New Beginnings

ch.2

Thanks to all who let me know what they thought of chapter one. I hope you like this one as well.

Colorado Springs

"Ethan, I came when I heard about the fire at the Academy. Ben left me a message at my office and I just had to come see Claire for myself. Where is she?"

"She's still at the Doctor's office Judge. They needed to put her under to treat the burns this time. She's asleep and we will be going to get her in a few hours. I felt I needed to come back to check on the boys. Apparently that was a good idea since they haven't been following the safety rules we set down." Ethan replies with a look at the boys that causes them both to squirm in their seats.

"Ethan, I'd like to hear what you can tell me about Claire. How badly is she hurt?" Judge Henry asks.

"She was burned on her upper arms by pieces of the burning roof that were falling. Her hair caught on fire and burned her scalp also. Someone, she doesn't know who, put a towel over her hair and face and that smothered the fire there. I think that happened before her sleeves on her gown caught on fire. She doesn't remember how she got out of the school. She says she woke up outside and her gown was wet down the front. Her teachers perished and so did three of the students. Two that night and one later, from burns. One of the students was Claire's best friend, Lesley. Claire doesn't know about that yet."

"I am so sorry to hear this Ethan. I feel I'm responsible. If I hadn't suggested you send her there, this wouldn't have happened."

"No Judge Henry, you are not to feel that way. Claire absolutely loved the Academy. She was enjoying the classes and was extremely happy there. It was just perfect for her. I only wish I had known about it earlier so she could have enjoyed it longer."

"She could go to another boarding school. There are plenty to choose from." Judge Henry replies.
Hearing this causes George to let out a wail and throw himself at Ethan.

"NO! Papa, you mustn't let Claire go off to some school away from us! SHE CAN"T GO! I Won't Let Her Go Off Again!" He sobs into Ethan's shirtfront.

"George! STOP THIS RIGHT NOW!" Ethan says firmly as he pulls the boy to stand in front of him giving him a little shake as he does so.

"First of all, YOU are not in charge and don't make the decisions here. Second, if Claire wanted to go away then we would be happy for her and help her do so. Third, if you don't sit down in that chair and be quiet, I'm going to take you into your room. You know what that means don't you?" Ethan says looking firmly into the boy's eyes.

"Yes Papa." George whispers ducking his head for a minute. Looking up before Ethan can scold him further, he says " I'm sorry for my behavior Judge Henry and Papa. I'll behave better now. You don't need to take me into our room Papa." George finishes watching Ethan's expression.

Just pointing to the boy's chair is enough to get George to scramble back up on it. Looking over at George, Ben thinks: Watch yourself, George. You know he's already mad at us so it wouldn't take much to make him mad enough to whip us! You just about made him take you in for a whipping!

George nods his agreement as Ethan says "Judge, I haven't had lunch yet. Would you like to have some with us? I was planning to ask for a tray to be brought up."

"That sounds nice. I usually don't have a lunch break where I can leave the office. I just have coffee and sometimes a sandwich if I'm smart enough to bring one from home. How about it boys? Would you like some lunch?" Judge Henry asks turning to the young boys.

"We already ate sir. I guess we'd probably not need another lunch." Ben answers.

"In that case boys, both of you can go wait in your room while I finish visiting with Judge Henry. I'll come in to talk to you two later." Ethan says.

"Yes sir." Ben answers sliding off his chair and taking George by the hand. "Let's go George, we have to pick up our toys in there."

"What did George take it to mean when you said you would take him to their room?" Judge Henry asks later as the two men sip coffee.

"He knows that if I take him to his room, he's in trouble. In this case, he would have been in for a spanking. He thinks I meant I would give him a whipping though. I could tell because of the look in his eyes."

"The boys seem so much older than they did the last time I saw them. It doesn't seem that long ago to me. Those two sure were cute that day, running and sliding on the floor the way they did. Then you had to go spoil their fun and wallop them. I know you have to set boundaries but they were just so cute, I don't think I could have spanked them."

