From ch.7. (Speaking of Ben) "That sounds as if you had a run in with his stubborn streak while I was away. Go ahead, tell me what he's done, I'm ready." Ethan says pretending to have to hold on to the corral fence to brace himself for the bad news.
New Beginnings
ch. 8
Grinning at his Uncle's teasing for a minute before telling him. Rob takes a deep breath knowing his uncle is going to get angry and answers "He put himself in danger again. When the men brought the horses, I told the boys to get up in the wagon and stay. George obeyed but Ben didn't. As soon as the horses arrived, he was down amongst them trying to coax one to come to him. It came to him alright. It charged him! One of the soldiers scooped him up just in time! Uncle Ethan I was really mad and scared too! I let him stay in his room for a long time and then I spanked him. I took a flat piece of kindling to his behind!"
Seeing the flashing eyes of his Uncle, Rob asks "Are you angry with me for punishing him that way?"
"Hmm? Oh. No Rob, I'm not. You were in charge and had every right to discipline him the way you did. He knows not to even get near wild horses! He should have gone inside the house when the horses were delivered and he knows that also. You were hoodwinked into letting them stay out! I'll have a long talk with Ben and he will be punished for disobeying you. I won't punish George the same way as he obeyed you. He will be punished though for not obeying the rule to stay inside when the horses are moved. I'm sending George in so please see to it he stays inside."
"Yes sir, I'll do that."
Walking into the barn a few minutes later he finds Ben just sitting on a hay bale watching his brother do all the work. After watching a few minutes to see if Ben was just resting, Ethan approaches the boys.
"Benjamin, you and I have some talking to do, privately. But first I want to know what is going on here? Why are you just sitting here when George is still working?"
"I finished my stalls Pa, I promise I did!" Ben says nervously. He has correctly guessed he's in trouble.
"George? What about you? Why are you not finished yet?"
"Two reasons Papa. One, I've been making sure I do each thing the best I can and two I had to stop for a few minutes to go use the outhouse."
"Did you go to the outhouse and use it there young man? I've been told you are having some problems remembering what the outhouse is to be used for."
"Yes Papa, I went inside it." George whispers avoiding his Papa's look.
Deciding to let that discussion happen at a later time. Ethan asks, "Boys? What is our rule about you two and the delivery of horses? What are the two of you to do while the horses are being moved?" Seeing Ben and George swap a look, just reaffirms that they both knew they were breaking a rule.
"Uh, well Uh, we are to keep ourselves safe." George finally speaks up.
"WHERE are you to keep yourselves safe?"
"Inside the house, sir." George answers very quietly.
"Is that where you were this time boys?"
"No Papa, we weren't. Rob told us we could stay out if we stayed up in the wagon out of the way. We were safe in the wagon. Are you going to spank us for not going in the house? Rob said we could stay out."
"I heard you, George. You don't have to tell me again. No George, I'm not going to spank you for not going in the house this time. The next time any group of horses is moved you two better be inside that house whether I'm here or not! You took advantage of Rob's not knowing the rule and worked it to be able to do what you wanted. I should give both of you a spanking for it but I won't this time. This is your only warning boys. If it happens again I will. Do you hear me?"
"Yes Papa." " Yes Sir." Ethan hears from the two boys doing their best to avoid looking at him.
"George, I want you to go inside and apologize to Rob for tricking him. You are to stay in your room the rest of tonight. You may come to the table to eat but then return to your room. Ben will also have the same punishment but he will be inside later."
"Yes Papa, I'm sorry."
"I accept your apology and I'm sure Rob will also. Go on now, go tell him." As George leaves the barn, Ethan turns to look at Ben. It only takes one look to see the boy is worried. This being the part of parenting he does not like, Ethan says "Come with me Ben." Taking the boy into the tack room, he closes the door.
"Please Pa! I'm sorry! I won't do it ever again, not ever! I know how dangerous and what I did was dumb! Rob paddled me with a board for it and he gave me a long scolding too. I'll remember not to put myself in danger with wild horses! Please Pa, don't whip me!" Ben pleads as the tears continue to fall.
Taking the boy by the hand, Ethan walks him over to the barrel and sits down.
"Ben, I thought when we had our discussion the last time you disobeyed, you would keep yourself out of danger. I was wrong as you defied Rob and nearly got yourself trampled by a wild horse! Ben, you have been told many times to stay away from the wild horses. They are called wild because they are not tame and are unpredictable. Even grown men have been hurt being around these horses. When I tell you to stay away from the horses, I mean it! That has been the rule from the beginning. Do NOT go near the stallions or wild horses. You are NOT to put yourself or someone else in danger! There is always a reason for what I tell you and when you listen you will be safe. Is that understood young man?"
