New Beginnings A Fresh Start
Ch. 38
Questions
Enjoying a day with just girls, Claire finds herself humming as she and Cecily hang curtains in the large window.
"I love these short curtains, Mrs. Cornwell. They fit just inside the window perfectly and are so pretty tied back this way. What is this material called?"
"That is white starched lawn dear. I added the ruffles to the sides. Are you not familiar with lawn yard goods?"
"Yes Ma'am but I didn't recognize this color in the material. I've never seen it in this beautiful light tan before."
"Well to get this color I dyed them in tea, Claire. You soak the fabric in a washtub containing a mixture of three parts water to one part tea. That gives you this color. I believe it goes well with the light blue walls and white woodwork."
"I think they look lovely. I wish my bedroom had curtains and painted walls. Mine is just plain brown wood everywhere. I want some colors." Cecily remarks.
"Have you ever braided a rug, girls?"
"No Ma'am." Cecily, Sarah and Elisha reply while Claire answers "Yes Ma'am".
"If your Mothers have a bag of old rags then you can easily make yourselves a colorful braided rug. Since Claire has done it, I'm sure she will teach you girls."
"I will be happy to. I know how to make woven mats for the doorways too." Claire tells the girls looking at her expectantly.
"Let's go bring in the bed frame and get the bed put back together, girls." Mrs. Blackstock says coming into the room with an armful of bedding.
"This new quilt is perfect for the room." Elisha exclaims after the group has the feather mattress on the white iron bed frame.
"Mama had an old worn out one she kept on her bed. It was pink and white and horribly faded. I don't think Papa wants a pink and white room. He'll like this new room with blue and tan though." Sarah announces as they spread the new quilt over the sheets.
"Yes, I think he will, Sarah. Uncle Matt's favorite color is blue. He said so one time. I guess that's why he wears so many blue shirts. The Ladies Aid Society quilters did this one. The white with the blue Wedding Ring pattern is perfect too. We have a blue, white and tan room now. Even the night tables are white." Claire answers.
"Now that Papa and Mama have a new room, who gets the other room, Elisha?"
"I don't know Sarah. Do you want your own room?"
"No, I like being in a room with you. Do you want it?"
"I want to stay in our room too. Maybe Caleb can have it."
"What does he need a new room for? He has a room."
"Girls, don't worry about this right now. I'm sure Linnea and Matthew can find a use for that space. It would make a nice sewing room or nursery." Mrs Blackstock comments adding the last mostly to herself.
"A NURSERY? Is Mama bringing home a baby, Elisha?" Sarah asks, her voice high. Having just turned fourteen she's not at all knowledgeable about such things having been kept innocent by her Mother. Not getting an answer from her sister, Sarah asks the other girls "Do you think we're going to get a baby here?"
"Of course not. They've only just married. It takes more than a month to have a baby." Cecily and Claire exclaim together.
"How long does it take?" When none of the girls answer, Sarah looks to Mrs. Blackstock for answers.
"Girls! This is not the place or time to talk of such! Well brought up young ladies don't speak of such things in public. Sarah, you need to ask your Mother about this not me or other girls. Come now, let's finish putting the other things out. It's nearly time for Cecily and I to be heading back to the boarding house to prepare the evening meal." Mrs. Blackstock scolds gently.
As the decorating is underway in town, Caleb and Ben carry out Caleb's ideas for a game of outlaws. Having tied Alyssa, their captive, to a tree and now laid out branches around the bottom of the tree trunk, Caleb has convinced Ben to get the box of wooden matches from inside.
"Here Caleb, we can't use many or Pa will find out. We don't want anyone to know we touched matches or our backsides will get roasted! I think we should just pretend anyway."
"No Ben, we are real outlaws and real outlaws don't pretend with their captives. Hand the box to me if you are such a scaredy cat. We have to hurry or George and Aaron will be back to rescue her before we finish our part."
