New Beginnings: A Fresh Start

Chapter 11:

Responses, Regrets and Repercussions


Founder's Day;

Standing with Ethan, Chris sees Mitch coming, holding Aaron and Caleb Brandenburg by the hands. Aaron has tears rolling down his face but Caleb has his usual smirk.

"What's wrong, Mitch? Were the boys fighting?"

"No, they seemed to be getting along just fine while they were playing with this." Mitch answers, handing Chris the revolver he took from Caleb. "Would this belong to you?"

"No, my revolver has a chip out of the grip, this doesn't. Also, mine is locked up at home. Aaron Anthony McGinnis what were you doing playing with a gun and where did this come from?" Chris asks his nephew.

Cringing from the tone of voice and the look from the man he thinks of as "Pa", Aaron says "It was Caleb's, he had it, not me."

"You shot it too! Don't act innocent!" Caleb snarls angrily.

"Aaron! Look me in the eyes." Chris commands. "Did ...you ...shoot... this... gun?"

"Yes. He dared me to do it though, called me names. I am NO chicken or baby!"

"No, you aren't. What you are, is a boy in terrible trouble. Ethan, I'm taking him home. Would you bring Alyssa home when you leave?"

"We will look after her. I'll take care of young Caleb also."

"Thank you Mitch for bringing this to my attention. Let's go Aaron." Chris orders the child.

"Yes, Mitch, thank you for intervening before someone was seriously hurt. I'll take over from here."

"Ethan, you should know Joseph and the boys were nearby. They are the ones who told me of hearing shooting. Alex and Claire were apparently around also as I saw the two of them come out of the woods together."

"Thank you for telling me. I will be discussing this with them. Come with me, young man. We're going to find your Aunt." Ethan says, taking Caleb by the arm.

"YOU are NOT my Papa! I don't have to do what you say! Leave me alone!" Caleb shrieks, jerking his arm out of Ethan's grasp.

Bending down to talk to the child, Ethan tells him "True, I'm not, but I am the sheriff in town and you WILL mind what I say. If I were your Pa, I'd be taking a switch to your britches so I'd keep that in mind before you spout off at me again! I could very well decide to do it anyway! Now let's walk!"


Finding Caleb's aunt standing with a group of women near the quilting display, Ethan quietly asks to speak to her alone.

"Caleb has been into some trouble today. First he was calling Alyssa McGinnis a 'whorelady' which caused a fistfight between himself and Aaron. Now he's been caught firing this gun. He and Aaron were in the woods shooting. Do you recognize the revolver?" Ethan asks handing over the gun.

"No, I don't. Caleb? Where did this come from?"

"It's mine! My Papa had it and now it's mine! You can't keep it from me either! Give it back!"

"Young man! You'd best keep a civil tongue in your mouth and apologize to your aunt!" Ethan scolds sternly.

"NO. That's mine and I want it! You can't tell me what to do!"

"As I already told you, I CAN tell you what to do. As sheriff it's my job to protect the citizens of this town. Mrs. Brandenburg, I believe serious consequences are needed. Do you wish to handle this or prefer I take him in hand? Playing with and shooting a gun is a serious offense, ma'am. I have the right to discipline youthful offenders. Chris is taking Aaron home to deal with his part in this."

"I turn him over to you, Sheriff. No amount of talking or restrictions seem to work. I give you free rein to deal with him as you wish. Caleb, you will go with Sheriff Cord and mind what he says. I will not have you running around wild. I have done all I know to do and you continue to act abominably! Cursing, fighting, disrespectful, on top of shooting a gun!" Mrs. Brandenburg answers, ignoring Caleb's shouted protests.

"I will bring him back to you in a few moments. Come young man, we have some discussing to do." Ethan announces, taking hold of the boy firmly. "If you drag your feet or fight me, I will carry you! Your punishment will then be worse so don't get any ideas."


Alone with the child, in a clearing away from the festivities, Ethan finds a downed tree to sit on.

"Aaron is in deep trouble because of his part, just so you know. Using a revolver is forbidden for anyone under eighteen in this town. You could have shot yourselves or each other! Where did you find the gun, Caleb?"

"It was my Papa's. I found it in our house in a chest when Aunt Linnea was cleaning out his things. I kept it and a nightshirt to remember him. I thought the men who killed him might come for me and I wanted it to protect myself."

"When did this happen?"

"I was five. Then I came to live with Aunt Linnea and Uncle Henry. Uncle Henry was a fireman and hotel payroll clerk. He got trapped in a fire when I was seven. Papa never spanked me but my Uncle did. Are you going to use a switch on me? I'm sorry I was so bad. I was trying to make Aaron like me."

