New Beginnings

Chapter 14

Coming into the town of Larabee, Ethan drives the wagon to the side of the Mercantile. Walking inside, he approaches the counter where an older man is standing.

"Mr. Cunningham? I'm Sheriff Cord from Paradise. I came on some business and was asked to make a delivery here. If you'll come with me, I have several barrels and crates in my wagon that belong to you. They came in by stage two days ago."

After making several trips to unload the wagon in silence, Ethan is taken aback when Mr. Cunningham speaks. As he is carrying the last barrel into the storeroom, Mr. Cunningham asks "Are you here to get the boy named Rob who is over to the jailhouse? I heard his uncle, the sheriff, would be fetching him home."

"Yes, that would be one reason I came. Rob is living with me."

"It really isn't my place to say but I'm going to anyways. That McGinnis is a cruel man. He treats his bairns something awful. I don't agree with beating on children. The older McGinnis boy is the one who caused all of this. Your boy was only trying to keep him from trouble. I heard them talking that day, before they were headed to the saloon. It was Scott who insisted on going and your boy went along to keep him out of trouble when Scott wouldn't listen to him. Your boy tried to stop Scott from going but it didn't work so he went along."

Surprised to hear the man speak as it was the first time he'd spoken much, Ethan answers "Thank you for the explanation. I certainly will keep this in mind when I talk to Rob. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go do just that. Good day Mr. Cunningham."

Walking into the jail, Ethan is pleased to see it is well kept and clean. The rest of the town he has seen so far hasn't been. "Hello Sheriff, I'm Ethan Cord and I've come about Robert Jordan. I believe you have him here."

"Hello Sheriff Cord, I'm Eric Johnston the sheriff of Larabee. Let me go get young Rob and we'll talk."

When the sheriff brings Rob out from the cell in the back of the building, Rob seeing Ethan standing in the front office speaks up immediately. "Uncle Ethan! I apologize for causing trouble sir. Please may I explain what happened?" Rob doesn't really think Ethan will haul him over his knee in front of the other Sheriff, but he isn't going to take any chances either. A quick apology seems to be a good idea. Especially with the look he sees on Ethan's face at this moment.

"We will discuss this in private Robert. For now sit on the bench quietly while I talk with Sheriff Johnston."

"Sheriff, the telegram I received was very brief. Could you explain exactly what it is Robert has done to find himself locked up?" Before Sheriff Johnston can speak, Rob says "I was helping out Scott McGinnis and…."

"Robert! I believe I told you to sit quietly! If you can not do so you may go back into the cell until we are through here! Which do you prefer?" Ethan reprimands him sternly.

Three things register with Rob at the same time. One, the use of his full name, two-the flashing dark eyes and three- the tone of voice, all of which help him realize Ethan is very upset with him. Coming to this conclusion, he quickly answers "I'll sit here quietly until you finish talking sir."

"Now, Sheriff Johnston if you will tell me the story behind this arrest please."

"I didn't arrest the boy, I'm just holding him here until you were able to come for him. The facts as I know them are my nephew, Scott McGinnis defied his father and went to the saloon. The children were told to wait for my brother in law at the Mercantile. Scott thinks he is older than fourteen and wants to participate in the adult world. Rob followed him to keep him safe is what I've been told. Both boys did have a glass of whiskey and were sitting at the blackjack table. Are you familiar with the game of blackjack? It's a new addition to the gambling world and in my opinion the worst yet. Billiards and Poker were enough trouble now this comes along."

At this, Ethan walks over to Rob and asks "Is this what happened?"

"Yes Sir." Rob answers swallowing nervously.

"Were you gambling that day?"

"Nnnoo Ssir." The furious look in Ethan's eyes and the stern tone of voice has Rob stumbling over his answer.

Looking into the boy's eyes, Ethan can tell this answer isn't the truth. Deciding to save his talk for when they are in private, he asks "Were you drinking and in a saloon after being told to stay at the shop?" Ethan asks next.

"Yes sir, I did go into the saloon and have one small glass. I did it to protect Scott, sir."

"Robert, we will discuss this behavior of yours more later. At this time, I want you to go outside and wait for me in the wagon. Do not leave the wagon. Understand?"

Nodding agreement because his throat is too tight to speak, Rob does as he is told.

Outside at the wagon, he finds himself fighting to keep the tears inside. Talking to himself under his breath he says "STOP, you are not a baby! You are too old to cry over being scolded harshly or to worry about being punished. Buck up Rob! His mind replies,"You're in for big trouble and you know it! You saw the furious look on his face! You knew very well how he feels about drinking and gambling and you did it anyway!"

