Back on the Trail
Chapter 15: Tall Tales
Bill pulled the wagon along the side of the trail.
"Alright boys, hop out and stretch your legs a bit and take care of yer necessary business, then we can dig into some of the vittles your uncle Charlie was wise enough to have the hotel fix for us." Bill smiled, as he watched all three of the boys climb down carefully and walk around.
As soon as Bill and Charlie were out of hearing range, the older boys pounced on their younger brother.
"Out with it Luke we know you done got a lickn' what'd you do?" They huddled close to listen.
"What makes you say that?" Luke asked, knowing he was in control with them dying to know.
"Come on, Luke we seen you a squirmin' at breakfast, and everyone for miles around could hear your howling behind the hotel," reasoned Mark.
"Yea, Luke, you know that we'd tell you if we did something," pleaded Barney.
"Boys, let's eat," bellowed Charlie.
Luke grinned, "Sorry fella's; gotta run."
Mark and Barney both nearly doubled over with laughter when after only two quick bounces, Luke stopped gave his hind quarter a quick rub and walked away slowly.
Cumberland California…Susan and Robert are looking after Samantha.
"Why Susan, what a nice surprise. What brings you to the office?" Asked Robert flashing her a smile, as he pulled her into his arms for a kiss.
Emily is looking after Sammy and Amy, and I thought it would be a good chance for a walk. I stopped in and collected the mail, and on the way out Henry stopped and handed me a telegram. It's from Bill and Charlie, it says they should be here by tomorrow. The one we got yesterday from Flint and Mary says they should be here by Saturday," smiled Susan as she took the chair across from Roberts desk.
"That's nice, it will be good to have everyone home again," responded Robert.
"I've been thinking why don't we get the folks around here for a welcome home barbeque?" enthused Susan.
Robert laughed at Susan excitement. "Sounds like a good idea to me. Just let me get my papers together and I'll walk you back to the house and then we can tell Emily that we will be out for a while. We can go talk to Ty; I'm sure he would like to be in on the celebration," suggested Robert as he began shuffling papers into his case.
"But, it's only a little after one. What about office hours?"questioned Susan, as she had not expected him to stop work.
"Honey, I do declare that I am long overdue a walk with my beautiful princess," answered Robert. He took her hand and locked the door behind them; all with a sparkle in his eye.
~oOo~
"Ty, it's settled then; you'll take care of the barbecue and Susan will get some of the ladies together for side dishes and decoration. I'll get Tom and Henry to help spread the word. How about four o'clock Saturday; that way if the eleven o'clock stage is late, we won't have people standing around worried," reasoned Robert.
"That's only two days, but I'm sure we can pull it all together. I'm sure that Bill, Charlie and the boys will pitch in once they get here tomorrow. You just let me know if you need anything at all, Susan," offered Ty.
"We'll do that. I think we will ride on out to the Turner place and invite them; that way we can ask Ted to bring his fiddle?" suggested Robert as he stood and offered Susan his hand.
"Well it was nice to see you folks. How is that little Sammy girl? I've sure been missing her around here. Matter of a fact, I've missed all the youngin's; it been a might too quiet round here!" Laughed Ty.
"She's just a bundle of energy. To tell you the truth, I think I may miss her more than Susan and the girls. I had forgotten how much fun it was to have little ones around," smiled Robert. He shook Ty's hand before climbing up into the buggy beside Susan.
Back on the trail…
All through the noon meal, they watched Luke squirm. The more he tried to sit still the more he squirmed. Boy he must have got it good, ran through both boys thoughts. They looked at each other, and without a word knew that they had to find out what Luke had been up too.
Barney suddenly got an idea. When he finished his chicken, he stood and motioned for Mark to follow him.
"Pa, can we go to the stream and wash our hands?" he asked.
"Yes, Son, but don't be long we need to get a move on," said Bill.
They trooped off toward the water smiling.
"What do you suppose Luke did? It sure sounded like Pa was laying it on him hard," said Barney.