"Why do you think Aaron would like you if you had a gun?"

"I could shoot it and would let him do it too. Shooting a gun is a grown up thing so I was showing him we could be grown."

"Children will like you when you are kind and play with them. All I hear is you being difficult to get along with and ruining their fun. That is no way to make friends. Doing something completely forbidden and harmful is not either! Now, to answer your question about your punishment. No, I'm not using a switch, this time."

Taking the child by the arm, Ethan bends him over his lap, using his hand he wallops the boy steadily, letting his hand deliver the message further.

"Owwww! Owww! Owwwchee! You made my bottom hurt! Twelve is too many swats and it stings so, I don't think I'll sit any today!" Caleb sobs, running in place as he tries to pat the sting away.

"Listen to me well, young man! If I EVER hear of you touching a gun again, I will wallop your backside until it's burning too much to sit for a week! From now on, you will obey the law and the rules! You don't and we will have another discussion. The next time, it might be my belt on your backside."

"Yes Sir, Sheriff. I'll be good. Will you tell Aaron I'm sorry I got him punished?"

"I will and you can tell him yourself when you see him. Let's go back to the fun. I need to get my children home soon."


At Chris's home, a similar discussion is happening between Chris and Aaron as they sit together on the front room seat.

"I want to hear WHY, Aaron. Why were you even in the woods with Caleb, much less playing with a gun. Wasn't it just earlier today, you were fighting with Caleb? Why go into the woods with him?"

"He was bragging he could shoot and had a gun. I told him he couldn't, that I didn't believe what he said. I went with him to see if he did have one. He shot the gun and then made me do it too."

"Just how did he MAKE you do it? Did he put his hands over yours and pull the trigger?"

"No sir. He called me a baby and said I was chicken. I told you, remember?"

"Then you knowingly held a loaded gun and fired it? Name calling is no reason to do something forbidden!" Chris replies, his voice rising despite his effort to be calm.

Nodding but having trouble speaking, Aaron finally whispers "Yessir."

"Son, you could have been seriously hurt or even killed! Instead of finding an adult, you played with the gun. Remember the talk we had after you took Ethan's gun and ran away? The time you and Alyssa were nearly mauled by the bear you wounded with the gun. We talked a long time about guns and danger. I told you then, you were absolutely forbidden to touch a gun. I also told you what I would do if you defied me on this. What did I say would happen?"

Swallowing doesn't get rid of the lump in his throat so Aaron has to talk around it which causes his voice to be thick.

"I remember. I'm very sorry, Papa! Please don't Papa! I don't want a bare bottom whipping! I won't ever, ever, ever touch a gun 'til I'm old like you."

"Aaron, I keep my promises. Using my belt is not something I want to do, it's something I feel I have to do. I want to make sure you remember this if you are tempted to play with a gun again. I love you and I don't want to have anything happen to you! Let's go to your room."


Leaving Caleb with his Aunt, Ethan goes in search of his own children. Finding the group, including Alyssa and Claire, standing watching the pie eating contest, he joins them.

"Hello children. What's going on?"

"Hi Papa! We're watching Joseph! He's doing the pie eating contest and he's finished three pies already!" Ben answers, not taking his eyes off Joseph.

"Well, knowing how much he can eat, I'd say he has a chance to win this. Alyssa? Your Papa had to leave with Aaron. You'll stay with us and I'll take you home."

"Yes sir. Aaron got a spanking. I don't know what he did but he got punished." She answers absentmindedly rubbing her backside.

"Honey, don't touch yourself there. Young ladies don't do that in public." Claire tells her. The children, accustomed to Alyssa and Aaron being able to feel some of what the other twin feels, don't question her.

"I know what he did! He was ..." George begins but is cut off when he hears "George! That is none of your concern. Don't speak about it. The contest is over, children. It looks as if Joseph came in third." Ethan tells them, redirecting attention away from Aaron.

"Young man, you are one messy boy! It's good they had old shirts to cover your clothes or you would be hearing my or Claire's scolding. From the looks of your face, you would have ruined your clothes! I hope it would have been worth it!" Ethan teases as Joseph joins the group.

"I wouldn't have minded! Besides, I long ago learned to close Claire out when she's fussing. That's my new favorite contest, Pie Eating! I had blackberry, buttermilk and two blueberry. Buttermilk isn't good! They had apple and mincemeat too but no one handed those to me. Maybe my sister will bake a mincemeat pie for me." Joseph answers, batting his eyes at Claire.