Watching from the side window, Sheriff Johnston sees Rob brushing tears off his face. Turning around to Ethan, he says "You have the intimidation technique down very well. You have the boy in tears. If I had been in his shoes and you talked to me in that tone, I probably would have been in tears long before he was. It's not my business but still I'm going to say it. I hope you will not punish him too harshly. His heart was in the right place after all. As he said, he was protecting Scott." After a few minutes of staring out the window again he continues. "If he knew Scott better he probably wouldn't have gone with him. Scott has been out of hand for some time. Nothing his Pa has tried has seemed to calm him any. Nothing I've said has done any good either. I just wish I could get to the boy somehow to show him this isn't the way to live."

"First, thank you for the compliment on my intimidation. I honestly wasn't trying to frighten Rob, just get a straight answer. He is a master at talking around the question if you aren't firm with him. Rob might be a lawyer someday he's so skilled at that technique. Second, I would like to know why you think I would be overly harsh with him. We just met and you don't know me."

"You have a reputation Mr. Cord. A gunfighter is not one who keeps his temper easily. That plus the fact that Rob told me he would probably be receiving a thrashing for this behavior. Those are what I base my opinion on. It's only an opinion not a condemnation of your parenting." The sheriff responds somewhat nervously.

"Relax, I'm not a gunfighter any longer. I'm a father, a rancher and a sheriff. I gave up the gunfighting trade more than eight years ago. Since then I have worked as a law abiding citizen with bounty hunting, part time deputy, full time father, sheriff and rancher. I have five children in my care Mr. Johnston. I'm raising Rob plus my late sister's four children. That is about all the trouble I can handle at once. I don't plan to continue my former profession ever. So, Rob does realize he has done wrong here. I couldn't tell. That will help in my upcoming discussion with him."

"Scott and the twins Aaron and Alyssa are my sister's children. I would have taken them in to raise but unfortunately the black heart she married is still alive and will not allow me to have them. He's not fit to raise my niece and nephews but I have no choice."

"Yes, well I need to be getting home. Thank you for caring for Rob and sticking up for him also. He will not be making a visit to your jail cell ever again. I doubt he'll ever even come to this town again. If you ever need my assistance, I'll be one town over. Good day."

"Thank you for the offer, Good day to you."

Reaching the wagon, Ethan climbs up, picks up the reins and then looks at Rob. "Well Rob, your adventure is nearly over. Let's get home shall we?"

"Yes sir." Rob replies avoiding his uncle's eyes and putting a hand on his stomach. The wild, stampeding horses in his stomach have started again. It's very little comfort to his stomach that Ethan's voice was more gentle now.

About four miles out of town, Ethan pulls the wagon into some trees by a large brook. "Rob I'm stopping the wagon for a while. We need to have a talk and the horses can drink here." Ethan explains.

Extremely apprehensive, Rob climbs down from the wagon seat. "If I may, before we talk sir, go to the bushes?" He asks getting his words all confused in his apprehension. The last time Ethan took him into some woods for this kind of talk, he had taken a switch to his bare backside.

"Of course Rob. Take your time but watch for snakes. It's the time of year when they are moving."

"Yes Sir."

Coming back to the wagon, Rob bends down to rinse his hands in the brook. Smiling a little at the minnows darting around his fingers. "Ben and George would love to come here to catch minnows." He says aloud without meaning to.

"Yes, they would. This is a beautiful spot for a picnic too. We ought to bring one sometime. We could fish some, further up the way. It's deeper up beyond the trees." Ethan replies.

This time thinking the words instead of saying them, "If you punish me here, I'm not going to be comfortable coming back to this place. I'm hoping not to be punished at all. Yeah, wish on Rob!" He tells himself. Then deciding to just get it over with so he can stop worrying about it he says "Uncle Ethan, I would like to go ahead and have that talk now. My stomach is really hurting and I can't take much more. I just want the discussion over with!"

"Very well Rob. Let's start with why you went into a saloon in the first place. You know I do not allow you to visit saloons. I believe we have talked this out several times!" Ethan says sternly.

"Yes sir, I know. I went because Scott was headed off to go drink and gamble by himself. He's fourteen and very hot headed. He doesn't think about anything before he does it. I was afraid for him and wanted to be there if he got himself in something he couldn't handle."

"So you felt, at nearly two years older, that you could handle any trouble that might come up?" Ethan asks angrily. "ROBERT that is just plain foolish on your part!"

"No Sir, I didn't think I could handle the trouble myself, not exactly. I felt I could grab Scott and haul his butt out if trouble started. I would do the same for Joseph."

"Joseph better not ever find himself in a saloon, much less needing your help, as long as he is underage! Not unless he wants me to take the hide off of him! Let's talk about you not your brother."

"Why did you decide it was necessary to have whiskey and sit at the blackjack table while you were in the saloon protecting Scott? Explain to me how doing two things that are expressly forbidden helped with Scott?"

