Back on the Trail
Chapter 13:
(Recap)
Bill and the three boys waved their good-bye to the stage in Red Field. By late afternoon, and a couple of close calls with Bill, the boys had surveyed the town, its stores its saloon and the school yard baseball pitch. There they met some of the local boys and enjoyed a game before returning to Bill, ready for a good meal.
Back on the Trail
Chapter 14: Temptation's Penalty
Bill sat down and waited for the three boys to return, he smiled as they came smiling and orderly into the dining room looking polished and shined, for Sunday service, no sooner was the meal ordered then everyone was talking at once,
"Whri–it, whistled Bill. One at a time, one at a time"
"You should have seen Mrs. Opal. Uncle Bill she whirled and hopped and spun it was a sight and her legs were bare clean up to..."
"Luke, I think I get the picture," interrupted Bill, "Eat your dinner."
"I liked watching how fast the man could play the piano, he could spin around on the stool and never miss a note. I can't speak for you fellas, but I could have stayed and watched him all afternoon," beamed Barney.
"NUH- UH, Barn, you know you were more interested in a certain pretty blonde, and that..." Mark mumbled to a stop, he had almost dropped Barney in it; nearly mentioning the beer the saloon had given him.
"Hey, pa, did I tell you that Howard, one of the boys down at the school, said that his uncle Carl was on the Adams wagon train, when you all learned how to play baseball, and he came here and taught them to play. Isn't that exciting that we would meet someone here that was with you then," injected Barney quickly, hoping to stop Bill from noticing Mark's slip up.
"If its okay we are going to go back and play after we eat," spouted Mark quickly.
Bill smiled as he noticed that Barney called him pa, even if it was an attempt to distract him form what Mark had said, "That sounds good. I think I'll take the chance to get a bath and a shave. You boys come back to the room at four…And boys stay out of the saloon; pretty girls or otherwise, you hear?" ordered Bill noticing the blush of Barney's cheeks and the sparkle in the other two boys eyes.
"Yes Sir. May we be excused," echoed all three at once.
"Yes, but mind you stay out of trouble," answered Bill.
The boys hurriedly walked for the door. As soon as they made it to the porch, the race was on again. All at once Barney stopped when he heard someone shouting.
"Barney, hey Barney, come over here."
Barney looked all around as Mark and Luke came to a stop next to him. Just as Howard started to shout again, Luke pointed to where Howard was crouched behind a rain barrel in the alley just pass the saloon. All three boys turned and looked back toward the hotel before darting toward the alley.
"You fellas want to see something? Bet you ain't never seen nothing like it before," whispered Howard crouching low behind barrel.
"How you know we ain't never seen it," came Mark's retort.
"Cause, I bet you ain't never been inside a saloon," answered Howard.
"Shows what you know. We was in the saloon just this morning," bragged Luke thinking it made them sound big.
"Ya right, but I know you ain't never been upstairs in a saloon," smirked Howard.
"Okay so you're right. But, what's so special about the upstairs," smarted Barney.
"Come on Mark and Barney let's just go play ball. You know what Uncle Bill said. I don't want to make him mad," pleaded Luke knowing this invitation sounded too much like trouble.
"Pipe down pip squeak. I just decided that if you fellas wanna go you gotta ditch the whinny baby he will only get us caught," snorted Howard.
Barney and Matt looked at each other and then looked at Luke.
"Luke, can't you go on to the ball field. We'll meet you there in just a little while?" asked Barney.
"Come on Luke," pleaded Mark.
"I' ain't a baby, and I'm just as good at keeping secrets as you are. I wanna come too," growled Luke.
"No dice, I'm taking a big risk taking the two of you. If I take your little brother and we get caught, I'd be murdered for sure. Send him on his way, or no deal," warned Howard shaking his head.
"Come on Luke we will tell you all about it, and tomorrow I'll even sneak you back in to see Ms Opal dance" bargained Barney.
"Oh all right, but you better not be too long, cause if Uncle Bill comes asking, I'm not going to lie for you," grumbled Luke, as he jumped to his feet and ran for the school.
Howard, turned his attention to Barney and Mark,
"Now listen up; you have to follow right behind me and ya have to stay quiet. And most important if I yell RUN, it's every man for himself. You in, or out? Last chance!"
