The Masquerade ch. 25

Four days later - evening

Ethan has asked all the children to come to the front room after supper clean up to have a family meeting.

Washing the dishes with Joseph, Rob leans over to whisper "Is someone in trouble? Is that why he wants to talk to all of us? Does he do this very often?"

"I don't think anyone's in trouble. If they were he wouldn't be telling all of us at once, he'd just handle that person who was in trouble. Uncle Ethan doesn't usually call a family meeting to hand out punishment unless we all did something. We don't have family meetings very often so it must be important." Joseph whispers back.

Hearing their whispered conversation, Ethan calls "If you two would stop whispering and finish washing up, you would soon find out what I called the family meeting for. You wouldn't need to stand there and guess you would know. Now finish your job!"

When the boys were finished and settled on the floor by the bench, Ethan begins his explanation.

"Well everyone, we have finished with helping the miners rebuild parts of the mine. The mine is open again and ready for more workers. The families all appreciated the vegetables, meat and desserts you all sent over. There were several families who needed some extra food. They don't have much even when the miners are working but having to close the mine for two weeks caused some to almost run out of food. Mr. Axelrod and Mr. Anderson have brought wagon loads of supplies too."

"Maybe we can send some more things up closer to Christmas Day. I could make several more pies and cakes for the families." Claire offers.

"I'm sure they would be happy to have them. Now, I have some different news. I received a telegram from Denver today. We are to take the train two days after Christmas. We'll be there a week so we'll see the New Year's celebration there.

"Uncle Ethan? Would it be alright if we all went to town after chores tomorrow? The boys have some shopping they want to do. I'll look after them and keep them out of trouble."

"That's fine, Rob. I tell you what, if you can all get your shopping done by lunchtime, I'll meet you at the hotel for lunch."

"OHH! I want chocolate cake with ice cream! Mr. Woo makes the gooiest bestest cakes!" George speaks up.

"Lunch first George, then we'll see if you can have dessert. You must eat most of the meat and vegetables to get dessert." Claire reminds him.

"CLAIRE! Stop telling me what to do! I know what I'm supposed to eat and I AM NOT A BABY! So leave me alone!" George snaps glaring across the room at his sister.

"Come Here George." He hears. Fighting back tears he slowly walks to his Papa's chair fully expecting a spanking for shouting and being rude. Reaching the chair he's surprised when Ethan just lifts him to sit on his lap.

"Apologize to Claire, George." When George obeys, he says "George, Claire has been away from home for so long she forgets how grown up you are now. She doesn't remember you don't need reminders on what to eat anymore. Can you forgive her that mistake?"

"Yes Sir." George whispers tearfully.

"Good, now will you remember to speak respectfully from now on or do you and I need to have a lesson on manners in your room?

"I'll remember, Papa! I will! I promise!" George says hurriedly.

"Then if you're going to town early tomorrow, it's time for you and Ben to go to bed. " Ethan says looking across the room at Ben.

Standing up with a sigh, Ben says "Yes sir, good night."

In their bedroom, Ben thinks "You got lucky tonight, George. If it had been me, he would have walloped me for being disrespectful! Sometimes being the youngest helps you. You know?"

"Yeah, I was sure he was going to spank me right there. I didn't mean to be rude. She just made me so mad when she talked like I was five still. I'm eight and I know what I have to do to get dessert!" George answers back.

"George, tomorrow when we get to town, I need you to distract everybody so I can run back to the saloon." At George's shocked look he adds "I didn't get all my winnings the other day and I want to get them. I won six dollars but only got three picked up before Rob grabbed me. One of the saloon girls said she would save the rest for me."

The next morning

George finishes raking the hay out of the last stall before turning to Ben. "If you get caught, you will get a really bad whipping. Papa would take down the strap for this! You know that, right?"

"We need the money to get everything we talked about. Don't worry. I'll be in and out before they even know I'm not at the store."

"Not this time, Ben. Please just let it go. We have four dollars to spend from doing the chores and what you brought from the game. That's enough to buy good presents. Please Ben? Remember what Rob said would happen if you were to go near the saloon again? He'll do it too. He'll go tell Papa and I don't want you to get a thrashing!"

"I don't want to get a thrashing either, George. Stop being such a worrier. I know what I'm doing and I won't get caught this time. I'll be in and out so fast no one would know I left the store. If they miss me I'll just say I had to go to the outhouse. They can't get mad at me for that. You just keep quiet and don't say anything and we'll both be safe. If you say something we'll both be in trouble. You'll get in trouble for not telling on me." Ben answers.

The Mercantile

"Can Ben and I go in first and then you guys come in after a while, Please?" George asks Rob. He finds himself asking permission from Rob more than Claire or Joseph lately.

"We'll give you twenty minutes, but you absolutely must stay at the store. You are not to wander off somewhere else. Understand me, boys?"

"Yes, we promise!" Ben says as George nods.