"Well, I don't know what it was, but I noticed at breakfast he had been crying and wasn't sitting to good, he musta got a swat or two earlier this morning and then the lickn' we heard on top of that. But you can't figure on how bad the lickn' was just by the noise Luke makes; he screams loud enough for the Comanche to hear him, even if he just get a little whack with mom's spoon," revealed Mark.
"I don't know about you, but I really want to know what he did. Besides he's having way to much fun knowing that we don't know," smirked Mark.
"Maybe if we make like we think he's just being a baby about it, he'll get mad and tell us what he did. You know how he hates for anyone to think he's a baby," said Barney.
"That might work. I'll bet it was something really lame, but I think I know how to make him tell us. Just follow my lead?" replied Mark with a sinister laugh.
The two boys began to whisper as they got closer to Luke. They clamored up into the wagon and sat cross legged on either side with their backs against the wagon seat, leaving Luke no choice but to sit at the back of the wagon. Just as planned, it wasn't long before Luke was stretched out across the end of the wagon giving his sore backside a break. Mark grinned and he and Barney began shifting the supplies around and sprawled out on their bellies. This put all three boys heads at the back of the wagon, if they whispered they were certain that Bill and Charlie would not hear a word.
Mark propped his head on his elbow and looked right at Barney.
" Did you see how Luke eased himself around when we ate? I bet your pa gave him a little spankin' for sassing or something."
" It had to be some baby thing. Probably only spanked him with his hand, cause if he had used his belt like he did me, Luke would still be a yelping and a cryin'," added Barney with a wink.
"That just goes to show what you know, it weren't no little spankin," snapped Luke, giving the both a sullen snarl.
"You didn't get no switchn' like me. Uncle Bill probably just growled at you loud and you started crying," retorted Mark giving Barney a sideways poke with his elbow, knowing by Luke's look that they almost had him.
"I tell you what, Mark, when we stop for camp tonight, we'll asked to go swimming and we'll just see; I bet you and me both still got red strips on our butts and Luke's won't even be red, and he got his this morning not last night," whispered Barney and throwing a smirk towards Luke.
"I bet that Uncle Bill done put him over his knee and swatted his britches a few times, and he's a acting like he done got the granddaddy of them all tanning," laughed Mark.
"That's what you fella's think. Well you just scoot on up here and we'll see who just making a fuss. I'll tell you all about my adventure, you'll see!"
Barney and Mark huddled really close as Luke started his tale.
"I woke up really early this morning; it was around three. Uncle Bill and Charlie were snoring, and you two were laying next to me sawing logs. Well you both know that I was mad when I went to bed; on account of not getting in on your adventure and then with you getting caught; you wouldn't even tell me about it. Then to top that off, you backed out on sneaking me in to see Miss Opal dance. So, I got me a grand idea. I slipped quietly into my clothes and carried my boots before I snuck out the door to Charlie's room. I slipped down the stairs. There was no one moving; the man at the front desk was leaned back in a chair sound asleep. When I hit the street, it was so still and quiet, it was almost spooky. I took off running for the alley next to the saloon. I was going to see for myself what ya'll wouldn't tell me about, so I walked up to that back door bold as brass."
"Gosh, I wish I could have see ya..." gasped Mark.
"Shush; go on Luke then what happened," encouraged Barney.
"I open the door, real slow; that's when I started getting nervous. What if Uncle Bill was right and these places were dangerous? I slipped in and left the door open just a crack; in case I needed to make a fast getaway. It was pitch black, when I started down the first hall. I was so nervous, when I got to the first door; I couldn't even turn the door knob. I looked down the hall and noticed an open door. So, I decided to start there. I darted into the room and crouched behind a big chair. When I was sure that no one knew that I was there, I started looking around. There was a small candle still burning on the table by the bed, so I could see around the room; a bed two chairs and a table by the window. There was someone sleeping on the bed, so I slipped back out and went to the next room, but it was empty. I sneaked into lots of rooms and all I seen was lots of ladies sleeping. I was starting to think that you and Barney were just trying to poke fun at me, cause all I was seeing was ladies sleeping. I didn't even see a naked toe. I was headed for the back door, when I decided that I needed something to prove to you fella's that I'd been there. I decided that I would go into that first room right at the top of the stairs, after all it was close to the door. I opened the door so slow that it didn't even dare to squeak! I started to feel my way along the dark wall. I found a dressing table and started feeling for something. I figured that there would be some little trinket there. I stood up right in front of the mirror, the only thing on top was a comb and brush set. That's when I decided to open the top drawer… and there it was the perfect thing..." Luke looked at his brother and Barney, they were so tied up in the story, they were holding their breath. With a deep breath he started again.
