New Beginnings
Ch. 10
A week later, Ethan is passing by the bank when he is called by name. "Sheriff Cord! I'm glad to see you. I've been wanting to talk with you since last week but was unexpectedly called to Denver. Could you spare a few minutes of your time?"
"Certainly, Mr. Mullins. What trouble are you having?" Ethan asks.
"I'm not sure how to bring this up so I guess the best way would be just ask. Did you happen to authorize a withdrawal by your nephew last week? He had a withdrawal form but something just didn't seem right about it that day."
"Mr. Mullins, I have not authorized any deposits or withdrawals in the last week. I authorized a deposit three weeks ago. We had to put some back into the account after my wayward child took it out. He had to work and come up with half of that money himself. Are you telling me Joseph came and took money out again?" If he did, he won't be sitting for several days! Ethan thinks.
"No sir, this wasn't Joseph. This was young Mr. Jordan. If you'll step inside, I can show you the withdrawal slip. You might be interested to know you signed it." Mr. Mullins answers smiling at Ethan's gasp of "I did what?".
During the after supper clean up, the boys were unnaturally subdued. There was none of the usual teasing or good natured arguing over who was to do what chore. All three had noticed how Ethan's eyes were dark and he had been more quiet than usual at the table.
Whispering, Ben asks Joseph "What do you think it is? What's making Pa so different lately? It makes me think he's mad at me!"
"Have you done something to make him be mad at you? " Joseph whispers, with a stern look at his brother. Then seeing Ben shake his head 'No', he says "I'm not really sure, Ben. I wonder if it has to do with that telegram he got last week. You know he never has told us anything although he said he would. I thought as soon as Jamie went home, he'd let us know what the telegram was about but he never did."
Rob having helped Claire cook the meal didn't have to clean up and is waiting in the front room. Joseph had promised him a rematch of their previous checker game after he finished the clean up chores.
Ethan breaks into his thoughts by calling his name. "Robert?"
"Yessir?"
"Let's take a walk out to the corral. I'd like to speak to you privately."
Exchanging a quick glance with Joseph, Rob answers "Yes Sir."
As the door closes, Ben says to George "Rob's in trouble. I don't know what he did but he is in trouble for whatever it is he did."
"Maybe not. Maybe Papa just wants to talk to him by himself about something."
"George. He called him "Robert". You must not have heard that. If he calls us by our full name, we are in trouble."
"Benjamin!"
Ben jumping at the sound of his full name before realizing it was Joseph who spoke not his Pa, complains "Joseph! GEEEZ don't do that! You nearly made me drop the plate! If I broke another plate this week, I'd get in trouble. What?" Ben questions at his brother's scowl.
"You better stop yammering and finish before you get hauled outside for a private talk! If Pa comes back and you aren't done with your part, he might just turn you over his knee! It was just two nights ago when you had that happen for not minding Claire."
"I remember. I'll hurry." Ben says rubbing one hand on his backside at the memory. His sister had been bossy all day and it just gotten to him that night. When she'd told him to go back in to the kitchen and wash the pots he had told her to do it herself. Unfortunately, his Pa heard him and set his bottom on fire for being disrespectful to Claire.
Out at the corral, Ethan tells Rob "I spoke to the bank manager today. He showed me something very interesting. I must be busier than I thought since I am now signing for and withdrawing money without even remembering it! Would you know something about this Robert?"
AHH, the full name again! Best to go with the truth and why you did it and hope to spare your butt! Rob's inner voice tells him as he sees the fierce look on his Uncle's face.
"Yes sir, I signed for you. I needed to get the money fast and didn't have the time to ask first. I only took eight dollars sir. I'm sorry."
"What did you need the money for Robert? This better not have anything to do with gambling, young man!"
"NO SIR! I swear to you I haven't been gambling or anything else that is against the rules. I needed to pay for a gift for Emily. I had a special bonnet ordered for her and it turned out to cost more than I had with me. If I didn't pay for it that day then it was going to be put up for sale to someone else! I just had to get that bonnet, sir."
"How much did this bonnet cost if you didn't have enough money?"
"Four fifty sir." Rob says bracing himself for the lecture about to come.
"Robert! You and I have talked about the use of your money! You can not continue to just keep buying these overly expensive things for other people. I know you want to give people gifts and I admire that but and really listen, The Money Is For Your Education!"
"Yes, I understand that but I'm not going to go back to school! I have all the education I need to be a rancher! You are teaching me everything else I need to know. If I want to use some of my money then I don't see why it matters! It's MY money." Rob says trying hard not to shout or sound disrespectful.
"It is your money but as your legal guardian, it is up to me to control it until you reach the age of twenty one. Being your legal guardian, also means I am in charge of you and your behavior until you reach legal age. This being said, let me tell you what is now going to happen." Ethan has to stop to calm his temper. Seeing his flashing eyes and the downturned eyebrows makes Rob swallow nervously while he waits.