Taking the box and striking a match, Caleb watches it fizzle out in disgust. The second and third also die out causing him to snap at Ben, "What is wrong with these matches? Did you do something to them?"
"No, they are what we use to start the stove and the fire in the fireplace. They work when Pa or Rob uses them. Maybe you just don't know how to do it right."
"BEN! Don't let him light the sticks! Let me loose now, I'm tired of this game." Alyssa calls from the other side of the tree having listened to their conversation.
"Got it! All right we're lit!" Caleb exclaims as he watches the small flame gradually burn one branch. "Hand me another match so I can start another spot."
"NOOO! LET ME LOOSE! AAARRROOONNN! FIIIIRRREE! HEEEELLLLLPPPP!" Alyssa screams, calling for her brother to rescue her.
As the girls are walking past the Mercantile to go back to the ranch, Mr. Axelrod calls from the porch where he is sweeping. "Claire! I have mail for your family."
Climbing the four steps, Claire follows him inside to the section of the store where the mail is kept. Watching as he reaches into the wooden compartment marked C she wonders what mail it could be. Sorting through the five pieces of mail he hands her a long envelope.
"There's a packet with it also. It is too large to fit in the mail slot. Let me go get it from the back." Mr. Axelrod tells her as he disappears behind a curtain.
"Here you are and notice this is addressed to Rob. The letter also. What do you suppose they are about as I see the letter is marked Boston, Massachusetts. Does Rob know anyone in Boston?"
"I don't know, sir. He knows many people. Thank you for remembering to give this to me today. I need to be going. Have a good evening sir." Claire replies as she walks towards the front door.
"Yes, well just don't forget to give your Pa the message about my merchandise. I still have that problem I told him about yesterday and I want it solved." Axelrod snaps angrily, disappointed at not being given the information he wanted to know.
"I remember, Mr. Axelrod and I'm sure Pa can help you solve it soon. Good evening."
Having finished shoeing Joseph's horse, Ethan is now watching Joseph as he demonstrates cleaning the hooves of the Shetland Ponies.
"Pa, do I really have to be the one to clean out their hooves too? That's three horses I have to clean and twelve feet. Ben and George could learn to care for their ponies."
"They aren't old enough to take on that responsibility and see it through, son. I can not depend on them to complete the task and I can depend on you. So, yes, you do have to do all three. The boys are responsible for brushing as well as seeing to it the ponies have food and water. When they are mature enough to be counted on to handle this, I will teach them as I taught you."
"I hope they are mature enough by the time Ben is at least twelve. I think twelve is mature enough. I could've done this at twelve if you'd taught me."
"I'm sure you could, son. We didn't have as many horses to care for then. Plus you were a little difficult back then as well. You have learned to complete what you begin, now. Most of the time, that is." Ethan replies with a teasing smile just as they hear Alyssa scream.
"That's Alyssa! She said FIRE!" Joseph exclaims as Ethan grabs the bucket of water sitting nearby and begins to run towards the sound.
Tying the horses to the fence, Joseph runs after him just as he sees Aaron and George coming also.
Having found Alyssa tied to a tree inside a ring of now smoldering branches, Ethan puts the empty bucket down to untie her.
"What is going on here? Why is Alyssa tied to a tree and who started this fire?" Ethan asks Ben and Caleb removing the handkerchief blindfold just as the other three boys run up.
"We were playing outlaws Papa. She was the captive." Ben answers as he tries to hide the box of matches Caleb shoved into his hands as Ethan put out the fire.
"Aaron and I were not here. We were going to come to rescue her from Ben and Caleb." George tells his Pa when he looks his way.
"BENJAMIN! Hand over those matches! I am going to ask this ONCE more and you had better answer me! WHO used matches?"
"Caleb. He got them from inside. It was all his idea, Papa." Ben answers as Caleb says "I didn't! I don't know where the matches were!"
"Yes, you did get them! I saw you! You stood on the chair and got them from the pantry's top shelf." Ben responds thinking this would get back at Caleb for the stunt he pulled with George as well as get himself out of trouble.