Sobbing quietly, Ben answers "Yes sir, I'm sorry! I'll listen better from now on!"
You and Rob both have told me he paddled you for it so I am not going to whip you. I am going to give you a spanking for not obeying Rob when he told you to stay in that wagon and for putting yourself in danger. You deliberately went towards that horse after you have been told many many times to never get near the wild horses. Drop your pants Ben. You have four licks coming which is only half of what I would have given if Rob had not already punished you." Lifting a flat backed brush used for horses off the nail on the wall, Ethan begins.
When it is over he has a very upset young boy in his arms. "I love you too much Ben to allow you to get away with behavior like this. I will never allow you to deliberately put yourself in a situation where you can be seriously hurt or killed! This behavior MUST stop. If we have to come in here again for going near the wild horses or stallions, I'm going to be taking your pants down and using the strap! Are you hearing me Benjamin? I will do it so don't think I'm just talking. I MEAN IT!"
"I hear you and I understand Pa. I won't do it again. I want to be able to sit down. You set me on fire back there Pa! That brush hurts bad! You've never spanked me like that and I was still sore from Rob's spanking me."
"Yes, I imagine you were. You remember how you feel right now the next time you think about putting yourself in danger. Go inside now, I'll come in soon. You are to stay in your room until supper."
"Yes sir."
After staying in their room for what to the boys seems a long time, Ben hears his bedroom door open. Not rolling over because he thinks it's Rob or his Pa come to scold some more, Ben is surprised to hear Joseph say "Aren't you even going to look at me? Are you mad at me too, Ben?"
Rolling over now to look at Joseph, Ben answers "I thought it was Pa. I'm mad at him! Rob had already spanked me Pa spanked me again! He used a horse brush Joseph! My backside is burning bad! He said if I go near the wild horses again he's going to use the strap on my bare bottom! If I'd known turning ten meant he would start using the strap, I would have stayed nine!"
"Yes, I know what you mean. I was twelve the first time he ever whipped me with it. But we didn't move here until I was nearly eleven! I heard about how you ran into trouble on purpose! Ben, didn't I just tell you the other day not to do things without thinking about it first? I know I did. I'm not doing too well at doing that myself really so I guess I shouldn't sit here and scold you for it. I didn't think before I ran off."
"When Pa caught up to you what did he do to you? Did you get a whipping?"
"At first nothing other than hug me close, then when we got on the train to come home he walloped me really hard. I'm housebound for one month starting with spending all day in my room tomorrow. I also have a meeting in the barn to look forward to. The walloping was for running off but I still have to answer to the gambling, stealing and lying. I just wanted to say hello to you before my trip to the barn. Afterwards, I'll be in my room not up to talking."
Just then he hears "Joseph? Uncle Ethan asked me to tell you he's waiting in the barn for the talk you two had planned. I tried to tell him to just let this go but he wouldn't listen to me. All I can say is, I'll sneak in later with some cooling salve, okay?"
"If you can, that would probably be needed. I am sorry for taking your money Rob. It was stupid. I just panicked and did the wrong thing instead of coming to you or talking to Uncle Ethan about it. I know that now. It doesn't help me get out of this trouble I"m in, but I did learn something from all of this."
"I'm glad to hear that Joseph. Right now, I think you had better get yourself out to the barn. You don't want him any angrier than he already is. He's had that smoldering fire look in his eyes since the two of you came home! That look means someone is in huge trouble."
"Yeah ME! It was nice knowing you Rob. You too Ben and George. If I don't survive, you three can divide up whatever you find in my room." Joseph says as he walks out of the room.
A few minutes later Joseph finds himself inside the dreaded tack room. Startled, he realizes Ethan is waiting for the answer to his question.
"I'm sorry sir, I need you to ask me that again my mind seems to be leaving me."
"I asked you why you felt the need for money. What exactly was the reason you took the money from the butter and egg jar in the first place. Do you feel I can't fill the needs in this family?"
"No Sir, I just wanted the money to help you. I heard you telling Mitch a few weeks ago about how much the Doctor bill is each time you take Claire to Colorado Springs. I wanted to get us some money to help pay for one of those trips. I thought that the man could get me a lot of money and when I lost it I didn't know what to do. He threatened to hurt one of my family if I didn't bring him the forty dollars. I got scared and did this stupid thing of taking Rob's money. I am so sorry Pa! I did not think I would lose it!"
"Joseph, your intentions were very good. I am proud of you for wanting to get money to help out the family. I really am. However good those intentions were, you went about it in the wrong way. You know not to steal and you know not to gamble also. How could you get money without these two things?"
