Back on the Trail
Chapter 8 : Finding Lost Sheep
Back at the Ponderosa...
It had been a quiet ride back to the Ponderosa, Jamie knew that he was in trouble, and so was giving his Pa plenty of time to calm down.
Matt rode along thinking to himself and just how much trouble had he gotten himself into. If Mr. Cartwright had gotten a wire from his mom, she was very worried, and if he was to be kept at the Ponderosa he would have no chance to get home before his Dad. This trip was not turning out the way he had planned. He squirmed in the saddle, still feeling the sting of Mr. Cartwright's large hand. The man had not gone easy. Then another thought crossed his mind, Mr. Cartwright knew that he had lied about having permission. Something told Matt that this man was not one to tolerate deceit any better the defiance.
They stopped the horses in front of the barn. Matt almost jumped ten foot in the air, as Mr. Cartwright's booming voice startled him from his thoughts.
"Jamie, show Matt where to put his horse, then when the two of you are finished show him to the spare room. I expect both of you to stay in your rooms until I call you; Is that clear!"
"Yes sir, I'll take you horse, Pa." answered Jamie turning to Matt.
"Yes Sir, Mister Cartwright," answered Matt before following Jamie into the barn.
"You can put your saddle and tack over there," said Jamie pointing to an empty saddle stand. "You can put you horse in this stall; here, and you will find a brush hanging on that wall by the door." he instructed further, pulling Buck's saddle from his back and placing it where it belonged.
Both worked without talking for a few minutes, but as Jamie poured oats into the feed pan, Matt decided it was time to ask the question that was on his mind. "So Jamie how bad is this talk, your Pa says I am in for, going to be? I hate lectures," grumbled Matt, as he replace the brush he had been using.
"I'm not looking forward to it anymore than you. Speaking of which we had better get a move on before he has to send someone out to get us," answered Jamie, turning and heading for the house.
They silently cross the great room and climbed the stairs. "This is your room, mine across the hall," muttered Jamie, as the turned at the top of the stairs.
Without another word, Jamie stepped into his room and closed the door, leaving Matt standing in the hall. Shrugging, Matt entered his room and closed his door.
Jamie felt a bit rude leaving Matt like that, but he didn't want to admit that he was in for a tanning, or be the one to explain to Matt that a necessary talk, did not contain many words.
Jamie flop back on his bed. "Good glory what was I thinking... Joe warned me just last week that if Pa caught me playing cards, I be in a heap of sitting trouble."
In the eighteen months that he had called the Cartwright's his family, Jamie had been in trouble a time or two, but just enough to have extra chores or get his ears scorched good. The closest he had come to a tanning was the time he took the wagon down the steep road after Ben had told him that he was not experienced enough to handle the road. He had caused the death of a good horse and been very lucky that he had not been badly hurt. Looking back, he remembered wishing that Ben had taken a belt to him. He had felt so guilty. But, Ben had reasoned that it was just an accident; an expensive accident, yet an accident just the same and that the guilt Jamie felt was punishment enough. However, this was different; Ben had been very clear that he was too young to drink or gamble.
Jamie groaned; the only remorse he felt now was that he had gotten caught. He suspected he would feel the consequences of his actions in a much more physical way this time.
oOo
Meanwhile On The Way To Bear Creek Weigh Station...
Mrs. Carter, Luke and Laura had been traveling huddled in the back of that cramped wagon for three days. Luke was healing well, but Mrs. Carter had insisted that he not get out of her sight, except to visit the bushes and hurry right back. Luke and Laura had both become cranky. So it was no wonder he was filling desperate this morning as he sat cramped in the wagon, contemplating what to do. He had overheard Mr. Battles, the hired driver and Mrs. Carter talking last night. She was sure that her husband would be agreeable to raising, Luke, whom she had started calling Timmy, as their own. Especially, seeing as they had no way of knowing where he belonged. After all, if he was going to get his memory back, surely it would have happened by now, reasoned Isabelle. Inside something screamed at Luke. He could not let this happen. He felt strongly that he belonged somewhere to someone, and he was getting farther away from them every day.
"We're about a mile from the weigh station, Mrs. Carter. Didn't you say you were meeting your man there?" asked Mr. Battles.
"I sure am. Maybe we could stop up ahead at that creek and let me freshen up. I must look a mess."
Luke couldn't believe his ears this would have to be his chance. As soon as they stopped he would have to slip away...
oOo
Bill wandered onto the porch of the weigh station, smiling at the sleeping Wooster. Barney had not come back from the creek, so he had thought he'd better go round him up. Just as he rounded the back of the building, he heard a frantic woman shouting.
"Timmy, you come to me right this minute! I will give you to the count of ten, and if you have not come out, you will be sorry. I will give you the worse spanking of your life. One, two..."
Barney turned and ran toward the woman. "Ma'am my names, Barney West, and if you tell me what your little boy looks like, I'd be happy to help you look for him."