"Just where were you Benjamin, when you saw this take place?" Ethan asks, suspicious at the detailed answer.
"Umm, I was... " Ben stalls trying to think, knowing he can't say he was inside too. "I was outside, Papa!"
"Joseph, take Alyssa inside please. Check her over to make sure she's not hurt. George, you and Aaron go also. You may have cookies and lemonade while you stay inside." Ethan says.
"Uncle Ethan, I'm not hurt and it wasn't Ben who lit the fire. I heard them talking and it was Caleb. He wanted to burn me!" Alyssa says before Joseph leads her away.
Watching as the four children walk off, Ethan takes several deep breaths to calm his temper. Turning to the two little boys behind him, he says "Benjamin, Caleb, follow me."
Inside the barn, Ethan settles the boys on one hay bale while he sits on another to interrogate his squirming suspects.
"Now, let's start over. Explain to me why you had Alyssa tied to a tree and just why there were branches piled around the tree. Ben, I want an explanation, now."
"We were playing outlaws and she was the prisoner."
"And the branches were there for...?" Ethan prompts.
"Caleb said we were supposed to torture the prisoner. He set them on fire, not me. I didn't do it."
"Caleb, where did you get the matches?"
"I didn't! I swear that's the truth, Uncle Ethan. Ben got them from inside. It was his idea to start a fire. I said we shouldn't and we should only pretend to do it but he wouldn't listen." Caleb answers wide eyed and shaking his head in denial.
"Ben, you told me Caleb got the matches and you saw him do it but you didn't say how you saw him. In order to see him you must have been with him inside."
"No Papa. I saw him from outside through the window."
"Boys, this is serious. You both know matches are dangerous and are not to be played with. What you did today could have seriously harmed Alyssa and caused a spreading fire. Caleb, are you allowed to touch matches?"
"My Mama and Papa let me use them. It wasn't going to be a big fire at all. We could stop it anytime. I didn't do anything wrong. We were just having fun." Caleb answers petulantly.
"Regardless of what you believe, you DID do something wrong. You two set a fire and any fire can spread at anytime! You are still in trouble here, young man. Matches are not something to be played with and that's the end of it! I better not hear of you touching any matches while you are staying with me! Ben, find a corner until I call you."
Facing the wall, Ben hears:
"Come here, Caleb."
"I don't want to."
"I didn't ask, young man! Move yourself here right now!"
"You can't pull my pants down! STOP!"
"Fighting with me over this will only make you receive more so I suggest you stop struggling or ..." Hearing the sound of a smack being applied and Caleb complaining more, Ben shakes his head at Caleb's behavior. Complaining, arguing back and fighting his Pa only leads to worse punishment.
"OW! That hurt! I didn't do anything but play a game! You aren't to spank me for playing a game!"
"You do not play with matches young man! Playing with matches is NOT a game! You were the one lighting the matches! This time it's going to be my hand, if it ever happens again, you will be feeling my belt! Be still!"
"YOU CAN'T DO THIS! NO Uncle Ethan! Please don't! Not my drawers too!"
Listening to his cousin have his bottom burned, Ben has mixed feelings, one side of him is happy to hear Caleb finally get punished and the other side dreads his turn. Too soon, he hears Ethan say "You are to go inside to your room until I tell you differently, Caleb. No matter what you are allowed at home, while you are here, you do not touch matches without my permission or supervision! It's all too easy to have a fire get out of control and hurt someone! Do you understand me?"
"Yes."
"Yes, what?"
"Yes, I understand! I'm not stupid you know!" Caleb answers angrily through his tears.
"Watch how you speak to me! Answer me politely with respect or I can add more swats."
"Yes sir, I'm sorry. No more swats, please! I understand, sir." Caleb answers quickly sounding panicky which causes Ben to have to smother his snickers.
"Good, I don't want to have this conversation again. Now go inside to your room."
