Little Lessons:

Chapter 2:

Ben and Joseph's Unexcellent Adventure

Ben age 7, Joseph 11, George 6, Claire 13

Ethan was extremely glad this day was finally over. As he lay in bed he thought about all that had gone on that day. Having only been a parent for six months, everyday seemed to bring a new challenge. This new difficulty began three weeks ago with the arrival of the new horses.

Flashback:

Watching the new horses trot around the corral, Ben and George hear Ethan call them to come inside.

"Uncle Ethan? When will we get to pet one? Can I pet one now?" George asks.

"When can I ride the black horse, Uncle Ethan?" Ben asks pointing to the one he means.

"No boys. Neither of you is to go near the horses at all until I give permission. Come inside and we'll have a family meeting."

"Children, I called you together to have a talk about the new horses. For now, until I give permission, all horses are off limits. Claire, Joseph, do either of you know how to ride?"

"No sir. I drove a buggy once but the driver was also holding the reins." Joseph answers as Claire says "No sir, none of us have been on a horse."

"Well, now that you live on a ranch, taking care of horses will be something you will do every day. I will teach you how to properly care for them and also be giving you riding lessons. However, I want you to realize horses are strong and unpredictable animals. None of you are to go near the horses without me nearby until I feel you are at ease around them. We don't know what these animals are like right now so again, stay away from them unless I'm around. Furthermore, one of the horses, the black, is a stallion. This is a new rule, NO ONE is to go near the stallion. I will be solely responsible for his care. Do you hear?"

"Yes sir."

Earlier that day:

He has been working with Claire and Joseph for several weeks. Both of his older children can now ride without him holding on to a lead rope. Joseph is especially good at riding. Watching him as he trots the horse around the corral, Ethan spots the younger boys standing on the fence watching.

"Uncle Ethan? When is going to be MY turn to ride?" Ben calls.

Knowing Ben is anxious to get his riding lessons started. George isn't sure yet how he felt about riding. Ethan isn't going to push him. He will let George decide for himself.

Walking over to the younger boys, Ethan explains "Ben, I planned to start your lessons today but have to put it off for a while. Some business has come up in town and I have to leave. Joseph, ride over here and dismount, son." Ethan calls as Ben kicks the fence post dejectedly.

"But you said I could ride today! Joseph always gets to ride and I don't! George and I never get to ride!"

"Stop complaining, Ben! You heard Uncle Ethan! He has to leave today. Don't act like a baby!" Joseph scolds, having ridden up in time to hear his little brother.

"Besides, Ben. I don't want to ride. I like watching better." George tells his brother.

"Alright children, I'll be back before dark. "No one is allowed near those horses until I get back! They are off limits. Remember what I said, do NOT even go near that corral unless I am with you. " Ethan tells them before riding off towards town leaving Joseph and Claire in charge.

Claire, deciding to walk to town to sell the butter, cream and eggs takes George with her leaving Joseph in charge of seven year old Ben. As soon as he sees them leave, Ben decides it was a good time to go visit his favorite horse, the new stallion.

With only Joseph left to watch him he feels he has a good chance to get close to his favorite horse without somebody saying "no, don't.."

Ben thinks he can do what Joseph and Claire had been doing. He wanted to ride a horse too. "All I have to do is climb up and sit down. After that you just tell the horse what you want it to do." He thought walking out to the corral.

Joseph missing Ben, comes looking for him. He finds him at the corral fence watching the big stallion.

"Ben, what are you doing out here? You know what Uncle Ethan said. We are not to go near those horses!"

"I want to ride that horse. I've watched you and Claire for weeks and I know I can do it. Will you help me get him up by the fence so I can get on him?"

"No, Ben. You heard Uncle Ethan this morning. No one is to go near those horses. I'm not going to let you get us both a sore backside! He would wallop us if he found out we disobeyed him! Believe me, you don't want him to wallop you. He can really spank hard!"

Ben said "Well, if you don't help me get on that horse, I'll just have to tell Uncle Ethan about how I saw you holding one of his guns in his bedroom the other day! You know he told us we were never to touch the guns. What do you think he would do about that?"

Joseph sighs. He knows exactly what his uncle would do. He would spank him until he couldn't sit comfortably for a whole day! He'd said if he ever heard of them touching a gun he would take them out to the barn and take his belt to their backside. Joseph thinks "If I'm going to get in trouble anyway I might as well help Ben with the horse. If I don't Ben will hound me until I either give in or swat him. If I swat him, I'll be in trouble for that!"

Joseph remembers the other day when Ben had been pestering him to let him go up in the lower barn loft. Joseph had told him "NO". Ben went up anyway and Joseph had swatted him with his hand. Ben had run in and told on him to Uncle Ethan. His uncle had scolded Joseph for punishing Ben. It used to be he punished the boys or Claire did as their Mama was too busy working.