"Thank you young man...He's got blond curly hair and blue eyes. He's nine years old and about so high," answered Mrs. Carter holding her hand up about waist high. He's name is Timmy; Timmy Carter."
By this time, Luke was perched in the thick branches of a tree watching all of this. He was scared now and was not sure what to do. There were too many people around looking for him to sneak away. Luke kept still, listening to Mrs. Isabelle yelling out for Timmy. He didn't want to be caught now; she would for sure make good on her threat to take down his britches and give him the worst spanking of his young life. Panic filled Luke, as the boy Mrs. Isabelle had been talking to came straight for the tree he was hiding in.
Barney stopped right underneath the tree and mumbled to himself. "Now, if I were a little boy, where would I hide?"
Bill walked toward all the commotion, and watched as Barney crossed the creek and headed for the woods. "Barnaby Daniel West, freeze! Get back here. NOW!" Came the loud command.
Suddenly, Luke jumped from the tree and ran for that voice. He knew that voice...
Barney had frozen at the loud angry command, and now sprinted toward Bill on the heels of the younger boy. Barney was glad that the boy was running toward Bill.
Bill stared at the young boy running toward him; "Luke Spence, it can't be?" Bill rubbed his eyes with the back of his hand and reached out to catch the boy that leapt at him full speed. "Luke...what in tarnation..."
Luke burst into tears. He instantly recognized his own name. He wrapped his arms around Bill neck as tears shook his body.
The confused search party gathered around Bill.
"Timmy Carter, what do you mean running off like that?" asked Isabelle, as she stormed towards the man holding the lost child. "You just wait until I get hold of you..."
"Please Uncle Bill. Please don't let her spank me. I wasn't trying to be bad. I had to run. Please tell her I ain't a baby, and I ain't gotta go with her," cried Luke, as he clung tighter to Bill's shirt at the sound of the angry woman approaching.
"Luke, boy simmer down. Listen to me boy, I got ya. I promise no one is going to spank you. Now stop crying no one is going to take you anywhere." said Bill hugging the freighted boy tight.
Bill took one look at the woman in front of her. It was obvious the woman had been worried about Luke. She didn't look like a kidnapper or a criminal of any sort. If that had been the case, the woman sure wouldn't be approaching them so confidently. "Now, folks I think we should all go sit down and talk this thing out. I'm not sure just what's going on here, but I do know that this very freighted boy here is my nephew," announced Bill, as he turned and walked toward the front porch still carrying Luke.
Isabelle Carter was speechless, but at least glad the Luke was safe. The boy definitely knew this man that he held tight to. She took a breath and followed Bill towards the porch. When everyone sat down Bill sat Luke up on his lap, and took a deep breath before he began to speak.
"My names Bill Hawks. I'm with Chris Hale's wagon train. I was sent to meet a Mrs. Carter and her daughter. And as I said this young man is my nephew Luke Spence. Suppose you tell me Ma'am just how you come to have him?" asked Bill looking at the dumbfounded faces around him.
"I'm Mrs. Isabelle Carter, and this is my daughter Laura, and I came across young...ah... Luke, I believe it is, about three weeks ago. He was a might bruised and banged up and he had a raging fever. He was unconscious for most of the first two weeks. I cleaned him up and nursed him back to health. But, as his wounds healed, he still could not remember who he was or where he belonged. So, I decided that we would take him with us, until he got his memory back and we could contact his family. In the three weeks, I have not be able to learn much about him, Mr. Hawks. All I know is that, he can pitch a good fit, and don't like being called little," explained Isabelle with a smile.
Bill returned her warm and sincere smile. "Mrs. Isabelle, Luke here can be a bit of a hand full at times, but I would be willing to bet that most of your troubles with him were because he was hurt and confused..." Bill paused when Luke pulled Bill down and whispered into his ear.
"Mostly I was embarrassed, cause I didn't have no clothes on and she thought I was a baby. Tell her I am..." Luke had to struggle to remember exactly how old he was. Things were coming back slowly, but he was sure he wasn't nine years old as Mrs Carter had deemed. "Thirteen?"
"Twelve," whispered Bill as he smiled and hugged Luke's shoulder. "Miss Isabelle, Luke here just explained a lot. He says he was embarrassed. You see Luke is twelve, even if he's small. Well Ma'am boys at that age don't want anyone seeing them bare, not even their Ma's. Ain't that right, Luke?"
"Turning bright red, Luke answered, "Yes sir."
"I see. Luke I hope you can forgive a foolish woman. I was just trying to keep you safe. I never meant to scare you or mistreat you," replied Mrs. Isabelle, as tears came to her eyes.
Luke climbed down and walked over to Mrs. Isabelle."Please don't cry. I'm glad you and Laura took good care of me. I'll even admit; I deserved the spanking you gave me, cause Mom and Dad taught me to obey my elders... and I was pitching a fit. But, I really didn't want you to see me naked, and I do hate being called little. I wasn't running from you today; not really, I just knew that I belonged somewhere and I had to go find my family. I'm sorry that I worried you by running away ma'am," said Luke giving her a big hug.