"It's been over a year since you last saw them. They have grown up quite a bit since then. I'm sorry to tell you this since you disliked my disciplining of them then but both of those boys have since earned quite a few spankings and even whippings. Yes, even George." He adds before the judge can ask.

"My you took on the Papa role quite well didn't you? I knew you would. I already knew you were in love with those children and they belonged to you. The adoption was for legal reasons only. You were already their father as far as the children were concerned. You know this, am I right?"

"Yes, I fell in love with them after they were with me a month. I think I knew I was going to raise them by the end of the first month. It took another few months before I had the courage to step in and stop some of the bad behavior though. Joseph was very thorough at testing his limits back then. Come to think of it he still tests the limits even now! Anyway the time came where I had to take control. He and I had a private discussion involving my hand to his backside and he came off of the testing for a time."

"How is Joseph? Has he put his father's mistreatment of him away? It was really bothering him when we met. He resents his father quite a bit which I certainly understand. Having to become the man of the family to protect his mother, sister and brothers at the age of nine must have been difficult. I'm very ashamed to say this but I was joyful when we learned Robert Carroll had been killed in a fight over gambling."

Ethan smiles at that. "You and I had the same reaction. If I had caught up to the man before he died, I might have killed him myself. The children have told me stories of their life with their father. It's a good thing he was killed before I ever knew about his treatment of his family. If I had known before the children came, how their life was, I would have done my best to help out. My sister Lucy didn't write very often and when she did, she led me to believe all was well."

"That's often the way it is Ethan. Women don't report the mistreatment by their husbands. I'm sure Lucy didn't want you to worry. Everything worked out for the children so that's all that really matters now. I need to be getting back to the office. How long are you planning to stay in Colorado Springs? Can you stay a few days? I'd like to be able to see Claire."

"We are leaving tomorrow morning around eleven. The train leaves at 11:30. I told Rob and Joseph to meet us at four o'clock at the station in Paradise. They would be worried if we weren't on the train. You could come in the morning and visit with Claire. We get up pretty early so we'd be ready."

"That would be good. I can come about ten and then you all ride with me to the train station at eleven. I'll see you get there on time and get a good car to ride in too! I'm not having my adopted grandchildren just ride in any old car. No sirree! They're going home in style! I'll see you in the morning Ethan."

Walking into the boy's room, Ethan finds the two of them cuddled together asleep. Noticing the traces of tears on their faces, he gently shakes them awake. "Ben? George? Wake up boys."

When he has them sitting up he asks "What has upset you two? I can see you've been crying so tell me what it is. I need to know."

"We were upset because we know you're going to spank us." George whispers. As Ben adds "We don't want a spanking and then you're not going to trust us anymore either."

"Scoot over Ben and let me sit in the middle." When he is sitting in between the boys he says "Boys, neither of you is right in what you are thinking. I'm not angry nor do I feel I need to stop trusting you. I'm a little disappointed you didn't wait and let me contact Judge Henry but otherwise I'm fine. You did a very nice thing here. Claire is special to the judge. He told me he thinks of all of you as his adopted grandchildren. He really enjoyed seeing the two of you today."

"You aren't going to punish us for going out of the room and letting someone know we were here alone?" George asks astonished.

"I'm not going to spank you if that's what you are asking. You will be housebound for a week when we get home to remind you to obey my instructions. That will be the punishment for this. Do you think this is a fair punishment?"

"Yes Pa. I'm sorry I disobeyed you by calling Judge Henry. I just knew he loved Claire and would like to know about the fire. I didn't ask for him to come here at all. He just showed up." Ben explains.

"Well Ben, you had good intentions and meant well so that is why you aren't in more trouble than you are. However, both of you will be in major trouble if you ever disobey me like this again. The next time I say stay in the hotel room, you had better stay put. If you don't, you will be riding home with a very sore backside. Understand me?"

Both boys answer quickly "Yes Sir!"

"Good to know. Now we need to go pick up Claire at the Doctor's office. Make your trips to the necessary and do it quickly please. I'd like to get there and back here before dark."

