See Chapter 1 for warnings and disclosures. This chapter contains the spanking of children and some foul language. You have been warned.

CHAPTER 11

The next morning Sammy entered the dining room for breakfast, only to find Chris, Vin, and Kevin already eating. If Chris hadn't been watching closely, he would have missed Sammy's slight wince as her backside made contact with the hard wooden chair. Sammy quickly filled her plate and began eating, ignoring the look that Chris sent in Vin's direction.

After a few bites of egg, Sammy asked the question Chris had been expecting. "Is there any reason why we have to go to Eagle Bend today?" The thought of riding that far on her still sore backside was a decidedly unpleasant one. "Can't we wait and go in a day or two?"

Chris leveled a steady look at Sammy and took a bite of bacon, pausing to chew before he answered. "Seein' as how you threw a temper tantrum yesterday after the trip was postponed, you're gonna need a pretty good reason for me to postpone it now." Chris quickly decided he'd take pity on the girl and postpone the trip, but he was going to make her sweat a bit first.

"Come on, Chris. I can't ride like this." Sammy knew she was perilously close to whining.

"Like what?" Kevin asked around a mouthful of toast.

"Never you mind," Vin replied. "Finish up so's we can leave. I gotta get you over to Mary's so's I can take care of a few things."

"Whatta you think, Vin?" Chris asked the tracker.

"I don't know, Chris. She seemed mighty anxious to leave yesterday. Kinda curious that she don't want ta go now." Vin had read Chris' intentions in his face, and was enjoying the little bit of drama that was playing out.

"I still want to go," Sammy replied. "But I don't think I'm gonna be able to sit in a saddle all day."

Chris decided to take pity on the girl. "I oughtta make you go today so that sore backside'd remind you why you ended up with it in the first place." He nearly laughed at that look of horror that crossed the girl's face. Chris grinned and shook his head. "I must be gettin' soft. Alright, we'll wait until tomorrow to go."

Sammy almost jumped up out of her chair to give Chris a hug, but thought better of it. "Thank you," she replied before returning to her scrambled eggs and bacon.

"What do you have planned for the day?" Chris asked Vin. Although Kevin and Billy had become friends since Billy had returned to town, it was unusual for Vin to take Kevin to Mary's so early in the morning.

"Mary's gonna keep Kevin this morning while I go have a talk with the new school teacher about gettin' him enrolled in school. It's supposed to start in a week or so. Figured the boys could play together while I took care of a few other things as well."

Chris nodded. He had forgotten that Nancy Bishop, the new school teacher, had arrived in town the day before. The town had decided that it was time to open a school so that all the children could have a chance at an education. Josiah had volunteered his church as a temporary schoolhouse until a permanent schoolhouse could be built. A "school-raising" was planned in about two weeks. The hope was the bulk of the work would be done by then, and the schoolhouse would be ready for use shortly thereafter.

After breakfast was finished, Vin and Kevin left for the Clarion. Sammy excused herself to help Mrs. Patterson clean up the breakfast dishes, and Chris left for the jail.

Vin dropped Kevin off at the Clarion, admonishing the boy to behave and to do what Mary told him. He then made his way over to the church, where the new school teacher was busy preparing for the first day of class. When he stepped into the cool interior of the sanctuary, Vin easily spotted the tall red-headed woman who was standing at the front of the building, her back to the door.

"Miss Bishop?" Vin asked. He hadn't thought to find out what she looked like, so he didn't know whether or not he was addressing the correct woman.

The woman jumped slightly, as though she had been startled, and quickly turned to face the door.

Vin quickly removed his hat and held it in front of him. "I'm sorry, ma'am. I didn't mean to scare you."

The red-headed woman smiled at the tracker. "That's all right, sir. I was just day dreaming for a moment. Is there something I can do for you?"

Vin stepped further into the church. "Are you Miss Bishop?"

"Yes, I am."

Vin nodded. "I need to see about getting my ward enrolled for school."

"Well, I can certainly help you with that, Mr. . . .," she paused, indicating that she was waiting for Vin to supply his name.

"Tanner. My name's Vin Tanner." He held out his hand in greeting. "It's a pleasure to meet you, ma'am."

"Likewise, Mr. Tanner," Nancy replied, accepting Vin's handshake. "Now, you say it's your ward that you need to enroll?"

"Yes, ma'am. His name's Kevin Tanner." Vin proceeded to fill the teacher in on the pertinent details of Kevin's past and how he'd come to be in Four Corners. "I think he'd about eight or nine years old. And, I don't think he's ever been to school."

Nancy nodded. "I'll start him out with the younger children until he catches up with his age group." She looked steadily at Vin. "I don't mean to pry, but is there someone who would be able to help Kevin with any extra lessons that I might give him to help him catch up a bit more quickly."