"You are wrong when you say you didn't break any rules here. When you sign someone's name without their permission it is called forgery. You forged my signature which is against the law! You lied to Mr. Mullins by saying I was too busy to come take the money out for you. I ought to tan you until you are too sore to sit! I won't do that this time. You are however, going to be confined to the ranch for three weeks. You will be given a list of extra chores to do during that time to earn the money you took out. Forging someone else's name better not EVER happen again or that trip to the woodshed will be happening! It won't matter to me how old you may be!"
"You didn't seem to mind when I did it for the contract to the Army that time you went after Joseph." Rob can't help but complain.
"Robert, watch yourself, you are asking for trouble here! That was different. Mitch gave you permission and I'm pretty sure you know how this problem with the bank is quite different, don't you?"
"Yessir, may I go now sir?" Rob asks, fighting the threatening tears.
"Yes Rob, just remember this talk."
Nodding, Rob walks over to the barn and closes the doors once he's inside. Climbing into the first loft, he walks to the end, looks over his shoulder to make sure he's alone and climbs into the second loft. Although he knows he's forbidden to be there he needs a place to be alone for a few minutes.
Leaning back against one of the bigger hay bales, he lets the tears come. "It's just not fair! I have all this money in the bank and just because I want to buy something special, I get punished! Uncle Ethan didn't have to housebound me for that long! Three weeks before I can even talk to Emily! Then threatening to whip me! My word I'm going to be sixteen in November. I'm too old to be treated like a little kid. I miss the freedom to do anything I wanted back before I got caught gambling in Colorado Springs! If I hadn't had the fight at the saloon that time, I wouldn't been sent here! I wish these adults would just mind their own life and stay out of mine! I can take care of myself! " Rob thinks as he rubs the tears from his face.
"My face is feeling scratchy today. It must be time to give it a shave. I'll do that now while I don't have an audience like the first time I shaved." Rob says to himself as he remembers the first shaving lesson a few weeks ago.
Rob remembers how he wound up learning to shave in front of his three younger brothers:
Walking into the barn one afternoon, he was surprised to find his uncle hanging a mirror on a post. "Did you decide the horses need to be able to look to see if they are handsome?" Rob teases.
"No, this is not for horses. This would be for you." Ethan says with a smile.
"For Me?"
"I already know I'm handsome, Uncle Ethan! Emily tells me that."
"Well if you want to stay handsome, it's time to learn to shave. I've noticed you have some fuzz beginning to come on your cheeks and chin. Would you like to learn to shave Rob?"
"Yes but I don't have anything to use. I don't think using one of Claire's knives would work."
"I bought you some things to use. Here's a straight razor, a strop for sharpening it, a brush for lathering and a cup to mix the lather in. I also put this shelf here so you can keep your shaving materials up out of the younger boy's reach. I'll keep mine on here also. Before we get started, let me get the other boys. If I'm going to give a shaving lesson then I'm going to give it to all of you at one time."
"Please Uncle Ethan, can't we do this just us? I don't really want to have an audience for my very first try."
"I've already told them they could watch. I'm sorry I didn't think it would matter to you. You never have seemed to mind them watching other lessons such as working with the untried horses."
"I knew they wouldn't laugh at me then. This time they just might make fun of me if I can't do it right."
"They will not. I won't allow them to. Rest easy Rob."
Ethan was right, none of the younger boys laughed at him. The fact was that Ben and George both seemed to be in awe of him shaving. George even said he must be all grown up now. Not in Uncle Ethan's viewpoint, I'm not! Rob thinks sourly.
Rob, climbing down from his hideout, walks across to the shaving shelf. Reaching up, taking the powder can and cup off the small shelf under the mirror he pours out a little powder into the cup. Taking a small amount of water in the dipper from the water bucket by the doors, he mixes the powder and water into a lather. Brushing the lather on his face, he remembers Ben teasing him about being Santa Claus now that he had a white beard.
Carefully taking the shield from the razor he pulls it slowly as Ethan taught him over his chin and cheeks. Finished he goes to the door and pours water into his hands to rinse the lather still on his face. Going back to the shelf, he makes sure to clean the razor, put the shield back on it and lay it on the shelf. Rinsing the cup out with a dipperfull of water, he puts it back on the shelf.
"Well, who knew shaving could make a person feel calmer. I'll have to remember that the next time I get angry. With young boys around, I need all the ways to stay calm I can get!' Rob thinks walking back to the house after extinguishing the two lanterns in the barn.
Coming into the house he finds Ben and Joseph busy with a checkers game. Claire has George standing on a chair while she pins in the sleeves of the new shirt she's making for him.
"Claire! Hurry! My feet are going to go to sleep from standing. You've already pinned it three times so can't I get down now? I don't want to stay on the chair all night!" George complains.
"I'll be done sooner if you would just be still for me. All this wiggling around makes it hard to pin it right." That and the fact that my arms are burning again. She adds the last in her mind.