"In," said both boys, before ducking low and following Howard down the alley and up to a back stairway. Looking around nervously, the three darted up the stairs and into through the door. Putting his finger to his lips, Howard shushed them and moved quietly down the dimly lit hall way. Opening the door to what looked like a closet, Howard ushered Barney and Mark inside and closed the door.
"No matter what you see or hear you gotta stay quiet, we can't make a sound," spoke Howard in just barely above a whispered. "You face this wall and Mark you face that way." Howard reached over and removed a round plug form the wall in front of each boy.
They each leaned forward and pushed their eye against the small hole. Marks eyes grew wide; as he thought to himself, just wait until I can tell Luke what he missed. Right before him stood a very large woman wearing almost nothing.
Barney couldn't believe his eyes, either as he watched a very distinguished looking man undress and climb in the bed. With eyes as big as saucers, Barney covered his mouth, trying to stifle the gasp that almost escaped. In front of him, stood Ms Opal with her back to the peep hole. She began to slowly peel the black lace robe off her shoulders and down her back...
"What the HELL! there's a big pop eyed rat poking his eyeball through that wall," shouted the man as he scrambled for his clothes.
"RUN FELLAS RUN, don't let old man Fletcher catch you," shouted Howard flinging the door open and running down the hall.
Barney and Mark ran out the back door and down the alley. However, neither of the boys was looking where they were going. Mark darted out into the street and landed with a thud, and then Barney came tumbling down on top of him. Both were stunned as the dust swirled all around. They scrambled to their feet, a look of panic covered their faces.
"WHAT THE BLAZES!" thundered Bill form where he now sat indignant in the dust? He had just come out of the bathhouse and was headed to the saloon for a drink.
Mark and Barney were suddenly busy looking anywhere but at Bill as he got to his feet.
"On your feet," growled Bill, as he now brushed the dust from his clothes.
They quickly obeyed and now stood stiff in front of Bill on the boardwalk.
"Look up here boys, where's the fire?" asked Bill more than a little irritated.
Mark and Barney looked at each other, then down at the boardwalk, causing Bill to growl as he looked at the guilt-ridden faces before firing another question.
"What have you been up too? And where is Luke?"
Mark looked up and answered. "Playing ball," he said, before doping his eyes once more.
"I think the two of you had better go to the hotel, and WALK!" came Bills angry command.
"Yes Sir," answered both boys in unison as they stepped nervously passed Bill.
Bill shook his head and pulled out his watch as he but his hat back on his head. That beer would now have to wait. He wasn't sure what had gotten into Luke not coming back with the others, but he had better have a good answer. Bill thought to himself as he turned and started for the schoolyard.
The game was going well with Luke on the winning team, but the boy was not concentrating very well. Mark and Barney were over an hour late. Someone yelled; that's strike three it's our turn to bat. Luke turned to run form the outfield and froze in his tracks when faced with a very angry Bill marching toward him.
"I gotta go fellas see you," shouted Luke as he ran toward Bill. "Hey Uncle Bill."
"Don't you hey Uncle Bill me, didn't I tell the three of you to stay together?" roared Bill angrily.
"But Uncle Bill..."
"But nothing, I said stays together, and that's what I meant. Now I want you to get yourself back to the hotel room and I don't want you leaving until I get there now get!" shouted Bill, applying a firm swat; sending him on his way.
Luke wasted no time running on down the street. He wasn't sure how much trouble he was in, but he was sure that he didn't want to give uncle Bill reason to give him any more swats.
Bill stood watching Luke run toward the hotel. ' Now I really need that beer to calm my temper, those boys sure didn't stay out of trouble long.' As he walked back down the street toward the saloon a loud angry exchange caught his attention.
An angry man came stomping up the board walk holding a tall string bean of a boy by the arm as he ranted. "Boy I told you the last time, I am not running a peep show. This time I am not going to waste my breath. Who were the other two boys with you?" The boy just stared blankly; "Very well let's just see if my belt can get your attention." With that the large man turned and headed into the saloon dragging the boy toward the back room.
Bill followed them and stepped up to the bar. As the sound of a belt being applied, began to fill the room the barkeeper motioned to the piano player, who began to play a loud and lively tune.
"What'll it be cowboy?" asked the bar keeper returned his attention to Bill.
"Beer please," answered Bill. He paid for the beer and walked over to a corner table and sat down. As Bill took a slow drink he overheard the bar keeper talking to one of the barmaids.
"That boy of yours. I told him to stop sneaking in there and peeking at the costumers; bet he'll think twice about doing it again when the Boss get through with him.
