New Beginnings: A Fresh Start
Ch. 51
Weary Travelers Return
Wednesday, Back in Paradise:
"Ben, are you sure you want to do this today? You've let it go since Monday and now you want to do it?" George asks as they finish dumping the soiled hay and are washing up at the pump by the barn.
"Well if Aunt Linnea hadn't come out to ring the bell when she did on Monday, I wouldn't have let it go then. She scolded me for trying to fight, remember? She kept me after school and fussed at me. I tried to tell her Caleb is being hateful again but she said we were talking about me, not Caleb. She said she'd go to Pa if I tried to fight again."
"She means it, Ben. You'll be in so much trouble. Don't do it. We can just keep walking away from him."
"Someone has to do something, George. We can't keep stopping every game we play or the girls having to give up the swing. It's not right and you know it! I've done as everyone said and ignored him, walked away, turned the other cheek and talked to grown ups. NO ONE listens. Everyone just expects us as kids to get along and go on about our day. I have tried to do what they want and it doesn't work. If he starts something with any one of our friends today, I'm going to finish it!"
"Pa won't like it. Rob won't either. Today is Rob's school day too. If you get in trouble there, he might be told and then he'll really get you. You think that spanking yesterday was bad, just wait til he catches on to you fighting."
"Ahh, that wasn't bad. He just gave me six with his hand just 'cause I told him to shut his mouth. Too bad Mama wasn't in the barn so she'd have stopped him."
"Well you yelled like it was bad."
"I can't let him think it didn't hurt or next time he'd see to it that the smacks really hurt so I play acted, you know?"
"I know we best get moving or we'll be running to get to school on time again. C'mon." George answers walking towards the house.
Sitting around the table enjoying his plate of pancakes, George hears Claire ask "Are you ready for your math today, George? You've been working hard on those thirteen to fourteen multiplication tables so you should have them memorized."
"We have to recite them in front of Aunt Linnea and the class though. That's hard to do, Claire. I do better writing them down."
"Well not too long ago you were winning in a competition, how is this different?"
"Well, it's different 'cause everyone is staring at me and not trying to think of answers themselves. It's just one of us in front of everybody. I always feel like I'm going to throw up or wet down my legs, one or the other when everybody is staring at me."
"I know what you mean, George. I used to hate..." At the look on the boy's face, Delphie pauses to ask "What makes you look that way?"
"We aren't allowed to say we hate something, Mama." Ben answers for his open mouthed brother.
"Hmm, well then, I used to strongly dislike having to recite in front of my class. I had a bad habit of biting my nails and I'd chew on them in front of everyone. I'll tell you a secret my Ma told me. When you have to stand up like that, pretend they are all just cows or some other animal and that way it won't matter so much. You practice out with the horses, I've heard you, so why not try that?"
"Yes George, Ben. That's a good idea. Now, clean up your plates as we have to get going. It's twenty to eight and we have a fifteen minute walk. Hurry and wash your faces too." Claire instructs as Rob stands to begin washing their plates.
"I'm walking with you this morning, Children. I'm getting an early start at the Clinic so everyone make sure you gather all of your school things. As Claire said, we need to leave as soon as you are washed and ready."
"Yes Ma'am. Yes Mama." Delphie hears from the children.
"Have a good day, everyone. Your Pa and Joseph will be home today. We'll go meet the five o'clock train this afternoon. I'm going to leave the clinic at noon to go prepare a welcome home dinner. I'll see all of you when you come home."
"Good morning Dr. Amy. Bye Mama. Have a good day today." George calls as they all walk on leaving Delphie at the clinic.
"Good Morning to you, George and the rest of the Cord clan." Amy calls good naturedly as the children pass by on their way to school.
"Morning Amy, what's on the schedule today? I have to leave at noon, remember?"
"Yes, I remember. Have you enjoyed playing Mother the last few days? How have the children been?"
"I love being around them and they've all been terrific, thank you for asking."
Noting he sister's slight snippiness, Amy changes the topic of conversation as they walk inside.
"We have the Paradise Mine visit this morning. I need to check on several of the men who needed treatment for breathing difficulties last week. A few of the smaller children had sniffles and I need to check them also. Let me get the basket of treats and my bag, then I'll be ready."
