Please see Chapter 1 for warnings and disclaimers.
A/N: Thanks to Harliquinn for doing a bit of legal research for me regarding the rights of orphans in the 1800s. I hope my extrapolations are plausible. Please excuse the fact that this chapter was not as closely edited as some. I was anxious to post these two chapters as I expect RL demands to consume a large bit of my time this coming week. A a very kind reader offered to beta future chapters for me and I will probably take this person up on that offer in the future.
Chapter 10
After Ezra had marched his offspring back to the boarding house and offered a scathing lecture on their disappearing act, letting them know in no uncertain terms that if they valued sitting at all in the near future they would stay put, he left them in their room while he went to change.
"I can't believe he did that," Ethan stated, shaking his head incredulously while rubbing his backside. "Didn't think he really had it in him."
Eliza was rather surprised herself, but she supposed the card player had suffered quite a shock when the worn sheets had given way tumbling them toward the ground. Guess that's why the old bedding was up in the attic, too threadbare to be useful. Still the punishment wasn't something she had expected from Ezra and she was beginning to wonder about the man she knew to be her father. Though he hadn't come forward to claim them as his own, he had bought them new clothes and he was sure acting more and more like a dad. She rubbed at her own rear. He certainly had been plenty riled by their actions this afternoon. Though Eliza would never openly admit such, it had been nice to snuggle into his chest for just a few moments after the spanking was over. Not something she was likely to forget…ever.
"Least it wasn't Mr. Larabee. I don't think he woulda stopped with so few," Ethan continued when his sister didn't comment, oblivious to her sentimental thought train.
"You've got that right," a grim voice said from the doorway. Both children turned wary gazes up to the austere gunman. He certainly did not look happy. "Judge wants to talk to you, so the two of you are going to get cleaned up and be on your best behavior. Understood?"
"Yes, sir," Ethan answered quickly. His short time in Four Corners had brought about not only a healthy fear of the blond peacekeeper, but also a deep respect bordering on awe.
Chris noted the lack of response from Eliza and decided it was time he and the girl have a little talk. The last few days had seen an increase in her mouthy comments and disrespectful behavior, which he'd been willing to overlook, given the difficult circumstances and the fact that it was really Ezra's place to deal with, not his. He'd bet a week's wages that she was the impetus behind the escape attempt, though Ethan's genius for pranking was more than evident at the Livery.
He gave the boy a nod of approval and directed his next words to Ethan alone, "Grab some of those new clothes Ezra bought ya. Vin's gonna take you over to the bathhouse." The tracker was in desperate need of a bath as well…possibly in some tomato juice.
Ethan was quick to comply. Once the lad had exited, Chris tossed a package wrapped in brown paper on the bed in front of Eliza. "That's one of those riding skirts Ezra had stitched up for you. He thought it might be a good idea if you wore it with one of your new blouses when you went to see the Judge."
"Did he?" she replied with a derisive scoff. She had no intention of wearing the proffered piece of clothing. Eliza was already in emotional tumult so the mention of the Judge, along with her knowledge of Ms. Weatherby's presence in town, set her on edge. Despite the still present ache in her posterior, her impudence flared in response to her growing anxiety.
Chris took a menacing step toward the girl. "Judge Travis is a good man and he'll treat you fairly, but you sportin' an attitude isn't going to help your situation. So what you're going to do right now is go to the bathhouse, get washed up, put that on, and behave yourself. No more shenanigans."
Eliza offered a challenging glare and answered insolently, "I don't wear skirts."
Another two steps and Chris was towering over the child, "If you think just because you're a girl I won't turn you over my knee and paddle your backside, you are sorely mistaken."
Chris knew the reason behind Eliza's aversion to dresses, but the appearance of Ms. Weatherby and Mr. Atwood had potentially complicated the situation. They didn't have the luxury of allowing Eliza to come to terms with all she'd been through before demanding she behave. He trusted Judge Travis to look beyond such things, but it certainly wouldn't hurt to present the children clean and appropriately clothed. It would also be nice if Eliza would keep hold of her temper.