"I tried to get a job to earn some money, Pa. I asked you for the job in the hotel to make money for Claire's bills. That's what I wanted the job for. No one else in town would hire me. I asked at the livery, the bank, the General Store, even at the dress shop but nobody would give me a job. They all said thirteen was too young to hold a job. I even asked Mr. Axelrod but he already has a delivery boy. He hired Tim Smith because he needs money to help his Ma pay for food now that his Pa died."
"Well Joseph, this does help me understand why you stole and gambled. As I said you had good intentions. However, having good intentions does not excuse you from the consequences. For example, someone robbing the bank to help pay bills, is the same as robbing the bank to keep the money. Either way, robbing the bank is against the law and the person would be put in jail. In this family lying, stealing and gambling are against our family laws."
"Yes sir, I understand. Pa? Please don't take the buggy whip to me! I am very sorry! I will find a way to pay Rob back the money someday! I will never bet on horses again! Please?"
"Son, calm yourself! I have no intention of thrashing you with the buggy whip or anything else! I have never whipped you with the buggy whip, why would you think I would?"
"I broke so many rules! I deserve it!"
"No Joseph, you don't. You already know you did wrong but I need you to remember to never EVER steal something again. The gambling loss is something you will remember to most likely keep you from gambling. I can not let the stealing or lying go without some consequences. You took that money order and stole money from your brother. You lied to the bank to be able to get the money. Do you understand son?"
"Yessir. Do you want me to drop my underwear and pants?" Joseph asks as Ethan motions for him to bend over the barrel.
"Yes, Joseph. It will be over in a few minutes and you will feel better son. I promise you, this guilt you feel will go away."
Later that evening, lying on his bed, Joseph hears a knock on the door and then Rob is in the room. "Joseph, I brought the salve in. How bad was it?"
"I didn't get a thrashing the way I knew it would be. I had to bend over the barrel in the tack room and he whipped me without my pants. He only gave me six with his belt. Rob, why do you think he didn't use the strap? I mean we've always been told he would if we stole, gambled, drank, ... you know the rest."
"Well, you told him about the reason you stole the money right? What you told me?" At Joseph's nod he says "Well, I'm sure he felt you didn't need severe punishment after that reason."
"Maybe so. He did say my intentions were good. You'd better leave Rob. If he catches you in here, he'll whip you next! He's really getting us today. First Ben, now me, you could be next! It's my fault for making him so angry. You should have seen the look in his eyes when he found out I rode in a boxcar. I truly thought he was going to whip me right there on the train."
"Uncle Ethan's gone to town, Joseph. Some of this is your fault as you say. He was really worried and scared Joseph. You running off like that was just wrong and if you didn't already know that then I'd say you learned it in the barn. Am I right?"
"Yes."
"Are you going to run off like this again?"
No not ever! He'd whip me with that strap if I did! I don't know if it's just me but having it in the tack room makes it seem so much worse. Having to lay over that barrel ….. I don't know it just seems I feel it more that way than when I had to lean over the hay bale."
"Well at least that part of your punishment is now over. How long are you housebound for again?"
"Four whole weeks. I'll have plenty of time to work with the new horses, that's one good thing."
Town- Paradise Hotel
"Well, hello there Ethan! What brings you in to the bar at this time of the day? Where have you been keeping yourself? I thought you would come welcome me to town weeks ago."
"Hello Scotty, I've been pretty busy lately since our barn burned. What with hauling the burned barn away and then overseeing the new one being built. My life has changed in the four years since we last were in the same town. I have five children to raise alone."
"Well Ethan, I have one. James McBride Jr. is five now. My wife and I took him when my brother and sister were killed in a stagecoach accident. The boy's real mother called him Jimmy but we call him Jamie or James. He's been with us since he was three so he's like our own child. You'll have to meet my wife Ellie. She's staying at our house in town with the boy."
"How did you come about having five children in such a short period of time? Five years ago you were unmarried with no children and had a living as a hired gun. Now you say you have five children and I see the badge saying you are the sheriff."
"Four of the children Claire, Joseph, Ben and George are my sister's children. When she died, I went to St. Louis and brought them here to live with me. We made it permanent last year when I adopted them. Rob, my fifteen year old, is the nephew of a friend. He was orphaned last year and I took guardianship of him."
"I'm sure that having five children can be a struggle at times."
"Before we talk more, I could use a shot of whiskey. Just one as I don't drink much. I just need this tonight to steel my nerves."
"The children?"
"There a part of it yes."
'I heard that your boy, Joseph had run away. Am I to assume he's back home and happy now?"
