window grumbling under his breath as he fought to control his rising temper.

Looking out the window he spoke once more, "My patience is about to run out, so let try this one more time; Did Miss Parker take the cheat sheet from you during the test?"

"Yes Sir," whispered Mark.

"Did you have anything to do with copying the test problems?"

Mark looked nervously at his Uncle Bill and then at the floor, but did not answer.

Lifting Mark's chin again, Bill looked right into his eyes and almost barked, "Did you copy the answers?"

Mark jumped as tears came to his eyes, 'if he lied and said no, he get walloped for lying, if he told the truth and said yes he'd get walloped for cheating, and if he told the truth about what was really happening and got Matt and the others in trouble they would never let him be a roughrider. He was so trapped why couldn't Bill just wallop him and get it over with why did he have to know the whole truth?' Mark wanted in the gang so bad that he just couldn't tell.

"I just can't answer, that's all," said Mark and hung his head.

"Without a word Bill sat down on the chair and pulled Mark over his lap. He delivered five really hard swats, then standing Mark up in front of him, he spoke through gritted teeth, "That was for defying me. Now, I want you to stand in that corner and think about what you are doing, and when I come back I want the truth or I am going to bare your bottom and give you another dose." Pointing to the corner Bill stood up and walked out of the room.

Bill caught Matt's door close out of the corner of his eye as he headed down stairs. He strolled out to the bunkhouse where Charlie and Luke sat playing checkers.

"You look beat," said Charlie with a smile as he passed him a cup of coffee.

"I never met anyone as stubborn as that boy, why he's as stubborn as that old mule we had in the army. Even after I swatted him, he still refuses to answer me. I know he is lying; maybe covering for someone."

"Oh, you know boy's they can be pigheaded sometimes."

"Yea, I put him in the corner to think about it, and I promised him a good spanking if he didn't answer me when I got back, and by the way; he is suspended for the rest of the week. What are we going to do with him for two days?" asked Bill setting his cup on the table.

"I remember once when I was a young'n, my Pappy had me pile rocks all day and then the next day he made me move everyone of the rocks one at a time to a spot about three feet away. I remember spending the whole time wishing that he would have marched me to the woodshed and got it over with. Still, I never got sent home from school again, weren't there fer pappy said I couldn't afford ta miss out on what little schoolin we could get in them days." smiled Charlie as he jumped Luke's checker.

"Busy work you say, you might have something there. Any idea how to get him to answer?" asked Bill.

"Maybe your spanking threat will work, if not surely the real thing will."

Bill noticed that Luke was looking a little upset. "He's ok Luke I promise, your brother will be alright."

"But, Uncle Bill, his butt is going to be mighty sore, cause he will never tell, he wants... I mean he's a knot head like that, so is Matt. Why can't they just mind?"

"Luke do you know anything about all this?" asked Bill, a bit puzzled by his response.

"I don't think so; I just get worried when everyone is upset."

"Why don't you just concentrate on beating your Uncle Charlie here a checkers and I'll see you at supper," said Bill ruffling the small boys hair.

(Meanwhile in Marks room)

"He's really mad huh?" said Matt from the doorway of the room.

"I'll say, but I didn't tell about the igniation," answered Mark turning from the corner.

"You mean initiation and you better not tell that me, Otis, or George had anything to do with it or you will be out before you ever get in," threatened Matt with a mean laugh.

"But, I have to tell him something or he is going to give me another spanking," he said rubbing his backside, "I'm getting sore already and he says the next one will be..."

"So just tell him you cheated and get it over with."

"That's easy for you to say; it's not your butt, and why did Otis pass it back to me, was he trying to get me in trouble or what?"

Laughing Matt said, "I gotta go someone is coming remember not a word..."

As Bill topped the stairs, he heard Matt's door close; 'something tells me that Mark's not the only one in trouble around here.' He thought.

Knocking as he opened Matt's door, he walked in and sat on the edge of the Bed. "You all finished with your homework?"

"Almost just taking a break," Matt answered looking up from the book he had only just grabbed.

"You don't know anything about this trouble that Mark's in, do ya?"

"No Sir, just heard him yelp when you walloped him earlier, that's all."

"You sure that you don't know any reason why he refuses to tell me or Miss Parker why he cheated on the math test? Or maybe why it's worth getting another spanking rather than tell me the truth?"

"Matt pretended to think for a minute... "I can never figure out why he does anything. If it was me; I'd just admit I copied the answers and take my lickin and be done."