"I don't know sir. I just drank it because it was given to me, I suppose." Rob answers ducking his head at the glare he receives from Ethan at his answer. Wrong answer dummy. He thinks.

"Young Man, you'd better think carefully about something like this. You don't just accept things like that because someone gives them to you! You had no idea what was in that glass! My God Rob, it could have been anything! What about the gambling? You were not truthful in the sheriff's office."

"Scott wanted to sit at the table. He wanted to try a hand to see if he could win something. I sat with him and also tried a hand. I lost it when the sheriff showed up. I might have won if he didn't come up behind us and startle us the way he did." Risking a glance at Ethan's face he sees two dark brown eyes glaring furiously back at him. The look he's receiving has Rob swallowing nervously as he waits to see what might happen.

"Robert, I am going to take a quick walk to calm down because right now I am sorely tempted to use that buggy whip to thrash the hide off of you! Stay Here!"

Waiting tensely for Ethan, Rob has to brush away tears again. Talking to the horses he says "I'm a real mess up, guys. I try to do the right thing but wind up getting myself in deep trouble. Why can't things work out the way they are supposed to? I was only trying to get Scott out of there and back to the store before his father found out and beat him again. Everything just went wrong on me before I could stop it."

"What do you mean his father beat him?" Rob hears Ethan ask from behind him.

"His father would take the buggy whip to his back and legs when he did something he didn't approve of. In the time I was there he thrashed him twice for not listening to what I was teaching them to do. I felt horrible about it but there was nothing I could do. The man is very cruel to his family. The children are scared of him."

"Is that the real reason you went with the boy? You wanted to protect him from his father?"

"Yes and from whatever might be in the saloon too. I'm very sorry I broke my word to you and disobeyed you Sir. I know I deserve to be switched again or thrashed with the buggy whip. I'll take whatever punishment you think I deserve. Am I to give up the money I earned also?"

When Ethan fails to answer him, he continues with his explanation.

"He never paid me or gave me my clothes back. After he left me at the jail he never came back." Rob explains.

"Let me ask you a question Rob. If your Uncle Vern were here right now in my place, what punishment do you think he would deliver?"

"He felt the same way about me drinking or going to saloons as you do. He would take a buggy whip to me probably on my bare butt too! Is that what you plan to do?"

"No Rob, I don't plan to thrash you that way. If I had been planning that I wouldn't have needed to take the walk to cool my anger now would I? I never have taken a whip to anyone and don't plan to start with you! After listening to your explanation, we are going to go with the punishment for disobedience and dishonesty. You are correct you did disobey. Not only myself but Mr. McGinnis also. He told you to stay at the Mercantile and you did not. You not only disobeyed but you put yourself in danger again and lied to me! You told me at the sheriff's office you had not been gambling but that was a lie."

"Robert, just in the seven months you have lived with me, you have been in a saloon or drinking three times! Before you even came to live with us, you were involved in a brawl in a saloon in Colorado Springs! Do you see why I get upset at this type of behavior?"

"Yes sir, I'm sorry. I wasn't trying to disobey or cause trouble. I just wanted to keep Scott safe. I didn't intend to drink or gamble it just seemed to happen."

"Well Robert, for your sake, it better not just seem to happen ever again! Do you hear me?" Ethan asks his tone of voice leaves little doubt he means it.

"Yes Sir, I hear you.

"Robert, I told you the last time you were drinking, if it happened again, you would be severely punished. I'm amending the punishment slightly because you were protecting a younger child. However, I absolutely do not want to hear of you drinking, gambling or being in a saloon ever again until you reach legal age. If I do, I will take you to the woodshed and when I'm through you will be doing everything standing up for at the very least, one week! Do you hear what I am saying Robert? This better be the last time we deal with you drinking, gambling or being in a saloon for a very long time."

"Yes Sir, Uncle Ethan. I will stay away from saloons and gambling. I'm very sorry I caused trouble again." Rob answers brushing at the tears he won't let fall.

"I appreciate the apology but it does not get you off the punishment you have coming. You have a choice to make Robert. You can choose to be housebound for three weeks counting the week you had left on your former punishment. The other choice is taking a whipping right here and finishing the one week of being housebound. Both will include extra chores at home. Which do you choose?"

"Uncle Ethan, please can't I count the time I spent away from home as finishing my being housebound from before? Until we went to Larabee, I was on their property the whole two weeks and two days. I haven't been to Paradise in six weeks. I'd like to go see my friends, sir. Please can't we say I'm no longer housebound?"

"So you are choosing the whipping?" At Rob's nod, Ethan answers "All right, Rob. We will say you have served your sentence for now. The extra chores remain though. You will be allowed to go to town. I only want your best behavior from now on. Let's get this over with, bend over the wagon bed."

