Chapter 3

"Ephraim, why don't you go on up and get ready for bed. I'm going to check in on your sister and then I'll come in and check on you."

"There's no need for that Sir. I'm ten years old now, practically a man; I don't need anybody tucking me in before going to bed." Hoss and Adam were trying to hide their smiles and chuckles from their Pa and Ephraim.

"Well Ephraim it doesn't matter how old you are, I always check in on everyone that is living under my roof before I turn in for the night. So I promise I won't be tucking you in, but I do want to have a talk with you in private before you go to bed." Ephraim had scrunched up his nose and was pressing his lips together in order to not respond back to Mr. Cartwright's request of "having a talk." For Ephraim knows all too well, that when his Pa wanted to "have a talk" it usually meant trouble for Ephraim. Ephraim noticed that his leg was starting to bounce up and down out of a nervous habit he had. All that kept running through Ephraim's head was that he was in trouble and that Mr. Cartwright was probably not going to let him go out with Adam and Little Joe in the morning. "Ephraim?" Ben called out. Ephraim was so lost in his thoughts that he hadn't heard Mr. Cartwright until he called his name again, "Ephraim?"

"Yes Sir?" Ephraim asked bringing his attention back towards Ben who was now standing over the stairs.

"Off to bed now. I'll be there in a few minutes."

"Yes, Mr. Cartwright." Just as Ephraim was starting to get up off the couch Little Joe came rushing down the stairs.

"Hey Pa, I found that jacket for Ephraim, along with some pants and shirts." As Joe descended the final stairs he held them out towards his Pa.

"Wonderful, Joe." Ben took the coat and clothes from Joe and examined them with his own eyes. "Here Ephraim, try these on before heading up." Ephraim hesitantly took the coat from Ben and shoved his arms into it and pulled it up over his thin frame. Just as everyone expected the coat was indeed a little too big on the child, but Ben knew it would keep him a lot warmer than the one he was currently wearing. "How does it feel?" Ben asked the child.

"Warm. A little big, but it's nice and warm." Ephraim hated to admit it, but this coat was indeed a lot warmer than his. He had a hard time confessing the truth to Mr. Cartwright for his Pa had always taught him not to accept charity. "How much do I owe you for it?" Ephraim couldn't take the coat without paying for it.

Ben let out a chuckle and reached over and placed a gentle, but firm hand on Ephraim's shoulder. "Ephraim I thought we had been over this already. You owe me nothing, boy."

"But I must pay you something for it. I can't just accept it, Sir. My Pa wouldn't think too kindly of this."

"It's an old coat, Ephraim. No one is getting any use of it. It's just taking up space in that dusty old trunk. You owe me nothing for it. Now take it off and get on upstairs. Its way pass time for you to get on up to bed." Ephraim slowly took the coat off and handed it back over to Ben.

"I'm going, Sir." He turned to the Cartwright boys and spoke directly towards Adam and Little Joe. "What time should I be up so that I can be ready to head out with you in the morning?"

Adam smiled at Ephraim's enthusiasm and reassured him that they wouldn't leave without him. "We'll wake you Ephraim, don't you worry none. Plus Pa would never let you leave here without breakfast first, anyhow."

"Promise you'll wake me though if I over sleep?" Ephraim needed to hear the promise.

"I'll wake you. Now go on and get ready for bed like my Pa asked. You don't want him to change his mind, do you?" Adam was just teasing but when he noticed the seriousness come over Ephraim's face, Adam knew he shouldn't have made that last comment, but before he could tell Ephraim he was just teasing, Ephraim was quickly moving.

"I'm going… I'm going," And with that Ephraim starting running up the stairs, taking two at a time towards the quest room.

"Ephraim." Ben spoke coming up behind him on the stairs.

"I know, sorry, no running." Ephraim slowed down and took the remaining steps one at a time. Once he and Ben had rounded the corner at the top Adam and Hoss let their chuckles out.

"Gosh, he's a great kid." Adam said as he watched his two brothers set up a game of checkers.

"Yeah, he's a pretty neat kid, that's for sure. Did you see how excited he is for tomorrow?" Joe said handing Hoss the red checkers.

"I just hope that Pa isn't too hard on him during their talk. Adam, what do you think it's about anyways?" Joe asked his brother while watching Hoss spread out his checkers.

"Oh, something tells me that it might be about Ephraim being a little over bearing when it comes to Gertie. " Adam said opening his book to the page that he had left off on.

"Must be that older brother thing happening." Joe joked with Adam.

"Watch it there Little Joe." Adam warned.

"Since when has Gertie turned into such a brat? I remember her being such a sweet, little girl. Every time we ever saw her down at the lumber mill or Jack had her up here she was so polite and shy, what happened?" Joe asked Adam.

"Death happened, Joe. You probably don't remember but you went through the same thing. You turned pretty bratty yourself. She'll come around, you eventually did."

"Eventually?" Joe hissed at his brother.

"Try never." Hoss threw a fake punch towards his brother's shoulder.