George feeling tired and irritable answers back "I am not wiggling! You just won't pin it right 'cause your arms don't work good anymore. You just want to make it be my fault the dumb shirt doesn't fit good. I don't even want a new shirt anyway! I didn't ask you to make it! " He regrets answering back as soon as the last word left his mouth. He sees his brothers and sister are suddenly completely still, just waiting.
Then he sees his Papa fold his newspaper in half, stand up and walk to the chair George is standing on. "Claire, please take the shirt off now. You'll have to finish tomorrow. George is going to bed now."
"Yessir." Claire answers carefully taking the shirt off her brother.
Taking George by the arm, Ethan helps him get down off the chair before walking him out of the room towards the boy's bedroom.
Ben looking over at Joseph, says "I don't want to play anymore, Joseph. Maybe you and Rob can play now."
Walking over, Rob ruffles the boy's hair as he says "Thank you Ben. I was hoping not to have to play the checker champ here. He's already beaten me at four straight games. Why the long face Ben?"
"I don't like it when George gets spanked. He's always been the good one and shouldn't get spanked."
"What makes you think he's getting a spanking? It could be he's just getting a scolding." Claire asks.
"I just know. " Ben answers as he goes to his sister for a hug. Claire hugs him back stroking his hair. "It's alright Ben. George will be fine. You know Pa doesn't ever hurt us."
"He hurts me, Claire. After the last trip to the barn, when he whipped me with the strap, I couldn't sit the rest of the night without stinging!" Ben tells her.
"Yes well, that's to remind you not to act that way anymore. What I meant was hurt us the way Father did."
"Oh, yeah, Pa wouldn't ever do that. You're right, Claire, Pa loves us. Father didn't."
Looking over to Joseph, Claire sees him nod in agreement with that statement. Rob just reaches out and tucks Ben under his arm next to him on the bench. Giving him a one armed hug at the same time.
An hour later when Ben is sent to bed, he carefully goes over to his brother's bed. "Hey George? Are you okay?" He thinks hoping his brother feels his thoughts.
Rolling over to look at Ben, George sends back "Of course I'm okay Ben. He said I was being rude and that I hurt Claire's feelings talking about her arms. I got housebound but he didn't spank me. He said he would take down my pants and spank my bare bottom if he ever heard me being hateful to her like that again. I have to stay in our room all day tomorrow."
The next afternoon having finished all his chores, Ben, having no one to play with, goes into the barn to play by himself. His Pa, Joseph and Rob are busy outside with the newest set of horses to be trained. Ben had been down to the training area to watch but when he accidentally fell off the fence into the corral, Ethan ordered him to stay away. He hadn't meant to scare the horse, it just happened.
Looking around inside the barn he thinks about climbing to the second loft to play. "No, that wouldn't be good if someone caught me up there. With my luck today, I'd get caught and Pa might give me a spanking for disobeying. What else fun thing can I do by myself?" Ben says talking out loud to himself. Just then, his eyes go to the shaving shelf. "That's what I can do! I can shave like Pa and Rob do. It's not hard, you just put that white powder in water, mix it, put it on, scrape it off! Yeah, I can do that!"
Pulling over a wooden three legged stool they used when washing and brushing the horses, he takes the cup and powder off the shelf. Pouring some powder into the cup he hops off the stool to get water for mixing. After mixing and putting the lather on his face he climbs back on the stool and reaches up for the razor. Unfortunately just when he pulls the razor open, it slips from his hands and hits the stool before landing on the floor. Quickly grabbing the burlap sack he had brought over, he wipes his face clean.
Bending down he carefully picks up the razor. "Please don't let it be broken. If it is, I'm in trouble. I wasn't to touch it but I did it anyway! Please?" He whispers his prayer. Carefully turning the razor in his hands he sees a small piece broken out of the blade. "Maybe if I just close it and put it back no one will find out." He whispers to himself as he puts it back on the shelf.
"BEN? Lunchtime, come help set the table! " He hears Claire calling.
Wetting his face and drying it to be sure he has all the lather off, he runs to help. Little does he know his escapade isn't over yet.
The next morning Rob walks into the barn just in time to see George hop down off the three legged stool under the shaving shelf. "What are you doing George?"
"Nothing. Why?"
"What were you doing standing on the stool? Did you touch the razors? If you lie you are going to be in more trouble. You better tell me the truth!"
"I found the can of shaving powder on the ground so I picked it up and put it on the shelf. I didn't touch the razors, Rob. Honest!"
"Let's get busy with the stalls, George. Ben and Joseph will be out in a few minutes. They have to set up the washtub with water and haul the clothes out for Claire. Here, take the rake and start raking out the hay. I'll pitch it up in the wheelbarrow when you get a pile raked. If we work together we can get this done faster. I know you have to do all of Ben's stalls today because he did yours yesterday."
"Yes, let's try to hurry. I want to go fishing as soon as we get this finished. Ben said he would go with me and Joseph might go too. Will you go with us?"
"I can't George. I want to but I can't. I'm housebound remember? I still have over two weeks before I can leave the yard! " Rob complains.