"Joseph, you are not to swat your brothers. If you feel they have done something wrong, then you are to tell me. I will handle any punishment that needs to be given." Ethan had told him sternly. It seemed like everything he did lately was wrong!

While he had been thinking of all of this, Ben has decided to crawl through the corral fence. Joseph looks up when he hears "Whoa, horse."

Ben is chasing the stallion as it runs around the corral. The big horse is tossing his head and blowing. Joseph tries again to convince Ben not to get on the horse.

"Ben, I don't think he wants us in here with him. I think he's getting angry."

"Aww, he's not angry, he just wants to play. Help me get on him. If you don't I'll tell about the gun!"

"All right! Come on, I'll catch the horse,you climb up on the fence and get ready to get on when I lead him over there."

Joseph would later extremely regret this decision.

Catching the horse with his lasso and leading him over to Ben. Ben is too short to reach the horse from the fence so he jumps on the horse's back holding on to the mane. As soon as the stallion felt the boy land on his back, he rears back on his hind legs.

"Wow! Look at me Joseph! I'm as tall as the trees!"

The horse begins galloping around the corral. After three circles Ben decides he wants to get off. This running around in circles was making him dizzy. "Joseph catch him and help me get down. I don't want to ride him anymore! "

Joseph chases the horse as he tries to catch the lead rope dragging the ground. He can't get to it. While he is chasing the horse around for the fourth time he glances up at the hill above the corral. What he sees makes Joseph decide right then he should not have listened to Ben instead of doing what he had known was right. He should have taken his chances with Ben telling on him about the gun.

He sees Uncle Ethan galloping down the hill above the corral. Ethan is riding fast and is headed right for them. Even from a distance Joseph can tell his Uncle is very upset. Joseph suddenly feels he just might lose his lunch.

Having gone into town to discuss his latest job with the local sheriff, Tom Kincaid. Kincaid has hired him on to help him protect bank because of a threat being made to rob it. Kincaid and Ethan discussed the plans to capture the robbers. They were both going to spend the night inside the bank. If the bank robbers showed up they'd be ready. The stakeout is to take place soon.

After their discussion on strategy, Tom asked Ethan how he was getting on with his new role as a parent. Ethan told him of the latest escapades Ben had gotten into.

Tom had met the children and knew how Ben and Joseph were the ones fond of adventure. Ben at seven, was the daredevil of the group. He was the one who needed to be watched more than the others. Claire and George were less adventurous, although George tended to follow along with whatever Ben did.

Ethan told Tom how he had found Ben in the stall with one of the new mares the night the horses were delivered. He had come in to get him for supper and been shocked to see Ben standing next to the horse as she ate. Ben hadn't understood when Ethan pulled him out of the stall and scolded him.

"But she likes me, we're buddies. She's not going to hurt me." Ethan recalled Ben insisting.

"Ben, horses are unpredictable and they can hurt you. Now, buddies or not, you are to stay away from these horses until I tell you differently! I already told you to stay away from those horses unless I was with you and I meant what I said!"

Ethan told Tom how he had swatted Ben's backside four times and told him, "If I hear of you coming around these horses without me, I will wallop your backside a lot more than just four times! I mean it Ben, you are to stay away from these horses unless I am with you!"

Ethan told Tom "I felt guilty about being so harsh with him later, but I was just so scared seeing him in that stall."

Thinking back later that night Ethan remembered Tom saying "Ethan, the children need you to set the boundaries for them so they know what they can and cannot do. It's a parent's job to punish them if they misbehave. It's one way they learn right from wrong. I may be more than 10 years older than you but I remember those days of having children. I had to take my belt to my boys every now and then."

Both of Tom's sons were successful business owners in Colorado Springs.

Ethan has been thinking of their conversation as he rides over the hill above the corral. When he sees what is going on down in the corral, he is terrified. Not thinking of his own safety, he gallops down the hill too fast feeling he has to get to the boys. As soon as he reaches the corral he jumps from his horse and immediately grabs the rope attached to the horse's bridle, Wrapping the lead rope around a fence post, He pulls it tight until this finally forces the stallion to slow down. Cursing himself silently for being absent minded as to leave the horse saddled and furious with the boys for putting themselves in danger Ethan reacts.

Joseph watches as his uncle stops the horse and as he snatches Ben off the horse. He sees the look on Ethan's face as he carries Ben and stalks over to the other side of the corral where Joseph is standing. Ethan's face looks like a storm cloud, it's almost white, his eyes dark and flashing and his eyebrows are like lightning bolts! Seeing this look makes Joseph wish he were somewhere else right now. He knows he is in trouble just by that look.

