"But Morgan, I know where Giddy-up is. Why can't I tell Uncle Joe?"
"Cuz if you do, you, me and EJ will be in lots of trouble, that's why," Morgan told Jake.
The two boys were in their room trying to devise a plan to retrieve Giddy-up without being noticed. The toy horse was along the side of the homestead, up in their tree house, which under other circumstances would not be a problem, but for Morgan and Jake it was a definite issue. One of the things Joe and Rebecca did agree on was that it was far too dangerous for their active little Asher to be up in a tree.
Everyone in the family was aware the tree house was off limits for Asher, especially EJ who was often elected to watch his younger sibling. When Rebecca brought the children with her to the main house, it was understood that the 7 ½ year old would care for his little brother while the women went about their work. Wanting to play with his cousins, EJ ignored his parents' rule and took Asher with him up to the tree house. When it was time to go, the three boys borrowed one of Evelyn's laundry baskets, tied rope around it, put Asher inside and lowered him carefully to the ground. The excitement of being in the tree house was too much for the three year old handle. It resulted in Asher falling asleep twenty minutes before being lowered down to the ground and subsequently leaving his precious Giddy-up in the corner of the tree house.
Before carrying his little brother to the wagon, EJ swore his cousins to secrecy. If their parents found out of their adventure, not only would there be no silver dollar but punishment would surely be inevitable.
"But I want a silver dollar, Morgan," complained Jake. "We won't get in trouble, everyone'll be happy to see Giddy-up. 'Sides, Pa ain't never been mad at me afore."
"That's cuz you're new here, Jake. Trust me, what Pa don't know won't hurt us."
"Huh?" Jack muttered.
"Never mind! Here's what we're gonna do. We'll go downstairs and say we've looked everywhere then say we're gonna help Mary and Maisy outside. When we go outside you distract the girls so I can go to the tree house and get Giddy-up. OK?"
"OK, but I still think we otta just tell 'em."
"Well I'm older, so we're gonna do what I say, got it!"
Jake nodded his head yes then followed Morgan down to the great room. Morgan's plan went surprisingly smooth and before they knew it Morgan was climbing down the tree with Giddy-up tucked in his left armpit. Hearing Morgan descend the tree, Jake sprinted to the side of the house.
"Did ya get it?" he asked.
"Sure did! Silver dollar her I come!" Morgan stated with a cocky grin.
"You better give me half or I'm tellin'!" warned Jake.
"Relax little brother, you'll get half," Morgan assured him "Now let's hurry and show 'em."
The two boys ran by their sisters and through the front door.
"We found it Uncle Joe! Me an' Jake found Giddy-up!'
Joe raced to the front foyer and scooped the horse out of Morgan's hand. "Well done boys! Where ever did you find it?"
Morgan froze. He hadn't planned on being asked that question. "Ummm, well..."
"It was in the kitchen wood box, Uncle Joe," Jake interjected. "Silly Asher musta dropped it there by assident."
"Guess he must have," Joe said too tired to care. Shoving his hand into his pocket and pulled out not one but two silver dollars. "A deal is a deal," he said handing each boy a shiny coin. The boys couldn't believe their luck. They had gotten away with it and each received a whole dollar to boot. Joe thanked Morgan, Jake and the others then quickly mounted his horse and galloped away.
"All right you lot, up to bed," Adam ordered with a clap of his hands.
When the children were upstairs Evelyn turned to her husband. "Adam, is it just me or did their story seem a little farfetched?"
"Considering that the wood box is empty and the boys came through the front door not the kitchen, yes I'd say it was rather farfetched," he smirked with a cocked eyebrow.
"Asher wasn't anywhere near the kitchen today, how could his horse end up in the wood box?"
"It couldn't, Evvy," Adam replied, arms folded over his chest.
"Do you think EJ might know anything about this? After all, he was the one minding Asher today," she asked.
"Yes, I'm fairly certain Ethan Joseph will be able to shed some light on the situation. I'll go over and speak to Joe at around noon. Everyone should have had enough rest by then," he said, bolting the front door.
"What are we going to do about Morgan and Jake?" Evelyn enquired as she picked up the oil lamp, ready to go upstairs.
"I'll let them believe they are rich masterminds for one night and deal with our little con artists in the morning," Adam chuckled wrapping his arm around his wife's waist as the couple ascended the stairs for much needed sleep.