Inside the store, Ben says "Okay, you go pick out the fancy handkerchiefs for Claire and I'll get the belt buckles for Rob and Joseph. We'll look together for something for Mitch and Pa, okay?"

"Yes, I'll meet you at the soda fountain when I'm done."

"Mr. Axelrod? Could you show me the belt buckles please? I want to get two." Ben tells him as he watches Mr. Axelrod lift the tray of jewelry and buckles out of the glass cabinet.

After many minutes of trying to decide which two to get Ben starts to fidget from one foot to the other. Finally deciding on the two he thinks are best he says "Please wrap them in white paper and I'll get them when I come back in. I've got to run out back sir!" He says with his hands clinched in fists.

Watching the boy run out the back door Cyrus smiles to himself, before walking over to George. "Well now George, have you found what you were looking for?"

"Yes Sir, I think these two are the prettiest ones. I was going to ask Ben but I can't see him."

"He just went out the back door. I'm sure he'll be back soon George." Mr. Axelrod says just as the front door opens.

George quickly shoves the handkerchiefs into Mr. Axelrod's hands and whispers "Wrap them please, don't let Claire see."

"Well George, are you boys through shopping yet? " Rob asks looking around for Ben. Not seeing him Rob asks sternly "Where is Ben, George?"

"I'm not sure. He was here a few minutes ago. Mr. Axelrod saw him leave out the back door." Oh Ben, please don't be over at that saloon! George thinks.

"It is alright, Ben just went out to the necessary. I'm sure he'll be back in just a minute or two." Mr. Axelrod assures Rob, Joseph and Claire.

The front door opens again a few minutes later, as a big man walks in hauling Ben by the arm. "Who here does this boy belong to?" He booms out.

"That would be me, sir. What's the problem?" Rob asks when Joseph doesn't answer.

"This boy dared to show nekkidness in sight of muh Wife and daughters!"

When Joseph and Claire seem not to be able to speak, Rob decides to take control of the problem.

"Thank you for bringing that to my attention. I will take care of it. Please excuse us." Rob says gripping Ben by the shoulder and taking him out the back door. Once in the side alley, Rob says "Explain and do it NOW! I thought I told you not to wander off!"

"I didn't wander off, I only went out to the outhouse but I had to go really bad! I couldn't hold it any longer. I stopped by a wall and went there. I didn't know anybody could see me. Please Rob, don't tell Pa on me. I didn't mean to cause trouble."

Looking down Rob sees a wet spot on the front of the boy's pants. Hearing a small sob he looks back at Ben to see tears running down his face. Surprised to see the boy this upset he asks "What's wrong Ben? You don't usually get this upset over little things like this."

"Pa will whip me if he hears about this, Rob." When Rob makes a doubtful noise, Ben says "I know he will! Remember when I got in trouble in town a week ago?"

"When you got caught scaring the ladies with the fake head? I guess a fake head peeking in the dressing room window at the Dress Shop would be frightening. Yeah, I remember he walloped you for that." Rob answers smothering a grin.

"Pa said if I caused trouble in town again he would give me a whipping! I wasn't looking when I came out, I was just in a big hurry to go! I didn't know anybody could see me! So please Rob, don't tell on me. I don't want to get a whipping!"

"It's okay Ben, I'm going back in and get you some pants. I'm not going to say anything to Uncle Ethan and the others won't either. You made a mistake and that's all there is to this."

Going inside, Rob finds Joseph looking at the display of air rifles. "Go get Claire and George. We need to talk, Joseph." When all are back, Rob explains what happened. "I told him we wouldn't mention this to Uncle Ethan. It wasn't deliberate plus he wet just enough that he needs dry clothes. He's embarrassed and scared of getting a whipping."

"Uncle Ethan wouldn't whip him for having an accident, he knows that!" Claire exclaims.

"Yes, but he was told last week after the dress shop incident, if he caused any more trouble in town he would get a whipping. Ben thinks he would get a whipping for causing this trouble with the immigrant and his family. I had to promise we wouldn't say anything to get him to stop crying." Rob explains.

"Let me help him, Rob. I can get him to calm down and we'll come back inside in a while." Joseph says taking the clothes Rob bought.

"Ben? Where are you?" He calls into the side alley.

"Over here. Did Rob send you?"

"Well, I told him I wanted to come. I brought the clothes."

"Joseph! These are dungarees! I can't wear those or Pa will want to know why. He doesn't let us wear those to town and you know it! Do you want me to get a whipping? If I show up wearing these he'll find out the whole story and I'll get a whipping! Can't you get me some pants like I have on that won't be noticed?"

"Ben, Rob bought us all a pair to put on today. We're all four going to wear them to lunch. If Uncle Ethan gets mad then he'll have to whip us all. I'm tired of not getting to wear what other boys do, aren't you?"