Riding back to the hotel Claire suddenly says "Ben! Stop touching me, It hurts. Pa, make Ben stop touching me on my arms! He needs a spanking. You've told them not to touch my arms."

Looking at Ethan, Ben says with tears in his eyes "Pa, please believe me. I didn't touch her at all. I promise you I didn't!"

Hearing Claire tell their Papa he had been touching her arms, has caused Ben to panic. Ever since Claire came back home after the fire at the Academy, the boys have been told to NEVER touch her arms. Ethan explained the burns were painful and would be even more so if touched. Both boys promised to never touch her on her upper arms where the burns were.

Ben felt after his earlier misbehavior, if his Pa believed Claire, he would probably be in for a hard spanking. Again he quickly denied touching her. "I'm telling you the truth, Uncle Ethan! I didn't put my hands anywhere near her arms! I couldn't have touched her."

Sniffing loudly, Claire speaks up "You did touch me Ben. Your arm touched mine. It hurt too. When are you going to grow up and be more careful? You don't have to be so clumsy! Sometimes I just hate you for that. That's inexcusable behavior to do something you have been warned not to do and something that hurts someone else! Pa should give you a whipping!"

Tears falling now, Ben whispers "I'm sorry Claire. I didn't mean to hurt you. I'm sorry I was clumsy and I'm trying to grow up and be careful. I really am. Don't hate me, please?" Not getting any answer from his sister, he puts his head down on his arms and knees sobbing.

Even with his sobbing he hears his Pa say "Ben, come over here and sit with George. I'll take your seat." Ben feels himself pulled up and then sat down gently in the opposite seat. He can't seem to stop the tears that are still falling. His chest hurts and he's having some trouble breathing.

When the carriage finally pulls up to the hotel doorway, Ben jumps down and runs inside. He's all the way up the stairs, has the room unlocked and is inside their rooms before Ethan can call him back. Flinging himself face down on his bed he lets the hurt feelings out. In between sobs, he mutters "Claire hates me now. I'm clumsy and she hates me. I hate me too! All I do is cause trouble! I ought to just leave!""

Walking into the room in time to hear this, Ethan sits down on the bed and begins to rub the boy's back. As Ben begins to calm down, Ethan tries to reassure the young boy. Talking softly he says "Son, Claire doesn't hate you. Yes, she said she did hate you but you must believe she didn't mean it. She's in pain son. Ben, the doctor peeled some of the dead skin off her arms and then put a medicine on that is burning her. She would not talk this way if she was not in pain. Claire loves you. We all do and you are not leaving us. Do you understand what I'm telling you?"

"Yes Sir. Are you going to whip me Uncle Ethan?"

Wondering how he suddenly became "Uncle Ethan" again instead of "Pa" as he'd been for the last year, Ethan asks "Why would you think I was going to whip you? Is there something I should know about? Are you hiding one of George's Telephant's in here?" Ethan asks in a teasing voice, trying to get a smile out of the child.

"No Sir, I'm not hiding anything. I must have touched Claire on her arm in the carriage. When we went over the rut in the road, I guess I touched her then. I remember almost falling into her and grabbing the side of the carriage. I didn't think I touched her but I guess I did. I didn't mean to and I tried not to fall. I didn't mean to lie to you about it either. I just didn't think I touched her. Should I take down my pants, sir?"

"No Ben. I am not going to be punishing you in any way. Even if you did touch Claire, I'm not sure you even did from what you told me, but even if you had, I wouldn't punish you. Ben, anyone sitting next to her would have fallen into her when the carriage hit that rut in the road. George fell into my lap and if I had not grabbed him, would have fallen on the floorboard of the carriage."

"Thank you sir, for not punishing me. What should I do to keep from being clumsy? I don't want Claire to hate me. I love her even if she has been being very mean to me."

"Ben, has she said things like this to you before today?" Ethan asks. Something about what Ben just said makes him wonder.