"I don't bake pies for people who as you said "close me out." Claire responds haughtily, setting the younger kids off into giggles.

Smiling at the bantering, Ethan asks "Where's Rob?" Then noticing George is missing a coat, he asks "George? Why are you not wearing your coat?"

"Rob's at the chopping contest, Papa. I think I left my coat back at the rope climbing when we were watching..." seeing Joseph's eyes get big, George quickly finishes with "some older boys climbing them."

"Yes, the boys had big mucksells, Papa!" Ben chimes in.

"To climb a rope, you need good muscles, Ben. George, let's go back for your coat. It better still be there, young man!"

"Yessir."

"Pa? Can the rest of us go watch Rob?" Joseph asks, not wanting to risk someone seeing him and mentioning his climb.

"Go on, we'll get the coat and meet there. Joseph, go to the bucket by the pie table and wash your face, first. You truly look as if you have a blue beard."


Finding the coat on the ground behind the barrel, Ethan brushes off the dirt before putting it on George. "Come George. We need to talk. Let's go behind the stage."

Stopping behind the curtain where the kids changed costumes, Ethan notices George's trembling lip.

"Are you cold, son?"

"No, sir. Papa? I'm sorry I didn't keep the coat on and it got dirty. We ate hot peas and I was hot. Please, don't spank me."

"Son, I didn't plan to punish you but you leave that coat on the rest of today! I want to talk about what happened in the woods. Why were you boys in the woods? Were you playing with the gun also?"

"No Sir! We needed the necessary and Joseph took us. We were leaving and heard what Ben thought was firecrackers. Joseph made us walk really fast and then made us run. He was pulling us by the hands! It hurt too! Then Uncle Mitch found Caleb and Aaron and brought them out."

"Thank you for telling me, George. Let's go find your brothers."


Running to meet his Pa and brother, Ben asks "Papa! Can we go watch the horses?"

"What horses, Ben?" Ethan asks, reaching the other children with Ben and George swinging his hands.

"There's a riding competition. The riders have to maneuver around barrels and the fastest time wins! I saw them setting up the course." Joseph answers for Ben.

"Let's go watch. Where did Claire take herself off to?"

"She took Alyssa somewhere. I told her about the horse event and she said she's going to meet us there." Rob answers.

"Pa, could I ride in the event? I asked and the man said it was for anyone twelve or older who can ride. Please Pa? I'm good with horses."

"Joseph, what have I told you about riding unknown horses?"

"But, this is just around some barrels, not out on a road or across a pasture. I can control any skittishness! I can!" Joseph protests at the doubtful look he sees.

"You didn't answer the question, Joseph."

"You tell us not to ride unknown horses because they could be skittish. You say we could be thrown or bitten and only ride horses we know and trust." Joseph answers with a sigh of disgust.

"Then you know my answer to your original question. Let's go watch the event."

"I should've signed up and ridden without asking!" Joseph mutters quietly to Rob.

Hearing this, Ethan scowls at the boy. "It's a good thing for you, you did not sign up without my permission! If you had, you would be sleeping on your stomach tonight, young man! You do NOT ride unknown horses!"

"Someday, I'll be a famous rodeo rider! I'll be riding horses all the time even untried ones! I'll break all kinds of records for it too! Just wait!" Joseph answers grumpily, ignoring Rob's warning glance.

"I hope you have a long successful career. Until that time, when you live with me, you do as I tell you. You may come watch the event unless you wish to argue or complain more, if so we can take a hike in the woods. I will let you show me your decision, Joseph."

Understanding the message, Joseph follows the family to the event, quietly.

"Joseph, he's given two warnings in five minutes. You better be well behaved or you're going to wind up too sore to sit! You lucked up answering back just now! Don't push it! Think first, talk second!" Rob whispers in his brother's ear as they walk.


Joining the family standing at the rope barrier, Claire watches Alyssa squeeze in beside Ben.

"The rider on the Bay horse is a woman. I met her earlier today when she came to look at the quilts on display. She told me she's been riding rodeo events since she was thirteen! That's a long time as she's about twenty now." Claire tells her brothers. Seeing Joseph scowl at her comments she asks "What's wrong with you, Joseph?"

"Best not to ask, Claire. He's irritated and needs to keep quiet." Rob whispers to her.

After watching the riders weave their mounts in and out of a line of barrels, the younger boys are ready to do something else.

"Papa, there's a contest to win baked goods at five o'clock. Is it five o'clock yet?" George asks.