Rob obeys but can't keep his hands from shaking. Knowing Ethan will be fair, Rob tries to block out the memory of the thrashing he heard while at the McGinnis place. Within minutes, he feels a streak of fire go across the main sit down area. Biting his lip to keep from making a sound, he feels the tears start. Three more licks and he is sobbing quietly. The licks are turning his backside into a burning mess. At least I got to keep my pants up this time, not that it helps that much. He thinks trying to keep from moving. If he moves away from his punishment, it starts over. There is no way he can endure it over again. Concentrating on staying still he hears Ethan talking. If his Uncle is talking that usually means he is finished with the punishment.

"This whipping is for disobeying Mr. McGinnis by not staying at the Mercantile as he told you to do. It is for disobeying me and going into a saloon, gambling and drinking. I have forbidden you to enter saloons because they are dangerous places. When you put yourself in danger, you can expect to be punished harshly." Rob hears Ethan say as the belt repeats its path across his backside twice more. In total, Rob counted eight licks, not nearly the amount or severity he had expected to receive.

Allowing Rob the time he needs to get himself calmed down, Ethan rethreads his belt and walks down to the water's edge. "I despise having to do this part of raising children. If I could, I would never punish them. It's part of my job as their Father but I still despise it!" Ethan thinks as he washes his flushed face with the cool water. Remembering what his friend Sheriff Tom used to say, "One of the toughest parts of being a parent is loving them enough to punish them sternly when needed." Standing up he is just in time to see Rob walk slowly into the woods again. A few minutes later, the boy is beside him washing his own face.

My backside feels like I've been attacked by a swarm of bees, it stings so much. I'd forgotten how bad a whipping can feel. He hasn't whipped me in almost six months and man it stings! After this, I'm even more grateful he didn't thrash me! I wouldn't have been able to sit at all if he had. It's going to be a little sore the way it is. I know I messed up and did something foolish but man oh man did he have to make me sting so much? I wish he hadn't swung that belt so well." Rob thinks scooping water into his hands again as his mind answers his own question. Uncle Vernon would have used a whip! You got off lucky. I wish I could take off my pants and SIT in this cool water.

"We need to start home Rob. There are some gunnysacks in the wagon if you'd like to fold them to sit on. It won't help much but it's all we have. While we ride, I'll tell you about our house guest and your brother's mischief since you've been away."

On the ride back to Paradise, Rob listens as Ethan tells of the younger boy's infatuation with their newfound Uncle. "Ben and George think he is the best thing they have ever seen. He can do no wrong as far as they are concerned. Matthew is a big playmate and lets them do anything they wish to do. I've tried telling him to enforce the limits but so far he hasn't managed to do that."

"What about Joseph? Does he find his new uncle fascinating too?" Rob asks wincing as the wagon goes over some deep ruts in the ground. He can't help but hiss at the stinging that started again in his behind. AHHH the bees came back! Oh, I hope we get home soon so I can get up off this horrible wooden seat! I'm never going to earn a whipping from Pa again! Pa? Yes he's my Pa too. He acts like a Pa to me. Rob says carrying on his own conversation with himself.

Ignoring the hiss he hears, Ethan answers "Joseph despises the man and has since he arrived. Joseph convinced himself before Matthew even came that he was to blame for the hardships the children went through after Lucy became ill. No amount of explaining on my part about Matthew being too young to help them has done any good. Your brother is surly and uncooperative with the man. I've already had two discussions with Joseph about his attitude. After we had our second talk with me swatting him with my hand and a couple of licks with a small switch in plain view of his brothers and Matthew, he has improved some."

"I'll talk to him and see if I can help him understand. Sometimes he listens to me a little. He does not like to be told what to do or how to think about something once he gets his mind made up. I tell you Uncle Ethan, your other older nephew is the most hard headed boy I know."

"Well Rob, I think BOTH of my older nephews fit that description. You are pretty strong willed yourself! That's not a bad trait to have unless you let the stubbornness cause you to make bad decisions. I want you to think about that for me."

"Yes sir, I will. Where am I going to sleep if Matthew has my room?"

"I thought you could bunk in with Joseph for one week. Matthew is not planning to stay after next week as far as I know now."

"Yes Sir, that will be fine. It will be just like when I first stayed here! We get along well."

"Yes, I know. Just see to it you don't repeat the performance of sneaking out the window at night for a trip to town. I'd hate to have to take a switch to you your first week home." Ethan smiles over at Rob easing the sternness of his words.

"That was almost two years ago now and I learned my lesson that time. I promise I will never go into the Paradise saloon again without your permission. When Uncle Vern came home from California and you told him about my behavior, he whipped me so bad I couldn't sit for a week! I tried to tell him you had whipped me already but it didn't matter."