Giving his brother a doubtful look, Ben quickly changes to the new pants after making sure no one could see him. Dressed in his new blue dungarees, Ben says with a grin "I like them, they're soft. Yes, I'm tired of not getting to wear dungarees too. But what if he gets mad? He could easily give all of us a walloping Joseph. He has spanked all three of us boys one right after the other before. What makes you feel he won't this time?"

"Well, we're supposed to mind Rob, Right?" At Ben's nod he says "Well, Rob said to wear these because he paid for them. If we didn't we wouldn't be minding would we?"

"You're sneaky Joseph!" Ben says grinning up at his brother.

"Let's go inside Ben. I told Rob we would be back . Come on, George says you and he need help picking some gifts for Papa and Mitch. I think I know what to get."

As they all walk to the hotel, Claire says "I hope you boys know what you're doing. Uncle Ethan's not going to like this, I tell you now. Joseph, you know he didn't like it when I gave you some dungarees for your birthday. He only lets you wear them to do ranch work."

Walking in they see Ethan standing with Mitch. Taking in all four boys dressed in dungarees he glares at them. Ben and George duck behind Rob and Joseph. Suddenly hiding seems to be the best plan.

"Take your seats please. The orders will be here soon." Ethan tells the children. Ben chooses a chair at the opposite end of the table from his Pa and George sits across from him. This makes the older two boys sit closest to Ethan and Mitch with Claire at the other end of the table.

"Nice pants boys." Mitch says to Joseph. "I can't seem to recall seeing any of you in dungarees before." He says grinning at Ethan. He knows very well how Ethan feels about those clothes.

"Watch yourself Mitchell or you'll be escorted out." Ethan growls at his deputy.

Later that evening – ranch

"Robert, Joseph, explain how you went to town in good clothes and came for lunch in working clothes. Who paid for these new clothes and what happened to the others?" Ethan says giving the two older boys a stern look across the table.

"Explain to him Rob. This was your idea in the first place." Joseph says withering under his Uncle's dark look.

"Well sir, I wanted to do something to show I'm the boy's big brother now. I'm not just a visitor anymore. I thought if we all wore something alike we'd look more like brothers. We all have enough dress pants so I went with dungarees. I tried to get Claire to get some too but she refused! Joseph said she used to wear pants when she was younger."

"Where did the money come from Robert? Have you been gambling again? Also what happened to the clothes you were wearing? If you gave them away you will be in a lot of trouble!"

"The clothes are with the rest of the laundry to be washed. I haven't been gambling at all. The money is from the dividends the bank sends me every month. I guess they'll be sending it here next. I get twenty five dollars each month."

"Twenty five dollars and you don't even have to work for it? That's some luck, Rob!" Joseph says in awe.

"That twenty five dollars will be coming in my name now, Robert. I will be in charge of how much you spend and on what. Joseph, the money comes from his Pa's hard work at the gold mines. Don't think money comes to people for nothing." Ethan says sternly.

"Alright boys, I accept your explanation. I will allow you to wear the dungarees as a group when you wish too. However, they are not to be worn to school or to business meetings. You will dress appropriately then. Am I understood?"

"Yes Sir." Rob and Joseph answer together.

"Robert, the next time you decide to make a decision that involves the boys, you need to check with me first. I make the decisions for the family. You may suggest or ask but the final decision is mine to make. Understand me, Robert?" Ethan says his tone very stern.

"Understood, Sir."

"Very well then this discussion is over. Both of you go to bed. We'll be busy tomorrow. Good night boys."

In their room Joseph whispers to Rob, "He had you scared didn't he. I know he scared me, for a minute I thought we were going to be punished. I thought he was going to take us out to the barn for a whipping! He really looked angry. It's a good thing we didn't do something with our other clothes or he would have whipped us!"

Nodding Rob answers " When he scolded me there at the end, I was thinking about when I taught you to shoot after he told us never touch the guns. I don't want a repeat of what we went through after he found out. It was two days before I could sit down without wincing! I'll never forget that whipping!"

"That was no whipping. That was a thrashing! He only uses that for really bad decisions. When we decided to practice shooting that revolver last spring, it was definitely a bad decision. I've only had one thrashing that felt like that, thank goodness. I'm with you on I don't ever want to feel that strap like that again. Night Rob and thanks for the dungarees."

"You're welcome Joseph. It's an early Christmas gift for my new brothers. You know I think I like having brothers and a sister. I especially like being able to boss you all around! I think that's the best part." Rob teases.

"Maybe for you it is but not for me. I don't like being bossed around by you too. I already have to listen to Uncle Ethan and Claire. Now I find out I have to obey you too! It's not fair. I'm old enough not to need so many people telling me what to do!"

"I tell you what Joseph. If you help me out with the boys, I promise not to boss you around. We'll be friends not big brother and little brother. How about it?"

"It's a deal, Rob! Good Night again. We'd better hush before we get in trouble for talking instead of sleeping."