The girl's eyes widened slightly. Actually, Larabee's lack of response the last few days had led her to believe he was less willing to discipline a girl. If that wasn't it, it must be because of Ezra. "You're not my daddy," she responded with as much fire as she could muster.
Chris eyed the child before him and could only imagine the conflicting emotions inside her small, curly head. Unless he missed his guess, the girl knew well and good who Ezra was. He did not know Ezra's rationale for waiting to declare the relationship, but he did respect his friend's wishes. Still the uncertainty had to leave Eliza feeling rather adrift. What she needed was a bit of consistency and that was something he could give her.
"No I'm not," he replied evenly. "But I've got no problem stepping up to help out in that department while things are gettin' sorted out. So you had best adjust your attitude and watch your mouth or you'll be getting another spanking on top of the one you already got. You understand me this time?"
Eliza met the man's penetrating glare for all of three seconds, before looking down at her shoes. "Yes, sir."
M7***M7***M7***M7***M7
In less than an hour, Ethan and Eliza were washed and dressed in their new clothes, their strawberry blond curls glinting gold in the late afternoon light. Dressed in a cream-colored blouse and tan riding skirt, Eliza actually looked like a little girl for once. There was no denying that they were a couple of the cutest kids around and Chris hoped this would work to their favor.
"You're gonna be polite, answer any question put to you honestly, and only speak when you are spoken to," Chris warned before entering the grain exchange. "Any nonsense and I'll pull you outside for a little private discussion." The look in the blond man's eyes left do doubt what that discussion would entail.
After his admonition, Chris ushered the twins into the room, which had been arranged with enough chairs to accommodate a dozen people comfortably. The judge sat behind a table, and Eliza looked around to take stock of who else was present. Mary, Nathan, Josiah, Buck, and JD were seated in chairs arranged in front of the Judge's table. Ms. Weatherby, too, sat in one of the chairs. Vin stood a bit further back, leaning against a wall.
Eliza's stomach dropped at the one notable absence. Ezra was not there. Biting her lip, she chastised herself when tears formed in her eyes. Why had she even dared to hope? Ethan caught her eye, offering an impish grin. Eliza smiled back and lifted her head, almost defiantly. They had each other. They'd be just fine.
Leading the two forward, Chris introduced them to Judge Travis.
"I've heard a great deal about the two of you," Judge Travis said, his tone seeming more curious than reproving. "I must say you have caused quite a stir."
The sound of boots on the plank floors drew their attention to a figure emerging from a shadowed part of the room. The balding, well-dressed man apologized for the disruption and took a seat next to Ms. Weatherby.
"What the hell is he doing, here?" Eliza demanded furiously, obviously forgetting Chris's injunction from just moments before. Chris put a warning hand on her shoulder.
"I am here to represent Mr. Willis's interests," the beady-eyed man replied with a self-satisfied sneer.
"You know Mr. Atwood?" Judge Travis asked.
"I'm not likely to forget him. He's the one that gave Ethan that scar next to his ear," Eliza spat out, her southern accent thick with emotion.
"The child is lying. I did no such thing."
"You weasel faced son of-" Eliza got no further as Chris pulled her off to the side of the room with a swat to the seat of her riding skirt. He knelt so that he was face to face with the girl.
"Do you and I need to take a trip outside?" He demanded in a tone so low only Eliza could hear.
She swallowed hard, knowing good and well what a trip outside would entail. "No sir," she replied looking down at her feet. Lifting her head to meet his furious gaze she added quietly, "But I'm not lyin'. He hit Ethan upside the head with a riding crop."
Chris's jaw tightened and he cast a deadly glare toward the diminutive man seated next to Ms. Weatherby. Coming to his feet Chris laid a hand, this time comforting, on Eliza's shoulder and guided her to a seat next to Mary, indicating Ethan should come sit by his sister. Chris stood grimly to the side of the Judge, his hand resting casually on his gun with a menacing air.