"Yeah, being housebound is no fun. At least if you get a spanking it is over in a few minutes. When you get housebound it lasts forever. I was housebound to our room all day yesterday!"
"Yes, I remember." Rob says grinning to himself.
When the other two boys come in, Joseph tells Rob "Uncle Ethan says we're to polish the new saddles today. Will you help me haul them to the corral fence? It's more fun to be outside when you have to do this. Ben, George? I won't be able to go fishing with you until I get the saddles done. Before you decide to go off by yourselves you had better ask Pa. You don't want to be in trouble."
"Joseph? When are you going to decide what to call him? One time you say 'Uncle Ethan' and the next is 'Pa'. Why don't you call him Pa like me?" Ben asks.
"I don't know. I guess I just say whatever comes in my mind. I called him Uncle Ethan for so long it's kind of hard to stop especially with Rob calling him that."
"Well, Rob can call him Pa too. He's our Pa now. You do remember that don't you?" George speaks up sounding so much like Ethan the two older boys start snickering.
"Let's get the saddles out before we get in trouble by Pa!" Rob tells Joseph giving him a wink when George isn't looking.
After all their assigned chores are finished, including helping to polish the saddles, Ben goes inside to ask permission for the fishing trip. Ethan, in his bedroom, is just buckling the gun belt on when Ben comes to the door.
"Pa? Why are you putting the Sheriff things on? I thought you were going to be home today."
"Not today Ben. Today I have to go back into town. I'll be off tomorrow. Did you need something before I leave?"
"Me and George finished all our chores and helped with the saddles too. Can we go fishing at the pond?"
"What are Rob and Joseph doing?"
Realizing why his Pa asked about the older boys Ben answers "They're still polishing saddles. Please Pa? George and I can go alone. We don't need to have a babysitter with us. Please?"
Smiling at the boy, Ethan answers "You and George may go by yourselves. Ben!" He has to call as the boy turns to run off.
"Sir?"
"I'm not finished talking yet, son. You and George may go as I said, however I'm going to tell Rob and Joseph to check on you when they finish their work. I'm not saying they will be babysitting, just checking to see if you two are alright."
Seeing the pout on Ben's face he adds "Either you agree to this or you stay home. Which is it going to be?"
"I'll agree. I don't see why we can't go and stay by ourselves. You let them go on their own all the time."
"Rob and Joseph are older. Joseph was never allowed to go off by himself until he was twelve. I either went with him or he stayed home. If you continue to complain about this you will also stay home."
"I'll stop and I'm sorry for complaining. It just seems that every time George and I want to do something we are too young. I'm tired of being too young."
"Go tell George the good news and dig your worms while I talk to the older boys. You won't always be too young Ben. In fact you are able to do many more things now than we allowed when you first came here. At that time, you weren't able to go out of the house by yourself."
"I remember. You wouldn't even let me go to the outhouse without Joseph taking me! Joseph got really tired of having to take me back an forth to the outhouse! When you weren't home he let me and George go to it ourselves." Ben grins up at his Pa.
"Well, if you plan to go fishing before afternoon chores, you had better get busy getting your bait. Scoot on out little informer!" Ethan says aiming a light swat at the boy as he goes by. Ben giggles as he jumps out of range.
As he saddles his horse, Ethan calls Rob and Joseph to him. "Boys, I told Ben and George they could go to the pond to fish. I'm letting them go by themselves but I want you to go fishing with them as soon as you are finished. Don't let them think you are there to watch them though. Just act as if you decided to go fishing also. Rob? I said you were housebound but I'm going to allow you to go do this. Claire is going into town also. I'll be back by the time you need to start late afternoon chores."
"We'll keep an eye on the squirts, Pa." Joseph answers for both of them.
"Joseph, why are you calling them "the squirts" so much lately? Rob asks curiously.
"It's a nickname I had for them when were younger. When they had the trouble at the soda fountain it just kinda fit again! Besides, it gets Ben really mad when I call him that! It's funny!"
"Joseph, you shouldn't tease your brothers until they get mad. You two enjoy your afternoon and if you boys catch enough, we'll have a fish fry tonight. We'll need at least ten good sized fish. If not don't worry, I'll find us something to cook for supper. I'm cooking tonight since Claire is spending the night with Emily."
"Bye Pa, I'll try not to tease so much anymore. It's just fun to see Ben get all ruffled up! He gets so mad that his hair sticks up!" Joseph says snickering.
"Joseph." Ethan says quietly, giving the boy a look.
"Yes sir, I understand. I'll quit."
Walking over to the pond, Rob says "When Uncle Ethan called your name and you said you understood, what exactly did you understand? I felt I missed something in the conversation."
"That I was going to be in trouble if I kept teasing Ben. He was scolding me for talking about Ben that way. If I keep teasing and making Ben mad, he'll punish me. That was my warning."
"Would he whip you?"
