New Beginnings: A Fresh Start


From previous chapter: Caleb, upset at hearing his family is having a new baby has run straight into the corral with the wild horses at the Cord Ranch. His Pa and Ethan have been summoned.

{Reaching the fence, the men see Rob waving his arms as he shoos the horses away from the child.

"Caleb! PLEASE GOD! Talk to me, son." Matt calls climbing through the rails instead of over them.

"He's out cold Uncle Matt but he's breathing. The horse must not have really struck him as there's no marks on his head." Rob tells the men as they reach him.}


Chapter 54:

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"Let's get him inside, Matt. We'll have to examine him away from the horses."

"I just feel so helpless, Ethan. This is all my doing. If I hadn't broken the news of the baby the way I did, he wouldn't be hurt. I should have talked to him way before now. I just kept waiting for the time I felt was right and it never seemed to come. Should we send for Dr. Amy?"

"Let's get him inside and have Delphie examine him. She'll know whether or not we need Amy to come. Rob, Joseph, take the children home please. Take the boys to Chris and let them stay there until I come for them. I'll bring out a bag of clothes for tonight and tomorrow so they can stay the night if needed."

"Yes sir. I'll go hitch up the wagon. Joseph, you get the clothes. The kids were told to stay on the ship so they should be alright a few more minutes."

"Rob, you do the wagon but Joseph, you stay with the children. We don't need any more accidents today. I'll bring the clothes to you and explain to the boys what we're doing. By then we'll know whether or not I need you to stop and ask Dr. Amy to come. You'll need to go by Matt's place and get Linnea to bring back with you. She'll want to be here with Caleb."

"Yes sir." Both boys reply as they watch Matt carry Caleb inside.

"Pa?"

"Yes Joseph?"

"Is this going to be the same as when Ben was so sick? Is Caleb going to be alright do you think? If not is he going to be acting much younger the way Ben did? We tried to stop him Pa!"

"No one knows yet what is going to happen. I just need you to stay calm and reassure the children. Let's not jump to conclusions about what may or may not happen." Ethan says. Seeing the worry in the young teen's face, he wraps his arms around him for comfort.

"It's in God's hands, son. All we do now is pray and wait. God works in his own time and his own way. I understand your worry after watching what your brother went through. It took time but Ben is nearly back to where he should be for his age. Remember this, Joseph. You are not to blame for what happened nor is Rob. You and Rob did well getting to him and getting help as quickly as you did. Rob said he saw no marks on Caleb so that is good news. Just try to stay positive and not panic. Be strong as I know you are, Joseph. I need you to show that strength now."

"I will. Let me go stay with the kids as I know you want to go inside."


"Well, Matt and Linnea, I've examined him thoroughly and I don't see any marks at all. I don't see any evidence he was bitten or struck by hooves. He's breathing as if he's just asleep. Let's let him rest and we'll see if he wakes soon. He could have just panicked and his body sent him into sleep." Dr. Amy says coming back into the front room from the boy's bedroom where they have placed Caleb.

"When will he wake, Doctor? Shouldn't he be awake by now? It's been over two hours since he was in the corral."

"The body takes it's own time, Linnea. Let's try to be patient. Now, I would like a cup of tea if you have some."

"I'll fix it for you. We have fresh cream to use and cake as well if you'd like some." Claire replies moving to the stove to heat water.

"That's a good idea, Claire. Let's fix a plate of cake for everyone. We'll prepare coffee as well." Delphie says walking to the pantry for the coffee.

As Matt is sipping his third cup of coffee in the three hours he's been inside, everyone is startled to hear "PAPA! PAPA NO!'

Jumping from his chair, Matt rushes to Ben and George's bedroom. Finding Caleb awake and sitting up, his face wet with tears but murming "No, NO! Stop! Papa!".

"Caleb, hush now, calm down. You're safe." Matt asks as he snuggles the child close to his chest.

"Uff, Papa, tight."

Loosening his hold, Matt replies "I'm sorry. I was so worried, son. I thought you'd been badly hurt by a horse. Are you feeling alright, do you hurt anywhere?"