Vin smiled to reassure Nancy that he wasn't offended. "Yes, ma'am, there are several people who can help him if he needs it." He was suddenly self-conscious of the fact that he, himself, had only recently learned to read, and he chose not to mention that fact. The tracker figured Chris or Mary, the only people who were aware that he had only recently acquired that skill would be more than happy to help Kevin with any lessons he couldn't.

Miss Bishop nodded and moved to the lectern, and picked up a pencil and a piece of paper from the stack resting on its slanted surface. "I just need to get some information for my records." At Vin's questioning look, she quickly explained, "I want to have basic information on all my students like their names, their parents' or guardian's names, where they live, that sort of thing."

Satisfied with her explanation, Vin supplied the requested information and excused himself to make a couple of other stops in town before going to the jail for his shift.

While Vin was in the church enrolling Kevin in school, Ezra and Josiah were walking by the alley beside the jail. Ezra was on his way to the bathhouse, and Josiah was going to visit Potter's store. Both men glanced into the alley as they passed, but ignored the four boys who were crouched there intently studying some unseen object. They recognized the boys as Kevin, Billy Travis, and the two Miller brothers. But, when the words "did you get it" drifted their way, the gambler and ex-priest looked at each other. Deciding they had better investigate what had the boys' attention, the two men stepped into the alley. They both nearly had heart attacks when they spotted the revolver that was lying on the ground between the boys.

Ezra moved quickly as he watched Kevin reach for the pistol. "Just what to do we have here?" he asked as he reached down to pick up the firearm. All four boys swallowed hard at the stern expression on Ezra's face. "I propose that we relocate this little gathering into the jail." He motioned for the boys to precede him to the mouth of the alley, where Josiah stood waiting, his arms crossed over his massive chest. When they entered the jail, Ezra turned to Josiah. "Mr. Sanchez, please locate Mr. Tanner and Mr. Larabee and tell them that their presence is required so that we can deliberate the consequences of these miscreant's actions."

Josiah smiled at the confused looks that crossed the boys' faces and tipping his hat, turned to leave. As he was closing the door, he clearly heard Ezra directing the boys to each find a corner and face the wall.

A few minutes later when Vin and Chris entered the jail behind Josiah, that is exactly how they found the four boys – each with their nose pressed into a corner, their backs to the room. Ezra was leaning his hip against the desk, his arms crossed over his chest. The revolver was lying on the desk beside his right hip.

"What's goin' on?" Chris asked.

"All Josiah said was that you needed us," Vin continued.

"Mr. Sanchez and I found these four miscreants in the alley admiring this revolver." Ezra handed the firearm to Vin, who was standing closest to him. He watched as the expressions on Vin's and Chris' faces turned from curiosity and concern to anger. "I believe you will find that particular firearm belongs in that gun cabinet," he said, indicating the glass-front cabinet on the far wall.

Chris quickly moved to the gun cabinet and opened the glass door. Sure enough, the pegs where the revolver normally rested were empty. He held his hand out and accepted the gun as Vin passed it to him. "Thanks, Ezra, Josiah. We'll take it from here." He watched as the two men tipped their hats and left the jail. He then called the boys over.

Both Chris and Vin had to fight to hide their grins as the boys approached. All four boys were acting as though they were making the final trek to the gallows. Finally, they stood in a line in front of the two men. Their heads were hanging so low, their chins nearly touched their chests.

"Look at me," Chris directed. As one all four boys looked up at the angry gunfighter. They wore identical expressions that were a mixture of guilt and fear.

"Which one 'a you wants to tell us what the four 'a you were doin' with that gun?"

All four boys remained silent. Larry Miller was the first to look away.

"Larry, you wanna tell me what all this is about?"

The boy glanced quickly up at Chris then returned his gaze to the floor boards. "No, sir," he muttered.

Vin stood from where he'd been leaning against the desk and moved to stand beside Chris. "Fine, if you don't wanna tell us why you did it, which one 'a you took the gun outta the cabinet?"

Kevin shifted uncomfortably beneath Vin's sharp gaze. He had the feeling that the tracker already knew it was him. "I did," the boy stated, his voice barely audible.

Vin crouched down in front of the boy. "Why'd you do it?"

Kevin shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know." He really didn't know why he'd done it, or at least he couldn't put his reasons into words. He and the other boys had been playing catch in the field behind the livery stable when Travis Miller had expressed the opinion that Kevin and Billy were lucky to be so friendly with the town's peace keepers. Like most of the children in town, the Miller brothers were equally terrified and fascinated by the seven men, and the fact that their two friends were on such close terms with the men had them in awe. The conversation then quickly turned to the men's guns, and whether or not Kevin or Billy had gotten to see or hold them. Puffed up by the other boys' admiration and sure of his abilities, Kevin bragged that he could get one of the guns to show them.

