New Beginnings
ch. 16
Unwelcome Discussions
Riding up to the corral, Rob smiles, thinking of Emily. She was excited to see him and even convinced her mother to allow them to go on a walk. To spend time alone together was very rare. Visits to her house were often spent in their parlor while her Ma was listening from the kitchen. These restrictions on their time together were irritating.
Unsaddling his horse and leading her into the barn, he begins the task of brushing her down as the barn door opens. Looking over the horse's back, he sees Ethan standing in the doorway.
"I'll be in for supper as soon as I finish with Beauty, Pa. She loves her rubdown after a ride." When Ethan continues to just stand with that firm stare of his, Rob feels a hint of nervousness. I'm not late tonight. He thinks. I left over an hour early. It takes only a few minutes to ride home. What's the problem?
Finally, when he can't stand the glowering look any longer he asks "Is there a problem? I can't be late. I left an hour early to have plenty of time to get back, settle Beauty and wash up for supper."
"You are not late, Robert. I'm glad to see you are remembering some of my words to you. Finish with your horse and then we'll talk."
"Yes sir." Rob answers now feeling apprehensive about what this "talk" might be about. Ethan calling him "Robert" is a sure sign he's displeased.
I haven't done anything wrong. I did exactly what he said and came home on time. Whatever could he be upset with me about? All my chores were done before I left, I asked permission to go and went only there so what could it be? Rob's mind whirls through the possibilities of what Ethan might be upset about but comes up with nothing. Hanging the horsebrush up on the nail, Rob turns to face the man he now thinks of as Pa.
In the last seven months, Ethan's been more a father to him than anyone in his life. His own Pa wasn't available during his growing up years, his Uncle Vern was much older and not geared to raising a child. Ethan has provided the emotional support and discipline Rob desperately needed. Rob wouldn't ever admit to anyone he needed the discipline though.
"I'm ready now, sir. Where would you like to go?" Rob asks the man still leaning against the open barn door.
"This is as good a place as any, Rob. Take a seat on a bale while I close the doors. This is a private talk just between us."
While Ethan is closing the doors, Rob's still puzzling what the problem could be. OH! What if he's found out about me taking Emily out alone? I'm in for it if he has! Something's going on or we wouldn't be about to have a "private talk!"
As Ethan comes and stands beside him, he says, "Robert, while you were gone, I had a rather disturbing talk with your thirteen year old brother."
"Joseph?" Rob asks, astounded that Joseph would get him in trouble.
"Do you have another thirteen year old brother somewhere I don't know about?" Ethan asks sternly, eyes narrowed at Rob's interruption.
"No sir."
"Then hear me out!" Ethan replies.
Nodding, Rob keeps quiet and waits to see what this could all be about. What could Joseph have said to cause this reaction in their Pa? He wonders silently.
"Joseph asked me if you and Emily would have to get married soon."
"He asked What? Why ? Where'd he get that idea?" Rob sputters.
"That is exactly what I would like to know, Robert. Where would he get that idea? Is there something going on I don't know about?" Ethan asks looking directly into Rob's eyes.
Looking away, Rob mumbles "No sir." remembering the previous talk he and Ethan had when he started getting interested in Emily.
At the time, Ethan had sat him down much like right now and told him he was to behave as a gentleman at all times. This gentlemanly behavior meant, respect of Emily and her parents, No touching other than holding hands, staying within sight of an adult at all times."
He had broken two of those rules tonight, the staying where someone could see them and the no touching as they had kissed each other at the pond. Rob was not about to admit this to his already irritated Pa. There was no need in risking having to stand up for supper! It didn't matter in the least that he was fifteen not ten. He knew Ethan would punish him if he heard of the kissing! The hand holding would get a reminder not to touch but the kiss and being away from any chaperones would get him a whipping! He'd also most likely wind up restricted to the ranch for a month as well.
"ROBERT!"
That one crisp command is enough to make Rob look directly at his Pa again. "Answer me truthfully this time. Is there something going on I don't know about? I am directly referring to what is going on between you and Emily."
"I don't know what you are asking sir. What exactly do you mean? You know we've been seeing each other." Rob asks, silently saying a short prayer that no one saw them tonight.
"I am asking if you have, to put it plainly, bedded her."