"Unh uh. Papa, are you mad? Am I in trouble with you?" Caleb whispers snuggling back into Matt's arms with his face buried.

"I'm not mad and you aren't going to be punished. Can you tell me what happened? Look, your Mama is here now, talk to us. What happened? Was it what I said about you looking after the baby? Is that why you ran into the corral the way you did?"

"I was upset but I was not trying to run into the corral. We weren't to go in there, Papa. I got to the fence and there was something little in with the horses. It was yellow and I thought it was Ben and George's kitten. I went after it."

"The kitten was in the house, son." Matt replies.

"What happened next?" Linnea asks having been stroking the boy's hair as she listened.

"The big reddish horse charged me and he reared up so tall. I thought he was going to hit me and I fell down on the ground. I heard Rob shouting and then I woke up in here. I need the outhouse real bad."

"I'll help you. Come let's go to the W.C." Matt says gathering the boy into his arms.

Settling the boy back into the bed, Matt says "Caleb, what I said about you looking after the baby. I didn't mean as the babysitter. I meant as the big brother. Son, we love all three of our children. You and the girls are my children and no one will ever replace you. You and the girls are so special to us that your Mama and I wanted to have another child to share with the three of you. This baby will be so lucky as it will have two big sisters and a big brother to teach it all it needs to know. Do you think you could be that big brother? The one who protects and teaches as well as plays with the baby?"

"The way Rob does with Ben and George? He looks after them and teaches them and sometimes punishes them."

"Yes that's exactly what I mean except we won't be punishing a baby. Babies don't do things to need correction for quite some time or so I've been told. Caleb, you and I will be learning to take care of the baby together. I've never had a baby to look after before. Will you be my partner in baby care, son? I think I'm going to need a guy to balance out the girls knowing everything about babies."

"I can do that. I know now that you didn't mean you were going to not want me. I just thought you meant to give me away when you got a new boy. I don't want to have to have another new Mama and Papa. I want to stay with you. I'm trying to be a better boy and not get in trouble all the time."

"Caleb, look at me and listen, son. First, I would never give you away. You are my son. It has nothing to do with how you behave at all. You are our child and nothing will change that. I could have six more sons but you are my first and that makes you extra special. Second, We don't know if the baby is a boy. It could very well be a little sister for all of you."

"SIX? We're having six babies?" Caleb asks in astonishment having focused on that one piece of Matt's talk.

"No, of course not. No one has six babies at a time. One will do for now. Look, here's Dr. Amy. I think she'd like to look you over to see if you are well enough to go home."


Two weeks later coming in from school, Rob finds Delphie balancing on a chair in the front room. Immediately dropping his books where he stands, he moves behind her.

"Delphie! You shouldn't be up on that chair like that! You could fall! Are you measuring for new curtains?"

"Hello yourself, Rob. How was school today? Is it getting any better having to go four days?"

"You didn't anwer my question. What are you doing?"

"You sound just like Ethan when you say 'You didn't answer my question' in that way. Yes, I'm replacing the drapes. Claire and I have new ones planned but I needed to know the width of the window. Now, I answered you so you do the same."

"School has been better since you showed me how to work that new arithmetic Mr. Hiram's so enthralled with. Mr. Hiram actually gave me a B on the last test. That plus the straight A grades in every other subject is pleasing Pa. You talked him into letting me have weekends off restriction as well. Thank you for helping me with both of those things. Cecily was going to leave me for someone else if I didn't start taking her around soon. Everyone else is taking their girls to the lake and for buggy rides or long walks. She was feeling left out because I couldn't leave the ranch."

"You are welcome. See there, I can be useful. Maybe having me around won't be so difficult. I can get your Pa to reduce punishment or not give punishment at all." Delphie replies with a wink.

"I don't know about that last one. Once he makes up his mind he doesn't change it very often. What he says goes! Joseph best remember that!"

"Joseph? What do you mean?"

"Hmm? Oh, nothing. Just talking to myself."

