The McCullough Story

Chapter 9: Bitten, Smitten, and Sprayed...

As soon as Mark's back was turned, Abigail ran for the Way Station, coming up just in time to get in on the tail end of the conversation.

"Why don't you ladies go first, when you finished I'll take a turn with the boys," said Flint, watching Mrs. Witherton come out with two towels.

"I am not going to undress outside and let someone pour water over my head. That just sounds like something these common people would come up with," muttered Abigail, sticking her nose in the air.

"Suit yourself; it will be a hot and dusty ride. I for one, think it will be refreshing. It could at least make the first half of the ride bearable. You can at least come along with us and splash some water on your face," suggested Mrs. Witherton.

"Or I could just..."

"You will come along," groaned Mrs. Witherton, rolling her eyes as she grabbed Abigail's arm pulling her along.

"My father will hear about this!" shouted Abigail dragging her feet.

Mrs. Witherton ignored her complaints and threats as they rounded the building. "For once do as you're told and stay put," she ordered. Claire then turned to Mary and smiled proudly. "Mary, why don't you and Samantha go behind the screen first and I'll pour the bucket of water over you."

"Okay, come along Samantha, let's go cool off. It will be almost as good as going for a swim. But, we better hurry so your daddy and the boys can have a chance," said Mary as she helped Samantha out of her dress. "Are you ready; it's going to be cold," she pre-warned the toddler.

"Yes, me ready, Mrs. Wintertime, you can poured it now!" laughed Samantha.

Claire happily obliged and poured the water over the little girl. "Eaaaew, that was cold, but it was fun too," giggled Samantha, as the last of the water splashed to the ground.

"Yes it was," laughed Mary, before grabbing the towel and quickly drying them both. "Let's get dressed quickly and then, right after I pour the water over Claire and Abby, you can run and tell your daddy how much fun it was," she added.

"My name is Abigail, Abigail Rivers, not Abby, that's so common, and I will not have a bucket of water poured over my head," scoffed a visibly offended Abigail.

"Very well, Miss Abigail the water felt very refreshing, and two hours from now, you may wish you had," answered Mary giving Claire a look that said 'don't let her attitude bother you.'

Five minutes later, Samantha came running around the building, "Daddy, Daddy, that was fun, the water was cold, but it was fun when it splashed down over mommy and me. Mrs.Wintertime she poured two buckets; one for mommy and one for me. Then me got to watch when mommy poured one over Mrs. Wintertime," exclaimed the excited toddler.

"That does sound fun and you do look much cooler, pumpkin. Did Abigail and Mrs. Witherton have as much fun as you?" smiled Flint as he picked Samantha up.

"Mrs. Wintertime did, but not Abby; she was mad, she didn't want to get weted," replied Samantha giving Flint a big smile.

"Is that right, well to bad for her. Now why don't you let mommy brush your hair while your brothers and I get a chance to cool off," answered Flint.

Flint smiled as Mrs. Witherton and Abigail came around the building. Mrs. Witherton looked a bit upset as she towel dyed her hair.

"Ladies, is everything okay?' asked Flint.

"Yes, someone is just a bit of a grouch, that's all," answered Mrs. Witherton nodding her head toward Abigail.

"Abigail, do you know where Mark is?" asked Flint, as he scanned the area once more and called, "Mark!"

"No sir, how would I know; I heard you whistle and came straight here. Isn't that just what you told me to do?" answered Abigail almost too sweetly.

"Yes Abigail, thank you for coming straight here. Mary why don't you all go ask if anyone inside has seen him. I'll take Luke around back and let him cool off and if Mark isn't back by then, I'll go look for him. Come on Luke shake a leg," chuckled Flint.

Flint and Luke came back around the building just as the driver stepped out.

"All aboard folks, we'll be pulling out in five minutes, as soon as I get back from the necessary."

"Mark! Mark Allen!" shouted Flint.

"Flint where do you suppose he has gotten off too?" worried Mary.

"I'm sure I don't know dear, but try not to worry; I'll find him," answered Flint giving Mary a hug.

"But we will miss the stage."

"Yes, dear but it can't be helped. I'll be back as soon as I find him."

"Last Call!" shouted the driver.

