Chapter 2
When El poked her head in the next day she was surprised to find the three cells full of kids and two older men, one in his twenties and the other much older. It seemed that Peter's plan had worked better than could be expected. When Jacob failed to appear with Neal the rest of the boys had rushed the sheriff's office and had been captured and locked up immediately.
"You have a full house, I see," she remarked casually as she viewed the full cells.
"Yep and the Circuit Judge will be here Friday to decide what's to happen to all of the young delinquents. But with Jacob he won't have any trouble in convicting him of thievery and his part in turning the boys into criminals," replied Peter sadly. He feared for the boys.
"Do you know any more about the boys…their names, if their parents are still alive, where they live?" El asked caringly.
"Yeah, all of them except for Neal have living relatives…his are dead. They are from the Eastern United States. I have sent telegrams to their whereabouts and if we are lucky those boys will be sent home to their parents…but I'm afraid that Neal will be sent to an orphanage unless some couple would be willing to adopt him," explained Peter with a smile at his wife. He had noticed how much El had taken to Neal and the boy to her and they had been trying to have children without success…maybe this was just what they needed to make them a family.
El raised her eyes and said, "Do you mean it…can we keep Neal?"
"It's okay with me and if the boy agrees then it won't take much for the circuit judge to okay it and make it legal," Peter said grinning.
"When will we know if Neal will agree?" asked El.
"You can ask him now if you like," replied Peter as he grabbed the cells' key and approached the one that Neal was in.
"Neal!"
Neal got up and gingerly walked to the cell door, "Yes?"
"My wife wants to speak to you about something," replied Peter as he opened the door for the boy to slip out.
Neal's face lit up as she caught site of El and he launched himself at her. "You came back."
"What happened to your face, Neal?" she asked worriedly as she noticed the bruise on his cheek.
"Jacob didn't like it that I got caught either but for different reasons than those of the storekeeper who spanked me yesterday," admitted Neal quietly as he looked over his shoulder at the closed door separating the cells from the main office of the Sheriff's. "It's okay, I'm just glad we weren't in the same cell. What was it you wanted to ask me?" Neal asked as he looked up into El's face.
"Neal with the capture of your gang and the Circuit Judge coming tomorrow to try the case we are fairly certain that the boys will be sent home to their parents or guardians with the exception of you. Would you mind terribly if Peter and I adopt you?" asked El excitedly.
"You want me?" Neal cried, "Jacob said that no one would want me and it would be better to learn how to steal or die…so I did what he said and survived."
"Neal, it would make me and El very happy if you would agree to this adoption. You can go to school and learn to make something better of yourself than that of a thief…what do you say?" Peter asked a moment later.
Neal thought for a moment or two before he said, "Neal Caffrey Burke…that sounds pretty good, doesn't it?" to his new parents with a big smile on his face.
Peter and El beamed at each other before El said, "Well come on home young man, you are in need of a bath and some new clothes."
"EL!" called Peter as he shook his head at her last remark.
"Peter you are not putting our son back in that cell; who knows who will hurt him next. He's coming home with me and if you don't agree…" she said menacing with a glare that he knew would mean that he would be sleeping on the couch and he sighed.
"Neal, do you promise to stay with El and not leave unless you are either with me or her?" Peter asked seriously.
Neal looked at Peter and nodded, "I'm too tired and sore to leave. I just want to lie down someplace soft and sleep…I didn't get much sleep last night," the boy said with a yawn.
"Okay, I'll see you both at lunch…and Neal I'm taking you at your word; I hope you won't do anything to take that trust away," Peter said solemnly as he watched the two leave the office.
El thought that it would be best to get some clothes for the boy before they went home so they went to the place where Neal had gotten the spanking of his life….Rucker's Mercantile. Neal accompanied her freely until he saw where they were going and he stopped dead on the sidewalk. "Why are we going there?"
"To get you some new clothes," replied El as she tried to nudged the boy forward.
Neal dug in his heels and refused to move. "I'll wait for you outside," he offered instead.
"Neal you aren't going to get spanked unless you try and steal something…and then it won't be Mr. Rucker you have to fear but me…okay?"
Neal thought it over and seeing the wisdom in her words nodded and went with her through the front door. "Dirk," El called out, "I need some clothing for my new son."
"El," greeted the large man as he came forward and saw who the son was. "You and Peter are going to adopt this boy?" he asked at once.
"Yep, the circuit judge will be in town the day after tomorrow to try the cases that Peter have locked up and we are going to ask him to officiate at Neal's adoption…but he is in need of clothing," explained El.
Dirk looked at the boy and grinned, "That's great news El; I can't be more happy for you and Peter," and then he did something that surprised Neal he leaned over and held out his hand. "No hard feelings, young man?"
Neal looked up in shock at El who smiled and nodded that it was okay before he took Dirk's hand and shook it. "No hard feelings but my butt still hurts."
Dirk smiled and went to the candy jars and motioned for Neal to come over, "Maybe a dollar's worth of candy, free on the house will help that sting go away."
Neal was over there instantly surveying what to get as he half listened to El say, "Neal, you can't eat all of that at once…pick out what you want and then only eat one piece for now; I'm sure you haven't had your breakfast which after your bath you will have and I don't want the candy to ruin your appetite."
Neal nodded as he made his choices and put a peppermint stick in his mouth as he wandered back to stand with El as she picked out his new clothing with the bag of sweets in his hand.
It didn't take El long to pick out a few items; she would get the rest afterwards. She just needed enough clothing for the next few days and ended up getting a night shirt, a couple of pairs of sturdy brown trousers as well as a pair of blue jeans. She picked out some underwear, socks, shoes and a jacket…it was still cool early in the morning and in the evening. "That should do me for now Dirk, wrap it up and I'll pay for it and then we will be on our way."
Dirk looked over the list and added a couple of handkerchiefs and a pair of slippers before totaling the figure and handed the bill to El who promptly paid it. She then grabbed Neal's bag of candy and exchanged it for his new bundle of clothes and shoes. Neal then eagerly followed his new mother home.
5