"Rob, tell me or I'll just mention it to Ethan that you know something about your brother but won't tell me what it is. He'll be demanding to know and you'll have to tell him."

"Fine, but you can't tell Pa. Joseph just might wind up getting his britches warmed if you did. He's working with the mares on blanket training. Pa told us both, after Caleb's scare, we were to stay away from this group of horses. He's working with them alone or so he thinks. Joseph gets me to tie the stallions to the far side of the corral so he can work with the mares. He's been at it for the whole two weeks since the accident. Pa would not be pleased."

"Aren't you working the horses as well?"

"No Ma'am. I don't want to have any more meetings in the tack room with Pa, ever. He said we weren't to work with the horses so I'm not. Well, I have some chores I need to get done. The rest of the crew will be home in a while. Claire took the little boys to the store with her and Joseph is going to be just a little late."

"Why is Joseph going to be a little late? What are you not telling me?"

"You really are getting good at this mother instinct thing. He has to stay after school for thirty minutes, Mr. Davis said Joseph and Theo were not paying attention to the lesson during Mathematics and then again in History. They were drawing on a slate instead. I'm off to chores. Stay off that chair or Pa will not be pleased."

"You are my boss and can issue orders, is that correct?" Delphie asks now facing the boy with hands on her hips.

"No ma'am. I'm sorry for how I sounded. Please stay off the chair. I don't want to have the boys upset by finding you hurt on the floor when they come in." Rob answers, blushing at the scolding look he's receiving.

"I will do as you ask. You tell that young stubborn brother to keep himself safe or I'll have something to say about it! I won't mention anything to Ethan as Joseph is trying to help."

"Thanks and I'll talk to him for you but as you said he's very stubborn. He's very much like Pa in that if he makes up his mind to do something he will go all out to do it no matter the consequences. According to Claire that caused him a lot of unpleasant consequences with Pa when they first came here. He wound up in trouble often."

"I have seen that determination and in some ways that's a good trait to have. You have it as well, you know."

"Yes Ma'am but I can usually avoid the unpleasant consequences from it. I know when to stop but Joseph hasn't quite figured it out yet. I see it in Ben as well but so far he's too young to get into big trouble. I really need to get to work. I have chores waiting." Rob answers.

"I'll see you for supper then. I have a good imitation Irish stew simmering. I used chicken instead of lamb so it isn't exact."

"With soda bread?"

"Yes and I plan to do apple barley pudding as well."

"I love that bread. I'll hurry with the chores so I can help with the cooking. You may need an extra hand."

"That I may. Off with you now before you lose daylight and get scolded for not finishing your chores."


By the time the weekend comes, Rob is more than ready for time away from punishment chores and school. Friday afternoon he walks into the barn after finally completing the fence repair only to find Joseph sitting on a bale of hay.

"Hi there kid, what are you doing just sitting here? You'd best get these stalls cleaned out before Pa gets home. You left it this morning and lucky for you Pa had to go in early and hasn't been back home. You know how he feels about chores left unfinished."

Not getting a response from his brother, Rob continues on to clean and put up the tools he's been working with. Coming back out of the tack room fifteen minutes later, he finds Joseph in the same spot looking upset.

"Why so glum, chum? Did you get a note sent home from school? Have you done something? What's the problem?"

"Promise you won't tell? I'll be in tremendous trouble if you do."

"I can't make that promise, Joseph. I'll do my best to help you though and won't say anything unless I have to. That's the best I can do."

At his brother's glare, he adds "Joseph, there are times when saying something is needed if someone needs help. I can't keep quiet if asked a direct question either. That's lying. Lying leads to trouble and the last thing I want is more punishment. I just managed to get my punishment reduced and I am NOT going to do anything to get more. So do you want me to help you with whatever it is or do you want to sit there and sulk over it?"

"I can't move my left arm. I woke up this morning and my arm wouldn't move. I can't rake and lift the pitchfork to pile the dirty hay or place new down with one arm. I thought maybe it would get better during the day. It hasn't and it's aching really fiercely too."