Abigail moved quickly and boarded the stage; a wide smile sweeping across her face. 'Now at least the rest of her journey would be free of 'One Bossy Cowpoke,' she thought to herself.

Mrs. Witherton boarded the stage and turned to Mary. "I hate having to leave you here. I hope you find Mark quickly. It was nice getting to know you."

As the stage pulled away, Mary could hear Abigail spouting orders.

"Where is my fan? Did you get my pillow? Witherton…. Do you hear me!"

Mary said a quick prayer for Claire on the rest of her trip, before turning to Luke and clapping her hands. "Alright Luke, you stay right here and keep a close eye on your sister. I'll be right back as soon as I see what kind of sleeping arrangements we have for the night. Samantha you stay right here on the porch and mind your brother," admonished Mary before turning to go inside.

~oOo~

Flint marched toward the creek, MARK! WHERE ARE YOU!?" he shouted for the tenth time and still no answer. He didn't know which to do first worry or be angry.

Mark sat motionless; listening to the anger in his father's voice. If he was half as angry as that yell sounded, Mark was in big trouble. He didn't dare answer, even to save his hide, because not three feet from him was a family of skunks. They had not sprayed their stink yet, and he hoped to keep it that way. He also hoped that once his dad heard why he had not returned on time, he would understand.

Flint rounded the corner and spied Mark crouched down on the far side of the creek bank; a fist full of flowers and a lopsided grin on his face.

"Shussss…." Whispered Mark with a finger to his lips.

Flint's temper soared. "Boy we've missed the coach and for what! So you could go flower picking! I know you heard me tell you to stay close where you could hear when it was time to go. And now you set there daring to shush me…. I take it your backside has recovered from Saturdays lesson. I guess it's time for me to give you a fresh reminder to do as you are told!" ranted Flint reaching down to unbuckle his belt.

Pulling the belt through the loops of his pants Flint advanced toward Mark.

"No Dad Stop!" shouted Mark.

It was too late; the heavy pungent odor covered Mark, causing him to cough and gag, as the skunk family startled by all the shouting and stomping spayed and ran away.

"I'm sorry dad, that's what I was trying to tell you; I was too scared to move or yell, did they get you?" asked Mark between coughing and gagging.

Flint's anger vanished as he looked into the watering eyes of his now miserable son. "No, Mark, lucky for me you were sitting down wind. You might as well get out of those clothes and leave them in the bushes over there; the smell will never come out of them. We will be hard put to get the smell off of you," said Flint, trying not to smile.

Mark paled, he looked about to cry as glanced down at the ground in front of him and then back to his dad.

"But, dad; it's so hot. I ain't got nothing on under my shirt and britches. I know my disobeying caused us to miss the stage, but dad please! Don't make me go back to the Way station buck naked. Please…" Pleaded Mark feeling the heat in his face as his ears turned red.

"You are in a fix aren't you son," laughed Flint as he rethreaded his belt. "Tell you what I'll do. Give me a good head start and then you head for the back of the Way station. Don't touch a thing until I get around there to help you. Just step behind the screen back there and strip off; throw everything but your boots as far toward the wood pile as you can. Then wait. I'll tell your mom what happened and then round you up some clothes and some lye soap, and if we are lucky some tomato juice."

"Can't I wait until you have the tub filled and ready before I take my clothes off?"

"Sorry Son, but no. The longer the clothes are on you the more odor sinks into your skin. Now let's go; the sooner we get started the sooner we get finished."

Ten minutes later, Flint bounded onto the porch of the Way Station."Luke you keep Samantha busy here on the front porch. Mark and I need some privacy around back; understand?" Flint then disappeared into the building without waiting for answers.

"Flint you're back, did you find him?" asked Mary searching Flints face for the unspoken answer.

"Yes Dear, he's safe and sound, well except that he smells to high heaven. He had a run in with a whole passel of skunks. Mr. and Mrs. Stone, I'm sorry to impose on you even more, but do you have some lye soap and maybe a quart or two of tomato juice?" he asked.

"Yes, Mr. McCullough, I think we do. I was just fixing to show your wife and children to the hay loft where you all can bed down for the night. The soap is right over there in the jar by the back door. The juice will be in the root cellar, you are in luck; I put up twenty jars jist last week. I will bring it out to you," answered Mrs. Stone.