Rob's eyes go wide and his mouth drops open for an instant before he manages to sputter "UNCLE ETHAN!... NO SIR! ...PA! Why ask ….. How could you ….… that is I mean to say….. We have not…. I never….. I would not do…" Rob can't seem to get the words out as his brain seems to have forgotten how to finish a thought all of a sudden.
Hearing the shocked words and seeing the blushing face of the boy beside him, Ethan relaxes somewhat. This is too genuine a reaction to be a lie.
"That's very good to know, Rob. Because if you had committed that act we would not be sitting here continuing our talk right now would we?"
Still too shocked to speak, Rob shakes his head hoping he won't be asked what happened tonight. He somehow gets the feeling Ethan is suspecting something happened.
"If I EVER hear or suspect you have done something such as that before legal marriage, we will be having an entirely different type of conversation. You and I will be taking a trip to the woodshed and I guarantee you will be standing up for a week after I am finished with you! You had best keep that in mind!"
"Yes sir. What was it Joseph said to make you think I could have done something like that?" Rob asks, finally able to finish a sentence.
"He told me he had seen you kissing and that he knew kissing led to getting married. Then he told me he had seen the two of you come from our barn with hay in your hair and on your clothes. He wondered if you had been taking a nap on the hay. He also informed me that Jason and Jeffrey's parents kissed on the mouth and that was what led to them getting a baby sister. He wanted to know if you and Emily would be giving us a baby soon."
"My God! ERR, sorry sir" Rob apologizes quickly at the stern look he receives at that. "I'm just shocked he could be so ill informed at thirteen. You've got to set him straight."
"We will be discussing that soon. Right now I'm addressing this problem. Now, I am going to say this and you had better listen. There are going to be new rules in regards to you spending time with Emily. At no time are you to be alone with her. I want you with a chaperone at all times. You will not be going anywhere without someone with you. There had better not be any more reports of you kissing each other either. Is this clear to you young man?"
"Yes sir."
"If you disobey me on any of this you will be severely punished. I'm doing this for your safety as well as hers. Now what was this about you and she being covered in hay? What exactly were you two doing?"
"We were throwing hay at each other, that's all we did. You believe me don't you?"
"Yes, I do. No more of that either. You must take precautions when you are with a young lady. Things that might be innocent can be misconstrued very easily. You see that now, don't you?"
"Yessir, I see. I'll be careful."
"Yes, you will. Now, let's go get supper. After this day, I'm in need of a good meal." Ethan says giving the boy's shoulder a squeeze.
"I don't have much of an appetite myself. I thought you were going to whip me when I heard what Joseph told you."
"Do you feel you deserve a whipping for your behavior then?"
"No sir, I did kiss her that day but it was just a sisterly peck on the cheek. Nothing more than that. I swear we haven't done anything untoward, Pa! I respect her and you too much to go that way." Rob replies looking Ethan straight in the eyes.
"I believe you Rob. I never really believed you would do something such as this but I just had to make sure. You stick to those rules we set down and you will have no need to worry."
After a supper that was unusually quiet especially without Ben and George, Joseph excuses himself to go do his evening chores. When Ethan volunteers to clean up, Rob follows Joseph to the barn.
Having Rob just stand and watch him clean stalls irritates Joseph causing him to ask "Did you just come out here to give me the silent treatment some more? You haven't spoken to me since you came from town."
"I've been trying to think of what to say."
"Just say it! Whatever it is just get it over with! I can't take this brooding quiet. It makes me nervous." Joseph snaps out.
"Why does it make you nervous, Joseph?"
"I feel like you are just waiting to beat me or something."
"Oh? What reason would I have to "beat" you? You know very well I've never done anything but spank you and that's only been two times."
Listening just outside the barn window, Ethan raises his eyebrows at that. He knew of only one time Rob had spanked Joseph. The time the barn burned. He wouldn't be able to ask though, not without giving away the fact he had been listening. Ethan doesn't want Rob to know he followed him to listen in on the talk he knew the boys would have.
"You are mad with me for what I told Pa, aren't you? I wasn't trying to get you into trouble Rob. I was just worried I would get another sister or you'd have to move to their house. I'm telling you the truth. I was not trying to get you in trouble. I think I did though."
"Why do you think you got me in trouble?"
"Because when I told him I had seen you kissing Emily and then another time I had seen you both come from the barn covered in hay, his eyes were shooting fire. You know the look I mean. When he looks like that he's aiming to whip someone! Did he give you a whipping Rob?"