Stopping by the fence, Ethan set Ben down next to Joseph. Then his voice quiet but firm as he asks "Well, boys just what did you think you were doing in that corral? I told you both to STAY away from the horses! Joseph, you were both not only IN the corral but Ben was on TOP of the stallion! Was that your doing?"

"No sir, not really." Joseph answers quietly, looking at the ground

"Joseph! I know Ben COULD NOT get on that horse by himself!"

Ben, not wanting Joseph to be in trouble decides to speak up.

"Uncle Ethan, I wanted to ride like Claire and Joseph. I've been watching them and I knew I could ride. I did it too! I stayed on him! Did you see me?"

Ethan just glares at him and then turns to Joseph.

"All right Joseph, start talking. I want to know just what you were thinking when you not only let your seven year old brother in the corral but helped him get on that stallion?"

Joseph, having heard this voice before from the night his Uncle had walloped him, knows this is going to turn out badly.

"I CAN NOT believe you could be so irresponsible as to let your brother ride a wild horse! What possible reason did you have for NOT stopping him? "

Joseph just stands there not knowing what to say. He waits for Ben to say something about the gun. But Ben hadn't said a word after he received the glare. Ben seems to have suddenly realized they are both in a lot of trouble.

"LOOK at me and give me an answer, young man!" Ethan demands the boy in front of him, sternly.

Joseph sighing, looks up at his furious uncle. He knows he'd better answer something or the situation is just going to get worse. Joseph had learned from experience that not giving answers to questions is the quickest way to a sore backside.

"I'm sorry Uncle Ethan. I don't have any good reason. I just did it!"

Joseph decides that had been the wrong thing to say right when his normally quiet uncle roars:

"YOU JUST DID IT? WHAT KIND OF ANSWER IS THAT?"

Then he hears, "Ben! Joseph! Come with me!"

His Uncle's voice has gone deep and quiet again which Joseph knows is a bad sign.

Joseph following him as he walks over to the woodpile, hears Ben whisper "Are we going to have to chop wood?"

Joseph doesn't even bother to answer him. He has guessed what might be coming next.

Ethan, having sat on the chopping block stands the boys in front of him. "Joseph, Ben, I am extremely disappointed in your behavior this afternoon. Both of you deliberately disobeyed me and put yourselves in danger! That horse could have seriously hurt you. Do you understand what I have told you?"

Both of the boys answer "Yes Sir."

"Well boys, this disobedience of yours calls for strong punishment. You deliberately disobeyed me and you put yourselves in danger. Both of you are going to get your backsides warmed. If you ever again put yourselves in danger by deliberately doing what I told you not to do, I will be taking my belt to your backside! You both are lucky I'm not doing it this time."

Joseph hears this right before Uncle Ethan picks up a flat board, turns Ben over his lap and wallops him hard three times before applying four more with just his hand.

Ben, sobbing is lifted off his lap. "Go in the house to your room, Ben. You will stay there until morning."

Joseph, watching his brother run to the house has a feeling his punishment is going to be even worse. Sure enough, Ethan gives him five hard licks with the board and more with his hand before allowing him to stand up.

"Joseph I depend on you, because you are older, to have the sense to stop your younger brothers from doing something so dangerous. All you had to do was refuse to help Ben catch the horse. He wouldn't have been able to catch the stallion by himself. Instead of stopping him, you helped him do what he could not have done alone. You put yourself in danger and let Ben put himself in danger too. Because of this your punishment was more than Ben's. You are also confined to your room for the rest of the night. Supper will be brought to both of you in your room. You think about what went on here today and why I paddled your backside."

At bedtime, coming into their room to tuck George into bed, Ethan tells Ben and Joseph:

"I love you both but, you deliberately disobeyed me and you put yourselves in danger. That is unacceptable and that is why I punished you. I am sure you will be reminded for a time when you sit tomorrow ,that I meant it when I told you to stay away from those horses. I have a good reason for what I tell you to do. If you obey me, then you will not get hurt. Good night boys. Let's have a better day tomorrow."

"I had a Good Day, Uncle Ethan! Claire said I was a good helper in town and I obeyed her too. Do you love me too?" George pipes up snuggling next to Ben in their bed.

"Of course, I love you too. I love all four of you children. That's very good news, George. You continue to be such a well behaved boy and you will keep yourself out of trouble. Good night, children. Sleep well." Ethan answers as he blows out the lamp by Joseph's bed and pulls the curtain across to separate the boys from their sister.

As Ethan thinks back on the day's events later that night, he remembers telling Tom that being a parent was actually easier than he expected.

Ethan decides right then, he will tell Tom when he sees him, how wrong he had been. Being a parent is much harder than he realized. He sincerely hopes he won't have a day quite like this one for a long time. Having to punish the children was difficult. Watching as they put themselves in danger and not being able to stop them was even more difficult! Becoming an instant Father is much more difficult than he ever thought it would be.