Reading his literature assignment and attempting to answer the questions Mr. Hiram has assigned for that lesson, Rob hears his name called.
"Mr. Cord, please approach."
Rising out of his seat with a side glance at Alex, Rob walks to his teacher's desk.
Standing with his hands folded behind his back, he waits for him to speak.
"You had a history theme due Tuesday, correct?"
"Yes sir."
"I specifically assigned at least ten pages and you had a week to do it, also correct?"
"Yes sir." Rob answers once more not volunteering more than the required response.
"Well if that is correct, why does it seem your report is missing half?"
"I have the introduction, the body with specific content, two references and the conclusion sir." Rob responds politely while gripping his hands together behind his back.
After the beginning fiasco of a school term, things began to get better once his Pa stepped in and set Mr. Hiram to rights. Lately though, in the past month, school has been misery for him. No matter what he does in this class, Mr. Hiram finds something to complain about at least once a week if not every single one of their three school days.
"His handwriting is too sloppy, his arithmetic skills are abysmal, he didn't write his sources for the theme, his conclusions are wrong..." on and on. Rob has made himself a calendar to cross off the remaining days of schooling. Once May 25th finally arrives, his misery will be over if he survives that long without once again telling this ugly little man what he really thinks of him. The promise of a trip to the tack room looming over him if he insults or is disrespectful to the man again, is all that's making him hold his tongue.
"Mr. Cord! PAY ATTENTION! Answer the question please."
"Yes sir, sorry sir. What did you ask, sir?" Rob replies, despising having to be so polite.
"I asked if you had been suffering from an illness or has anyone in your family been ill this past week to cause you to turn in an incomplete assignment."
"No sir. No one has been ill, sir."
"Very well then you're assignment is only half done so you receive a grade of F. Take this home, have your Father sign it. I want the completed theme by next Tuesday. If you fail to turn in the completed theme at that time, you will receive a second F. As it is you will only receive a grade of no higher than a C for failing to complete the original assignment. No other person had two chances to complete this assignment. You are teetering on failure here, young man. If you want to graduate with your classmates, you will need to improve your performance! You may return to your seat." Mr. Hiram replies as he hands over the hated theme to Rob.
At morning recess, Caleb taunts Ben and his friends "You are all so weak. Can't even throw that ball over the shed. Weaklings! Weaklings! Yellow bellied weaklings!"
"Ignore him, Ben. Keep playing guys." Aaron says seeing Ben getting angry. "He wants us to get mad so don't give him what he wants. That's what Pa told me."
"Throw it Timmy! You can get it up there!" George calls to the younger boy with the ball.
"Yeth Timmwe, frow yit. Frow yit Timmwe baby boy." Caleb calls, making fun of the boy's speech.
"STOP IT, CALEB! Stop being so mean. Timmy can't help how he talks." Aaron calls to the other boy.
"STOP IT, CALEB! Stop being so mean. Timmy can't help how he talks." Caleb mimics. "Aaron plays with babies! He is a baby too. ALL OF YOU ARE BABIES! BAY -BEES! BAY - BEES! NOTHING BUT BAY -BEES" Caleb singsongs loudly.
"Aaron, we can't let him keep acting like this. He made Timmy cry! Are you with me?" Ben whispers.
"Yes. Tom? Ryan? Derek? How about you Jack? We're going to stop him." Aaron says quietly to the other boys standing around them.
Continuing his chanting, Caleb doesn't see the shadow approaching from the side of the shed behind him. The other boys having turned to face their tormentor, don't move as Matthew walks up behind his son.
"CALEB THOMAS BRANDENBURG!" He intones in a voice that makes the schoolyard fall silent immediately.
"Come with me, young man! You and I have a meeting in your room as of right now! Ben, tell Aunt Linnea I have Caleb and he won't be returning today." Matthew calls to his nephew.
"Yes sir, Uncle Matt."
"Papa! We were just playing. I was only funning with them. Right guys? We were only playing, Huh?" Caleb turns back from looking at Matt in shock, to his classmates.