"He did it out of love and fear Rob. Vern was afraid you were headed down the path your father took. Drinking, gambling and then bigger crimes. That's why he was so harsh with you."

"I am not my Father! I'm not going to start robbing trains or shooting up towns! My name is Robert Jordan not Will and I am not the same person he was." Rob declares angrily.

"That's right you won't. You have been brought up to know the law and to respect it. You are going to obey those traits also. Isn't that right, Rob?" Ethan replies a little sternly giving the boy a long look.

"Yes Sir, I hear what you are saying." Rob answers politely while thinking "I'm serious about that I'm not going to misbehave again for a long time. I'm stinging so much right now it's going to be forever before I do anything stupid to earn another whipping from him!"

Ethan asks "Rob? You mentioned McGinnis whipping his son. Was he... Did he ever touch you in any way? Did he treat you nicely?"

"He never whipped me or struck me at all if that is what you mean. He wasn't very nice to me though. No matter what I said, he took offense. You wouldn't ever treat a guest in our house the way he did me. You treat us so much differently. We know you love us even when we mess up and you have to whip us! He treated his children terribly. His twelve year old daughter is made to act as a slave in the house. She wasn't allowed to eat until she had served the whole meal. He kept her cooking and cleaning all the time. I was able to help her some. Before I had to leave, she could sit and eat with her family."

"Not all families are the same Rob. I guess it's a good thing you learn that now. Some parents don't treat their children as people but more as property." Ethan replies after a few minutes of silence.

"Uncle Ethan?" Rob asks after a time of riding quietly and thinking.

"Yes Son?"

Smiling at being called "Son", Rob asks "Am I to give up my earnings from the job with Mr. McGinnis? I know I disobeyed but please sir, I'd like to keep the money. I need to have some spending money."

"We'll make a trip back to McGinnis's place in a few days. I want you to get the money you earned and pick up your belongings. I also have a few things I'd like to say to McGinnis. I'll let you know when I decide we will go."

"Yes sir, thank you."

"Rob, you don't need to thank me. I'm your father, I will do whatever I need to do to take care of you. Even if that means punishment or defending you to evil men. You are my son in all ways that matter!"

A short time later, Rob and Ethan are driving into the ranch yard. The sight they see has Rob grinning but Ethan frowning as he stops the wagon. "What is going on here?" Ethan asks no one in particular. Still grinning, Rob answers "Well, it looks to me as if Uncle Matthew has decided it's time to enforce the limits! It doesn't look as if he's being very successful at it right now though."

Looking over at the corral, Ethan sees Matthew chasing Joseph while holding a switch. Joseph seems to be laughing. Climbing down from the wagon, Ethan strides quickly to the corral. When he reaches it, his stern call of "JOSEPH!" has the boy frozen where he stands. Before Ethan can ask what is happening, Matthew grabs Joseph by the arm and whacks him across the backside with the switch he is holding.

"AHH! STOP IT! LET GO OF ME! YOU"RE NOT MY FATHER! GET YOUR HANDS OFF OF ME!" Joseph shouts angrily causing Rob to gasp at his disrespect.

As Matthew raises the switch again, Ethan says "STOP! Before this continues, I want to know what is going on here! What has Joseph done, Matthew?"

"Hey, that's not fair to immediately take his side over me. Why didn't you ask me first?" Joseph protests loudly.

"You young man, are in deep trouble so I would advise you to keep quiet! You and I will definitely be having a discussion about the behavior I just witnessed! It can be right here and now if you prefer it. Is that what you would like to do Joseph?"

Hearing the sternness behind the words and guessing what they mean, Joseph answers quietly "No sir."

"Ethan, this child of yours is a demon from Hell! In the two weeks I've been here, he has done his best to make my stay unbearable. Today was the last straw for me. I do not appreciate being doused with a bucket full of freezing cold well water and raw eggs when I walk into the house! This on top of molasses in my bedroom slippers, a snake in my bed, being locked into the outhouse, a burr under the saddle when I tried to ride with the boys, pepper in my breakfast, a worm in my soup, dirt in my coffee! I have been patient as long as I can."

Listening to all of this Rob lets out a small chuckle. That was a mistake as Ethan looks at him now with the glaring eyes. "Go inside and stay there, Rob." He orders sternly.

Regretfully Rob walks slowly to the house. He'd rather stay and watch what happens now. He knows Joseph is in for big trouble just as he himself was earlier.

"Joseph? Did you do all of those pranks Matthew just listed?"

"I sure did and I'm not sorry for them either!" Joseph answers angrily.

"You will be young man, I can promise you this! Go, the tack room, NOW!" Ethan snaps out.