"No,Joseph. We talked and I explained what actually went on those two times. I now have more boundaries that I have to abide by with Emily but I didn't get punished. You don't need to worry about me leaving here any time soon. I will be here until you are at least sixteen. I want to be here to torment you when you start seeing girls. I'll just tell Pa I caught you and your girl doing something awful and watch while he whips you."
"ROB! You wouldn't really do that would you?"
"No, but that's about what you did to me. You nearly caused me to get a thrashing Joseph! I'm very lucky he believed me because if he hadn't he could have taken the strop to me tonight! He's still got that whipping look in his eyes so watch yourself!"
Still listening outside the window, Ethan has to smile a little at that comment. What he hears next though wipes any trace of a smile from his face and makes him walk quickly to the front of the barn.
"Rob, I need to know about girls. Don't you think I should know exactly how babies are made by now? I'm turning fourteen this fall but I still don't know. Won't you tell me?"
Walking around behind the barn to come in the front doors, Ethan says "Alright boys, you should be about finished here. We need to have a family meeting now that the younger boys are asleep. Joseph, are you done here?"
"Yessir." Joseph answers disappointed his talk with Rob has been interrupted.
"Good, let's go inside and I'll tell you what went on in town this afternoon. Claire will need to hear this too."
"Claire? Come to the front room, we need to talk about what went on in town." Ethan calls to Claire in her bedroom.
Settling into the bench seat, with Rob and Joseph on either side of her, Claire asks "Pa? Is Uncle Matthew spending the night in town? I thought he would be home by suppertime."
"He won't be here tonight. Now, all of you, save your questions until I finish what I have to tell you. Then I'll answer them."
"This is going to be bad." Joseph whispers to Claire earning a scolding look from Ethan.
Biting his lip Joseph whispers "Sorry Pa. I'll be quiet now."
"After I left here, I went straight to town to see what Mitch needed. I was prepared to find trouble in town the way Mitch was acting. When I arrived in town, everything seemed as it always does. I didn't see any signs of trouble so I went to the office to find Mitch. I didn't find him there but the two cells were occupied. I went searching for Mitch and finally found him in the hotel restaurant. This is what he told me."
"He said he had another report of livestock being stolen and reappearing at someone's property. The person who found the livestock brought it in along with the people who were involved. It seems that this time the ones involved were caught in the act of putting the cow into the barn. As you know this type of activity has been going on in and around Paradise for several weeks now. Animals and food disappear and then reappear somewhere else. Mitch has been working diligently to find the culprits. Today they were delivered to him."
Ethan stops for a moment and looks at all three older children before he says "When I walked into the office the cells were occupied by Ben, George and Matthew. They are the ones who have been committing the crimes. Now what do you wish to ask me?"
"Why would Ben or George do such a thing? They know better than to steal!" Claire asks first.
"According to what they told Mitch, they didn't believe it was stealing when they started doing it. They had been convinced it was a game of Robin Hood. They were in charge of moving the food and animals or as they called it 'borrowing' them. I believe after this afternoon, they now know the difference in the words borrowing and stealing!"
"Was it Matthew who taught them that game?" Rob asks.
"Yes, while the boys were busy getting the cow or chickens into the new owners' barn, Matthew would help himself to jewelry, tobacco, money, or anything else of value in their house. He made sure the recipients of the livestock or food were not to be home when the boys came."
"This was for him to take things from people? It was all a cover for him to steal? I knew he wasn't the wonderful kind uncle he pretended to be! See there Rob, I was right not to trust him!" Joseph says.
"Well Joseph, you may have been right in some ways. It still doesn't excuse you from being rude to a guest." Ethan tells him causing the boy to duck his head.
"It seems your Uncle Matthew takes after his older brother more than we knew. Mitch received a telegram just yesterday with information about Matthew Carroll. Matthew is wanted in Mississippi and other areas near there for running out on large gambling debts. He was to pay them or face time in jail. He came here instead. He has a reputation as a gambling man on the steamboats there. Your Father preferred to gamble on the steamboats in Missouri."
"What is going to happen to Uncle Matthew, Pa?" Claire asks quietly. Despite everything she's hearing she still feels a connection with him.
"He could be escorted by stage back to Mississippi to be held on the gambling debts. I also sent word to the Federal Marshal's office up in Colorado Springs about his activities while here." At Claire's gasp of "Pa!" Ethan says "Claire, stealing livestock is a serious charge and a federal crime. I had to report it. In years past, horse or cattle thieves were hanged. Now they are put in prison if convicted."
