Chapter 2

When it became apparent that Mozzie was going to stay Peter decided that he had better set the boundaries for the two young boys living in his house. One was Neal his adoptive son and the other was his friend Mozzie who Peter suspected would soon be adding Burke to his name…especially if his wife had anything to say about it.

"Now boys, there are certain places here in town that are forbidden for you two to visit and one that you may visit only at certain times," began Peter only to stop when he saw confusion grace his son's face. "You have a question Neal?" he asked.

Neal nodded, "I'm confused Papa. Where is it we can only visit on certain times?"

"I was talking about the Marshall's office, son. You and Mozzie are more can welcomed to visit when you have a problem and need my help or just wanting to say "HI" but when we have prisoners I rather you not visit and so would your mother…understand?" Peter explained simply.

Neal and Mozzie nodded and waited to hear more and after clearing his throat Peter continued. "I've told you where you can visit except when we have prisoners but under no circumstances are you two to ever visit the saloon or Miss Callie's place. If I even hear that you two have disobeyed that order I know of two little boys who will be sitting on their pillows for the next few days…do I make myself clear?" he asked sternly.

Neal and Mozzie nodded as they, individually, began to plan a way to visit Miss Callie's without putting their bottoms in jeopardy.

"Boys!" Peter said sharply, he had seen the look that had passed between Neal and Mozzie and hadn't liked it. "Do I have to give you an example of what I will do if I find you have disobeyed me?" he asked threatening.

"No Papa….No Mr. Burke," Neal and Mozzie answered immediately. Miss Callie would have to wait.

Peter nodded, the last thing he needed now was to find his two scamps ogling the staff of Miss Callie's or try and explain any questions they might have. Miss Callie's was the town's brothel located at the end of the east end of town.

"Now that I have your attention, you are not to leave town unsupervised for any reason…and by supervision I mean myself or El or some other responsible adult. If you do then those pillows of yours will be in use once again for several meals…understand?"

Neal and Mozzie nodded glumly. Peter had just wrecked their plans of going riding Saturday to the mines that their classmates had been telling them about. They were rumored to have some interesting equipment abandoned there.

"Can't we go riding at all Papa?" asked Neal.

"Where did you plan on going Neal?"

"A few miles out of town towards the Preston Mines," Neal replied truthfully.

"So you can visit that old mine? The answer is no…that is place is dangerous…too dangerous to stay open for the miners much less for two small boys," Peter said sternly.

"But Mr. Burke, we don't plan on going in, just going to look around that all," pleaded Mozzie.

"The answer is still No, Mozzie. I don't want either one of you in that area. Look if you want to go riding, go a few miles behind our house…there is plenty of places to explore that won't get you warm bottoms," explained Peer firmly and as he was about to continue Jones arrived with a telegram and the discussion was cut short.

"Your papa has ruined our fun for Saturday afternoon. I was so wanting to show those guys at school that we weren't weaklings," groused Mozzie as they walked towards home.

Neal nodded; he understood what Mozzie was talking about…he had been there too many times. It wasn't fair even Johnny and Billy had been to the mine and had returned with something to prove that they had been there. "We've just got to check it out no matter what Papa says," he said slowly.

"Yeah, we can start off like we were going where he suggested and then cut back around be there and back before he even misses us," added Mozzie with a smile.

"Just as long as he doesn't see what we pick up he won't know," agreed Mozzie as the two started back planning their trip in more detail.

"So how did you little talk with the boys go?" El asked of her husband that night.

"Okay, only I have a funny feeling they are going to try and sneak in to Miss Callie's and see what it is all about," Peter admitted.

"Why do you say that?"

"A look they gave each other…but if they do they also realize that the consequences won't be pleasant…so maybe that will defer them for the time being…or until they are older. Do you know where they wanted to go…to the old Preston mine and look around?"

"Oh, Peter that is dangerous I hope you told our boys that under no circumstances were they even to go near that mine," cried a worried El.

"Oh, yeah…that I made quite clear…hopefully I put the fear of not sitting comfortable for weeks in their minds so they won't even consider it," Peter assured his wife.

The rest of the week went by quickly. Their two scamps wisely didn't bring up the mine or visiting it again although they couldn't keep from boasting at school of what how they were going to bring back positive proof that they had been there.

"Now you know you can't just bring back some rusty nail and say that it was picked up at the mine…we have to have some piece of mining equipment…a pickaxe or something like that would do," ordered Jack, who had started the whole thing.

"Don't worry, you will be shocked at what we bring…but if it is something big it's got to count for us both," Mozzie said firmly.

"Sure…just bring it Monday or we will all know you to be the weaklings that I know you to be," Jack said as they parted to go home.

"We'll show them," vowed Mozzie as Neal added with a,

"Yeah."

Saturday finally arrived with Neal and Mozzie ready for action. They had done everything to keep themselves out of trouble as not to alert their parents , Mozzie had even begun to consider them his as well, that they were up to anything. They were perfect angels which should have alerted El and peter that they were up to something although at the time being they were only happy that they were being good.

It was at the breakfast table that Neal approached the idea. "Papa, will it be okay if Mozzie and me got exploring after lunch?"

"It depends on where you are going," replied Peter as he took a sip of coffee.

"Well, you said there was plenty to explore behind the house and we could ride

Shiloh," Neal replied innocently.

Peter and El exchanged a glance before Peter gave him permission, "sure and if memory serves me there is a blueberry patch about a mile away. I bet if you pick enough your mom will make us some jam or a pie or something sweet," suggested Peter as he watched his scamps faces light up.

"What can we carry them in?" asked Mozzie.

"There are some canvas buckets in the barn…I get them for you after breakfast. Just hang them from Shiloh's saddle horn and everything should be fine," replied Peter as he finished his coffee and got up to leave ruffling the kids' hair before leaning over to kiss is wife goodbye.

After watching Peter leave Mozzie got up to help El with the dishes and to ask, "Mamma, could you pack us a snack to take along with us as we go exploring?"

El looked smiling into his smiling face and said with a grin, "but of course son…what would you and Neal like?"

"I don't know…surprise us," the boy said impulsively.

El smiled and nodded, "I'll even pack a snack for Satch and an apple for Shiloh," she promised as she returned to her dishes.