"Well he's back home that's for sure and if he knows what's good for him he will stay too. As for happy, well he sure wasn't very happy after I whipped him. When I left, he was pretty unhappy."
"You whipped him? Isn't that a bit harsh to use a whip on a child?"
"Scotty! You should know I'd never use a whip on anyone! In this community, a whipping is a spanking with a belt or razor strap."
"A spanking? I can't bring myself to do that to Jamie. Ellie has swatted him a few times but I never have. I can't imagine using my belt to whip him."
"Yes, I remember that feeling from when George was six. A stern look or a scolding was all it took to get the message across. Those days are gone now. He is my best behaved out of the boys though. He has earned himself several spankings and a couple of times even a whipping since he turned eight. Maybe your Jamie will continue to be well behaved. Why don't all of you come to the ranch this Saturday? We can get reacquainted and Jamie can see the ranch animals."
"We would be happy to come. Jamie loves horses already. Ethan, there's one thing you should know. My wife Ellie is only nineteen. I married her right before my brother and his wife were killed. In fact, they were killed trying to come to our wedding. The stage lost a wheel and flipped down an embankment. Jamie was thrown out but my brother and his wife were not as lucky."
Saturday / Ranch
"Welcome to the ranch Mrs. McBride and Jamie. Scotty and I met a few years ago in a gold rush town. I had a few problems and he helped me out. I was just passing through and lost track of Scotty until he showed up here in Paradise. It's good to know he has a family as I do also."
Walking the McBride family to the house, he says "Jamie, I have two boys just a little older than you. I hear you like horses. We have several of those around here. After lunch, we'll introduce you to Dobbin and Daisy. I'm sure you'll like them."
Coming into the house, he finds all five of his children in the front room ready to greet the visitors.
"Mr. and Mrs. McBride and Jamie, these are my children. Rob, Claire, Joseph, Ben and George. Jamie, Ben is ten and George is nine so they are only a little older than you."
"Hello Jamie. My goodness what beautiful eyes you have. I bet you are very smart for your age too." Claire gushes at the small blue eyed boy.
Not answering or speaking to anyone, the boy buries his head into his mother's skirt.
"Come on son, say hello to everyone. Remember your manners." Scotty says to the child.
"NOOO! Don't want to!" Jamey answers with his face still in his mother's skirt.
"I'm sorry he's just a little afraid of strangers. He'll do better once you get acquainted. Maybe after lunch you can all play together." Mrs. McBride says to Ben who just frowns at that statement. He's thinking he'd rather not play with this spoiled acting child.
At Uncle Ethan's pointed look, Ben answers "Yes Ma'am, we'll entertain him."
"Well everyone, let's all have a seat at the tables. Ben, George and Jamie will eat at the small table and everyone else will be at the larger table." Ethan says gesturing to the tables sitting in the kitchen and right outside the kitchen area.
"Pa? Why can't George and I sit at the table with everyone else? We always have." Ben asks annoyed at being shoved off to the side away from the others.
Before Ethan can answer him Joseph says "I'm sure it's because Pa doesn't want to expose our guests to your terrible table manners Ben. He's letting you sit over there so no one has to look at you two while you eat like hogs at a trough!" Joseph grins at his brothers to show he's only teasing. Ben doesn't see it as teasing though and glares furiously at his older brother.
Before he can say something that just might get him in big trouble, Rob swoops him up in his arms and tickles him into shrieks of laughter. Over his laughter though, Ben hears Ethan say "Joseph? A word on the porch please."
"Ha, he's in trouble, I hope Pa wallops him out there!" Ben thinks as Rob lowers him to the floor.
Out on the porch, Joseph watches his uncle apprehensively as Ethan just stands looking at him. Finally, not being able to take the stern stare any longer, he whispers "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have teased Ben like that. I was just teasing Pa, honest I was. I didn't mean to make him mad."
"Joseph, you are old enough to know that what you said was cruel even if it was said in a teasing way. Ben and George are not old enough yet to understand that level of teasing. They took what you said as the truth. I won't have you being cruel and hurting your brothers or sister, Joseph. Watch what you say and how you say it. I want to hear a sincere apology when we go in and you'd better watch what comes out of your mouth from now on. Am I clear or do we need to take this a step further and go to the barn?"
"Yessir, I don't need a trip to the barn. I'm understanding you just fine. I'll apologize." Joseph answers quickly.
Back inside Joseph sheepishly apologizes to his brothers. "I'm very sorry Ben and George for what I said. I was only teasing and I don't really think you eat like … (He changes his words mid-sentence at Ethan's loud clearing of his throat) Um, I don't think you have bad table manners at all. Please forgive me."