"Does he have to go to trial?" Claire asks.
"I'm sure he will. The question is will it be here or in Mississippi. I'm waiting for word from the Marshal's office to find out. If the trial is held here it could be a week or more before it starts. Matthew is to remain in jail until after the trial." Ethan answers.
"What about Ben and George? Are they going to be in a trial too? They were helping him." Joseph speaks up.
"The law only covers children ages eighteen and older. Younger children are turned over to their families. Your brothers are not going to jail at the ages of nine and ten. It's up to the family to teach them not to behave in that way. Mitch explained to them why what they were doing was so wrong. He also gave both of them a good spanking when they were brought in. They admitted to him, they knew they were stealing after the first two times! This has happened eight times since Matthew came."
"After I heard what went on I went back to the jail and Ben, George and I had another long talk in the woodshed behind the Sheriff's office. Needless to say, your younger brothers are not able to sit comfortably tonight and it may last on into tomorrow. As you know they have already been sent to bed and are to stay there until morning. They will be having an hour earlier bed time, are housebound to the ranch for two weeks and confined to the house for the next two days. Since we have company coming they will be housebound after the company leaves." Hearing this, Joseph is happy it isn't him involved in this mess!
"Rob, Joseph, I'll need the two of you to do all outside chores for the next two days. The boys will be helping Claire with her chores. They can sweep, dust, wash dishes and windows, make beds, clean the fireplace and anything else you need done, Claire. I want them kept busy. This is punishment so don't allow playtime."
"Yes sir, I'll keep them very busy. I think tomorrow would be a good day to wash and polish Mama's few silver pieces too. It's going to be wash bedding day so I'll need you boys to gather your sheets from the beds after you get up. With extra guests coming we have a lot of work to get done."
"Hmm, you know Claire, I'm glad you don't get to decide my punishments! I'd take a whipping over having to do those chores!" Joseph tells her.
"Well, I'll just have to remember how much you dislike inside chores the next time you get into trouble Joseph. That just might be a good punishment for you also!" Ethan tells the now squirming boy.
"No Pa, please don't. I despise being inside all day long."
"That's why it's called punishment Joseph. Punishment is not being able to do something you enjoy! Well, it's been a long day so I'm going to bed early. I want you children in bed in an hour. Rob, be sure to bar the doors before you go to bed."
"Yes sir, I will."
Not long after Ethan left, Claire also decides to go to bed leaving Rob and Joseph playing their last checkers game for the night. They have just finished and Joseph is putting it away when Ben comes out into the front room.
"Ben! You're supposed to be asleep! What are you doing out here? You know you aren't to leave your room! You'll be in big trouble if Pa sees you!" Joseph whispers.
"I have to use the outhouse bad! The pots are full! Please go with me Joseph before I wet! I'm scared of the dark and I'm not allowed to light the lantern!"
"Come then." Joseph says taking Ben by the hand and stopping to light a lantern by the side door.
"Hurry Joseph, I can't hold it much more!" Ben whispers bouncing back and forth from foot to foot.
"I'll be so glad when we get that water closet built. Pa says we'll be putting one in later this summer." Joseph tells Ben as he's pulled to the outhouse.
On the way back from the outhouse Ben asks "Joseph? Is there any salve in the barn?"
"I think there is why do you want to know?"
"Well, I was hoping you would put some on me. I'm sore." Ben answers adding "Please Joseph? I'm having a hard time sleeping."
"I'll do it but you'd better not tell anyone, not even George. I'd wind up getting punished! I did the last time I helped you out like this. Pa said I wasn't to ease the punishment. He said you were to feel the effects of the whipping so you would remember to obey. Then he made me write lines "I will not interfere with my brother's punishment" one hundred times.
In the barn, Joseph takes Ben to a back stall. "Okay, take down your drawers and let's see what I can do."
"Well, he got you good this time didn't he? You have two red stripes back here. What did he whip you with?"
"He used a razor strop on me! Joseph he's only ever used a strop on me once before now! Mitch had already spanked us with his hand and Pa whipped me anyway! Mitch told him he had spanked us. I really didn't think Pa would whip us on top of that. Mitch spanks hard Joseph! I was already on fire before Pa took over!"
"Did Pa whip George with the strop too? How many licks did you get?"