"Thank you. Mary I need a full change of clothes for Mark too," continued Flint.

"Oh dear, I'm afraid I can't get any clothes. You see I sent our luggage onto Millers Bend. The driver offered to deliver it to the hotel in town," explained Mary.

"Well first things first. Mr. McCullough you go out and get the boy scrubbed and your wife and I will come up with something," suggested Mrs. Stone.

"Good, May I go out this way?" asked Flint heading straight for the back door when he noted Mr. Stone give a nod.

Mark stood by the wood pile looking miserable. "Mark, I know this is embarrassing, but I don't know any other way to get rid of the smell; the skunk smell was so strong that Flint's eyes were starting to water.

"Are mom and Mrs. Witherton real mad, I mean about having to stay here for the night?"

"No Mark, I don't think your mom's too upset, least ways I didn't see her hairbrush any where if that what's worrying you. And as for Mrs. Witherton and Abigail, they went on to Millers Bend.

"Darn just when I was starting to like her too," groused Mark blushing red.

"That who the flowers were for?" grinned Flint.

"Yes sir. Sorry, dad, are you still going to take that belt to me later?" he ask quietly, he just had to know.

"No Mark, not this time. I probably should, but I think the embarrassment of this skunk ordeal will be punishment enough. As if on cue the back door opened and out popped Mrs. Stone.

"Pardon me," Mrs. Stone turned her eyes heavenward and smiled. Mark jumped and spun around flinging his hands back to cover his bare backside as there was no barrier between him and the back door. "Here is your tomato juice and a couple old rags," she offered.

"Thank you," we appreciate all that you have done for us," said Flint.

"You're welcome. I'll leave you to it," she replied closing the door.

"Okay Mark, first we have to rub this form head to toe. You get the front; I'll get your back. If you think your face is red now, just wait; you haven't seen red yet," with that Flint dumped the first jar of tomato juice over Marks head, and the other over his shoulders. "Scrub hard, and don't miss an inch son," said Flint rubbing hard down his back.

Both spread the juice around before scrubbing hard. "Keep scrubbing, I'll start filling the tub," ordered Flint picking up first one boot then the other and rubbing the tomato juice into the leather.

Mark scrubbed vigorously, the oozy red goo was sticky, and it almost felt like he was rubbing slime all over. He rubbed and scrubbed until he was sure that he had covered every inch of his body. As he stood in the grass next to the tub, he realized that he could still smell skunk, maybe not as strong, but he could still smell it.

Flint rounded the building for the tenth time. "Alright Mark that should be enough, come over here away from the doorway and let me rinse the worst of the tomato juice off before you get in the tub," commanded Flint hoisting the bucket and waiting for Mark to comply.

"But dad…. from over there anyone can see me," pleaded Mark.

"I'm sorry son, but we don't want to leave this tomato mess too close to the house it will draw flies, I'm afraid it's just part of the embarrassment you'll have to endure. Now stop complaining, and let's get it over with," commanded Flint.

Mark didn't know he could move so fast, he darted to Flint's side and as soon as the bucket was empty he made a dash for the tub next to the back door.

"Now, I want you to stay in that tub and scrub hard, until you think you have scrubbed your skin off and then, sit there and think for a minute about what got you into this mess, and then scrub some more until I come back," said Flint, grabbing the bar of lye soap and lathering up the cloth that had been left there for them. He scrubbed Mark's Back shoulders and hair. Then passed the cloth to him. "Your turn, I'll scrub your back again when I come back, then and we should be done.

~oOo~

"Here is an old shirt of my husbands. It will be oversized, but it's the best I can do for tonight," said Mrs. Stone coming out onto the front porch were Mary and Flint sat watching Samantha ride around on Luke's back playing horsey.

"Oh thank you it will do just fine," answered Mary taking the shirt.

"I'll be putting supper on the table at about six; you folks will be welcome company. Mr. McCullough, seeing as my husband is busy out in the barn do you suppose that your boys could fill the wood box for me?"