"I don't think so but he might wallop me. He'd probably make me be housebound with extra chores. I'm not going to tease like that and find out though. I've been warned and that is all there is to it. If I don't listen, I'll be in trouble."
As they get closer to the pond, Joseph whispers "Hey Rob, let's have some fun with the little guys. Let's sneak up behind them and make it sound as if there's an animal coming up. Okay?"
"No! That would scare them. I'm not going to scare them and you had better not either. You do, and I'll tell Uncle Ethan. You just said you weren't going to tease."
"Rob, you sound just like Ben! He's always threatening me when I won't let him do what he wants."
Coming up to the pond, they see the younger two sitting on the bank, poles in the water.
"Hi Guys, catch any yet?" Rob asks sitting beside George.
"I've caught three and Ben's caught one already. One was too little so I had to throw it back. Rob, I thought you said you were housebound. If Papa finds out you left home you'll get a whipping!" George says giving Rob a worried look.
"It's alright. Uncle Ethan told me I could come today. I guess he didn't want me to be home alone. Claire went to town to stay with Emily tonight so it's just us guys for supper. Uncle Ethan said we could have a fish fry if we caught enough. Let's bait up Joseph. I bet I catch more than you do!"
"You're on, but what's the bet? It had better not be with money or we'll get in huge trouble"
"The loser does the other ones chores tonight!" Rob answers.
"Fine with me. I'm going to go over there by the bush. I'll be back with my fish!" Joseph announces moving to a space further away.
"Ben, George, put the poles down and come with me. I want to show you something." Rob whispers when Joseph is out of sight.
Leading the boys into the trees, he stops at a fallen log supported by a stump. "First check for snakes on and under the log. Do you see any?"
"No."
"Good, now look under the log again. Do you see those white wormy looking things? Help me pick them up. Put them in your pockets. These are called grubs and fish LOVE them. Come on let's get back." Rob tells the boys.
Twenty minutes later, Rob, Ben and George have caught fifteen fish. Joseph comes out from behind the bushes with three big fish on a stick.
"I caught three big ones! How many did you get Rob?"
"Six.
"You caught six all alone? It doesn't count if you use the ones Ben or George caught." Joseph says frowning now.
Turning to Ben, Rob asks "How many did you catch Ben?"
"Five"
"George?" Rob asks turning to him.
"I caught four after you left Joseph!" George says smiling up at Joseph. "Rob told us how to find the best bait to use. The fish just gobble them down too!"
"That's wonderful George. Well, we have enough for the fish fry. I guess we'd better start back so I can have time to do all the chores I have to do. You don't play fair Rob!"
"You never asked me if I had different bait, Joseph. Now George, tell me how many fish we have. You two caught three before we came, I caught six, Ben caught five, you caught four and Joseph caught only three." He smiles at Joseph's "HMMPH". "How many does that add up to be George?"
"Well, three plus six plus five is fourteen and then four more is eighteen and three more makes twenty one. WE HAVE TWENTY ONE FISH! Gosh Rob, we have enough to feed ten people!"
"Yes, if those people only wanted to eat a little. The way Joseph eats lately, we probably have just enough for the five of us!" Rob answers, grinning at Joseph.
"Rob?"
"Yes Joseph?"
"Stuff a sock in it, will ya? You talk too much today."
"Boys, your other older brother is a might touchy today. Don't you think so?"
"Yes!" Ben and George yell, giggling at Joseph's "UMPH!"
Back at the ranch, Joseph starts on the barn chores while Rob cleans the fish. Ben and George start getting sticks for the fire. As soon as they have a large pile, to the barn to do their evening chores.
Town
While in town, Ethan is approached by a man he doesn't know. "Excuse me, you are Sheriff Cord, right?"
"Yes. What can I do to help you sir?"
"My name is McGinnis, Ian McGinnis, Sheriff. I was told to talk to you about training horses. I'm in need of a horse trainer for a few weeks. Do you know someone who would be willing to take the job?"
"Let's walk over to the office and talk. I need a little more information from you." Ethan says.
"I was told you have a new way of training horses. My children and I live on a small ranch about eight miles from here. I could pay good wages and provide room and board to the trainer."
"How old are your children?"
"Twelve and fourteen. They help around the place but they don't know much about training horses."
"I believe my oldest son, Rob could take this job. He knows how to gentle horses very well. He's fifteen and a hard worker. You said you would like someone for how many weeks?"
"Would three weeks be enough time to train four horses? I really can't afford more time than that. The pay would be two dollars a day."
"I'm sure that would be enough time. I'll bring Rob out to your place on Sunday afternoon. He can begin the next morning. Is that agreeable to you?"
"Yes sir, Sheriff."
Evening
Riding up into the ranch yard, Ethan can see the two older boys watching a fire burning in a hole in the ground.
"Hello boys, you must have had a successful fishing trip. Where are Ben and George? You didn't feed them to the fish now did you?"
"No, Rob wouldn't have let me do that. It would have been nice though!" Joseph answers snickering.