"I assure you, Judge Travis, I can vouch for Mr. Atwood's character. I am sure the girl's accusations are false. I know her to be a consummate liar, among other things," Ms. Weatherby asserted, casting a hateful look at Eliza. "Their actions since arriving here speak for themselves."
"Actually, most people in this town would agree that the action that speaks loudest would be the children's willingness to accept responsibility for their wrong doings and work hard to make reparation," Mary interjected, before Eliza could respond and get herself in trouble. The newspaperwoman had taken an immediate dislike to the pinch faced woman.
"Who, may I ask are you? And why are you here?" Ms. Weatherby asked, looking down her hawk nose at Mary.
"I am Mary Travis, the owner and editor of the town's newspaper. I am here not only to represent the other business owners of this town but because as a member of the press it is my responsibility to attend these type of proceedings. The public has a right to know what goes on in their town," Mary responded tersely.
"I hardly see this as a proceeding and don't know why all these people are in attendance. Particularly those men who lied to me about the Stanton twins being here," Ms Weatherby cast an accusing finger at Buck and Vin.
"We didn't lie," Buck replied casually. "Still ain't nobody thet fits yer description 'round here." Vin just glowered at the woman.
"Don't be ridiculous! They're sitting right there!"
Oren cleared his throat, forestalling Buck's response with a shake of his head. He could see this deteriorating quickly.
"Then these are the children that you seek?" Judge Travis directed his question to Ms. Weatherby.
"Yes, of course they are, and there is no need for a proceeding," the spinster replied derisively, giving Mary a haughty look, "Because they were entrusted into my custody until such time as I find them a permanent living situation. I expect to leave with them tomorrow."
"Well, they're currently working at community service here," Chris replied, "And they're not free to leave Four Corners until their done with that."
Only briefly meeting Chris's fierce glare, Ms. Weatherby quickly looked away. "Judge, surely you see how this situation is completely inappropriate. You can not leave these two children in the custody of these…these…hired…"
"Ms. Weatherby," Judge Travis interrupted sternly. "I will ask you to exercise caution. These gentlemen have been retained by me to keep the peace in this town and have done so quite effectively."
"I am sorry if I offended," she replied stiffly. "But I sill must argue the inappropriateness of this situation."
"You are hardly the person to go on about propriety," Eliza scoffed.
"Shut your mouth," the woman snapped angrily.
"Why? You don't want to talk about your," here the girl's eyes darted to the man seated next to Ms. Weatherby with a smirk, "Friendship, with Mr. Atwood. I could always draw another picture."
"I hardly see how my association with Ms. Weatherby has any bearing here," Mr. Atwood interjected, as Ms. Weatherby's taught face turned red with rage.
"Association? Is that what you call-"
A throat clearing at the rear of the room interrupted Eliza and broke the building tension. All eyes looked back to see a sharply dressed Ezra Standish approach the group. "My abject apologies for my tardiness, Judge Travis. I was awaiting an important correspondence from the telegraph office." He walked up to the table and laid down several papers, one being a well-worn letter. "I believe these will help to resolve the issue at hand. Custody and in fact guardianship of these children is mine as is attested to by their mother, Katherine Stanton Maddox."
"Who are you?" inquired a flummoxed Ms. Weatherby, "And exactly what was your relationship with their mother?" she added somewhat derisively.
"Ezra P. Standish, Ma'am," he answered giving a polite nod to the sour-faced woman offering a smile that did not reach his eyes. "As for my relationship with Katherine, I was her husband. For reasons of a personal nature I was using the name Edward Stanton at the time of our nuptials. Ethan and Eliza are my children."
Eliza turned to her brother to see his reaction to the news but found him giving her the exact same look. "You knew!" they both exclaimed at the same time.
"But how did you know?" Eliza demanded, "You never read Mama's letter."
Ethan rolled his eyes, "Well, I weren't born yesterday. Honestly, I thought it 'as kinda obvious. Couldn't conjure why ya hadn't figured it out. Wait, you read, Mama's letter? An' never told me?" asked Ethan in annoyance.
"I didn't want you to get hurt."