As soon as he sees Caleb reach the house, Ethan says "Come here Ben."
Dragging his feet and moving as slowly as a snail, Ben moves towards his Pa. When he reaches him, Ethan says "We're going to talk a little more. Sit down."
"When you told me you saw Caleb take the matches by watching through the window, was this the truth?"
"Yes, sir."
"Benjamin Cord! That is a lie and you know it! There is no window to be able to see into the kitchen. Now answer me. DID YOU TAKE THE MATCHES?"
"Yesss sssirr. It was all his idea though." Ben whispers ducking his head.
"Eyes on me, son! So you lied to me. You blamed something on Caleb that you did yourself. You know very well that matches are forbidden to anyone under twelve in this household! You were also playing with fire today!"
"NO PAPA! Caleb lit the matches not me! Honest, that's true, remember what Alyssa said!"
"Ben, you gave him those matches which allowed him to do it. That is the same as doing it yourself. This couldn't have happened if you had NOT taken the matches in the first place!"
"He wanted me to go get them, Papa! I didn't want to but he made me do it."
"Son, you know better than that. No one Caleb's age can make you do something you do not want to do. Tell me, what should you have done when he suggested playing with matches?"
"Tell him no. I tried to, Papa. I said we should just pretend but he wouldn't listen. He lied when he said he was the one to say pretend. That was me!" Ben replies as he twists his hands in front of him.
"I believe you. So when he wouldn't listen to you and lit the matches what should you have done then?"
"Call you or Rob or Joseph for help."
"Yes, you should have called for help. You could have called me or sent someone for me. Instead you stood watching! Because you did then you are what we call an accessory to the crime. You stood by and let him start a fire which could have burned Alyssa, you or himself. It could have also spread to the trees, the house, the barn! You know what fire does! Don't you remember the barn burning? How about when Claire's school burned? We've talked about that enough so you should remember it!" Ethan scolds beginning to get louder.
"I'm sorry. I didn't want to cause a fire or burn anybody." Ben whispers, using his hands to wipe the tears off his face.
"I know you didn't intend to hurt anything but your recklessness today could have caused harm anyway. Now, you know you are forbidden to play with matches and you also know lying only leads to one thing."
"For lying, you are going to receive four with my belt. The rest will be as Caleb received, with my hand on your bare bottom. Listen to me and listen really well, Ben! Playing with fire or matches better not ever happen again or you will find yourself having the strap applied for a whipping to remember! I am sorely tempted to do it now! Do you hear me Benjamin?"
"Yes sir! I won't touch matches anymore ever again! I won't! I promise, Papa!"
"I sincerely hope you remember this promise, son. No touching matches without adult supervision! It will only lead to trouble if you don't. Bend over my lap."
Arriving home just in time to tell the twins goodbye, Claire and the girls hear all about what went on that afternoon.
"I'm shocked at Ben, Pa. He's known from age three to never ever play with matches. Even if he did forget after his illness, we've told him over and over since then."
"Temptation and not being able to say no to a friend is strong for some his age. I don't believe he will be led astray again any time soon. Elisha? Is Caleb allowed to use matches in your home?"
"No sir. Mama has not let him and Pa told him he was too young to light the stove, a fire or the lanterns."
"He tried to light the stove last week even though it was already lit and Pa walloped him for it. Pa walked into the kitchen just as Caleb struck the match. He turned him over his knee right then and there! I saw him." Sarah tells them.
"I lit into him pretty well this afternoon. Both boys are confined to the bedroom for the rest of the night. After church tomorrow they will be too busy with chores to get into trouble. The chicken house and coop needs a good cleaning." Ethan remarks causing the girls to wrinkle their noses at that news.
"PHEWW. I'm happy I don't have to do that." Sarah exclaims.
"You girls go change out of your town dresses. We'll have dinner and then we'll see what's in this package Rob has received."
"Yes sir."
"Claire, stay behind please." Ethan directs as the other girls go to change. At her questioning glance he answers "Come, let's talk privately in my room."