"Nearly there, son. It's four thirty. We need to be starting home soon. It's going to be dark by five thirty." Ethan answers as a man on a gray horse trots over to the rope line.


"Hello sir. My name is Mike McCutchen. I was talking to your son, Joseph, earlier. He says he helps gentle horses and is a good horseman. I was wondering if he could ride the line a time or two. We let boys try their skill every now and again."

"Nice to meet you, Mr. McCutchen. I'm Ethan Cord. I don't allow the children to ride unfamiliar horses sir. Joseph knows this."

"Yes sir, I completely understand. Mr. Cord, the horses we allow the children to try are trained to the line. No one has ever been injured with one of our six horses and we've done this at least once a week, for months, Would you allow him to try? I ride beside each boy and am right there if needed."

"I want to try, Papa! I'm a good horse rider!" Ben speaks up.

"I'm sorry, young fella. The riders have to be twelve to sixteen to ride the line. You seem a bit young. How about it Mr. Cord, may Joseph try?"

"Be very careful, Joseph. I'm only allowing this because Mr. McCutchen will be beside you. Go ahead and try, son. We'll watch from here." Ethan replies.

"Yes sir. Thank you Pa!" Joseph answers scrambling under the rope before Ethan can change his mind.

"You just made him one happy kid, Pa!" Rob says quietly.

"Let's see how he does. He thinks he can do this easily but it isn't that easy." Ethan answers.

Bouncing happily back to his waiting family, Joseph is all smiles. "Did you see me? I steered her perfectly through the barrels! I didn't miss one! Mike said, I was a natural horseman!"

"His name to you, is Mr. McCutchen. You did well, son. He did say the horses were trained to do the course, remember? You are a good horseman I agree but Joseph, this wasn't a true test of riding in the rodeo. Just keep that in mind. We have time for one more event. The younger children want to try the cakewalk. After that it's time to head home." Ethan answers.


"Hello Bill! Are you now doing this event? I thought you were on the shooting booth."

"I ran out of ammunition. Your two used up a good bit of it, themselves. I'm doing this before we close it down. Okay kids, I play on my fiddle as you walk around the feed sacks with numbers on them. When the music stops, you stop. I'll call out a number and if one of you is beside the sack, you win. We have two pies and two cakes left. Alright, all ten of you youngsters follow the line of sacks. Ready?"

Watching the children, Ethan waits to discuss the "his two" comment until later. Watching he sees Ben scurry back to the sack he just passed as the music stops.

"Alright Children, the number in my hand is twelve! Who is standing beside twelve?" As Timmy raises his hand, Mr. Anderson calls "Come get your prize, Tim. Pick one and Mrs. Anderson will put it in a hat box for you."

"Look at Ben, Pa. He's not very happy!" Claire whispers. "I can see that lip sticking out from way over here!"

"I'm watching them, Claire. He needs to remember to be a gracious player. The line's moving again."

"Everyone look at your number. My number is six! Who has sack number six?" After no one claims that number, the line moves around the circle of sacks two more times before the music stops again. "This time we have number eight. Alyssa, come pick your prize"

"Look Uncle Ethan! I won a cake! I picked the chocolate frosted one because Aaron loves chocolate."

"You're a sweet sister, Alyssa. Well, they have a cake and pie left." Ethan replies watching the children until two more get prizes.

"Game's over, children. We have no more goods to give out. Find your families now."

"Rob, Joseph, you boys go with Claire to get her quilt. We'll be at the wagon." Ethan says as Ben and George join them.

"Wait here, children. I need to speak to Mr. Anderson and then we'll go to the wagon."

"You don't play fair, Alyssa!" Ben accuses angrily.

"I won this cake fair, Ben. I was on sack eight and he called eight! It's not my fault you didn't get your numbers called! Right George?"

"Yes, she's right Ben. We didn't win because he didn't call numbers we were next to. Besides, Claire can bake cakes but Uncle Chris can't. Be nice, Ben."

"NO! SHE TOOK MY CAKE! I WAS GOING TO PICK THE CHOCOLATE ONE!" Ben shouts as he shoves George to the ground. Turning to Alyssa he attempts to pull the hat box with the cake, out of her hands. "GIVE ME THAT! IT'S MINE!"

"Thank you, Bill. I'll be talking to them about this information. I hear problems, so let me go. I'll see you in town." Ethan says before walking to the younger children.

"Ben! Stop pulling on that box! I could hear you shouting while I was talking to Mr. Anderson. What is the problem?"

"Papa, Ben thinks Alyssa has his cake. He says he won it and she took it. I tried to tell him to be nice and he pushed me down!" George complains.