"You guys aren't funny!" Joe sputtered in disgust. "I think it'll be sooner than later. We just had a little chat."

"You did? When?" Adam insisted an answer.

"Just a few minutes ago. I found the coat in the trunk in the guest room she's staying in. I came right out and told her she was being rude and she might want to think about knocking it off."

"Joseph Francis Cartwright, you didn't? That is no way to treat guests in our home!" Adam said in horror.

"Yes, big brother I did. She needed to hear it from someone." Joe stopped what he was saying to study the board to figure out his next move. "Stop looking at me like that Adam. I didn't say it in those exact words. I was a little kinder about it. But I think she got it. I bet we'll start seeing a different Gertie around here now. And guests in our home? They're not guests, they're just kids. We don't have to go out of our way for just them. I sure as hell don't need to be taking any lip from a seven year old girl!"

"Language, Joseph!" Adam warned his youngest brother. Joe just snarled at Adam and looked back at the game.

"Never knew my little brother didn't like kids." Hoss asked getting ready to move a checker.

"I like kids, just not bratty kids. Now just make a move, Big brother."

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Ben watched Ephraim slide into his room to get ready for bed while he approached the door directly across from his. He knocked lightly on Gertie's door. He waited a few seconds before knocking again. When there was no response he slowly pushed the door open; there in the big bed all curled up in a tiny ball was Gertie. This was the second night he had noticed that when she slept she held tightly onto a ratty old pillow that the boys had retrieved from the cabin the other day. The girl looked like an angelic angel when she slept. Ben found that he could stand there and watch this little girl sleep for hours. For only ever having boys he didn't realize how precious a little girl really was. He stood there just watching her tiny chest rise and fall at a very nice rhythmic pattern. He couldn't resist the smile that was tugging at his lips. For some odd reason this little girl was starting to fill a special place in his heart. But he needed to keep reminding himself that he couldn't become too attached, for these little children had family somewhere out there. Thousands a miles away on the east coast in a state that was totally different than that of Neveda. Ben had visit the state of Maine a few times when he was a sailor. They had docked in the village by the name of Portland and it reminded him a lot of a much smaller Boston. For Portland had a very rocky coast and the ocean was that of much darker and colder waters which provided some of the most delicious fish he had ever tasted. But the state also provided some great soil for farming and crops along with providing some amazing timber and beautiful mountains. He didn't spend too much time in the state, but what he did remember of it, it surely would be a cultural and climate change for these two children compared to what they are used to here in Nevada. Ben was lost in his memories of his younger days when a tiny moan brought his attention back to the present. Ben noticed that Gertie was tossing and turning a bit and had knocked off some covers. Ben leaned over and grabbed the covers that had been tossed off of her and slipped them back up around her tiny shoulders. As he was smoothing out the covers He whispered a "slept tight, Child." He carefully moved away and back over to the lantern that was on the side table by the bed and lowered the flame. Ben found himself tip toeing much like a small child over to the door. He closed it shut until he heard the latch catch and turned his attention back to the door across the hall that was slightly open. As he approached he could hear a soft voice talking. As he leaned his ear closer he could hear Ephraim rehearsing a bed time prayer.

"Please God continue to watch over me and my sister Gertie. Please lead her into following directions and being polite. You know that she normally does those things; I just don't know what had gotten into her these past few days. If at all possible could you also show Mr. Cartwright that Gertie is a good girl? I really like it here and if you find it in your heart I would very much like to stay here for a long time, maybe forever even." The minute Ben heard the last phrase his hand moved instantly to his heart. Ben was soon realizing how much Ephraim reminded him of his Adam. The two were so much alike that Ben couldn't think of one quality that was different. But Ben also knew that he came to this room for a purpose and that purpose was to talk about Ephraim's strong determination of needing to fill his father's shoes and needing to be in charge of Gertie. Ben remembered having to have this conversation many a times with Adam about being in charge of Hoss and Little Joe while he was away. Ben stood there and listened until he heard Ephraim say, "Amen." That gave Ben the cue to know it was safe to knock. Ben barely got one soft knock in before he heard Ephraim answer.

"Come in." Ben pushed the heavy oak door slightly open and slipped right in and closed it behind him, just in case there might some lingering ears out in the hall.

"Prayers done?" Ben asked but already knowing the answer.

"Yes, Sir. Just finished them." Ephraim said sliding into the nice warm bed.

"It pleases me to know that your father has been teaching you about our Lord."

"Yes, Sir. He used to read to us from the bible sometimes before we went to bed."

"Your father was a wonderful man, Ephraim. " Ben gave Ephraim's leg a light tap to let him know that he was about to sit down at the end of the bed. Ephraim understood the gesture all too well and quickly moved his legs over to allow Ben some room to sit. Ben bowed his head for a second trying to gather his thoughts. He slowly looked up to the young boy and could sense that the boy was a little scared of what was to come. "Ephraim I wanted to talk to you tonight about some changes that I think we need to make. Those changes include how you will handle your sister's behavior. I understand that you think you have become a man and need to take charge of your sister. And as well as I knew your father he would be proud of this, but Ephraim you are not a man yet, you're just a boy." Ephraim could start to feel his blood boil, he was trying to hold his tongue, but the more Mr. Cartwright said, the harder it was becoming for Ephraim to keep his mouth shut. "Ephraim, your father wouldn't want to see you have to take on all this responsibility that comes with raising a little girl. He would want you to be the 10 year old boy you are."