Turning to go to his seat at the table, he sees Mr. McBride smiling as he winks at him. Joseph feels Rob squeeze his hand under the table and knows Rob is trying to make him feel less embarrassed. As the adults talk, Joseph concentrates on eating politely and passing the bowls when asked. He doesn't comment or talk as he usually would if it were just the family or with Mitch there. After his scolding and knowing everyone knew he was scolded, he is making sure to follow all the rules carefully. Any other mishap could cause his Pa to decide the trip to the barn was necessary after all. Lost in thought he realizes someone just called his name again.
"Sir? I'm sorry but I didn't hear what you said." Joseph answers politely.
"I asked you if you helped Ethan break the Army's horses." Scotty replies smiling again at the boy.
"I help gentle them sir. We gentle them but we don't break them to saddle. It's a different method. We are patient and work slowly with them teaching them to accept the saddle, bit, bridle and eventually rider. Uncle Ethan hasn't come across a horse yet that doesn't respond to gentling. He even gentled a wild stallion for Mitch. Mitch didn't know he was buying a wild stallion and needed help with him."
"I'll just have to come out for a demonstration sometime. I've only seen cowboys break their horses."
Over at the small table Ben and George watch aghast as Jamie mixes some of his mashed potatoes, peas and carrots all together and then begins to make sculptures with it on his plate.
"Jamie! You'd better stop playing with your food or your Pa is going to see! You'll get in trouble!" George leans over to whisper.
"No I won't. I can do what I want to." Jamie answers picking up a forkful of peas and tossing them into George's face. Wiping the peas off his face George looks over at Ben and sends him a message silently "If one of us ever acted like this, we'd get our bottoms walloped! Do you believe he really wouldn't get in trouble?"
"I don't know George, but we had better be sure to clean up any food he throws or Pa might think we did it. I'm not wanting a spanking."
Just then a forkful of carrots hits Ben in the eye.
"OW! That burns! OHH it's burning! Claire! My EYE!' Ben calls out.
Getting up from the table, Claire says "Excuse me, I need to check on Ben." When she gets to her brother she sees him wiping at his eye and tears running down his face. "What happened Ben?"
"A bunch of carrots hit me in my eye and it really burns. Please help me."
"I'll be right back Ben." Walking to the stove, she lifts the lid on the pot where the potatoes were and dips out water on to a rag. Then walking back to Ben, she takes the warm wet cloth and wipes his eye gently. After several wipes, Ben says "Thank you, it's not burning now. I can finish eating, Claire."
When she returns to the adults, Ethan asks "What happened Claire? Is he alright?"
"Yes sir, he's fine now. He's eating his dinner. I don't know what happened except he said he got a forkful of carrots in his eye and it was burning."
"How on earth did he get the carrots in his eye?" Ethan asks.
"I couldn't say sir as he didn't tell me." Claire replies quietly.
"Claire, do you always take care of them like that?" Mrs. McBride asks.
"What do you mean Ma'am?"
"Claire, call me Ellie, please. I'm only a few years older than you and Ma'am makes me sound ancient! I meant do you treat them as a mother would?"
"I guess I do Ellie. I've been the only mother they've had since they were five and six."
Joseph speaks up "Claire was taking care of the boys and me too, before she was even eleven. Our parents were in theater so we had to look after ourselves during rehearsals and performances. We both looked after the boys much of the time. She's always been their second Mama."
"Oh, I'd love to hear stories of your time with the theater troupe. I imagine it was exciting. Maybe after dinner we can have time to talk while Scotty goes to see those horses he's so fond of." Ellie says to Claire.
Over at the children's table Jamie decides it is fun to cause the older boys to jump and complain so he tosses another forkful of carrots at Ben. Ben sees it coming and ducks out of the way this time. The carrot missile sails into the back of Ethan's head. "Excuse me please." Ethan says standing up and walking over to where the youngest boys are sitting. "Ben, George come with me please." Ethan says taking both boys into his bedroom and closing the door.
"Alright boys, it is time to explain what is going on at your table. Why is there food all over the table and the floor? How did the carrots fly twice? Once across the table and again across the room. Is there something you want to tell me?" Ethan asks as he sits on the bed with the boys standing in front of him.
Ben is biting his lip and shifting from one foot to the other while George is blinking back tears. Both boys are worried that they are extremely close to being over his knee.
"Papa? It wasn't us that caused that mess out there. It was Jamie. He's been playing with his food." George answers.
"That's the truth Pa. He started throwing forkfuls of peas and then carrots at us. George got peas in his face and I got carrots in mine. That's how I got carrots in my eye, he threw them. He's been making a huge mess. We told him to stop but he wouldn't listen. Please believe us. We'd never act like that at the table." Ben speaks up.