Joseph, knowing that tone, obeys instantly. Usually waiting in the tack room for his Pa makes Joseph very apprehensive but not this time. This time he's actually proud of himself for all the pranks he pulled off. "I don't care about punishment. It was worth it to get back at the man. Whatever Pa hands out I can take it. ERR …... UMM ... WELL Maybe not." His thoughts change as Ethan walks into the room holding the switch Matthew cut.

"Joseph, you and I have talked about your attitude and behavior towards Matthew many times since he arrived. I have been as understanding as possible about your feelings. I told you the last time you were disrespectful, it would not be advisable to go that route again. I told you to show respect and obedience to your uncle or you would be punished. Did I Not?"

"Yes sir you did say that." Joseph answers knowing he is expected to do so.

"Do you consider your behavior this entire time he has been visiting to be respectful, Joseph?"

"I guess not."

"I agree, it has definitely not been respectful with all of those pranks you pulled and your surly attitude. You said a few minutes ago "You were not sorry for them." Well, Joseph I think by the time we go back inside, you will be ready to tell Matthew how sorry you really are, for your attitude and behavior during his visit! Right now I want you to drop your pants and underwear and then lay over the barrel."

Once in position Joseph feels the tears start before he feels the sting of the switch. After three hard licks, he calls "Pa? I'm sorry! Truly sorry and I'll apologize to Uncle Matthew."

"Yes you will and we are not finished here. Stay still!" Ethan says as he applies the switch again for five more licks with Joseph sobbing loudly with each lick.

"Joseph, you just received one lick for each prank you pulled. The next licks are for your disrespectful behavior when you were shouting at Matthew and running from him." Ethan lays down two more to the tops of Joseph's legs causing the boy to jump and cry out.

Holding the switch he has just used to deliver a thrashing, Ethan says to the sobbing boy, "Turn around and look at me Joseph." When the boy obeys, Ethan snaps the switch into three pieces and throws it down.

"We are done here Joseph. I sincerely hope I will not be called upon to thrash you like this ever again. I did it to make sure you understand how wrong this behavior has been. You do not hold a grudge against one person and take it out on someone else. Joseph, I have seen many young men act the same way only instead of pulling harmless pranks they took out their anger by shooting someone. You do not take your anger at one person out on someone else. When you have anger at someone you talk about it or find a useful way to take out that anger. Chopping wood is a good way to get anger out. Matthew is not your Papa and has done nothing but try to befriend his nephew. You owe him a very respectful apology and excellent behavior the rest of his stay. If you can not manage to do this, we can and will make a return visit to the tack room at any time. Do you understand me, Joseph?"

Through sobs Joseph manages to answer "Yes Sir." Slowly pulling up his drawers, he winces as the material from his underwear slides over his throbbing backside. Quickly jerking his pants up doesn't help the sting either. The sobs he tries so hard to stop just keep coming.

Not being able to take the sobbing, Ethan lifts the boy away from the barrel he's leaning on and sits down on the barrel himself while holding Joseph to his chest. Stroking the boy's hair with his free hand, he tries to soothe him and calm him down. "I love you very much son, I hope you know that. If I didn't love you, I wouldn't care how you behave towards other people. I only want to see your best and for you to show your best to other people. You have it in you to do this. You know you do. I never want to punish you. It's part of my job in raising you."

"I know Pa. I'm sorry for how I've behaved. I know I deserved a whipping! I'll apologize to Uncle Matthew and behave. You won't need to bring me back here or correct me for disrespect. I'll show my best behavior, I promise! May I go out back before I go inside, please?" Joseph asks.

"You have ten minutes to get yourself calm, wash your face and use the outhouse. Then I expect to see you inside." Ethan tells him knowing the boy will be in before then.

Watching as Joseph makes his way out of the barn, Ethan wonders why his children seem to test him on the same day. Several days since he became an instant father, he has had to punish two or more of the children for different things on the same day. Just like today both Rob and Joseph receiving whippings. "It must be something in the air." He thinks walking to the house.

Ten minutes later a very solemn and slightly sore thirteen year old is apologizing to his new uncle. "I am very sorry for how I behaved since you arrived. I hope you will forgive me for the trouble I caused. I want to get to know you. Pa was right. I was blaming you for everything our Papa did to us. It wasn't your fault and I am sorry. Please forgive me, Uncle Matthew."

"Joseph, I'm sorry my older brother was cruel. I was too young to know about what was happening. I couldn't have helped if I had known. My own Father was cruel so I guess Robert learned to act that way from him. I do understand your feelings towards your father. I did not respect or even like my Father either. I certainly will forgive you. We will put all of this behind us and start fresh. Alright?" Matthew asks holding out his hand.