"Did you fall from something? How did you hurt your arm?" Then thinking about Joseph saying he'd be in trouble he asks "Have you been swinging out of the hayloft door again and hurt your arm that way? You didn't fall off the pulley rope did you? Pa will skin you if you've been doing that again."

"No, and it's my shoulder, the back of it actually."

"Let me see it. Maybe if I put some linement on and rub it in that will help. Maybe you just over used your muscles. I know it's happened to me before."

Standing and unbuttoning his shirt, Joseph hisses in pain as he pulls it off revealing his back to his brother.

"Joseph! This is infected! It's oozing yellow already. When did this happen and what did you do to have a cut this size on the top of your shoulder?"

"It's not really a cut. It's a bite. The ornery piebald mare bit me! I've been trying to teach her to accept a saddle and she is so against having it on. I lost my temper after she bucked it off for the fifth time and well, I struck her. That's when she bit me!"

"You hit the horse? With your hand? When did this happen?"

"Tuesday afternoon after school. Rob? I didn't use my hand." Joseph says looking extremely ashamed to admit it.

"If not your hand then what?"

"A quirt. I slapped it on her withers and back. Rob, I was very mad and it left a small cut. I'm really sorry. Now she won't even come near me."

"You hit a horse with a riding quirt? Joseph! You know not to strike an animal! You only use the quirt to tap as a guide not hit them! No wonder she bit you! Now I see why you said you'd be in tremendous trouble. I sure wouldn't want to be in your boots if Pa finds out you used a quirt to punish a horse!"

"What am I going to do though?"

"We're going to have to tell Joseph. You have an infected wound. It's not going to get better without some treatment. I'll look after your chores and check on the mare. You go in and lie down. I'll think of how to approach Delphie with the problem. Maybe we can get this taken care of without Pa having to know. I'll try anyway."

"Thanks Rob! You are the best!"

"When that shoulder gets better, you will be doing all of my barn chores as well as yours for a week. You will also wash, oil and wax every saddle we own! While you are doing that you can think of how it would feel if you had a quirt on your back! I'm serious so don't even try to talk me out of this."

"I'll do the chores and saddles. Just please don't tell Pa! I'll do anything you tell me to do if you don't tell."


"Delphie?" Rob asks having checked the horse and found the small cut nearly invisible and healing.

"Hmm?" Delphie asks as she continues to push the needle through the material for the new curtains.

"I need your help but I also need you to keep a secret from Pa. Will you do that?"

Looking up at the worried face of her soon to be eldest child, she asks "What have you gotten yourself into this time? Honestly, you just said not long ago you were staying out of trouble."

"It isn't me who's in trouble. Joseph has an injury that needs medicine. He wants to keep it from Pa. Will you help?"

"An injury? Is that why he went to his room? I knew something was wrong for the last two days. He's been too quiet. Let me get the medicine kit and we'll have a look."

"And you'll not say anything to Pa?" Rob asks.

"I don't like keeping secrets from Ethan, Rob."

"Pa will definitely give Joseph a whipping for this. I'm thinking he might use the strap, Delphie. I'm trying to keep that from happening. Joseph has already been taught a lesson and I've assigned punishment as well. We don't need to bother Pa with this, alright?"

"I'll do my best but if I have to, I will tell him."

"Yes Ma'am. Thank you."


Looking over the boy's injury, Delphie can see it is a bite mark. After washing it with soap and water, putting the paste on and bandaging as best she can, she eases the shirt back up.

"Alright Joseph, I've done my best to clean and treat this. You'll have to have me wash and treat it several times a day and if it gets worse, we'll be going to Amy. She'll have to give you an injection. Now, I want to hear the truth. What happened to cause you to have a bite on your shoulder this way?"

"Please Mama, don't tell Pa. He'll be so disappointed and mad too. I'll tell you but don't tell, okay?"

"i've already told your brother, I'd do my best not to say anything unless I have to do so. Now out with it. What did you do, young man?"