"The boys are in the barn, Uncle Ethan. They should be finishing up their chores by now. George wants to have you guess how many fish we caught so be ready." Rob answers.
"I'll do that, thank you for the warning Rob. I don't suppose either of you will give me a hint now will you? I'll do clean up chores if you would help me out here. I'm not good at riddles!"
"Pa! Are you asking me to help you cheat on the riddle? I thought you were really against not doing your own work! Seems like I remember getting my backside warmed for that very thing!" Joseph teases.
"Yes you certainly did. Let me put up the horse and I'll be out to help cook. Do we need anything from the house or do you have it all ready?"
"We don't have it out here but it is ready. We weren't sure if you would want us to eat inside or out here. We have potatoes and corn cooked. Joseph did the potatoes for us because mine still don't come out done. They're either raw or burned." Rob tells him.
"Let's eat outside. It isn't too cool so we'll be fine. I'll get the boys to help bring out what we need while you start cooking the fish. I'll take over when I get back out."
Walking the horse into the barn, Ethan finds his two youngest in the last stall. "Hello boys, I see you are nearly finished here. When you finish, please wash up and then get the plates and silverware. We're going to eat outside tonight. You've done a very good job on the stalls by the way! They look very clean."
"Thank you Papa! Papa I want you to guess how many fish we caught today! C'mon guess! You won't be able to, I don't think, anyway." George beams up at his Papa.
"I need to brush down Lightning so come stand with me while I do." Ethan tells the boys. As they move nearer to Lightning's stall, Ethan says "Well George, I'm not good at riddles or guessing games so you are probably right about me not guessing. How many guesses will you give me?"
"You may have three guesses, Papa. After three we will tell you."
"I told the boys we could have a fish fry if you all caught enough so it has to be more than nine. My first guess will beeeeeeeeeee ...,thirteen. " Ethan says drawing out his answer to make the boys giggle.
"Sorry Pa but that isn't the right answer. You get two more guesses." Ben tells him bouncing on his feet in excitement.
"All right then my second guess is ….. I'll go with sixteen." Ethan looks over at George to see if this was the right number. George is shaking his head.
"Not sixteen then. Last guess, I guess I'll go with twelve then." Ethan says watching George smile.
"I guessed it then? It is twelve? That would be a good number if they are big fish. We could each have two and have extra fish left."
"Well Papa, you almost guessed it. You got the two numbers right. Let's tell him Ben, ready on three One… Two …. Three….. We caught TWENTY ONE fish!" The two boys say together.
After bringing all of the things they need for the "night picnic" as George calls it, they settle around the fire to watch the fish cook.
"Boys, I'm just amazed you could catch so many fish! We'll have to smoke some to keep for another day. There's so many I just don't think we can eat them all tonight. Let's fry thirteen and save the rest. Ben, you and George can have two each and the rest of us will have three each. I believe we can convince Claire to use the rest for a meal later."
"I know Papa! She can make fish chowder with them. She knows how and it's really good too!" George exclaims.
"Not to me it isn't. I like fish like this but not in a soup." Ben says glaring at George.
"Well Ben, if Claire makes it we will all eat it without complaint. Right?" Ethan asks.
"Yes Pa, I'll eat it but I won't like it."
"Fair enough Ben, as long as you do not let Claire know you don't like it."
Changing the subject and trying to get Ben out of his mood, Rob asks "George? Did Uncle Ethan guess how many we caught?"
Grinning at his Papa, George answers "Well he tried hard but he just doesn't guess very good. He did get the two numbers right. A one and a two."
"He thought we only caught two?" Joseph asks incredulously
"No he thought we caught twelve. A one and a two." George explains to his confused brother.
"All right you lot, it's time to tell me the secret. How did you get so many fish? Did you talk to them the way Mitch does?" Ethan asks smiling at George.
"Mitch talks to fish?" Rob asks Joseph, shocked at this news.
"That's what he told George one time when we all went fishing together. He says if you talk to them they will come up to listen and you can catch them."
"No Pa, we didn't talk to the fish. Rob showed us how to find grubs to fish with. You have to look under fallen trees in the dirt for them." Ben tells Ethan.
"That's good Ben, but boys you must not look for grubs unless Rob, Joseph or I am with you. I don't want you wandering in the woods alone. Do you both hear me?"
"Yes sir." Ben and George both answer.
"I met a man in town today who is looking for someone to help train some horses at his ranch. He asked me if I knew of someone willing to come out and help him for three weeks. The pay would be two dollars a day, room and board for the three weeks."
"Who did you recommend?" Rob asks wanting to ask for the job but not daring to do so.
"Can I go Pa? I could do it, I know I could!" Joseph speaks up, earning a glare from Rob.
"I'm sure you would be good at this job, Joseph. The only problem would be you leaving home for three weeks. I'm sorry son, but thirteen isn't old enough to go take a job like this away from home."
"Yes sir. Who will be going?" Joseph asks.