"We know if we did we'd get a spanking! We don't throw food or play with it! Don't you believe us Papa?" George asks tears beginning to roll down his face.
"Boys, of course I believe you. George hush, stop crying now. I'm not mad and you two are not in any trouble. I can see from the condition of your shirts what went on. Jamie is clean but you two are covered in peas and carrots. I needed you to tell me in words though to be sure. What happened with the carrots this last time?"
"He was throwing them at me again but I ducked down at the right time and the carrots flew over me and hit something else." Ben tells him.
"Yes, that something else was the back of my head. I now have carrots in my hair." Ethan says ruefully causing both boys to stifle giggles. "You think carrot hair is funny do you? Well, I hate to be the one to tell you but you both have food hair also. You have carrots Ben and George you have peas stuck in your hair. We'll all have to wash our hair later. For now just see if you can comb it out when you change your shirts."
"Papa, are you going to give Jamie a spanking for this? I think he deserves one and so does Ben!" George asks.
"Ben deserves a spanking? What did Ben do?" Ethan teases.
"NO, I don't deserve a spanking! I didn't do anything. He meant I agree with him, Jamie needs a spanking." After glaring at George, Ben hurries to correct Ethan's thinking.
"Well boys, if it were up to me, I would definitely be turning that boy over my knee. It isn't up to me however. He's a guest here and his parents are with him. It is up to them to correct his misbehavior in the way they see fit to do. I have no authority over him at this time."
Seeing both boys look disgusted by this news he adds "I think we should go out and show his parents what he has been doing. They do need to see the results of their son's actions. Let's go."
"Scotty, I'm sorry I left the table so quickly moments ago. I needed to find out where the carrot shot ball that hit me in the head came from. If you will take a look at Ben and George's hair and clothes you will see what has been going on."
"My you two are a mess! Did the two of you decide to feed each other from across the table? I think you got more on you than in you!" Scotty exclaims chuckling.
Ben opens his mouth to answer but Ethan cuts him off. "No Scotty, the boys didn't do what you think. There was a lot of food being tossed at them from a certain young boy's fork. The same young boy who is still very clean but his eating area is a mess. Walk over and take a good look at the table why don't you. You'll see what I mean."
Following Ethan's advice, Scotty goes to the boy's table. "Little one? How did all of your peas and carrots wind up all on the table and in your potatoes? You are to eat them not play with them."
"I sowwy Papa. The bad peas and cawwots jumped off and wolled awound. They bad! Not listen to Jamie when he says stay on fowk! I help clean it up." The child says batting his big blue eyes at Scotty.
"Yes, you help clean up the table please. We don't make messes on purpose. You need to remember that from now on. Alright little one?"
"Yes Papa."
Standing there at the table listening to all of this Ben and George swap a look. George sends his thoughts to Ben "I can't believe this! He isn't even getting scolded! His Papa isn't even mad about it!"
"Yes, I see that too. We would be getting a spanking or a trip to the barn if we had thrown food and acted up. Especially if we did it at someone's house! Mr. McBride isn't even acting like he's going to spank him later for it!"
Shaking his head a little at his friend's words to his son, Ethan says "Ben, George, go change your clothes and meet Joseph in the barn. We're going to hitch up the pony cart and let you take Jamie for a ride."
Coming out to the barn a few minutes later, Ben helps Joseph fasten all the straps and buckles while George takes Jamie into the barn. "You see Jamie, this is where we keep our horses at night or in cold weather. Each horse has it's own stall and hay bin. We come in here twice a day to clean out the stalls and put down fresh hay on the floor and in the bins for them to eat. We also feed them oats and other grains mixed together in their feed buckets. They get a feed bucket in the evening but eat grass most of the day. Have you ever been around horses before?"
"My Pa had horses but he didn't let me get close because I was only three. I'm almost six and I can get close now. I can do anything I want to now. I don't have to listen." Jamie's voice comes from above George's head. Looking up he sees the boy in the first hayloft.
"Hey! Get down from there! You are too little to be up there by yourself. Now get down!" George orders.
"I won't! I like it up here so leave me alone. You are way too bossy at this house. I like my house better. Nobody there tells me what to do." Jamie calls back.
"Jamie, please get down. I can not leave you up there by yourself. I can't go up there when I'm dressed in my best clothes!"
"I need to go to the water closet real bad. Will you take me there? I'm going to wet my trousers if you don't." Jamie says holding the front of his pants.
"Come down and we'll both go to the outhouse. I don't have a water closet to take you to." George calls up watching as Jamey sits down on the hayloft.