"Well, ever since the fire and she came back home, she's been snapping at me and sometimes George. Mostly just me though. If I get near her she'll tell me to move away and leave her be. When I walk by she tells me to go away before I cause her to have dirt in her burns. She tells me I make her arms hurt. I'm not dirty when I come inside. I always wash first just as you said we were to do. I've tried to do everything you told us to keep her from getting the burns dirty or sore. I'd help her wrap the burns but she won't let me. When I tried once, she yelled at me to get away from her."

Seeing Ethan's frown he whispers "See? She really does hate me, Uncle Ethan. I wasn't making it up." His eyes brimming with tears again.

"Come here Ben and sit on my lap." When Ben starts to protest, Ethan says "I know, you're too old but just to humor me, do it." Ethan says pulling the boy onto his lap. Wrapping his arms around him he holds him snugly. Then resting his chin on the top of Ben's head he says "Ben, I am sorry Claire has been cruel to you. All of the things she said were hurtful. I have seen how well you follow our new safety rules of washing before coming inside, being careful not to do something to cause Claire's arms to hurt and being quiet when she is resting. You have been helpful and careful and I am very proud of you for it. You haven't done one thing to be treated like this. I plan to have a talk with your sister and she will treat you better from now on. There is just no reason to be hurtful. Do you feel any better now?"

"Maybe a little. I might feel a lot better if George and I could go downstairs and have a bowl of ice cream and some of that chocolate pie they make here. Can we? Please? We'll behave." Ben says leaning into his Uncle's chest.

Chuckling at the boy's answer Ethan gives him a squeeze. "Alright Scamp. You two may go but, you must stay together and come straight back to the room. You go to the dining room and right back here. Agreed?"

"Yes Pa, I agree. Thank you Pa for making me feel better and for trusting me to go downstairs with just George."

"You two are getting old enough to be able to do a few things without having someone with you. I let Joseph and Claire do things alone when they were just a couple of years older than you two are now. It's really hard for me to realize you are turning nine and ten years old in a few weeks! You two are my little boys. "

After the boys left to go have their treat, Ethan calls Claire in to the sitting area for a much needed discussion. Thinking to himself, Ethan realizes something "This attitude Claire has is partly my fault. I let her behave badly out of sympathy for what she has been through. That's going to end now."

"Claire, come sit here on the couch beside me. Let's talk about what has been going on with Ben. I don't know if you realize this, but you have really hurt his feelings. He was crying when we came up tonight. He thinks you hate him. Claire, he's tried so hard to look after you and I've seen how you push him away. You let George do things but when Ben wants to you make him leave. Why?"

"Ben is clumsy and he'll hurt me. He's not gentle the way George is or as quiet either. Ben's too boisterous to help me. I just want to be left alone and not bothered by such a clumsy, dirty boy. When he tries to help I tell him to go away."

Closing his eyes at hearing the truth just about as Ben told him, Ethan takes a few deep breaths before saying sternly "I am ashamed of you Claire. I never thought I'd see a time when you were deliberately cruel to one of your brothers. You are the one who didn't want me to ever spank them because you thought it would hurt their feelings and they wouldn't love me. Now I find out you have treated Ben this way." He stops to see how she is reacting. Seeing the angry look on her face he continues.

"Well, young lady this is going to stop right now. You will NOT treat anyone this hatefully again. I do not want to hear of you pushing Ben away with your hateful words. He thinks he is to blame for why you are hurting. We are all trying to help you get well but I will not allow you to take your pain out on everyone else. With that said, let me tell you one more thing, If I ever even think you have said something to make Ben feel as bad as he did tonight, I will put you over my knee. It's been a long time since I last had to do that but if you don't straighten your attitude up and stop being so cruel, I will do it again! This time I will be using your hairbrush on your backside instead of my hand!"

At Claire's gasp of "I'm fifteen!" Ethan replies, "I know exactly how old each of my children are. If you are thinking you are too old for this punishment you are mistaken. I will NOT allow you to behave this way any longer. You know how to deal with the pain without being deliberately cruel. If you feel you can't be polite, then tell the boys, both of them, not just Ben, you need to be left alone and go to your room. If they don't respect your feelings then I will speak to them. Do you understand what I am telling you, young lady?"