"I don't call that 'funning', Caleb! That is cruel, making fun of others that way and you know it! I've been receiving reports on your behavior and decided to check into this personally. We spoke of your teasing and tormenting others several times before. You remember what I promised you the last time, don't you?"
"Yes, but they were being mean to me. They were calling me names and I just did it back." Caleb tells his new Pa whose snapping eyes make him want to bolt for the schoolhouse.
"I was standing behind the shed long enough to hear every word said since recess began. Now you've added lying to your list of misdeeds! You have a lesson coming little boy and I'm about to deliver it! MOVE!" Matt ends forcefully, taking hold of the boy who has frozen in place.
Watching his Uncle Matt half pull, half carry Caleb across the road and down towards their house, Ben says "Something about the way Uncle Matt was talking makes me think Caleb won't sit comfortably for supper. He deserves it, too!"
"I'm just glad we didn't have to get into a fight with him. If I did, I'd not sit comfortably for supper. Pa says NO to fighting." Aaron answers as several boys nod in agreement.
"Yeah, I know. I'd catch it too but I'd take a whipping if it meant stopping the bully! Maybe now he'll behave! If not, I'm going to tell Uncle Matt on him next time!" Ben answers as they hear the handbell being rung signalling time to come inside.
At the lunch break, Alex and Rob move to sit away from the other older students so they can talk without being overheard.
"Mr. Hiram is being so difficult with you, Rob. I don't know why he treats you that way. He's never acted that way with me. He sure doesn't treat any of the girls that way."
"I know, he's had it in for me from the first day and it only got better when Pa told him he could lose his job. He kept being somewhat nice to me up until the beginning of this month. Now it's nearly every day that I do something or not do something that displeases him. I know I didn't do this theme the way he wanted but I've had to manage the ranch, the boys, watch out for Delphie and Claire, on top of this dumb theme. I did all the rest of my assignments and I turned in a good theme even if it was not ten pages. He didn't even read it or he'd know that!"
"So is this going to be your excuse when you show the grade and ask your Pa to sign it?" Alex asks chewing his cheese sandwich thoughtfully.
"There is zero chance of me getting this signed without punishment. A score of D, maybe. An F, no chance at all. He'll tell me I'm housebound for sure. Spring is just beginning and we're just now able to go and do with the girls without it being so cold we freeze our lips off. So, I'm not showing it to him."
"You have to have it signed so what're you going to do, sign for him?"
"No, that would be signing my life sentence to my room and a death notice for my behind. 'You do not forge someone's name.' Pa said. I learned that lesson real well a year or so ago. I don't want him to repeat it. I'm going to do the same as I did with the Grammar and Math tests. Take it to Charlie to sign."
"Charlie at the Purple Palace? ROB! You can't go around there! What if someone sees you?"
"No one saw me the last two times. Charlie's great at copying signatures. It looks just like the original one. I'm going now so cover for me. I'll be back in just a few minutes."
"Wait for me. I'm going along. I'll be your lookout man while you run this covert mission."
"Alex?"
"Hmm?"
"What have you been reading lately? 'Covert mission, lookout man?' Something is not right about this. I think you should stay here so you won't run the risk of being caught. You remember what happened the last time we both went to the Palace, right?"
"Your grand idea of 'being real men' earlier this term? Of course. I'm not likely to forget the one and only time Mitch warmed my hide for me. I'll risk it for you. Now are you going or not?"
"What if we're late back to class? You know Old Man Hiram will make a fuss. We'll probably get notes home and all." Rob answers.
"As I said, I'll risk it! You're my best friend and I'm trying to help you. Do you want it or not?" Alex replies huffily, standing with his arms crossed and glaring.
"Alright, let's go. Don't say I didn't give you the chance to back out or that I made you come along! I tried to get you to stay."
"I will remember it was my idea to go with you. No one forced me. Stop worrying about that and let's get going."
Riding into town coming back from the Paradise Mine, Delphie glances over towards the saloon side of town. Blinking and looking twice, she says "Amy? STOP. Do you see what I think I see down by the saloon?"
"What do you think you see? I don't see anything."
"I thought I saw Rob just then. The jacket he wears looks just like the one that person was wearing. Let's go check."