"The man wants someone who knows how to gentle horses and I told him about you, Rob. You are good with horses and I thought you might like the extra spending money. If you want the job, the money will be yours to use as you like."
"I would like to do it, sir. I would follow all the man's house rules and do a good job for him. May I take the job sir?"
"I thought you would like to have it. I told Mr. McGinnis to expect us out to his place on Sunday afternoon. I'll drive you out and then come back and pick you up after you finish work."
Hearing this causes Joseph's eyes to tear up. Rising quickly he drops his plate on the ground. "Please Excuse Me." he mutters rushing toward the barn.
"Joseph was about to cry, Pa." Ben says softly. "I don't want Rob to go away either."
"I know Ben. It is going to be hard to let him do this but we have too. Rob wants the job and he will come back to us. He belongs to us and I will drag him home if he doesn't want to come back. Is that a good idea?"
"Yes and you need to tell him you will spank him if he doesn't come back home!" George says as Ben nods his head.
"Rob, if you don't come home after your job is over, Ben , George, Joseph, Claire and I will all come to the job site and take turns spanking you." Ethan says giving Rob a wink.
"Yes Sir! I don't plan on not coming home guys. I live here! You won't get rid of me that quickly." Rob says reaching out to hug first Ben and then George.
"While you three have a group hug, I'll go talk to Joseph. I'm doing the clean up chores so just leave the plates and pan for me." Ethan says before he walks to the barn.
Coming into the barn he finds Joseph face down in the lower loft. He can tell the boy is crying by the shaking of his shoulders. With a sigh, Ethan walks over and begins to rub the boy's back.
"It's alright son. Rob will come back, I promise you that."
"I know he will. That's not the problem. I Wanted The Job! Rob gets to do everything and I don't! I asked first! You said I would be good at it! Why can't I do it too?" Joseph says sitting up and wiping the tears off his face. He feels like shouting his words but knows it would lead to a sore backside so he keeps his voice as calm as he can.
"Joseph, I understand why you're upset. I'm sorry son but you just are not old enough to work that far away from home. Besides that, if Rob goes then I'm going to need you to help me take care of the ranch. I need you to stay to help me with the horses here. I'm even going to begin paying you for helping train them. How about twenty five cents a day?"
"Uncle Ethan, Rob is going to make two dollars a day!" Joseph complains.
"I will go up to fifty cents but no more than that. You can take it or you can do the work for no money."
"I'll take fifty cents a day." Joseph says quickly.
"For this money, you will be doing more than you normally do, Joseph. Do you still agree?"
"Yessir, I'll do whatever you ask me to do."
"Good. I'll write up a contract for you to sign. We will have it in writing so neither of us will forget what we agreed."
"That's great, Pa! It will be just like having a real job." Joseph answers excited at this idea.
"Yes son, it will at that." Ethan answers. Thinking to himself how he plans to make this a learning experience for the boy. He doesn't realize what it means to have a real job as he called it. By the end of these next three weeks, he will though.
The next morning, after breakfast, Rob decides to go to the barn to shave. All of the younger boys are assigned the breakfast clean up as he and Claire made breakfast.
I'm getting rather good at pancakes and eggs now. I haven't burned anything in the last five times I cooked breakfast. I'm not good at biscuits yet. I'll just let Claire keep doing them. Now, while they're all busy I can get a shave in without an audience! Shaving isn't something I want to do with someone watching. I'll have to remember to take my razor and shaving things to the McGinnis place. Rob thinks.
Reaching up to the shelf, he hums softly while he mixes the powder into a lather. Taking the razor down he opens it getting it ready to use. Looking down as the razor opens, he finds a piece broken off. Shaking his head, he thinks back to a few days before.
That day George was in here. He was on the stool and told me he was putting the shaving powder back on the shelf. He must have been playing with the razor and broke it somehow. I'm just going to have to tell Uncle Ethan about this. Playing with a razor is dangerous!
With a sigh, he takes the razor and walks back up to the house. Coming in the front door he sees Ethan in the sitting area beginning to disassemble one of his guns for cleaning. "Uncle Ethan, may I speak to you outside?"
When Ethan meets him outside he shows him the broken razor. "I opened it this morning and found it like this. There's something I haven't told you. I didn't want him to be in trouble so I didn't say anything. I scolded him myself."
"Rob, you aren't making sense here. Who are we talking about and what did he do? What does this have to do with the razor?"
"Thursday afternoon, I walked into the barn for chores and saw George standing on the wooden stool they use for brushing the horses. He had the stool under the shaving shelf and his hand had just come from the shelf when I spoke to him. I asked him if he had been touching the razors and he denied it. He told me he was putting the can of shaving powder back on the shelf. He said he found it on the ground. I scolded him and told him to be sure to leave those things alone."
"Let's go in and have a talk with him. I want to hear what he says about the broken razor."
Inside, Ethan calls George into the sitting area. "George, I have some questions I need you to answer. I want the truth from you. You know lying will only lead to worse punishment don't you?"