"Yes Sir, Uncle Ethan. May I go to bed now, sir? I'm tired."

"Yes, go ahead. We need to be up by seven thirty to get ready to leave. Judge Henry is going to come about ten to visit and then take us to the train station. We'll see you in the morning. Sleep well, Claire."

In her bedroom, Claire sits brushing her short hair, thinking, as tears fall on her dressing gown. Uncle Ethan just doesn't love me anymore. If he did he would be more understanding of my feelings. He should know I speak the truth about Ben. After all we have lived with him three years now. I can't believe he threatened me like that. I'm a young lady now not some little girl who needs to be spanked. Some girls my age are getting married and he threatens to take a hairbrush to me! Joseph would understand how I feel. I wish he was here so I could talk to him. I wonder where Lesley wound up. Did she get home? I wish I could talk to her about this too. She would know what to say to Uncle Ethan to get him to see the truth.

The next morning, Claire awakens with puffy eyes from crying herself to sleep. As she watches her Uncle put clean dressings on her burns, she can't help but remember his threat from the night before. She's just about to ask about it when Ethan says "Now, you are all treated and bandaged for the day. We won't need to do this again until we get home this afternoon. Ben and George will be happy to help you then. Claire, remember what I told you last night. You will treat Ben respectfully and remember his feelings. No hurtful comments or pushing him away when he tries to help. Do you remember our talk last night and my promise to you?" His voice is very stern as he asks the question.

"Yes I remember it. I don't like it either, I think you are being extremely unfair. You must love Ben more than me now. Is he your favorite now? I always thought George was!"

Then seeing Ethan looking at her intently, she holds her breath. OH Gee! I didn't say any of that where he could hear me, did I? No, must not have as he's not flipping me over his lap for impertinence. It's lucky for me and the boys that he doesn't have the connection to hear what we're thinking the way the boys and I all do with each other.

"Claire Lucille? I asked you a question and it would be very beneficial for you if you answered me NOW!" Ethan growls quietly.

"I remember Uncle Ethan."

"And you will treat your brothers equally and with respect?"

"Yes, I'll try too." Claire says indifferently.

At Ethan's intake of breath and fierce glare, Claire quickly changes her answer to "Yes Sir. I will treat them respectfully sir."

"Very good, now let's collect the boys and go have breakfast. Judge Henry is stopping by for a visit soon and we need to be back up here by then.

Later that morning as she is looking out the train window as they ride home, Claire thinks back on what Judge Henry asked her.

Flashback: earlier in the day:

"Would you like to go to a different boarding school my dear?" he asked. "Your father left a sizable amount of money which I placed in an account for all of you children to use. I sent some of it to Ethan for Christmas this past year. Did you all have an enjoyable time?"

"Yes sir, it was the best Christmas we've ever had except for the fact we didn't have our Mama. If you don't mind me asking, sir, Where did Uncle Ethan get the money for setting up an account? I never knew he had much money."

"When I said your father, I was referring to Robert Carroll not your current father." The judge answered smiling at the fact the children thought of Ethan as their father. "He apparently had money tucked away for quite some time. When word went out on his death and then when the bank heard of you children being sent to your uncle, they contacted me. I contacted Ethan and we set up the account. He insists it be used only for your education. I am a trustee however so I was able to withdraw some for you children to have a wonderful Christmas. I knew about George's kidnapping and wanted to make this year special. I'm happy to know I succeeded!"

Remembering this conversation as she sits on the train, Claire realizes she never answered the question Judge Henry asked about boarding school. Did she want to go to another school? Right at the moment she feels the answer would be no. As she sits thinking, she decides the best thing to do would be to go to another school after her arms healed. Especially since her uncle was angry with her at this time. "I'll send the judge a letter when we get to Paradise so he'll know I am thinking of it. I didn't mean to be rude by not answering him when he asked.