"Rob is in school today, isn't he? Why would he be way over at the saloon side of town when school is at the other end?"
"I have no idea, Amy. Don't you think we should go look though?"
"No, I need to get to the clinic and you said you needed to get to the ranch to start cooking that welcome home feast you planned. Remember? Besides, I doubt that was Rob. Ethan would hogtie him and confine him to his bed if he went anywhere near those places."
"He certainly would throw a fit if one of his children were near there. I know that's one of his strict rules. You're probably right, it's just my eyes playing tricks on me. Let's get going."
Plastered up against the backside of the building, Rob whispers "Can you still see them?"
"No, they've started back towards the Clinic. Do you think they saw us?"
Letting out a long sigh, Rob answers "If they did, we're done for. All we can do now is get what we came for and hope for the best. Come on, let's go in."
"If she did see you, maybe she won't tell your Pa. Miss. Delphie's always nice."
"I'm hoping she stays minding her own business." Rob whispers back.
Twenty minutes later the two boys are back in their seats in the schoolroom. Both have ringing ears from the lecture they received on tardiness. Coming in fifteen minutes behind the rest of the class from lunch recess didn't sit well with Mr. Hiram. Having assigned both boys lines to write and told they will be kept after school, Rob is beginning to regret his decision to leave school.
"Where's Rob, Claire? I thought he'd be with you?" George asks as his sister meets them after school.
"He was kept after. We'll start for home and he can catch up. How was your day boys? I want to hear all about it."
"Uncle Matt came and took Caleb home to whip him! He caught him being hateful and teasing us and Timmy. When he talked to Caleb about it, Caleb lied to him. You should've see Uncle Matt's face. It was worse than Pa's when he's taking one of us to the tack room! His face was red and his eyes were shooting sparks he was so mad. I'm glad I am not Caleb having my butt warmed." Ben and George take turns telling their sister with Ben finishing the tale.
"Benjamin Cord! Don't say 'butt'. That's a nasty word! I'm just glad neither of you fought him. You were smart not to try or you'd be the boys getting a sore bottom as well."
Coming in chattering among themselves, the children see Delphie at the stove.
"Hello everyone, hurry and do your chores and homework. We'll need to be clean and ready to leave for town in an hour and a half."
"Hello Mama. We had a good day today." Ben answers. "Hello Delphie" the older children reply.
"Was your day good as well, Rob? Claire, how was your presentation of your theme?"
"Yes Ma'am, thank you. I need to get to chores." Rob answers trying to ease out of the room.
"Did you happen to have a need to leave school today, Rob? An errand for the teacher, perhaps?" Delphie asks.
"No, I didn't have any errands today, Ma'am. I do need to get changed and start chores so excuse me, please." Rob replies quickly, leaving Claire with the inquisitive future new stepmother.
"We didn't have to present our themes, just turn them in. Rob was scolded for not meeting Mr. Hiram's expectations today. So he's a little angry over that. Mr. Hiram is really tough on some people." Claire says making an excuse for her brother's actions.
"Ben! I told you before! Stop that running! You know better than to race up and down the platform this way. You are irritating the people waiting to board. Now Stop!" Rob calls after failing to grab the boy as he flew by for the fourth time.
"It's alright, Rob. He's just excited and eager to see Ethan." Delphie says as she smiles fondly at Ben who has just attached himself to her side that is the farthest away from his older brother.
"Nah, Rob! Mama said it didn't matter! So There Meanie!"
"You'll see how much a 'meanie' I can be if you run off again! I'll take you behind this depot and paddle your bare bottom! Now stay put!" Rob answers not caring if Delphie agrees with him or not.
"Behave, Ben. Pa will be here in just a few minutes. I heard the train whistle." Claire tells the excited boys.
"I see it! Look Ben! See the smoke in the air way down the tracks? HERE THEY COME!" George ends in a shout.
"George, please not so loud. My ear is now deaf." Claire teases as several people smile at the excited child.
"Stay away from the edge boys. The train hasn't stopped and we will be far back until it does." Delphie instructs taking the younger boys by their hands as she moves them back to stand against the small building.