"Yes Papa. I haven't done anything bad Papa. I haven't." George says eyes filling with tears. The tone and look his Papa has is the same one he uses when someone is in trouble.
"George, were you in the barn Thursday afternoon before the barn chores started?"
"Yes Papa, I got finished with gathering the eggs before Ben finished cleaning the hen house so I went to the barn to wait for him."
"Were you also on the brushing stool and touching the shaving things George?"
"The stool was under the shelf and the powder can was on the floor. I picked it up and put it on the shelf." George answers looking at Rob curiously.
Why is he mad about that now? I told him all this in the barn so why is he telling Papa. George wonders to himself.
"Son, look at me please." Ethan says firmly.
"George, I want you to tell me the truth now. Did you touch Rob's razor that day? Did you knock it off even by accident?"
Shaking his head vigorously, George whispers "No sir."
"Well young man, how did this happen?" Ethan ask opening Rob's razor. "There is a piece broken off that would only break off if it was dropped. Now answer me."
"I haven't touched any razors Papa. Please Papa, I'm telling the truth." George says as tears start to roll down his face. He feels as if any minute he's going to wind up over his Papa's knee getting a spanking or worse.
"George, the evidence here seems to be that you aren't telling me the truth. Go to your room. I'll be there in just a few minutes."
Knowing very well what that means, George gulping back sobs, says "But Papa, I am telling the truth! I am! I didn't touch anything but the powder and it was on the floor! I just put it back."
Ben can't take this any longer. "Pa? It wasn't George. It was me. I'm sorry Rob, I didn't mean to break it. The other day, I was looking at it and as I was opening it, I dropped it on the barn floor. I picked it up and put it back on the shelf and maybe I knocked the powder can. It didn't fall then but maybe it did later. I just wanted to look at the razor. I'm sorry! It was an accident!"
"Come Here Ben!" Ethan says sternly. "George sit on the bench seat for just a minute."
When Ben gets to his side, Ethan says "I appreciate you telling us the truth now, son. Telling us the truth is always the best thing to do. You still did wrong though, you realize that right?"
"Yes sir." Ben answers
"What did you do wrong here Ben?"
"I touched something I was told to leave alone. I didn't mean to break it. I was just looking at it and it fell out of my hand. I'm very sorry Rob!"
"Ben! I am disappointed in your behavior. You were told not to ever touch the razor and you deliberately disobeyed me. I'm going to let Rob decide on part of your punishment as you did wrong to him. George you help him decide since Ben was letting you take the blame."
Looking at Rob, Ethan says "Talk it over with George on the porch while I talk to Ben in his room. Then you may tell us both what you decide. Let's go Ben!"
Taking Ben by the arm he walks him to his bedroom. A few minutes later, an unhappy young boy is waiting on the bench in the front room for his brothers to have their say.
"Ben, George and I talked and we decided you should do all of George's chores for two days. For my part, I want you to write lines for me. I think fifty times of writing "I will not touch dangerous things without permission." Is good enough for me. I want all fifty sentences by bedtime tonight." Rob informs Ben.
"Those are fair punishments boys. Ben, you will do as Rob has told you. Now what do you have to tell your brothers?" Ethan asks his tone still stern.
"I am very sorry Rob for breaking the razor. I should not have been touching it and I won't do it again. George, I'm sorry I didn't say anything when Pa was scolding you. I almost let you get in trouble for something I did."
"Thank you for the apology Ben." Rob says.
"I forgive you Ben. I'm not mad at you." George tells him. "Come on, I'll go out with you while you do the barn chores."
"Go ahead Ben and when you are through, come inside and do the lines for Rob. Remember, when you are housebound that means bedtime is an hour earlier."
"Yes sir." Ben answers with a sigh. An earlier bedtime is no fun.
Out in the barn, George asks "What did Papa say in our room?"
"I'm housebound except for chores for three days. He said: 'I had been warned not to touch the razor because it was dangerous, I was deliberately disobeyed and was lucky I didn't get cut.' He almost spanked me. I kept saying I was sorry and it was an accident so he didn't. He did say he's going to whip me if I ever touch the razors again. I tell you George, I won't be touching a razor ever again! "
"What about when you get old like Rob and have to shave?"
"I'm going to let it be a beard so I don't have to touch a razor."
"You are really silly Ben!" George tells him giggling. "I think you got off lucky today though. Papa could have given you a lot more than he did. I'm surprised he didn't spank you. I felt I was going to get spanked when he was scolding me!"
"Are you surprised or disappointed that he didn't spank me, George?"
"I don't ever want you spanked Ben. I don't want either of us spanked! Papa's spankings sting like ants are in your pants. When I get big, I'm not going to wallop kids. I'm just going to let them do whatever they want to do."
"Pa said if I had not told the truth and kept trying to cover up what I did, it would have been the same as lying and he would have used his belt. I guess in a way I was lucky, George. I still don't like having to stay inside for three whole days and having to go to bed an hour early each of those days!"