How can Uncle Ethan be so mean to me right now? All that scolding about Ben. He doesn't care I'm always in pain and I could have died! Nobody else understands how I feel. I should have the right to be angry and snap at my little brothers when they are annoying, which is all the time. I lost my hair and now my arms are going to be scarred from these horrible burn treatments. My life is over now. No man will ever want me for his wife. I'll have to spend the rest of my life taking care of my brothers. I've already spent most of my girlhood taking care of them! Don't I deserve to have a time for just me?

I sure thought by going away to school, I could break away from the boys. I thought Joseph would have to step in and take over as the second parent. He did some but as soon as I get back home, the boys start looking to me to be their Mama. I'm fifteen and I don't want to spend my whole life being their stand in Mama. I want to do something just for me sometime. I really don't think that is too much to ask!

I wish I had someone to talk to that could understand and listen. Uncle Ethan wouldn't understand at all. It's at times like this that I wish I still had Mama to talk to. If I did still have Mama, I wouldn't need to talk about this because I wouldn't have these problems! I wonder if I could talk to Dr. Americus? She's a lady maybe she would understand how I feel. I'll think about that some tonight or tomorrow."

With these thoughts, she drifts off to sleep with the rocking motion of the train.

Paradise, Colorado

"Joseph! Hurry up will you? What is taking you so long to get dressed? We have to be in town by four o'clock to meet the train. Don't you want to see the family?" Rob asks standing in Joseph's bedroom doorway.

"I'm worried Rob. I just can't stop thinking Uncle Ethan is going to be mad at me for what happened with the barn."

"For the last time, he isn't! You were not responsible for the barn burning. How many times do I have to say it? If you feel this bad about it, maybe you should just tell Uncle Ethan you set fire to the barn to watch it burn to the ground. Then when he takes you to the woodshed and blisters you with the strap you can stop feeling so guilty. You'd be feeling something else then!" Rob teases.

"Yeah I sure would. No thanks Rob! I won't be telling him that. I do like to have the ability to have skin on my backside and to sit on it too. I sure don't want to be receiving a thrashing with the strap. I'm feeling worried but I'm not crazy! If you like, you tell him YOU set fire to the barn. How do you like that idea?"

"I am not crazy either, Joseph! I've already had him try to remove the skin from my backside for what happened in Denver, I sure don't want to give him a reason to try to do it again. I think he actually was successful the first time. It sure felt like I had some skin missing when he finished that day."

Joseph grins at that, as he finally pulls on his boots and stands up. "Okay I'm ready. What are we going to say to explain why we are picking them up with the Anderson's freight wagon?" Joseph asks as he climbs into the wagon seat.

"We'll tell him the truth. The barn caught fire and the wagon burned. There's no reason not to tell him since he will see it himself the minute we get close enough coming home. Besides that reason, if we didn't tell him right away, Mitch would. We would be in for a long scolding then! You know, sometimes his long, drawn out scoldings make me feel almost as bad as I do when he whips me." Rob answers as they head toward town.

"Yes, I hate them. I wind up feeling as low as a snake under a log when he says he is "so disappointed in how I've been acting." Sometimes, I just wish he'd go ahead and whip me and skip the scolding altogether. At least then I would have a reason to feel bad. My Papa never scolded me, he just grabbed me told me what I'd done and then beat the fire out of me."

"How old were you again, when your Papa left?" Rob asks looking over at the younger boy.

"I was nine. Mama died and we moved here with Uncle Ethan just before I turned eleven. I wasn't very good for Uncle Ethan at first. I behaved badly and I wish I could go back and change that now. He was trying his best to take care of all of us even when he'd not been around children. I was surly and hateful to everyone back then. I did what Uncle Ethan said but not very well. I was angry and hurting but I didn't know it. I just knew I didn't need some man I didn't even know coming and taking me off away from my home. Then telling me what to do like some parent. Uncle Ethan was really patient with me. There were times when I pushed him to the point where I could tell he really had to hold back to keep from punishing me. He'd get 'the look' in his eyes but he'd not do anything to me. Instead he would go outside and chop wood."