"Yes, let's start over." Joseph agrees shaking his new Uncle's hand.

"Good, now I have one question for you Joseph. Are there any more pranks or booby traps set up anywhere? I really don't want to step in something in the middle of the night or have something wet fall on me either."

"Umm, I think I have them all, Uncle Matthew." Joseph answers.

Having been listening to the conversation, Ethan says "Joseph! You had better make very sure you do have all of the pranking materials picked up. If you don't and something happens, you will be in tremendous trouble once again! Now, think hard, do you have all of the things you set up taken down?"

"Yes sir, they are gone."

"For your sake, I sure hope that is the truth, young man! Now, you are to go to your room for the rest of the day. Your supper will be brought to you later. Tell everyone Good Night because you are not coming out until morning."

After the rest of the children all go off to finish their assigned chores, Matthew says "You whipped him didn't you?"

"Yes, I did. I used the switch you had. He deserved a whipping and he got it. He knows better than to act so disrespectfully. His shouting and running away were the two things that sealed his fate. I would have punished him for the pranks but the behavior I witnessed in the corral called for a whipping. I will not tolerate outright defiance and blatant disrespect from my children. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some work outside I need to finish. We'll talk more about this later, when the children are asleep." Ethan tells him, seeing the questioning look in the young man's eyes.

Later that night:

"Ethan, I understand that you don't accept defiant behavior, but I fail to see how what you did to Joseph is different from what his father did to him. Why is it he doesn't feel angry at you when you whip him but is furious with his Father?" Matthew asks.

"The difference is he knows I'm doing it because I love him and want to help him grow up to be a good person. His father didn't care or if he did, he never let Joseph know. He just beat him for misbehavior without telling him what he should have done differently. I punished him but we also talked about what he did, why it was wrong and how I expect him to behave."

"Where did you learn how to be a good Pa? From what you just said, you know more about how to be one than any I've seen in my life. My own Pa sure wasn't. Was your father like you?"

"At times, he was very caring and understanding. He did take the time to explain why what I did was wrong and how to change it. He raised me that way until I was fourteen. At fourteen, he decided to marry a woman he'd met in a saloon. She had two young children. They all moved in with us in our two bedroom house. I was forced to take care of the two young children for her. I rebelled but my Pa insisted I look after them. Two months after they moved in, I lit out. I joined the army at fourteen. The paperwork said I was sixteen though. Lucy had left home a year before to marry your brother."

"Yes, they were married three months before he ever brought her home to let us meet her. It wasn't long after that they announced she was carrying. Claire was born just after they had been married a year. Then Joseph came along two years later. You may not believe this but Robert was so proud to have a daughter and a son. He bragged to me about how he was going to be a great Papa not like our own. Something went wrong. He always seemed alright when I was around."

"Yes, but Matthew, you were not much more than a boy by the time the abuse started. The children have said he started hitting Lucy and then them when Ben was around the age of four. From what you've told us, you didn't see them much after George was born."

"That's right I didn't. Robert and Lucy had joined the traveling troupe when George was nine months or so and were always off performing. My father didn't approve of Robert's choice of vocation. He didn't think acting was a man's job. They had a big fight over it once and Pa wound up punching Robert in the face. Robert left and never visited him again."

"Matthew, now that I have Joseph's attitude in the right place, I hope you will take time to tell him some good things about his real father. I hope that hearing some stories of the man besides what he knows will help with the anger he feels. I have done my best to talk to him but I don't know what to say. There are times he just seems full of hate and rage and nothing I say makes a difference." Ethan says.

"I will be happy to tell all of them stories about Robert. Ethan, there's something you need to know, as much as I loved my brother, being here with you has shown me that YOU are the children's real father. You love them and teach them and that's what a real father does. Lucy would be proud of the way you are raising the children."

"Thank you. I think I'm too harsh at times. I try to be the gentle side for their Mama but the tough side for their Pa. It's difficult sometimes to know how to handle some things. My instincts tell me to be tough as this is a tough country. I worry I'm not doing well at this job but I do the best I can. The two weeks you've been here Joseph has been all wound up. We have clashed often. Before that he was being pretty well behaved. It had been over a month since he had done anything serious enough to earn a whipping. Ben, however has flipped the opposite way. Since you arrived, he's been on his best behavior. With Ben, he winds up finding a way to get into trouble at least once a week. Not serious, get a whipping trouble always, but some trouble usually."

"That sounds like my middle brother Ted. Ted was always in trouble when he was a little boy. He was four years older than me and five years younger than Robert. Ted found mischief all the time. He was forever finding himself over our Pa's knee when he was around eight. By the time he was twelve, it wasn't unusual to have Pa take Ted to the barn and whip him at least twice a week. Ted would get into fights at school and get a whipping for it. His quick temper got him killed when he was seventeen. He ran off after Pa gave him a whipping for fighting again and we didn't know where he was. After two weeks, Pa got a telegram saying he had been killed in a saloon in a town about twenty miles from us. Ted wasn't fighting then he was just in the wrong place and got caught in the middle of a shootout."