"Jamie? Aren't you coming down? I thought you needed to go to the outhouse really bad. Just like me."
"I went already. I'm going to tell my Papa on you. You wouldn't take me to the water closet and made me wet my trousers. Mama swats me when I wet!"
"Just stay there and don't move, Jamie. I'll be right back!" George calls rushing to the back stall.
A few minutes later he comes back out buttoning up his pants only to find Ethan and Mr. McBride standing there with a wet Jamie. "What is the meaning of this George? We come in and find Jamie up in the loft and no one watching him. He says you wouldn't help him down and he wet his pants because of it. Now I see you come out from back there buttoning your pants! Care to explain son?"
"He wouldn't take me to the outhouse or help me get down. I told him I had to go bad but he just went off to the back stall. He said he had to use the outhouse too. Is the outhouse over in the back stall?" Jamie asks all wide eyed innocence.
George gasps at the lie. "That's not true! I was trying to help but the brat….."
"That's enough out of you young man! You know better than to act this way! The evidence here tells the story. Go to your room and you and I will be having a discussion about this later."
"But Papa! It wasn't like he said! I did try..." George whispers but Mr. McBride hears him anyway.
"George! I'm counting to three and if you are not out of this barn I will put you over my knee. "ONE, … TWO …"
George has fled by the time he finishes the word ONE. By the time he gets to TWO, the boy is on the front porch. Sobbing he runs past Claire to his room and falls on his bed face first. He just can't believe how all this went wrong. Now he's in big trouble and the kid gets off again.
Following him to his room Claire sees him face down on his bed. "George? What has you so upset? What happened outside? Are you hurt?" She asks rubbing his back to calm him down.
"Papa is going to whip me, Claire. I didn't do all the things Jamie said I did. He's lying and no one believes me! I don't like him! He can do anything he wants and no one spanks him and when he lies I get in trouble." George says between his sobbing.
"George? What did Jamie say you did? I know he tells lies so I want to hear what happened." George hears Mrs. McBride say.
"We were in the barn waiting for the ponies and cart to be hitched up. I was telling Jamie about how we take care of the horses and showing him the stalls. I looked around and he was up in the first loft. I told him to get down and he wouldn't do it. Then he said he needed to go to the water closet. I told him we had a outhouse not a water closet. I kept telling him to get down and I'd take him but he wouldn't. Then he sat down and wet his pants. I was about to go too so I went to the back stall and used it. Papa and Mr. McBride came in and caught me coming out of the stall."
"Oh George, you know better than to use the stall like that!" Claire interrupts, scolding George.
"I couldn't help it! Jamie wouldn't come down and I couldn't leave him to go to the outhouse! Jamie told Papa and Mr. McBride I wouldn't help him down or take him to the outhouse so he wet his pants. That's just not true. I tried to tell Papa it wasn't true and he made me come to my room. He says we'll have a discussion later. Claire, when he says "discussion" he means a whipping! George says beginning to cry again.
George hears Mrs. McBride say "Claire? Is that true, your uncle would use a whip on him?"
"A whipping is a spanking with a belt or strap. Papa never uses a real whip. He only whips the boys if they really misbehave."
Turning to George, Mrs. McBride says "I'll talk to your Pa for you George. I'll try to convince him you didn't do what Jamie said. Scotty doesn't believe it when I tell him the boy lies. He doesn't see that yet. Just the way he didn't see he was the one throwing food. The boy has him completely bamboozled. I see through the big eyes and trembling lip but Scotty melts and can not stay firm. He just feels sorry for him because he lost his parents. The child doesn't even remember his parents! He was three at the time."
"Thank you, Mrs. McBride." George replies still sniffling.
"I apologize for his behavior today. I will do my best to make Scotty understand what has happened. He needs to step up and take that boy in hand. I hope when our own baby arrives next September or October he will be ready to be more of a Papa."
"You're having a baby?! That's wonderful news! Aren't you excited?" Claire exclaims all excited herself.
"I'm a little more nervous than excited I guess. It's been a rough time. I'm still getting sick in the mornings. Dr. Americus is sending me to Colorado Springs in two weeks if I haven't stopped being sick by then."
Later that afternoon
Having heard the wagon leaving, George knows the McBride family has gone home. He's expecting the knock on the door but dreads having to face his Papa. Ethan wastes no time and goes straight to talk to George after bidding the visitors goodbye.
Finding the boy face down on the bed he says "George, I know you are awake and that you have been upset. Please sit up and let's talk. I have talked to Mrs. McBride and heard from her some things I didn't know. I think I need to hear from you now. Will you tell me your side of the story now? I'm sorry I didn't listen to you in the barn earlier. I shouldn't have just made those snap conclusions the way I did."