"Thank you, Luke for explaining. I will always think of you as my little boy, but I am so very glad you have found your family."
"You're welcome ma'am, and now if you all will sit back. I will see if I can remember and explain just how I came to get in this mess. Ya see it all started when this new kid; Theodore James Nichols, moved into town. He has been picking on me every day and in every way he can think of. Well that has made me a grouch and I have been doing lots of dumb things, because I was not thinking too straight. I should have told someone about what he was doing, but I didn't want to be a tattle tale and have the fella think I was a baby, so I kept trying to figure it out myself. Uncle Bill, Uncle Charlie, you know how it is. Anyway, I ended up getting myself whacked, and walloped more times than I can count. I guess you would say I was running from my troubles. Mom and Dad and even Matt tried to get me to explain what was really happening. Even when Dad figured out that my backside was worn out, we laid on his bed and had a long talk, but I still would not tell him that T.J was bulling me. I didn't want him thinking I couldn't fight my own battles. So on Monday, when T.J started in first thing, I decided that I had had enough. I flew at him with both fist. I was so mad. He was hitting me hard, tore my shirt and my britches. But, I kept fighting. Then it happened...From out of nowhere, Mom came bustin' in. She was madder than a swarm of bees. She lit into T.J with a switch; sent him crying back to the schoolhouse, I bet. But, I was so confused and embarrassed. I just knew that everyone would call be a baby now; worse, a baby that had to have his mommy fight his battles. I grabbed a fist full of my britches and jumped on Thunder and lit out. I didn't know where I was going, because I was so mad at myself and everyone else I wasn't takin' any notice of the trail. Then the next thing I remember, is waking up in Mrs. Carter's cabin smelling chicken soup. And, besides being mortified that someone had taken my clothes off, I did not know who I was or where I was," finished a wide eyed Luke.
"Luke, Buddy, it's amazing you made it to us. I bet your folks are worried sick, don't you?"
"Yes Sir, but I didn't mean to worry them. What can we do?" asked Luke with a worried look on his face.
"Well, I reckon, Uncle Charlie here can help you with that How about he rides on into Otter Crossing. They have a telegraph station there. He can send your folks a wire letting them know we have found their lost sheep and will get you home safe," smiled Bill.
"Mrs. Isabelle, we will have to camp here for the night so Charlie will have time to send the message and get back to us. I trust you understand," said Bill looking at the now smiling woman holding little Laura.
oOo
Later that night, as Charlie mounted for the trip to Otter Crossing, Bill noticed that Luke had a worried look on his face.
"Whoa, what's the matter Luke?" he asked.
"Uncle Bill, I have broken all the rules. I took off without permission. I didn't stay on the trail. I worried everyone; most especially mom. I put myself in lot of danger... Do you think that Mom and Dad will figure that I deserve another walloping?' Or, even worse, mom will think it is all her fault. Uncle Charlie, tell her it's not. She can even use her hairbrush on me for worrying her when I get home. Please tell her it was not her fault," pleaded Luke.
Bill pulled him into a hug, and laughed over his head."It's all okay now, Champ. Your Mom and Dad will understand, now you stop worrying," said Bill out loud. Inward he was smiling, 'it sure was good to hear Luke sounding like his old self, even after all he had been through he was still wanting justice to win. He would take all the blame and a lickn' if his Mom just didn't blame herself,' mused Bill silently.
Meanwhile Back At Robert And Susan's...
Flint had finally gotten Mary to calm down and both were sleeping. Suddenly there was a thunderous shout and the family downstairs began to yell as they ran up the stairs toward Mary and Flint's room.
'PRAISE BE, PRAISE BE MARY, FLINT, PRAISE BE LUKE"S BEEN FONUD!'
The door to the bedroom flew open and Mark, Sammy and Amy all piled onto the bed with Susan and Robert trailing behind.
All started talking at once; "They found him; they found him..." Everyone hugged and shouted at once, while Robert stood back laughing, as he waved the wire.
"They can probably here this celebration clear to Otter Crossing," he shouted over the noise.
Everyone silenced at the same time and Mary looked up puzzled."Otter Crossing, where or what is that?" she asked, still hugging Sammy.
"That dear sister..." smiled Robert. "Is where Bill and Charlie found your son. Says here; he's fine except he's worried that you will think it is all your fault. Says; they will get him safely home to you quick as they can."
"Oh I wish I could hug him...Oh, but Bill and Charlie will. Flint, how on earth do you suppose he got to Bill and Charlie?" smiled Mary, so relieved and on the verge of happy tears, knowing Luke was with Bill and Charlie; with family.
"My love, I'm sure I do not know, but more importantly he did and he is safe and sound," smiled Flint, as he pulled her into a kiss amid all the giggling children on the bed.