"Yes Mama. Mama? When can we take a train somewhere? We haven't been anywhere on a train since Christmas before this year. We went to Denver then. I want to go back or go somewhere else. I liked the soft seats and we even got to sleep on the train. We had our own special car to ride in. It even had a W.C. in it. That was good because we had to go alot." Ben chatters.
George adds "Papa got a special car from a friend who lives in Denver and is a rich man. He took us out on his boat too. He has an automobile and a boat and a huge house and a mean bad son who got Rob and Joseph in trouble. The girl was nice though and she took us skating on a frozen pond. That was hard for me and Ben as we kept falling down. Joseph, Rob and Claire could do it but me... I meant to say, Ben and I, couldn't" He corrects himself at his sister's scolding look when he begins to say "me and Ben" the second time. Claire is prickly about correct grammar.
"That sounds as if you children had quite the adventure. You know something, Children? I'm terrible at ice skating. I've tried it but I seem to have slippery feet. My feet go one way and the rest of me goes another and then I'm sitting on a freezing bum." Delphie tells them causing the two young boys to giggle.
"Here's the train. Wait for it to stop before we move forward." Delphie reminds them as the train whistle blows and the train slows to a stop at the platform.
"PAPA!" Ben shouts as Ethan swings down from the train.
Waving at the boys, he turns to help Joseph down and reaches for their bags before greeting the family moving towards them.
"Hello family. Here's my boys. Have you two been behaving?" Ethan asks hugging both youngsters at once.
"They were little angels, Ethan. Welcome home. We missed you and Joseph." Delphie answers before anyone else.
"I missed you as well. We had a successful trip and an adventurous one as well. I'd like to go home before we share tales though. Joseph and I are quite tired."
"Oh, am I here as well?" Joseph teases as George hugs him around the waist. "I thought maybe I'd turned invisible all of a sudden as no one noticed me standing here holding these bags."
"Papa comes first. Hi, Joseph." Ben answers nonchalantly causing some laughter from the family.
"Well hello to you also little brother. If that's the best greeting I get, I may just not let you have what's in the crate we are taking home."
"What is it?" Ben asks.
"Never you mind about that right now, young man. Grab a bag or a parcel and let's get home. I am ready to see home again. It's only been a few days and yet it feels like a month." Ethan remarks as he puts his arm around Delphie's waist and walks to the waiting wagon.
Settled back into his soft chair, Ethan has Ben on one knee and George on the other.
"That was an excellent meal your Mama made wasn't it? The chicken and noodles were so tasty. I, for one also enjoyed the new potatos and rich wheat bread. That was a delight to go with the baked ham. We had a Thanksgiving feast tonight didn't we boys?"
"My favorite was the baked pudding. Mama makes the best Bread Pudding doesn't she George?"
"Yep. Even though we've never had anyone's but hers, hers is best. That thick cream sauce to pour over it is so good. Can we have some more, Papa?"
"You've already had two bowlfuls each. I think that will be enough. We'll have more for breakfast, as it will keep. Now, how about we see what is in the crate we brought home before I escort your Mama to town? Joseph?"
"Yes sir, I'll get it." Joseph says knowing what Ethan meant.
"Alright now, let's be calm as we don't want to scare them. These two little ones needed a new home. We bought them and they came on the train with us. Both are well behaved, hardly any noise and did their business right when we needed them to. Didn't they Joseph?"
"Everytime I took them to the stock car, they'd perform. Here we are, Thing One and Thing Two." Joseph declares lifting out the sleepy orange kitten and then the more awake gray one.
"Papa?" George whispers.
"Yes son?"
"Are ... can.. may.. Are they to keep?" He finally gets out.
"They are. Which one would you like to be responsible for? You have to take care of him, teach him good manners and love him."
"I like the orange one. The dark orange looks a little like the ginger Mama used in baking. I'll call him Ginger." George answers, gently rocking the kitten like a baby.
"I like the gray one best so that's fine with me." Ben says now walking around the room with the kitten right on his heels.
"Are you going to name him Smoke?" George asks.
"Nope."
"Fog? Mist? Steel? Metalhead?" Joseph asks, getting a strange look from Rob at his last suggestion.
"Nope. Look at how he follows me right at my feet. He's being my shadow. That's his name, Shadow. Shadows stay at your feet and are behind you right Claire?"