After telling Ethan all that went on in the barn, George finishes his recitation with "Papa I'm sorry I used the barn again instead of the outhouse. I didn't want to leave Jamie alone in the loft to run to the outhouse. I couldn't wait any longer either. I guess I'm in for a whipping."
"You guess wrong then George. I am not going to whip you or punish you for what went on today. Except for calling Jamie names, neither you nor Ben did anything wrong. I can see how frustrated you were when you called him a brat. I'm not going to scold or punish you, son. In fact I'm very proud of you George for how you handled the little boy. You did exactly the right thing by staying in the barn with him when he refused to come down. If you had left he could have fallentrying to come down. I hope Mrs. McBride can get Scotty to see what Jamie is doing."
Getting up from the bed, Ethan walks to the door and calls "Ben! Come here a minute please."
"Yes Pa?" Ben asks coming into his bedroom.
"Sit by George for just a minute, Ben. I want to talk to both of you at once." When Ben is settled, he begins "Boys, I apologize for how Jamie behaved today. I'm very proud of both you boys for not trying to get back at him. I know you probably thought you were going to get in trouble for what he did. I could see it was his doing. I also know both of you very well and in the years you have been with me neither one of you has thrown food at each other or someone else. I could see no reason for you to do that today. The boy needs to be taught to behave and his Pa needs to step up and take control. What I want from both of you is just to continue to be patient and put up with the bad behavior if we get together with them again. The boy doesn't have his Mama fooled at all and she promised to punish the boy."
"I hope she whips him! He deserves it for throwing food and for lying about George." Ben says as George nods in agreement.
Two weeks later
Calling the children together into the front room, Ethan delivers the news. "Children, Mr. and Mrs. McBride are going to Colorado Springs for three days beginning tomorrow morning. Scotty has asked me to take Jamie for the time they will be away. They have no one else to leave him with and he's too young to go along to a Doctor's office. I told him we would watch out for him."
"Pa! Papa! He's so bad! He's going to be troublesome!" Ben and George both say talking over each other.
"I informed Scotty when I agreed to this that if Jamie misbehaved, I would be treating him the same way I treat the five of you. I went on to tell him I would not hesitate to spank the boy if I felt he deserved it. Surprisingly Scotty said he had no problem with that. I make all of you this promise, If Jamie causes trouble, I will take him in hand. You do not need to worry he will show out and get by with it as he did before."
Watching the McBride wagon come up the road, George whispers to Ben "He's going to be surprised when he gets that first spanking. He's bragged to me about how he can do anything he wants. Boy, is he in for a surprise. Papa is too. I don't think he knows how bad Jamie really is!"
"I know. I just hope I'm around to see Jamie's face when he finds out he's going to get a spanking! I'd like to see it happen too. Wouldn't you?"
"Yes, but we won't get to. Papa doesn't let us stay unless we are both getting a spanking. I'm not going to do anything to earn a spanking just to see him get whacked! Papa's spankings sting for a long time." George whispers back.
As the wagon pulls to a stop, Ethan walks down from where he was waiting on the porch. "Hello Scotty. Hello there Jamie. How is Ellie today?"
"She's anxious to get the trip over. I don't think she likes Doctors very much. We'll be home on Saturday afternoon and I'll come collect the rascal then. He and I have had a long talk about how he is expected to behave while he stays with you. I have also told him you have my permission to paddle his butt if he acts up. Isn't that right James?"
"Yes Papa. I'll be good Papa."
"I hope you will son. If Ethan has to spank you for bad behavior then you will be getting another one when I get you home. Do you understand me James? I mean it! I will put you over my knee and spank you if you misbehave!"
George and Ben swap looks of surprise at this statement. Ethan is also surprised to hear the sternness in Scotty's voice. "Good for you Scotty. Stand up and take charge of this child." He thinks.
"Take care of your wife Scotty and don't worry about Jamie. He'll be fine with us. Rob, Joseph and Claire are all going to be watching out for him as well as myself. We'll have a good time and he'll be a tired but happy young fella when you come to get him."
Standing on the porch with Rob and Joseph while watching his Papa drive away, Jamie's chin starts to tremble and tears start to fall. "Hey there young one, what's causing the waterworks?" Rob asks picking up the child.
"My Papa's leaving to go get another child. They don't want me around anymore they are getting a baby. I'm just a bad boy so they want a new one." Jamie sobs out into Rob's shoulder.
Rob looks over at Joseph when he hears this and Joseph just shrugs his shoulders. "I think maybe you need to tell Uncle Ethan about this Rob. He may know what to say to him. I sure don't."