Ethan snorted, "Of all the stupid ass –"
"That is quite enough, young man," Ezra interjected, "The three of us can discuss this later. Something we would have already done had the two of you seen fit to behave yourselves today."
"And what proof do you have of this supposed relationship?"
"Being a sentimental southern lady, my wife asked the Parson for a copy of the marriage lines from the church record," Ezra pointed at the papers the Judge held. "She also validates the claim in her letter as well acknowledging me as the children's father."
"But how do we know those are valid documents?"
"Because, Ms. Weatherby," Judge Travis answered, "Mrs. Maddox signed an affidavit attesting to just those facts. This document," here the Judge held up an official looking parchment that had been enclosed with the letter, "Carries the signature and seal of the Justice of the Peace in Madison County Mississippi. Since Ezra is agreeing with her claims, I would say the position of the United States Government is that Mr. Standish is indeed one in the same as Edward Stanton and the father of Ethan and Eliza Stanton."
"But as a single man, working in his line of work-"
"Ms. Weatherby, the law does not contest the right of the natural father to assume custody of his own children, regardless of circumstance," Judge Travis explained sternly, for once pleased to be stating these words. Too many times he had spoken them when he wished he could have removed a man's natural offspring from a less than desirable circumstance.
Mr. Atwood cleared his throat. "Be that as it may, there is still the matter of theft, vandalism, and destruction of property to discuss."
"Yes, that's right," Ms. Weatherby agreed readily, pouncing on the words like a dog on a bone.
"Very well, let us move on to that matter," Judge Travis agreed. "Ezra, please go ahead and take a seat." Josiah was quick to offer up his chair so that Ezra could sit next to Ethan.
"Ms. Weatherby what is it that you believe the children took from you?"
"They stole ten dollars, a silver letter opener, a gold locket, and a cameo brooch."
"A cameo brooch?" Chris asked looking sharply at the twins, as he recalled the piece of jewelry from the sack they'd taken from the twins.
"None of that was yours to begin with," Eliza said hotly. "You took it from the kids on the orphan train. We just kept track a where you left them off and sent the stuff back to its rightful owners."
All eyes turned to Ms. Weatherby who in turn looked rather nervous before addressing the Judge. "As I'm sure your Honor is well aware, charitable homes for orphans receive very limited funds to care for the many, many children that come our way and therefore are entitled by law to recoup some of the tremendous expense of feeding and clothing these children by selling off whatever valuables they have."
Mary gasped and looked to her father-in-law in disbelief. "Oren?"
"Yes, Mary, I'm afraid that is true."
"But the orphanage didn't take 'em," Ethan observed. "She did. An' it ain't like she traded 'em fer no food for us."
Judge Travis looked contemplatively at the now fidgety woman, "If the items in question were returned to the original owners," here he pinned the twins with a stern look, "Then I do not believe the matter needs to be discussed any further."
"What about the money?" Mrs. Weatherby wanted to know.
"We needed that fer postage," Ethan shrugged.
"I will repay the ten dollars," Ezra volunteered.
The Judge looked expectantly at Ms. Weatherby who pursed her lips and gave a tight nod of consent.
"Very well," Judge Travis said, "Mr. Atwood. Please explain to us Mr. Willis's allegations."
"These reprobates, blew a hole in Mr. Willis's Barn releasing eight very expensive thoroughbred horses, half of which were not recaptured."
"We turned the horses out first," Ethan explained to the Judge, "Cuz we didn't want to see 'em hurt."
Ezra cringed. He doubted he had enough money on him to cover that kind of damage and loss of property.
"They also stole certain valuables from Mr. Willis."
"That's a lie," Eliza shouted. "We never even met the man. He left town the day we got into Canyon City."
"The night they blew a hole in his barn," Mr. Atwood continued as if the girl hadn't spoken, "Several things were stolen from Mr. Willis's house, including a substantial amount of cash, a diamond ring, and an heirloom timepiece. Quite frankly I believe Mr. Willis would be willing to drop all charges if that timepiece was returned. It carries great sentimental value."