"Yes, ma'am I'll see to it right away! Luke, time to put your sister down, we have work to do," yelled Flint in a fun but authoritative tone.

"Gotta go buckaroo," smiled Luke putting Samantha down and running to Flint's side.

"I guess, it's time to go get Mark out of that tub, he's no doubt wrinkled like a prune by now. Luke you run on back and get started on filling the wood box," laughed Flint taking the shirt from Mary.

"You got any hide left Son?" Teased Flint, as he laid the large white shirt on the wall and took up the scrubbing Mark's back once more.

"Not much, and dad I can still smell skunk. What are we going to do?" asked Mark in almost a whine.

"Son, I'm sorry to say, we will all be smelling skunk tonight and you will smell it for a day or two, because I'm sure that you got it in your nose and we can't scrub there. Just one of the reminders of what happens when you disobey."

"Yuck! A very smelly one," groaned Mark.

"I got some more bad news, but first let me get a couple of buckets to rinse you off. Here; use the soap and water to scrub your boots while I'm gone," said Flint tossing first one boot and then the other to Mark.

Minutes later Mark stood drying off, as Flint gave him the rest of the bad news. "Your mom sent our luggage on to Miller Bend, so you will have to make do with this over sized shirt until we get there tomorrow." Flint bit his lip as he held up the wide shirt that would easily fit five of Mark.

"Dad, I can't run around in that it will look like a dress?" shouted Mark.

"Put it on Mark! And stop shouting, unless you would prefer to run around naked; it's the best we can do."

Mark dropped the enormous shirt over his head, the neck was so wide, that with the top buttons open, the shirt slid over his head and dropped to the ground, Mark snatched it up and continued to argue. "But Dad…" Mark's eyes went wide and then he froze, as Flint once again reached down and unbuckled his belt, you …said…" Mark stuttered to a stop.

Flint laughed at Mark's panic stricken face. "Easy Son I'm going to use it to cinch up the shirt, so it will stay on you and keep things covered a little better. Step over here and raise your arms." Flint wrapped the belt around Mark. Next he tucked and gathered snickering as he went. "Maybe next time you will remember to do as you are told. If you had stayed where I said you wouldn't be in this mess," said Flint as he stepped back to admire his work.

"Maybe, but I would have missed out on a kiss from a beautiful girl," smirked Mark.

Flint stood behind Mark, not much liking the brazenness of Mark's response and reached out and delivered one hard slap to his bare leg.

"Ouch," that's not fair dad," yelped Mark flinging his hand down to stop any more whacks.

"Boys, who have no britches, should not sass their father's," smirked Flint.

"Get yourself busy dumping the wash tub and taking the soap and jars and things in while I take your pile of clothes over and burn them," ordered Flint as he walked away shaking his head.

~oOo~

Later that night Mary and Flint lay talking as the children slept.

"Yes dear, you heard me right, I think that our middle Boy has been bitten by the love bug," said Flint.

"But she is such a nasty and unruly child, what can he see in her?"

"Sparkling blue eyes and blond curls, and sweet feminine wiles; which she knows how to use to get what she wants. I'm afraid that all Mark sees is a pretty girl; one that gave him his first kiss, by the way."

"In that case I'm glad that she went on ahead of us," answered Mary.

"Yes, it is probably a good thing. It occurred to me that if Mark was picking flowers, then Miss Abigail lied right to my face. She knew just where he had gone."

"Why that, conniving little…"

"Mary, I'm surprised at you," came Flints shocked reply.

"But Honey, as the stage was pulling off, I could hear Abigail spouting orders and yelling insults at Clare. Why, I bet she sent Mark off on purpose, so we'd miss the stage, just so there would be no one to stop her nasty tantrums. Oh, if only I could get to that Little..." ranted Mary, as she pulled at the blanket.

"Mary, don't go getting yourself all worked up. What's done is done. In the morning if it's okay with you, Mr. Stone and I are going on a little hunting trip. He says that he doesn't get much of a chance. I figure the boys can busy themselves with his morning chores and you and Samantha can visit with the Misses," said Flint deciding to change the subject.

"That sounds like a good way to repay his kindness. We better get some sleep, or you will be a real grouch tomorrow," answered Mary leaning in and giving Flint a kiss.