"He was mad Joseph. He gave me two with the strop and then more with his belt on my bare bottom! Having him spank me with the strop and then with his belt on top of the same space he'd put the strop burned! George got some with just his hand and also with his belt. He got to keep his pants up! I was the one who took the cows, horses and chickens. George was the lookout and door or gate holder. We both took the food though. We didn't take it for ourselves. We gave it to folks who needed it. I don't know why that was so wrong. Robin Hood did it and he never got a thrashing for it! Joseph, I haven't seen Pa look that mad ever! He was scary! He didn't even talk to us at first, he just took us by the hand and made us go with him to that woodshed out back of the office. I really don't like woodsheds any longer!"
"I imagine so but you broke the law. He gets really upset about that. Ben, Robin Hood is a made up story. He wasn't a real person! You should've known better than to act like that. You deserved to get a bad whipping! Come on, I've got to empty those chamber pots and we need to get to bed before either of us is caught. The way Pa looks tonight, he might just whip us if he caught us out of bed! I was supposed to be in bed an hour ago!"
Inside, Joseph carefully pulls the side door closed so it doesn't make noise. He then lifts the heavy oak slab from the wall and settles it on the hooks across the door. The slab crosses the door and touches the wall on each side making it impossible to open the door from the outside. Both doors to the house are barred each night for safety. Glancing over at the front door, Joseph can see Rob has already barred that door. No one is allowed outside after the doors are barred.
"Come on Ben, I've got to empty the chamber pots in your room. Since I've already barred the door, we'll carry them and throw the contents out the window. You mustn't tell we did this or I'll get punished! Pa caught me once and he said if I ever did it again he'd punish me! He said civilized people emptied the waste into the outhouse not threw it out in the yard. You know what Ben? I say civilized people have water closets to use instead of these horrible pots!"
Ben grins at that. "Yes, I hate them and so does George. George will do anything he can to keep from having to use it. I can use it, I just hate having to empty it afterwards!"
Just then they see a figure approaching the window from the outside. The figure is holding a lantern but there isn't enough light to see. Ben puts the pot he's holding down on the floor and steps behind Joseph for protection. "Who's that?" he whispers shakily.
Not answering his brother, Joseph puts the pot he was holding down too and steps back from the open window nervously. Watching the figure move closer, he pulls his bottom lip between his teeth in apprehension.
"Joseph! Why'd you go and bar the side door? Now I can't get in! Go unbar it so I can come in, I'm ready to get in my bed!" Rob whispers through the window.
"Rob! You had Ben scared to pieces here! We didn't know you were outside! We didn't know who was walking up to the window!" Joseph whispers back before he goes to the front room to unbar the door.
Coming inside and then rebarring the door, Rob just points to Joseph's room indicating Joseph is to go there. Rob follows closing the door. Ben is sitting on Joseph's bed just waiting to see what might happen now.
"Why did the two of you have the window open? I'm curious to know why these two chamber pots are sitting right under the window. Could there be a connection?" Rob asks looking at Joseph sternly.
"You read too many detective books, Rob. You're sounding like one." Joseph answers keeping his voice low.
As the stern look from Rob continues, he says "Alright, I admit it. I emptied the chamber pots through the window. Please don't tell. I'll get in trouble! I had barred the door before I remembered Ben needed the pots emptied. I just didn't want to unbar the door and then have to do it again. That slab is very heavy!"
"I ought to spank you myself but it's late and I'd wake everyone up if I did. I won't say anything to Pa but you better make sure you get up early enough to get out there and wash down the wall! The boards will smell and maybe start to rot if you don't. If Pa happens to see it your goose is cooked!"
"What goose? Joseph doesn't have a goose, do you?" Ben asks looking at Joseph.
"He means I'll be in trouble and no I don't have a goose. Go to bed, Ben and take these pots with you. I'm going to bed myself." Joseph tells his bright eyed little brother.
The McGinnis twins arrive three days later. Claire is busy helping Ben and George weed the garden when they hear a wagon come into the yard. Looking up she sees a rather fierce looking man sitting in the driver's seat and two children sitting in the wagon behind him.
"That must be the McGinnis family. George, go tell Pa they're here. Ben, come with me to welcome our guests.
Walking to the wagon, Claire smiles and greets the man "Hello Sir, you must be Mr. McGinnis. I'm Claire Cord, Welcome to the Cord Ranch."