"Do you suppose that's why he makes us go chop wood when we get angry with each other or the boys? It helps work off the angry feelings with all that swinging of the axe. I can take my anger out on the wood instead of you." Rob says with a smirk at Joseph.

"I guess. I'd never thought about it like that before. You're right, it does help get rid of the angry feelings but then I have sore arms afterwards." Joseph answers.

"How long was it before Uncle Ethan lost his patience with you? What was it you did to finally make him break down and punish you?"

"Well, the first time he ever paddled me was about two months after we came. He took me to town with him and we were stocking up on supplies. He told me to stay outside the mercantile and not touch anything. I started throwing apples in the air and playing catch, he made me come inside. Then inside I kept on touching things after he told me several times to stop. When I touched some perfume bottles and one fell off the counter and broke right after he told me to keep my hands in my pockets, he got mad. Uncle Ethan took me out back of the store to the woodpile. Then he paddled my backside with a piece of wood. I only got four licks but they really stung."

Rob nods in agreement having had that experience from his Uncle Vernon. "Did that make you behave better?"

"For a little while. Then I got myself in trouble again and he spanked me with his hand. I was still being surly to everyone. We'd been here almost six months by then and Uncle Ethan had just gotten a new stallion and some mares from the army. He was telling us about the chores we would be doing to keep the horses. I got mad at Ben for saying something about me not helping around the ranch and really lit into him. I called him a whiny baby and said I was sick of him or something like that. Anyway, Uncle Ethan told me to apologize. I answered back to him and said something like: I didn't have to listen to him he wasn't my father."

"Joseph! You didn't! Did he take his belt to you then? That was so disrespectful!"

"He took me by the arm and pulled me into his room. He didn't whip me but he did put me over his knee and walloped me really hard. He made me go back out and apologize to Claire and the boys for acting so hatefully to them since we had moved to Paradise. I slept on my stomach that night. I was good for a long time after that. It was months before I got in trouble and had to sleep on my stomach again. The next time, Ben got me in trouble!"

"You'll have to tell me that story later. We're coming into town now, Joseph." Rob tells him.

Looking around, Joseph is aware of how much has changed in town in the last six months. Paradise now has a boarding house, a church, many new houses, the school has two classrooms now and there are three times as many families living or working in town. The increase in production at the Silver Mine has increased the town as well.

Since Christmas break, Joseph has met six new boys close to his age from town. Several are new friends and a few are ones he plans to watch out for as they seem to want to be enemies. The school has hired two new teachers as Mr. McConnell left just after Claire was hurt in the fire. Joseph didn't find out about this until after he returned to school.

It seems Mr. McConnell's brother in law was killed and he needed to go home to be with his sister. The new teacher for grades one through four is Miss. Elise Carmichael and for grades fifth thru ninth is Mr. Paul Davis. The town council members have been discussing building another school room for the grades tenth, eleventh and twelfth if there seemed to be a need for one. At this time all students who attended the three highest grades are attending school elsewhere. Most being boarded by the school but a few stay with family members. In Paradise, it is common for the boys to stop school by the tenth grade to work.

Mr. Davis's brother, Randall is the new minister. Thinking about all this, Joseph realizes he has not met the minister as they have not attended any services. Ethan hasn't insisted they attend church and Joseph appreciates this although he knows how much Claire used to enjoy it. He has met both teachers and liked them. His own teacher Mr. Davis seems kind and friendly as well as good at explaining the lessons. Joseph was very excited to learn they no longer had to attempt algebra.

Feeling the wagon come to a stop, Joseph looks to see where they are. Finding they are at the new train station that replaced the old one room depot, he looks around to see if the train has arrived. Not seeing it, he climbs down and waits while Rob drives the wagon around to the back of the station. Horses are easily spooked so they always tied the horses behind the depot or now the station.

Hearing the train whistle and the sound of the train on the tracks, Joseph looks around for Rob. Rob is talking to the stationmaster but comes to stand beside Joseph as the train pulls in and stops. The conductor for each passenger car climbs down and begins assisting the passengers off the train. Each train car has a step stool, which the passengers use to step down off the car. Watching, Rob and Joseph see Claire being helped down a few cars up from where they are waiting. Hurrying, the boys reach her just as she steps onto the station platform.