"Bill was beginning to get a bad feeling. Hadn't that man wanted to know the names of two other boys? Maybe Bill had made a mistake assuming Luke was the one not where he belonged. Finishing his beer he stood and started out the door to get some answers of his own boys.
~oOo~
Luke climbed the stairs to room seven. He opened the door and stepped inside.
"Luke, did Uncle Bill find you?" Did you tell him where we were?" came the quick questions.
"I'll say he did," snapped Luke " And no I did not tell. He didn't give me a chance to tell him anything, just yelled about how we were suppose to stay together and sent me here to wait. Gave me a good smack before I left him.
"Did he say anything about us?" asked Barney.
"Nope, just what I already told you. Anyway what took you too so long? I was getting worried," said Luke sitting down on the edge of the bed next to Mark.
We almost got caught, and then when we ran out, we ran slap into Bill. We'll tell you later; I hear someone coming," answered Barney.
Bill came through the door dropping his hat on the bed post before pulling out the desk chair and turned it backward in front of the bed. He straddled it and sat down leaning his folded arms on the back as he glared at the three boys on the edge of the bed.
"It appears to me that the three of you have had quite the afternoon. Trouble is there seems to be some confusion as to just what you have been up to. I know that Luke was playing ball, and I know that you two were running wildly through the street. I'm not too happy about being knocked into the dust, but it also occurs to me that I assumed Luke was in the wrong for not staying together. I think that I may have acted hasty, in swatting you son," said Bill looking straight at Luke, before turning his gaze back on Barney and Mark.
"I want some answers, where were you two? And why were you running through town?
"Well, it's like this, Uncle Bill. We were going down to play ball and this friend of ours he wanted to show us his new pup; yea that it his new pup. Well Luke, he didn't want to come; he wanted to play ball. So we walked him down there and then we went with Howard to see the pup we were running to get back to the ball field, cause we knew you wanted us to stay together, that's when we a crashed into you. Sorry Uncle Bill," finished Mark dropping his eyes to his lap hoping his lie sound believable.
Bill leaned forward and stared at first Barney, then Luke and finally Mark. All three still had guilt written all over their faces.
"Luke come with me." Bill stood and opened the door that joined the two rooms."You two stay right where you are."Closing the door Bill looked down at Luke."So, you suddenly don't like puppies, that right?"
"No sir, I like puppies I just didn't want to get in trouble, so I went to play ball like you said," answered Luke.
Bill sat down on the bed and thought. He could tell by the look on Luke's face this was the truth, but he also knew that if he pressed the issue Luke would tell him where the other's had gone. Bill decided that he would let Barney and Mark answer for themselves.
"Luke, thank you for trying to stay out of trouble. I am sorry that I didn't give you a chance to explain earlier. You made the right choice, to go play ball. Now I want you to do me a favor; could you stay in here while I sort out the other two?"
"Yes, sir, I sure can, and Uncle Bill thanks for not making me squeal on them," answered Luke leaning in for a hug.
Bill walked back into the other room and looked down at the two boys.
"Barnaby, go in the other room and wait while I talk to Mark," commanded Bill in a tone that Barney knew not to question. He knew that Mark's puppy story would never fool Bill.
Once they were alone Bill wasted no time. "You deliberately disobeyed me and went to the saloon, and then you lied to me. Do you have any idea what kind of danger you put yourself in?" growled Bill
"Uncle Bill it's hard not to go along with the other fellas especially when they made it sound so exciting, but I knew I was doing wrong, that's why I made up the lie. Pretty stupid huh?"
"I wouldn't say stupid really, I'd say what the lie did was compound the trouble wouldn't you?"
"Yes sir, I guess I was a little embarrassed to admit where we really were, that was the reason I just let you think we were running from the ball field."
"Were you embarrassed or maybe you knew you had no business where you were? and by leading me to believe you were playing ball when in fact you were not; you in effect lied to me" said Bill with a very stern look.
"I hadn't thought of it that way sir…" answered Mark, not liking the tone of Bill's voice.
"I see, Mark, I want you to go around behind the hotel and cut me a switch, then I want you to come back up here and wait with Luke until I talk to Barnaby. While you're waiting you might apologize to Luke for getting him in trouble."
As Mark trudged out the front door of the Room Bill called sternly.
"Barnaby Daniel West, come here!"