The smirk on Matt's face and the added detail of the copied answers did not go unnoticed by Bill. There were only two ways he could know about them… He was in on it or he had been listening outside Mark's door.

"Matt have you been out of this room this afternoon?"

"No sir not even once," lied Matt."

"Well, if you're sure you don't know anything, get your homework finished and I'll see you at supper."

"May I go to the outhouse first, please?"

"Yes then straight back," Bill followed him out and down the hall then stopped at Mark's door.

Bill knocked, and hearing a sad come in sir; he opened the door, walked over to the chair that still sat in the middle of the room and sat down before calling Mark to him.

"Mark you know that cheating and lying are wrong, and that refusing to answer is disrespectful and rude and in a way lying because you know something you will not tell. You've been standing there thinking for a while and you know why I am here, so I 'm not going to drag this out, either you will tell me why you cheated and why you would not answer me or Miss Parker or I am going to dust your backside until it smarts. After that you can go straight to bed and unless you decide to answer me after breakfast, you and I will find ourselves right back here with the same question after supper tomorrow."

"I understand, but I just can't tell you, except I did not cheat on my test. I can't tell you anymore."

"Mark, I know you know more than you are telling. I do not know why you won't tell, but I said the choice was yours. Being deceitful and defiant are very serious." Bill stood and walked to the window, "get your nightshirt on, I really wish you would just tell the truth," said Bill in a defeated tone.

A tear slid down Mark's cheek as he undressed and slipped the night shirt over his head.

Bill, still watching from the window, saw Matt laugh as he crossed the yard on the way back from the outhouse.

"I'm ready, Sir," suddenly announced Mark.

Turning, Bill walked back to the chair, and guided Mark over his lap. He lifted the night shirt to expose his target. Bill hoped to make this spanking sting enough that he would not have to follow through with tomorrow's, as he brought his hand down repeatedly until the bottom before him was bright red and the boy was sobbing. Then, letting the nightshirt fall over the well spanked bottom, he began to rub Mark's back until he calmed. When he had quieted some, Bill stood and pulled the covers on the bed back and allowed Mark to slide in on his stomach.

Bill sat back down on the edge of the bed, and patted Marks back as the child sniffed in between yawns.

"It is very important that you take responsibility for your actions, and that your word can be trusted. It is a big part of growing up. You think about that and let's have answers tomorrow okay…Night champ," said Bill gently.

"Night Uncle Bill," was the only answer Mark gave.

Then as Bill started across the floor he heard it again, Matt's door close. "Okay, Mark won the battle for the most stubborn but, he was not the only one not telling the truth around here," mumbled Bill to himself.

As he closed Mark's door he heard Charlie yell; SUPPER! Matt's door flew open just a bit too quickly, but Bill decided to say nothing, however, come morning the two boys had better change their tune.

They walked down the stairs to where Luke and Charlie sat waiting.

"Pork Chops, yum, I'm starving," yelled Matt sliding into his chair.

"Uncle Charlie let me cook the green beans and potatoes. He says; that every boy needs to know how to cook," smiled Luke.

"Probably won't be fit to eat then, I'll just have chops and bread," teased Matt.

"You will have some of everything and you will wash up the dishes before going to bed, smarty pants," said Bill.

Luke smiled and passed the bowl of beans to Matt.

"So Matt, how did you do on the math test?" asked Bill.

"It was easy; I bet I made an A+," boasted Matt.

"How about you, Luke?" asked Bill making sure to include Luke in the conversation.

"I did good, I think, but my grade has easier problems than Matt's." said Luke around a mouth full of beans.

"Luke what do you mean, you didn't all take the same test?"

"No sir, each grade get twenty-five problems from their Math group, so mine are easier than Matt's or Marks, cause we are in different groups. We had a spelling test too, and I only missed one; receive. I always get the E.I. backwards. Why can't we just say get or got? I can spell them," complained Luke.

"That's an easy word; R-E-C-E-I-V-E, you dope," laughed Matt.

"Well, I only missed one and I heard Miss Parker say you didn't get even one right," snarled Luke then hung his head, realizing he had just told on his brother and probably gotten him in trouble.

Matt glared at Luke, before returning to his plate of food. Bill let the conversation drop and they finished the meal in peace.

While Luke went to do his homework, and Matt finished the dishes, Bill picked up Matt's jacket from the stair railing and went up to check on Mark. He stepped inside Matt's door and as he was reaching toward the peg to hang the jacket up, something fell out of the pocket…..

TBC

Chapter 2