Closing the bedroom door, Ethan says "Take a seat on the bed and let's talk. When Chris brought the twins he told me you asked him to deliver a message. What was the time I told you to be home today?"
"You said one o'clock but we weren't even ready to start on the room at that time. Didn't Uncle Chris tell you, we were working on the new room for Uncle Matt and Aunt Linnea?"
"He did but what I'd like to know is why you didn't mention to me how you planned to stay in town or tell your plans for the day. I did not know where you girls were! Finding out from Chris isn't something I appreciate. I also do not like how you deliberately ignored my instructions today."
"I thought you knew about the room and wouldn't mind if we helped decorate. Why are you upset with me for wanting to help decorate?"
"I wouldn't have minded had you asked permission. I specifically said I wanted you home at one today so Alyssa could enjoy your company. You deliberately disobeyed those instructions. Because of this you are housebound completely for a week. This means, school and church will be the only places you will visit for the week which begins Monday. Your Monday, Friday and Sunday visits with Alex are stopping this week. When I tell you to do something, You Do It! You don't get to decide what you will and will not do when it comes to my directives! Are we clear, young lady?"
"Pa, I'm sixteen nearer seventeen not a little girl! I shouldn't be punished just for helping someone." Claire replies irritably.
"I've already explained my reasons so I wouldn't push me on this if I were you. When I tell you something I expect to be obeyed! Do you understand me?"
"Yes sir, I understand. May I go change now?"
"You may as long as we understand each other that this is not to happen again."
"It won't. I'm sorry I didn't think to explain."
"It's not the explanation I seek. It's obedience to what I tell you. Remember, as long as you are living in my house, you obey my rules. At twenty one you are considered an adult and do not have to obey your parents. You are sixteen, far from twenty one."
"Yes sir." Claire replies as she keeps her face emotionless while inside she's seething at his overprotective rules.
"Go change so we can get the rest of our evening started. After dinner, we'll have dessert of hot cocoa and popcorn."
"Oh Rob, what is it like to pose for a photographer? Did you have to stay perfectly still for hours?" Sarah asks as they pass around the photos from the large envelope Claire brought home.
"We just did as he told us to do, Sarah. In this picture he told us to stand by the snowbank and make snowballs. Then in the next picture he wanted us to pose as if we were throwing them at each other. It's not what we did but where we were I think. He said something about showing the buildings. I'm not really sure but it was fun. We didn't have to be still all that long, just to the count of twenty."
"You got paid for it! Twelve whole dollars even! I've not seen a check before. Besides that you had these pictures put in a newspaper for strangers to see! Way back East too!"
"Getting paid was a surprise, George. I did know he was planning to send the pictures back East but I didn't know if they'd be published. I hope Alex was paid too. Pa? The photographer said in the note that he would be coming through Paradise on March 13th and would like to set up portraits for families. Would you be able to arrange a place for him to do this task? Do you think there are people who would like to have a family photograph?"
"I'll see what I can do, Rob. I don't have any idea what people might like, son."
"Pa? Could we have a family portrait taken? We don't have a photograph of all of our family. There are just the two pictures from St. Louis. The one of me and the boys and the one of all of us with Mama and Papa when George was two."
"We will do our best when the time comes, Claire. It's over a month away."
"Elisha? Let's talk Mama and Papa into getting our family photographed too. Wouldn't that be fun?"
"Maybe, we'll talk to Mama and see."
"Everybody? The popcorn is ready. Bring your bowls or dishcloths and I'll pour some for you. We'll pop more after we eat this round." Joseph calls turning from the fire with the wire popcorn basket full of warm fluffy popcorn.
"Ahh, this is so good. Popcorn and hot cocoa too. Caleb will be so mad to miss this. We don't get popcorn much at home." Sarah exclaims as she pops a handful into her mouth.
"Maybe because if we do you stuff your cheeks so full you look like a chipmunk." Elisha teases causing George to giggle.