Chapter 4

By the time El and Mozzie had returned they found Neal and Peter waiting in the front room. Neal was standing in the corner made Mozzie pause momentarily before allowing himself to be pushed forward by El.

"Mozzie, Neal stand before me," ordered Peter and watched as they quickly did as he ordered. "Do you want to know what I found in your saddle bag when I put up the horses?"

"No sir…we know what you found," replied Neal meekly.

"Where did you find those items?"

"Outside the mine; we only entered the mine when we heard Satch barking, Papa," replied Neal. Mozzie nodded his agreement.

"Well that saves you a severe spanking but it doesn't mean that you two won't be

getting one. Mozzie go stand in the corner and Neal come to me," ordered Peter as he waited to be obeyed.

Neal reluctantly came to his father, who pulled him up and over his knees making sure to pull Neal's nightshirt up exposing his bare bottom. "Neal why are you getting this spanking?" asked Peter.

"For disobeying you and going to the mine," replied Neal just before Peter smacked his bottom.

"Owww…owww…owwww…owwww…I'm s-sorry P-Papa," cried Neal as his bottom started to heat up as Peter rained smack after smack upon it. The smacks continued as Peter covered his son's bottom several times over before finally bringing it to an end as Neal sobbed.

Peter pulled Neal up into a hug and held him until he had his tears under control and said, "Neal what you and Mozzie did scared me…I was afraid that I had lost you when I saw Satch without you. If you ever do something like that again I won't stop until your bottom is smoking…do you understand, young man? I love you, Neal, "he said as he put Neal on his feet and saw him running off to El for more comfort rubbing his bottom as he went.

"Mozzie, it's your turn now," called Peter and waited for the boy to appear.

"You don't have to do this Mr. Burke; the experience of being in the cave-in was enough of a punishment," cried Mozzie as he tried to talk Peter out of it.

Peter chuckled as he pulled the boy over his knees and said, "Good try Mozzie but it won't work and as your father it is my responsibility to make sure you stay safe

and when you don't then it's my responsibility to make sure you learn from your mistakes."

"M-My father…you want me-e?" asked Mozzie clearly touched.

"Of course, I do. You and Neal go together and I wouldn't dream of separating you…now after this current matter are taken care of and we have supper then I will get the judge who allowed us to adopt Neal back so he can do the same with you," assured Peter as he brought his hand down on Mozzie's bare bottom. He soon had him crying and pleading as his bottom heated up like Neal's had earlier.

"Owww…owww…owwww…owwww….p-please s-stop…owwww," sobbed Mozzie as Peter peppered his bottom turning it as red as he had Neal's. All too soon he had Mozzie pulled up into a hug and held him until his tears came to an end.

"Mozzie, I love you son and if you ever pull just a bonehead stunt like that again sitting comfortable will be a dream wished for. Do you understand?"

"Y-yes P-Papa," replied Mozzie through his tears.

And with a final hug Peter put him on his feet and said, "Why don't you find your brother and tell him the good news about joining our family…I'm sure your mother already knows about it."

And with the hearing of "N-Neal…I'm going to be a Burke, too!" by his newest son Peter strolled slowly behind as he joined his wife in welcoming their newest addition.

It was a couple of weeks later that Elizabeth and Peter were able to make Mozzie's statement a fact when Judge Williams arrived to legalize the proceedings but in a matter of minutes Mozzie became Moz D. Burke the older son of Elizabeth and Peter Burke and the older brother to his best friend Neal.

They went out to celebrate their new addition at June's where the June herself served the Burkes' in royal style even bringing out a whole chocolate cake to be enjoyed for the event. El and Peter gave Mozzie books and a new pair of eyeglasses and the boys had a contest to see who could eat the most cake….El had to call it a tie for fear that they would make themselves sick although she did whisper to her husband, "We need to stop by the Mercantile on our way home."

"Why?"

"Castor oil," replied El, "I have a feeling that it may be needed after all those two just ate," she added with a smile.

The next day as Mozzie and Neal had just arrived for school Billy called,

"Neal!" and motioned for his friend to come over.

Neal and Mozzie had just ridden up and after turning Shiloh loose in the nearby fenced in pasture when he heard his name called and ran to Billy's side.

"What's up?"

"We have two new classmates," Billy informed Neal. "A girl and a boy; the girl looks to be our age but the boy is older."

"I wonder who they are," Neal asked Billy who only shrugged his shoulders in reply.

"I guess we will find out soon," Billy replied as he motioned to Mr. Thomas, their schoolmaster, came out to ring the bell announcing he start of school.

As the student body entered Neal noticed two children standing in front of Mr. Thomas' desk and soon as class was called to order Mr. Thomas spoke.

"Class, I want you to meet our two new students…Kate Moreau and Matthew Keller."

"Kate I see that you are in the fourth grade and Matthew you are in the sixth. Kate will be sharing a desk with Alex and Matthew you can share one with Jack," Mr. Thomas instructed as the Alex and Jack raised their hands as their names were called.

As soon as Neal saw Kate he was in love…she was so pretty…it was just something about her that had him hooked. He was reprimanded twice during the first half of the school day for not paying attention in class; warned if he had to correct him again it would mean a paddling…which caused Neal to blush as he nodded his understanding.

Neal didn't get a chance that day to meet Kate she had been surrounded by the girls the moment she stepped from the schoolhouse so Neal had walked off with his friends but it was also obvious that he was smitten as his concentration was off.

"Neal has a girlfriend," Billy chanted softly as he teased his friend and he was joined by Johnny and Mozzie a moment later.

"No, I don't…she doesn't even know that I exist," Neal said sadly.

"You need to do something to get her to notice you," suggested Mozzie. "I bet Alex would help…they do share a desk. Give her a day to get to know Kate and then maybe she can put a word in for you," he added.

Neal nodded that sounded like an excellent idea. "Okay I can talk to Alex tomorrow and find out what Kate likes and then go from there," he said with a smile.