"It was the smallest gun that I had ever seen. I had just slipped it into my pocket when someone down the hall started yelling. Then all at once, I found myself staring right into Miss Opal's eyes. She wasn't all bubbly and happy neither.
'What the devil you doing in my bedroom boy? Ain't nobody never taught you to respect other people's privacy? 'Why what I ought to do is paddle you right good...'
Her eyes was so mad, and she grabbed hold of my arm; I figured that I was really in for it, when just then a loud voice yelled… OPAL! Get down here!" She glanced over her shoulder and pushed me down on the bed.
' Now you listen here, you stay right there until I get back for you. Mr. Fletcher won't take kindly to you being here, so if you know what good for you you'll stay right here until I get back,' she growled as she threw the bedspread over me, before turning and hurrying down the hall. I don't know how long she was gone, but I was scared, and when she came back she took me by the hand and hurried be out the back door. 'And don't you come back she hissed before she closed and locked the door...
Now, Luke knew that this part of the story was what they were waiting for, they had wanted to know what kind of trouble he had gotten in. Well only he knew that he had gotten back to the hotel just as Bill had stepped out and gotten two quick swats for leaving the room without telling anyone, and one more swat in the dining room when Uncle Bill hadn't like the way he'd said 'Sorry' with a smirk, that; sounded too babyish, so he decided to add just a bit more to make a better story.
"What about the lickn' you musta got caught or something," prompted Mark.
"I'm getting to that, I'm almost there," said Luke in a low whisper.
"I went sneaking back upstairs, everybody was sound asleep. Just as I got stretched out on my bed roll the sun started to rise. Uncle Bill started to stir, so I pretended to be asleep. I had my hand in my pocket running my fingers over the little gun when I felt someone standing over me. I opened my eyes to see a very angry Uncle Bill. He reached down and threw my blanket back seeing that I had on all my clothes. He growled and the next thing I knew, he flung me over his shoulder like a feed sack and out the door we went. He carried me through the kitchen and out the back door. I was still over his shoulder, I was getting sick at my stomach. I wasn't sure if it was from all the trouble I figured I was in, or from the hangin' upside down.
Just outside the back door Uncle Bill stood me on my feet. I shook my head and opened my eyes there stood Miss Opal. Uncle Bill looked down at me and says… 'this the boy ma'am,' she answered, 'yes sir.'
He didn't even let me explain he sat down right there in front of her and pulled me over his knee. I bet he gave me twenty swats and they were really hard. Then he made me stand up and tell her I was sorry. After that he marched me into the dining room, promising that we would finish a discussion about my sneaking out later and swatted me right in front of the whole dining room, as he ordered me to sit."
"I bet your face was as red as your backside," said Mark.
"I reckon so," shrugged Luke, before continuing. "Then just when I thought that my butt would be safe until tonight when we made camp, Miss Opal, she came back down the sidewalk, telling uncle Bill about the gun. I turned ghost white when he says hand it over then he tells her that she can give me a lickn if she wants to, or he can put me over his knee right then and there. He marched me over to the woodpile and set my backside on fire again, then he stood me up and started lecturing me about the last time I touched a gun, and the promise he made when he painted my bullet necklace red."
Luke blushed a little when he could tell from their looks that both boys remembered the whipping Luke had gotten for touching the gun. "Well you know Uncle Bill keeps his promises. So he stood up and cut a switch. Then I had to take down my britches and he used that switch on my bare backside, and it hurt really bad, cause he done already whacked the stuffn' out of my hide with his big old hand. So, you see it wasn't no little spankn'. I bet ya I still got really red strips back there, too," finished Luke giving his backside a quick rub.