Barney, didn't like the sound of that when he had not heard the sound of Bill's belt or even his hand pounding Mark's behind he had thought that maybe they were in the clear, but that tone and his full name told a different story. He was not going to make the same mistake that Mark did; he had never lied to Bill and would not start now.
Opening the door he began to explain as he crossed the room and stood in front of Bill.
"I'm sorry I disobey you and went to the saloon. We were going to play ball, then Howard, that's one of the boys we were playing with earlier, called us into the alley next to the saloon. He as much as dared us to come upstairs with him. Luke, he tried to tell us it was a bad idea, that's when Howard decided he was too young to go, and we talked him into going to the ball field instead. Then when we got upstairs, Howard he took us to a closet with holes in the wall, where we could watch... ahhh… folks doing private things." Barney's face began to turn bright red."I knew that I should not be there but... then everything went wrong the man spotted us and we had to run fast. That's when we came stampeding into you. I know I should have owned up sooner..." replied Barney before stopping and waiting for Bill's reply.
"Barnaby, I am disappointed in you, you deliberately disobeyed me. And on top of that you were evading the privacy of others. and young man, you are old enough to know that someone daring you to do something you know is wrong is no excuse." lectured Bill
"Yes sir, i am really sorry sir…" replied Barney
" I am proud that you told me the truth, but you know you're still in for a licking ... Bend over the end of the bed son," ordered Bill as he reached down and unbuckled his belt and pulled it through the loops.
~oOo~
Next door Luke's eyes went wide as Mark trudged through the door switch at his side. Just as Mark sat down next to Luke they heard the first lick of the belt land on Barney's denim clad backside. He let out a yelp and then a howl as the next lick echoed once it had landed.
"Ouch Pa, Ouch," called Barney as his behind began to burn.
Bill swung twice more cracking the belt just across the top of his thighs.
"Ouch Pa, it hurts Pa, Please" pleaded Barney.
Bill brought the belt down four more times. Then there was silence.
Mark and Luke also became really quiet as the waited in the room next door.
`~oOo~
Bill threw the belt on the bed and pulled Barney into his arms. "That's right son, I am your Pa, and you just remember that the next time you are tempted to disobey me," said Bill as he squeezed the boy tight, proud that Barney, had called him pa.
When Barney had calmed he sent him next door to send Mark in.
It's your turn Mark," said Barney softly, not bothering to hide the tears, knowing that they both had heard the lickn'.
Mark closed the door behind him and handed the switch to Bill.
Bill then sat down on the edge of the bed, laying the switch aside he pulled Mark to him.
"I want you to listen to me, Do you understand how dangerous, it is for you to be in a saloon alone? That man you were spying on could have had a gun? What were you thinking;" disobeying me and evading others' privacy?" growled Bill.
Mark looked at Bill with teary eyes but did not speak.
"Mark, I am very disappointed that you would lie to me, knowing that you lied to me once will cause me to doubt your word in the future. I want you to remember that lying carries a heavy penalty. I want you to bare you backside before you lean over the end of the bed," admonished Bill as he stood and picked up the switch.
As soon as Mark was in place, Bill laid down six strokes leaving six red strips. Mark lay crying as Bill snapped the switch in two and threw it onto the bed. He reached down and pulled the boys britches back into place, before sitting back down on the edge of the bed. Mark stood up and wrapped his arms around Bill, glad there was no need to act tough in front of him. " I'm sorry I lied Uncle Bill"
Bill followed Mark back to the other room and addressed all three boys.
"I think we should all rest quietly until it's time for dinner. I think we have all had enough adventure for one day don't you?" asked Bill giving Marks shoulder a squeeze. Luke you come with me and these two can stretch out on that bed."
~oOo~
Two hours later, Charlie stood in the door between room seven and room eight smiling. There was no doubt the boys had given Bill the usual run for his money. Bill and Luke lay face up on one bed with a belt and a broken switch lying on the end. And Barney and Mark lay on their stomachs on the other, their tear streaked faces visible from the side. Charlie let out a big laugh waking Bill.
"Bout time you got back, I'm near worn out, and ready to get back home and rest. What took you so long?" groused Bill with a big grin.
"Oh quit you growling. Chris is a waiting down in the dining room. I came up here to see what was keeping you?" retorted Charlie. "They joining us , or is sitting out of the question?" laughed Charlie.
"They might be a might sore, but they can sit. You roust those two, I'll roust this one," said Bill stepping over to the bed to shake Luke.
TBC