"I got mad and hit one of the mares with a quirt. She bit me. I didn't want Pa to know so I kept quiet. He'll ban me from working with horses, Mama! I have to be able to help with our Army horses when we get them. I really like working with the horses. I just lost my head for a minute. I won't do it again, I promise."

"Joseph, mistreating an animal is cruel. She did right to punish you although I do wish you had only a small nip not a full bite. If I hear of you mistreating an animal again young sir, you'll be copying whole chapters of the bible, lose dessert for a week and going to bed before George as well! An dtuigeann tu' me'?"

Recognizing the last as something she's said in Irish before, Joseph ducks his head at the reprimand. "Yes Mama. I understand you and I won't do it again. I swear!"

"No swearing in this home, Joseph! Now you stay here and heal."

"Yes ma'am." Joseph replies quietly as Rob sends him a grin behind Delphie's back. It's amusing him to hear his younger brother scolded by Delphie as Joseph has always been her special one.

None of them have noticed the inquisitive young boy listening in the doorway. Hearing his brother be fiercely scolded, Ben leaves to go find George. This is something he can't wait to tell. Mama just fussed out Joseph! Mama hardly ever scolds the big kids! Besides that, Joseph is hiding a secret!


"George! Guess what! Joseph just got in trouble with Mama! She said she might make him copy whole chapters from the Bible, lose dessert and go to bed before we do!" Ben announces running into the barn.

"Aww Ben, stop teasing. You know Mama doesn't get mad like that. Why are you making it up?"

"I'm NOT making it up! I heard her myself! Joseph has a hurt shoulder. She was telling him he might have to get a inpection from Dr. Amy. Inpection really hurts so I hope he doesn't have to get one."

"Inspections don't hurt. That just means to look at something. You aren't using the right word, Ben. You didn't hear it right."

"She did say he would have to go to Dr. Amy if it didn't get better. I DID SO HEAR RIGHT!" Ben replies loudly while stomping his foot.

"Benjamin Cord! Stop that shouting! I could hear your voice from the yard. You know not to raise your voice around horses. What is all this about?" both boys hear behind them.

"George is correcting me. I don't like it." Ben tells his Pa.

"I see. Well, settle your argument quietly. The two of you have chores waiting. Get to work and no more shouting. I expect your part of the stalls clean, the horses fed for the night, both of you washed and at the table for supper in thirty minutes. Get to it!"

"Yes Papa." George replies grabbing the hay rake.

After making sure his Pa has gone inside, George whispers "Papa is so grumpy lately. All week long he's not been fun to be with. I want my Papa back not this fussy person."

"I know. Rob is fussy too. He's so bossy lately. Now Mama is getting fussy. I wonder if Claire will too? Is everyone mad at us? What did we do wrong? We were good at Uncle Chris' house. We didn't do anything wrong at the party so what did we do?"

"I don't know Ben. Help me with the chores or we'll be in trouble. I can't do it all myself."


Having been thinking all during chores and then during supper, Ben finally asks "Mama? Why do inpections hurt so much? Can't you make them not hurt and why do we have to get it in the bottom? That makes my bottom hurt. I hope Joseph doesn't need one."

"Ben! Don't talk about your bottom at the table! Besides that word is injection." Claire scolds as Ethan asks "What do you mean about Joseph son?"

Watching his second oldest turn pale and seeing the look swapped between Joseph and Rob, Ethan asks "What is going on? Why would Joseph need an injection?"

"It's nothing Pa. Ben's just mixed up is all." Rob hurries to answer before the situation gets worse.

"I am NOT mixed up! Everyone keeps saying I heard wrong and I'm mixed up! I heard RIGHT! Mama said it!" Ben declares forcefully while giving his oldest brother his best frown and mad face.

"Just what did you hear your Mama say, Ben?" Ethan asks.

"It's fine, Ethan. I took care of it. Let's just finish our meal, shall we? Claire, this is a wonderful meal. What type of grain did you use in the bread?"

"This is a fine meal but you are all trying to keep me from knowing something. What is going on and no more stalling! Delphinium what do you know?"