"Gosh Luke, you sure got in a lot of trouble, and in front of a lady. I'm glad Pa didn't drag me in front of Miss Opal for my lickn'," said Barney.
"Ya Luke, I'm sorry; if we had just told you what we seen, we could have saved you a lickn'," answered Mark.
"That's okay, but what I don't understand is what was so great about seeing a bunch of ladies sleeping. It was not worth the sore backside I got." said Luke.
"You're right little brother; not worth it at all, not at all..." said both Barney and Mark giving each other a quick grin.
~oOo~
"Mary, it's been a long trip and I know that I for one am ready to get home, but we have been cramped in this stage for days. Why don't we get a room in town tonight, and then we can take the early stage home tomorrow?" asked Flint as he leaned over and gave Mary a quick kiss.
"Oh Flint, I am all stiff and cramped, a hot bath and a long soak would do a body good, but I couldn't enjoy it if it will delay us another day getting back to see my baby girl and the boys," fretted Mary.
"My beautiful Ocean Pearl; always worried about the babies; even that biggest one stretched out sleeping over there. We would not be delayed an additional day just a couple of hours, as this stage will stop only briefly in town and then go another two hours to the Kenton way station for the night, but that would mean sleeping in the coach or on the ground," answered Flint.
"In that case, my love I would love a hot bath and a soft bed for the night," giggled Mary as Flint was tickling her neck.
"That settles it then we get off at the next stop."
"Huh, what, did I miss something," mumbled Matt as he stretched and sat up on the seat across from them.
"Nothing important, just that we are going to get off at the next town and enjoy a hot bath and soft bed for the night. Then it's home and back to work tomorrow," replied Flint.
~oOo~
Early Friday morning the fella's had packed up camp and struck out for home. If their luck held, they would be home by noon. Bill smiled as Luke came climbing over the wagon seat and wedged himself between him and Charlie.
"Something on your mind, Little buddy?"
"Yes and no. I mean; I was just kinda wondering bout something," muttered Luke.
"Shoot, or is it something you want to ask in private?" questioned Bill.
"Well, no it's not exactly private. I kinda don't want Mark and Barney hearing, but their asleep, so I can ask you now." Luke replied quietly.
"Is this about your telling them that tall tale about you getting a lickn' in front of Miss Opal, after I done carried you over my shoulder like a sack of potatoes?"
Luke's eyes got really big, "No, but how'd you hear that; we was whisperin', " gasped Luke. "You're–not– mad about me telling them are you?"
"Nope, I'm not mad. I was kinda curious as to why you would make it sound worse than it was though."
"Well, you see they was a ribin' me and sayin' I was making a big fuss over a little spankin'. Now, it didn't take long before I figure out that they just wanted to know what I had done. So, when I was telling the story, I just gave them what they wanted to hear. Ain't that what makes a good story, Uncle Bill?"
"I see, so long as you remember the difference in telling your brother and Barney a tale and telling the truth. Now what was it you wanted to ask?" said Bill giving Luke a pat on the back.
"Yes, sir I will remember, but what I wanted to know was this... What is so private an personal about a bunch of ladies sleeping? I just don't understand all the fuss" said Luke giving Bill a confused look.
Both Bill and Charlie let out a big laugh. "Yea, Bill why don't you just explain that one to the both of us, we're all ears," chuckled Charlie, as he drew the horses to a stop.
"Well, Luke Buddy, I will let you in on two of the greatest mysteries of life," Luke perked up and he looked right at Bill.
"First off, you're Uncle Bill here has real good hearin' and secondly. I can't tell you what's so secret about ladies sleepin' cause your Uncle Charlie over there ain't old enough to hear such things. But, you just take my word for it and don't you go sneaking into no more saloons ya hear!" Bill let out a huge belly laugh, as Charlie turned the wagon down the lane toward the ranch.
TBC
Chapter 16
Home and Together Again.