"I came to drop off the twins. Your Pa said he would keep them for me until I could get back. Is your Pa to home?"
"Yes Sir, my brother just went to get him but you are welcome to come inside. I have hot coffee and I could fix breakfast if you are hungry." Claire notices the children's eyes light up at that information but they look down as she looks at them.
"We don't need cooking for. I just need to see your Pa."
"McGinnis, I'm here. What did you need?" Ethan asks walking up.
"The twins need to stay a little longer than four days. The boy's done run again and we have to go look for him. Could they stay until I can get back? Eric and I will pay you for the trouble and they will both earn their keep also. Alyssa can cook and clean and Aaron can help with all the ranch chores.
"We'll be happy to let them stay as long as they need to. The more hands we have the faster the work gets done and then the fun begins!" Ethan answers looking at the two solemn children.
Ben, George, this is Aaron and this is Alyssa. They are going to need you to show them their rooms and where to put up their clothes. Would you do that please?"
"Yes Pa, come on, get down and let's go in." Ben says.
Neither child moves until McGinnis says "Get down and go inside. I'll expect only good behavior out of the two of you or you will regret it! I will see you soon."
"I'm Ben and this is George. I'm ten and he's nine. How old are you?" Ben asks as they walk inside.
"We're twelve. Our birthday is in August. Rob told me about you two. He says you like to go fishing. I do too. Can we go today?" Aaron asks hopefully.
"Maybe but we have to do all of our chores and ask Pa first. If he says we can, we'll go after lunch. We can't go until we do all of that or we'll get a whipping. I don't want any more whippings for a long time!" Ben tells him conveniently forgetting he and George are still housebound.
"You sound like you just got one. Did your Pa whip you today?"
"No, it was three days ago but I'm still a little sore back there if I move wrong. I'll tell you about it when we do chores. You will help with the barn chores right?"
"Yes, I have to help do the chores here. I have to do whatever your Pa tells me to do or I'll get a whipping from my Pa when he gets home. He also planned to tell your Pa to whip me if I needed it. I'm going to do my best not to need it!" Aaron whispers the last part to himself. Ben hears him anyway and grins.
"We'll have fun, Aaron. There are many fun things to do that won't get us a sore backside. Rob says you helped gentle horses. My Pa won't let me try it. He said I have to be at least twelve before I can help gentle the horses. We take in horses for the Army and Rob, Joseph and Pa work with them until they are saddle trained and gentled."
"I like working with horses. Rob said I was good at it too! He treated us like a very nice older brother when he visited. I didn't want him to go." Aaron tells Ben. Hearing this makes Ben's stomach churn with envy and a little sadness.
"Ben bring Aaron back to the front room so everyone can meet him." Ethan calls.
"Well Aaron, Alyssa, it is nice to have you come visit. You children are welcome to make yourselves at home here. There are just a few things I need to tell you: Everyone on the ranch has chores to do and the chores get done before any playtime. We treat everyone with respect, no name calling or fighting. No arguing back or deliberately disobeying. There are wild horses on the ranch and only Rob, Joseph or myself is to go near them. The stallions are off limits completely. You must obey me, Rob or Claire if they tell you to do something. If you deliberately disobey something you were told to do you will be in trouble."
"Do either of you want to ask about what I just told you? I want everyone to know what is expected from the beginning." When neither child speaks he continues.
"If you misbehave you will receive a punishment. These punishments include extra chores, staying in your room, or possibly a spanking depending on what you did. I do not allow children to smoke, steal, lie, gamble or drink. You do any of those five things and you will receive a spanking with my belt. I do not beat children with whips. I seriously doubt either of you would ever receive a spanking while you are here but I wanted to let you know anyway. These are the rules of our family. Do you have any questions?"
"No Sir, Sheriff Cord." Aaron answers as Alyssa whispers "No Sir, Mr. Cord, sir."
"That's another thing I ought to mention. While you are here you are part of our family. I'm going to treat you the same as my own children. Just call me Uncle Ethan please, not Mr. Cord or Sheriff. Agreed?" Ethan asks smiling at the twins.
"Yes sir." Aaron answers smiling back. Alyssa gapes at the man wondering if he really means to be this nice all the time. Finally she whispers "Yes sir."