"Claire! We're glad you are back. How was the train ride?" Rob asks.

"Very long today, Rob. My arms are sore from yesterday. The doctor was mean to me this time. I don't like him anymore. I want you two to come with me next time so you can beat him up for me." she tells Rob and Joseph just as Ethan and the boys come up.

Smiling, Ethan says "Now Claire, you can't be asking the boys to beat up the doctor. We need him around and you would get your brothers in big trouble if they did fight. We don't allow fighting in this family. Good to see you Rob and Joseph. Let me collect our bags and we'll be ready to leave."

Joseph looks at Ben and George wondering why they are so quiet. George seems to be thinking about something as his forehead is wrinkled and he's frowning. Ben is just standing there and he also seems lost in thought. Looking over at Rob and catching his eye, Joseph cocks his head toward the boys. Rob nods back that he too has noticed how different they seem.

Coming back with their bags, Ethan says "Let's get home children. I'm ready to see the ranch and have some home cooking. It's been a long three days and we have some news to tell you two."

Rob leading the way to the freight wagon says "We have news too. There was a fire out at the ranch on Thursday night. I'm sorry but we lost the barn and the wagon. That's why we are using the Anderson's freight wagon today."

"A fire? What happened Rob? Was there a lightning storm?"

"No Sir, there wasn't a storm. Mitch thinks someone either deliberately or accidentally caused the fire. We were sound asleep when Joseph woke up because he heard the horses whinnying. He woke me and we were both able to save all the horses and the pony cart. I'm sorry but we couldn't save the tack or the wagon either."

Inhaling quickly, his voice coming out sounding stern in his worry , Ethan calls "Joseph come here where I can see you! Stand here in the light not the shadows of the station!"

When Joseph is standing beside Rob, Ethan looks them over as well as he can when they are fully clothed. "Are either of you hurt? Did you get burned in any way? Are your lungs alright? Did you breathe in too much smoke? Are you having trouble breathing at all? Do you need a doctor? Tell me NOW!" He snaps when neither boy has answered quick enough to suit him.

"No Sir, I didn't do any of those things you asked." Joseph answers thinking how he couldn't answer before or even really know what was asked, because his uncle was still firing questions at him.

Rob answers calmly "We are both fine Uncle Ethan. We were fast and we didn't go back in after it really started to smoke and burn. When we were in there, it was mostly one wall and the back stall on fire but then by the time we got the second set of things out the barn roof was collapsing. Joseph tried to go back for the wagon but I wouldn't let him."

"Yeah, he tackled me and held me down on the ground so I couldn't go back in. I'm sorry I couldn't save the wagon or the tack Uncle Ethan. I wanted to try but Rob wouldn't get off me until it was too late." Joseph says when Ethan looks over at him.

Reaching for the boys, Ethan pulls them into his arms and lowers his face into Joseph's hair. "Boys, I am just thankful to God that neither of you was hurt. Joseph, do not apologize for having been unable to get the wagon or tack. You could have been killed if Rob had not stopped you from going back into the barn. Thank you Rob for looking after your brother so well. All that matters to me is you are both safe and unharmed. Things can be replaced in time but you two can not! Please remember that and keep yourselves safe. All of you! " he adds looking at Claire, Ben and George.

"Yes Pa." Ben says as George answers "Yes Papa" and the three oldest say "Yes Uncle Ethan."

"Let's go home children. I need to see the damage and hold all of you close. I don't want to embarrass all of you here so I'll just do that when we are home again. Rob will you drive please? I think I'm too upset to do that."

"Yes sir, I'll be glad to. Climb in everybody. This wagon ride is not as smooth as you're used to so hold on tight."

"Claire, you probably need to ride on the seat with Rob. It's not as jarring as the back of the wagon. There are many rough places along the route home." Ethan tells her. As he helps her up into the seat he looks over at Rob. Rob nods his understanding of the silent message to take it slow and go easy on the drive home.