"Ben, stop this yelling, straighten yourself up and be gracious! Son, you didn't have a winning number. He has to call the number you were on to win. Alyssa won this cake fairly so let it drop." Ethan explains sternly.

"I WAS ON EIGHT THE FIRST TIME! THAT'S MY CAKE AND SHE STOLE IT!"

"Benjamin! Last warning. You are to control yourself. The number called the first time was not eight. It was round three where Alyssa won the cake. You are not being a gracious loser. Congratulate her and behave."

"I DON'T WANT TO BE GRACIOUS! I WANT MY CAKE! CAKE STEALER!" Ben shouts as he lunges at Alyssa.

"That is ENOUGH, Benjamin!" Ethan calls, catching him and landing four quick swats to the seat of his pants. "Stop this behavior or I will be adding many more! Apologize to George and Alyssa right now!"

"Oww! Papa, that hurts!" Noticing the look in his Pa's eyes, Ben quickly obeys. "I'm sorry I was mean."


Finally reaching home after what seems a very long day to Ethan, he instructs "Ben, George, gather your nightclothes and take a bath. Rob, Joseph come with me."

Following Ethan to his bedroom, Joseph steals a look at Rob. Seeing Rob shrug, Joseph tries to relax."

"Have a seat on the bed, boys. We're going to talk." Ethan announces.

"Did the two of you participate in the target shooting today?" Ethan asks, closing the door.

"Yes sir, we did." Rob answers for both.

"Joseph, did you shoot a revolver today?" Ethan asks, his eyes blazing.

"No Sir! I did shoot but it was an air rifle and that's all. I know not to touch any other guns, Pa. Honest, I just used an air rifle. We both did."

"Robert, is this true? You also used the air rifle and nothing else?"

"Yes sir. I went first and checked on the aim of the guns. I only let Joseph use the one I felt was straight shooting. He did well too, hit the second ring from the bulls eye! Pa, there was no one near the targets at all. I examined all the guns and they were all clean and well kept. We use the air rifle here so we wanted to try a competition."

"All right, boys. I see you are being honest. From now on, seek permission, don't sneak around and shoot. I trust Mr. Anderson to keep everything in working order but not every person does. You did well, Rob to check the condition before you used them. Go do the evening chores and then have your bath."

"Whew, Rob! I thought we were about to catch it when he started talking!" Joseph says as they walk to the barn.

"I had to do some quick thinking to get us out of trouble. Even then, I didn't know if it would work. I think we got lucky! Now he wants to talk to Claire. He called her into the room as I was leaving."


"I don't know anything about the boys or a shooting contest, Pa." Claire tells him as she sits down.

"Were you eavesdropping, young lady?"

"No Sir, I heard you ask about it as you were closing the door."

"I'll come straight to the point, Claire. What were you doing in the woods alone with Alexander?"

"We needed a quiet place to be alone. We wanted to talk."

"Are you allowed to be alone with a boy in a secluded place?"

"No, but we weren't doing anything but talking! That's all. We just wanted to be alone out of the way of all the activity."

"Claire, you broke the agreement. You admit to knowingly doing wrong. I'd like to know the cause of this recent misbehavior. First you deliberately wear a dress you know I would find inappropriate, argue back against covering with a wrap, deliberately defy me by not wearing the wrap after you are out of my sight and then sneak off with Alexander into the woods! This behavior isn't going to happen without consequences! Mitch will be giving appropriate consequences to Alex for his part. As for you, you are housebound for the next two weeks. School, church and home are the only places you will be. You will have no contact with Alex during that time except for school. Do you have anything you'd like to say?"

"You are being completely unfair! Most girls my age wear clothes like this and can be alone with their beau too! I can't do anything but be a little mother! I'm not the boy's mother!"

"I've never said you were the boy's mother. I know you take on more than your share of running the house and minding the boys. I have told you many times over the four years, that I not only appreciate it but that you need to let me handle more. I feel I have taken over more in the last three years. But Claire, you also have to admit you rarely think others can cook or take care of the boys as well as you. True?"

"Yes sir, that's true. I want to do most of it but then I want to be a normal girl and have beaus too! You don't want me to grow up!"

"I want you to grow up safely. I want you to grow into the beautiful woman I know you will be. I also want you to have a good reputation and know your boundaries. Wearing inappropriate clothing and sneaking off with a boy is not the way to do this. The punishment stands. You may leave now. I suggest you do it politely or I will add a week to the punishment." Ethan advises as Claire glares at him.