Billy had been reluctant to go through with that plan, but went along with the others as they waited in the alley beside the jail. Kevin had gone inside and, finding the jail empty, simply opened the unlocked cabinet and pulled the first gun he spotted off its pegs. He had tucked it into the waist band of his pants and carried it outside to where his friends were waiting. Kevin had only just arrived and had laid the fire arm on the ground when Ezra intervened.

Vin nodded and stood. "Aside from the fact that you stole that gun, you boys got any idea how dangerous that was. That gun was loaded. It coulda' gone off and hurt you or somebody else."

"All four 'a you are old enough to know better than to play with a gun," Chris added. "Kevin, even though you ain't been here all that long, you still know it's wrong to steal, don't you."

"Yes, sir." Again, Kevin's answer was barely audible.

Chris nodded and turned to share a look with Vin. Vin nodded, instantly understanding Chris' unspoken thoughts. "Alright, I think we've said all that needs to be said." He leveled a stern glare at the children. "All four of you are going to be spanked. Then, except for Kevin, we're gonna go talk to your mothers about this."

Travis Miller finally found his voice. "You ain't got any right to spank me or Larry." He immediately knew his outburst had been a mistake and took an involuntary step back from Chris, who didn't bother to mask the anger that surged through him at the boy's words.

"I don't care if I got the right or not, you're gonna be tanned right along with Kevin and Billy. Besides, if you'll remember your Mama told me to go right ahead and tan your little backsides if I caught you getting' into trouble." He took a step toward the boy and grasped him by the arm. "And that was after I told you that if I ever caught you doin' anything foolish again I'd blister your butt. Well, you're about to find out that I'm a man of my word." Knowing he was too angry to deal with Travis, he handed the boy over to Vin and took Larry's arm. "Kevin, Billy, go find yourselves a corner."

He moved around the desk and sat in the chair, pulling Larry over his lap. He watched as Vin sat in the chair in front of the desk and did the same with Travis. Soon, the room was filled with the sound of firm hands meeting denim-clad backsides and the cries of two young boys. When the two men were finished, they stood Larry and Travis on their feet and drew them into a brief, comforting hug.

Chris was the first to speak. "Neither one 'a us enjoyed doin' that, but you boys have gotta learn to stop doin' such foolishness. You ain't got any idea how close you came to bein' seriously hurt today. You need to stop and think what it'd do to your Mama if something were to happen to you 'cause you were doin' somethin' you shouldn't." He paused to let his point sink in. "Now, I can you with a gun in your hand again or doin' anything else dangerous, you're gonna find yourselves right back over my knee. And next time, I might just use my belt. You understand me?"

"Yes, sir," Travis stated, wipe the tears from his cheeks with his sleeve. Larry also answered the same way.

"Same goes for me," Vin stated and both boys nodded their understanding. "Okay, then. You two go find a corner to wait in 'till we're done with Kevin and Billy."

The two men watched as the Miller brothers found their way to corners in one of the cells. Kevin and Billy glanced around as their friends passed, but didn't say anything.

Kevin knew what to expect from his upcoming spanking. Billy, on the other hand, was terrified. He looked up to Chris, and, until now, Chris had never so much as raised his voice at him. Now, he faced the prospect of being spanked by the intimidating man. The thought of it was almost more than he could bear, especially having listened to the sounds from Larry's and Travis' spankings. However, it wasn't long before he found himself walking across the floor to stand in front of Chris while Kevin went to Vin.

Once again, the room was soon filled with the sounds of spanking and crying boys. When they were finished, Chris drew Billy into his arms for a hug, and Vin did the same with Kevin. Chris called the Miller brothers over. With a final warning of the consequences should they choose to repeat that day's antics, the two men prepared to leave the jail to escort the boys to their respective homes. Vin was going to take Larry and Travis home, while Chris was going to deliver Billy to the Clarion. While Mrs. Miller had previously given Chris the authority to discipline her boys as he saw fit, he didn't now how Mary would react to the fact that he had tanned Billy's backside.

However, before they could leave, they heard shouting from outside. "Vin Tanner, you bastard. Where're you hidin', you murderin' son-of-a-bitch."

* * * TBC * * *

Author's Note: Sammy and Chris will eventually take their trip to Eagle Bend. I've had the events in this chapter and those that will happen in the next chapter in my head for a while now. And, I felt that Chris needed to be in town – especially after his promise to the Miller brothers back in Chapter 2.