"Mostly, Ben. That's a lovely name for the little one. Are they going to live in the barn, Pa?"
Seeing both young boys whip their heads around to stare at him, Ethan answers "They'll be housecats but we'll let them go to the barn when we are there with them. Right now, they are in need of special care. When they are grown enough, we'll let them outside on their own."
"Thank you, Papa. Come Ginger, let me show you our room. You can sleep on one side of the bed and I'll take the other. We have to share the covers, okay?" George tells the kitten as he stands to leave.
"George, say goodbye to your Mama as she's going home for now." Ethan instructs.
"Bye Mama, see you soon. Thanks for coming to play and bake with us. I love you, Mama."
"You are quite welcome and I love you too. Good night everyone. I hope you have a good day tomorrow." Delphie answers, directing the last toward Rob who pretends she's addressing everyone.
"Bye Mama. I had fun with you here. Come stay with us again." Ben tells her as she and Ethan walk out to the porch.
After returning from making sure Delphie arrived safely, Ethan gathers the children and kittens around the table.
"I want all of you to see the ring I bought. Now mind, this is a secret. No blabbing Ben. I want it to be a special surprise for Delphie on our wedding day. The young jeweler designed this just for her." Ethan tells them as he opens the package to reveal a small velvet bag with string ties.
"That's not a ring, Papa. That's a little sack." Ben explains looking earnestly at his Pa. "I think you got cheated, Papa."
When the laughter from his older brothers and sister stops, Ben says "Well, he did! That's not a ring!"
"The ring is inside the bag, son. Now, here it is. What do you think, Claire?" he asks handing it to his daughter.
"It's lovely, Pa. Look boys, do you see how the top has lines that weave together? That's making a special figure, isn't it Pa?"
"It is. The young man said it's an Irish symbol. He called it a Celtic Knot, I believe. Do you like it as well, Rob, Ben, George?"
"It's nice, Papa. Mama will like it." Ben and George answer as one.
"I like it too, Pa. She'll be very happy with it." Rob answers.
Turning to his brother, Rob whispers, "Well Joseph, want to come help me with the chores? You can tell me all about your trip while they look at the ring."
Nodding, Joseph says "Pa? We'll do the barn chores now, alright?"
"Thank you boys. Claire, we were able to find the lace you requested. It's in one of the packages in my room. I'll find it for you tomorrow. Did you talk to the seamstress? Is she able to make the shawl you wanted?"
"I did find someone who can work up the lace into a shawl for Delphie. She's going to start as soon as I bring the lace."
"You actually got Pa to let you ride in a rodeo? I'm amazed! Then you won a prize? Wow, Joseph. That's wonderful. A whole dollar is a lot of money for a prize. What will you do with it?" Rob asks flicking a forkful of hay into the stall.
"I want to put it in the bank to build more money. Pa said it would grow over time. Rob, I met someone in Denver who will pay us big money to round up Mustangs. We could do it too, you and I together. As soon as we finish school, we can go get them. They're just over by the ridge, you know."
"Hmm, I do know. I also know there's more to this than you are saying. What else?"
"Pa didn't like it, how I went about finding the information on the buyer. I met a young guy about your age and he took me to his older brother. The older brother said he's buying and would pay fifty dollars! Pa said that was a scam. I don't think so though. Will you help? We can use the money to fix up the house for Pa. You know we need more room again."
"How did you get the information? What didn't Pa like?"
"I went in a saloon. I got a whipping for it too. I don't care though. I'm going to catch some Mustangs whether Pa approves or you help me! Come summer, I'm doing it!"
"I'll have to think it through, Joseph. It's a long time until summer, it's only the middle of March. Now, get those tossing arms busy. I'm doing all the work while you do all the talking."
"Yes sir, big brother. I missed you Bossy Pants. I suppose you had a great time being "In Charge"."
"It wasn't so great and I missed you too. I didn't get much help from the squirts so it's good to have you home. I may need a favor or two from you as well so I'll keep this Mustang idea quiet."
"What favor? Oh, and thanks. Pa will blowup at me if he thinks I'm not following instructions to leave those horses alone.