"But we weren't never in his house," Ethan said with a shake of his head.
"You are saying that you did not steal a timepiece during your stay in Canyon City?"
Dark beady eyes, set too close together, glowered at the twins accusingly.
A flash of comprehension crossed Ethan's face and he looked at Eliza.
"We took nothing from that house," she maintained.
"But you did steal a timepiece," Mr. Atwood insisted.
The two didn't respond and all eyes settled on the two mischievous children as the silence in the room seemed to become stifling. The Judge cleared his throat and looked expectantly at Ethan and Eliza.
"I think there's something in the United States Constitution that says we don't have to answer that," Eliza drawled.
"This is not an actual court hearing," the Judge replied, schooling his features so as not to show his amusement at the child's ingenuity. "It is my hope to avoid formal proceedings but in order to do so, the two of you must answer my questions honestly. Should you decline, well then that could be unfortunate. Did you take a timepiece during your stay in Canyon City?"
The two children shared an anxious look but neither said anything.
"Answer the Judge," Chris barked, his fierce look reminding the two children of his earlier warning.
The siblings shifted nervously the hard wooden chairs reminding them of their earlier discomfort and Ethan bit his lip. Surely now that Ezra had declared himself, they need not fear retribution from Mr. Larabee.
"I can always ask your father to compel you to answer," the Judge continued.
Both children looked at Ezra who cocked an eyebrow at the pair, inclining his head toward Judge Travis.
Ethan sighed heavily, "We don't have it no more."
"We didn't take it from Mr. Willis either," Eliza was quick to add. "There was a man with Mr. Willis when he boarded the train. I think he was some kind of manservant. He looked at Mr. Atwood, held up the timepiece and set it on a bench at the train station before he boarded the train."
"So you took the timepiece from a public bench?" the Judge asked.
"No," Ethan shook his head. "From his pocket," he pointed at Mr. Atwood. "We was just curious, mostly, but it really weren't nuthin' special. It was all banged up and there 'as no key for the keywind. Had numbers scratched on the metal inside the case that wouldn't polish out. Only got five dollars for it."
"Where did you sell it?" Atwood demanded coming to his feet in obvious furor.
Ethan shrugged small town between here and Canyon City, don't really remember the name."
The man's beady eyes bulged and for a moment the group thought he was going to lunge at the boy. Chris shifted his weight, repositioning his hand on his gun and Ezra leaned in close to his son, his eyes sending a fierce warning to the enraged man.
"I find myself rather curious as to why you said earlier that the timepiece was taken from Mr. Willis's home," Ezra said, a steel edge tingeing his southern drawl.
"It was an heirloom, entrusted to my care by Mr. Willis," the man replied taking his seat and removing his handkerchief from his pocket to wipe his brow.
"Why exactly did his man leave it on a bench instead of handing it to you, then?" Chris queried skeptically.
"The train was on the verge of departure," Mr. Atwood responded shortly. "Judge Travis these delinquents have admitted to their crimes. Since they cannot produce the items I must insist that they be returned to Canyon City to answer for their actions."
"In which case I must insist that you produce a written complaint signed by Mr. Willis," Ezra replied. "You have not been exactly forthright in your testimony."
"Mr. Willis is currently traveling," Atwood responded tersely.
"Indeed," Ezra nodded. "Abroad according to the telegram that I just received. He will not return from Europe until late autumn, in fact."
"Yes, but I represent his interests. I will file the complaint."
"But you have not yet done so," Ezra observed. "According to the Sherriff in Canyon City, no theft was reported."
"Is that true?" Judge Travis asked the thin man whose eyes were shifting from one person to another.
"I feared losing my position. I thought if I could recover Mr. Willis's property without making a formal complaint, I might keep my job."
"I believe this situation warrants more investigation," Judge Travis said thoughtfully. "We can reconvene after I've made some inquiries. You understand that given the distance between here and Canyon City that may take some time."
"Of course," Mr. Atwood responded tensely.
"Then I would say that it's time we all go get some supper," the Judge suggested with a nod.
TBC…