A sound makes Matthew turn to look behind him. Joseph is standing in the doorway to the front room. His face is white and tears are running down his face.

"Joseph? What's wrong? Come here son." Ethan calls opening his arms for the boy.

"How long have you been standing there son? What's bothering you so?" Ethan asks holding the shaking boy tightly.

"It could have been me. I could be dead too. I'm so sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I won't do it again ever." Joseph cries into Ethan's shirtfront.

Pulling the boy back enough to look into his face, Ethan asks sternly "Just what exactly are you telling me young man? Were you in a saloon?"

With a hard swallow first and a deep sigh, Joseph explains "When I was in Colorado Springs the time I ran off, I went to a saloon and there was a gunfight just like in Uncle Matthew's story. I could have been killed like his brother."

"I see. Where was Jack? I thought he was with you all the time."

"He'd gone out to do something and left me in the boarding house alone. I got bored and left."

"Joseph Adam Carroll Cord ! I ought to take you out to the woodshed and take the razor strop to your backside! As much as we've talked about the saloons and how you children are forbidden to enter one, you go and do just that!"

"Yes Sir, I did and I'll go wait for you in the woodshed sir. I know what I did was stupid and so dangerous. I am sorry and I'll never do something so stupid again. I don't know why I did it at all. I know how dangerous saloons are." Joseph answers softly brushing at the tears rolling down his face.

Turning towards the door, Joseph is stopped when Ethan says quietly "Joseph, we are going to let this one go with a warning. I think you understand why you are not to ever go into a saloon again. We won't be having this conversation ever again will we?"

"No Sir! I won't do something so stupid ever again. I don't want to be killed or worse get a thrashing from you! You already set my bottom on fire with that switch and I sure don't want another one."

Matthew speaks up then. "Joseph, I'm not feeling as lenient as your Pa so you need to be thankful I'm not him! If it had been me in charge of you right now, you would find yourself bare and feeling the stripes of my switch! You think being killed is something to joke about? I would dare say you'd have a different view after I got through with you! If I ever hear of you jokingly refer to being killed like that again you will answer to me! Do you understand me young man?" His voice sounding very different from what Joseph is used to hearing. It's deep and very stern.

Shocked into silence, Joseph first looks up at Ethan to see what his reaction to the speech is before he answers Matthew.

"I think I would answer him if I were you Joseph. I don't believe he's fooling around and he has my permission to take you in hand if needed." Ethan replies to the questioning look Joseph gave him.

"I I I I''m Sorry for what I said, Uncle Matt. I was out of line with the joke and I apologize." Then looking at Ethan he asks "May I please go back to bed before I get myself another whipping? I can't seem to keep my mouth shut and my backside is going to pay! I'm already too sore to sit comfortably."

Chuckling to himself, Ethan answers "Go on, that seems to be the thing to do. Please remember all of this tomorrow or you will be having even more of a sore backside! I meant what I said about Matthew having my full permission to punish you as he sees fit"

"Yes sir, I'll remember."

Walking back into the room he's sharing with Rob, Joseph finds another furious person waiting there.

"JOSEPH! How could you be so stupid? If I were Pa, I would have whipped you for it! It doesn't matter that it was a month or more since it happened! YOU KNOW BETTER!" Rob whispers furiously.

"Get a grip will ya? You yourself just got whipped for going to a saloon and you sit there scolding me for it? That seems a tad strange to me! Leave me alone Rob and go to sleep! You're no better than me at behaving or you wouldn't have gotten a whipping coming back from Larabee!" Joseph whispers back just as furiously. "I know you did just by the way you were sitting on gunnysacks and the way you were walking!"

"Yeah I did, but I went there to protect a younger boy not for any other reason. Let me hear of you going to a saloon again and I'll whip you myself! You'll answer to me and then I'll tell Pa or Uncle Matthew if he's around. You might wind up getting three whippings! You'd best think on that." Rob answers turning his back to Joseph as he stretches out on the bed.

"What a day! I hope tomorrow is nicer and I don't wind up with a sore backside. Now I know what Ben feels like with Pa, me and Rob always on him to behave. Now, I've got Pa, Uncle Matthew and Rob omy trying to see who can chew my butt up the best! This time Uncle Matthew won. He's much tougher than I thought so I'd best watch it around him. I've just got to get back in to his room and get those little traps I put in there before he finds them. If he does Look Out!" Joseph thinks as he falls asleep.