"But Mr. Cartwright." Ephraim started to interrupt.

"Let me finish, Ephraim. I admire your determination, I do, but you can't fill your father's shoes. It isn't fair to you and it certainly isn't fair to Gertie. You're her brother not her father. And you need to start acting like her brother. It's my job until we find your family to be in charge of Gertie and even you. I'm the adult, you're the child and I want to see you start acting more like a 10 year old boy, and not an adult." Ben paused to study the new expression on Ephraim's face. Not knowing the child very well, he wasn't quite certain what Ephraim was exactly thinking at this point, so he pushed on. "Ephraim I need you to stop being the boss over Gertie and just try to relax and have fun. Laugh, play, joke, do whatever it is that 10 year old boys do." At this point in the conversation Ben noticed that Ephraim's body had tensed and he was no longer making eye contact and was fidgeting with the silk boarder of one of the blankets. Ben knew that Ephraim was not pleased with what Ben was asking of him. "Ephraim, please know…" Just in mid-sentence Ephraim interrupted Ben for the second time.

"I get it, Mr. Cartwright!" Ephraim sputtered out in anger.

"Now, Ephraim." Ben tried again.

"No, Mr. Cartwright you listen! You just don't understand. Right after my Ma died I made my Papa a promise that I would always watch out for Gertie, and keep her safe, and I'm gonna make sure that I do just that." Ephraim had to stop himself for he could feel a big knot starting to creep up his throat. He couldn't cry, he wouldn't cry, not now, not here in front of Mr. Cartwright, not ever. Ben could tell that Ephraim had suddenly been engulfed with emotions. He didn't know how this child felt about open affections so he gave Ephraim a gentle, soothing pat on his leg, which only made it harder for Ephraim to hold back his emotions.

"You know something, Ephraim? You're wrong. I do understand. Ephraim, do you know that I have lost three wives? I lost three women that I loved dearly, with all my heart, so I know how it feels to lose someone. I also know how it feels to make promises to those that you love and who are now gone, but sometimes it alright to ask for help, and to accept help from others. I did. And from what I can see you have done a wonderful job keeping that promise to your father, but let me help take some of the burden off you for a while. Try being Gertie's brother again, and let me be the guardian? I think you would be a lot happier this way, and we both know that this could possibly make Gertie just as happy as well." Ben couldn't help but smile with the mention of Gertie being happier. Ben watched the young lad as he was thinking things over. Ben gave him all the time he needed to think while he waited patiently for a response.

"Alright Mr. Cartwright, we'll try it your way for a while. But if she steps out of line I will not hesitate to take her out to your barn and teach her a lesson about listening, following rules, and being respectful."

"Ephraim, this is exactly what I'm talking about. That shouldn't be your job. It's not a job of a brother; it's the job of a parent or guardian. If she crosses the line, then it will be me taking her to the barn, not you. Are we clear about this?" Ben again caught Ephraim running his fingers back and forth on the silk boarder of the blanket while contemplating what Ben had just thrown at him. The two sat in silence for a minute before Ben decided to ask the question again, "Are we clear about this Ephraim?"

A very weak and almost inaudible answer responded, "Yes, we're clear about this."

Ben leaned over and grabbed a hold of Ephraim's pointy chin and lifted it up and locked eyes with him. "It's better this way Ephraim. I know it might be hard to digest now, but trust me, I know what's best." Once Ben knew he had gotten his point across he could feel Ephraim trying to pull his head away, so Ben let go of his chin. The two sat there again in complete silence. Ben couldn't shake the fact that Ephraim might seem just as stubborn as his own boys. "Now that we have gotten that cleared up, you my friend should get off to bed, for we wouldn't want Adam and Little Joe to leave without you in the morning, now would we?" Ben was hoping that this would bring a smile to Ephraim's' face and it did just that. Ephraim started to slide down into the bed with a grin.

"No, Sir we wouldn't want that."

"Good, boy. You get a restful night's sleep and I'll see you in the morning."

"Good night, Mr. Cartwright." Ephraim said reaching to turn down the lantern.

"Good night, Son." As Ben was shutting the door he realized what he had just said to Ephraim. He called him Son. Even though Ephraim had only been under his roof for a few days and nights now, it was feeling like he was becoming his Son, becoming part of the Cartwright family. As Ben started to move away from the door he was trying to shake the thought out of his head. For he knew that these children had a family somewhere out there in this big country, and he couldn't start to get too attached to them. And he surely couldn't start to send mixed messages to the children either. It wouldn't be fair to any of them to act like they would be staying here at the Ponderosa. Ben needed to remind himself and his boys that it was just a temporary situation.