"Well now Alyssa, can't I hear your pretty voice. After all you are going to be my girl for at least a week maybe even two. I can't wait that long to hear your voice. I'm going to have two young ladies to look after! Claire has been anxious to meet you. She's surrounded by guys all the time. She wants a girl to talk to."
"I'm surrounded by boys too. I'll like to having a girl to talk to." Alyssa says not whispering but still quiet.
"You and I can do things together while the boys are off doing boy things. I'm so happy you're here! I've always wanted a little sister." Claire tells the girl.
After lunch, the boys go out to the barn to play. Ben and George show the pony cart to Aaron.
"Can we hitch it up and take a ride? I'd like to drive it too." Aaron asks Ben.
"I have to get permission first. Let me go ask Pa if we can hitch up Daisy. She's the easiest to drive."
After he leaves, Aaron asks "Why do you have to ask permission to take it out if it belongs to you? Why not just hitch it up when you want to ride on it?"
"Because we have to have Papa agree to letting us take it out. He won't let us if he's not going to be home or if he's going to be working with the wild horses." George tells him.
"Pa said we had to wait until tomorrow. He and Rob are going to work out in the back pasture and he says Daisy might get spooked by them. Daisy is going to have a baby and can't be scared. Pa says we can play in the treehouse or on the rope swing in the barn. We aren't to go near the corral with the horses." Ben tells George and Aaron coming back from the house.
"Let's play on the rope swing. We can take turns pulling each other out and letting go. Aaron, we can swing out a long way on that swing. Come on over to the other end of the barn and I'll show you." George says to his new friend.
"If we're going to play with the swing, the girls are busy inside, your Pa and Rob are going to work with the horses, then what about Joseph? What's he going to do?" Aaron asks walking back to the rope swing.
"He's going to help with the stumps in the pasture too. They are using the horses to pull up the stumps after they dig them out some. He's the gopher as Rob calls him." Ben answers
"He's a brown furry animal? That can't be! You're teasing me!" Aaron says grinning at Ben.
"No, I'm serious. Joseph is the one who often has to go to the barn or the house or somewhere for whatever Pa or Rob asks him to get. He's the one to "go to the barn/house for _". Rob shortened it to 'gopher' to tease him." Ben explains as George climbs on the wooden circular seat of the rope swing.
"C'mon Ben! Pull me back! I'm ready to fly!"
"George. Be polite, let Aaron go first. Besides you need to go to the outhouse before you do this. Remember what happened last time? " Ben tells him using his big brother tone. He's reminding George of when he didn't want to stop swinging to go to the outhouse.
"Aaron you can go first. Ben! You are not to boss me around. I know if I need the outhouse or not so stop bossing me!" George says red in the face from embarrassment. He doesn't want to seem like a baby who still wets his pants.
"Suit yourself. I am only trying to keep you from trouble. If you wet your pants again you'll really catch it!" Ben says enjoying watching George be embarrassed.
"I don't need you're reminding me what to do. I'm not a baby! Take care of your own self and leave me alone!" George snaps back.
"UH, Ben? George? Could one of you two fellas give me a push? I am tired of sitting here listening to you argue.
Ben, having forgotten Aaron was even there while he and George were arguing, looks ashamed. "I'm sorry Aaron. I didn't mean to forget about you. Please forgive us for being rude. "
"Sure I will. Scott and I argue like that all the time when Pa isn't around to hear us. We'd be in huge trouble if he heard." Aaron says as Ben holds the knot of the rope and walks backwards pulling it.
"We'd be in trouble too. Pa doesn't let us be disrespectful to each other. He'd punish us for it. Are you ready to see what flying is like? Okay, then HOLD ON." Ben lets go and the rope swings through the barn door and up into the air before swinging back into the barn.
As the swing finishes it's last of four arcs through the doorway and slows down, Aaron says "You were right. That is what flying must be like. That's really fun. I want to do that again but I'll get off and help you two swing now. Do you think we have time to ride on it again?"
"We have until time to help with lunch. That's about two hours. Then we can play some more until evening chores at five. After that is supper and we can't go back out to play after supper because it's getting dark." Ben answers.
"So how do we know what time it is? Do you have a pocket watch because I don't."
"Claire will tell us when we need to come in to help with lunch. Papa tells us when it's time for chores." George tells him.
"Good, I wouldn't want to be late and get in trouble." Aaron answers helping to pull George back for his turn on the swing.
"Do you get in trouble at home for being late for chores?" Ben asks watching George swing out the barn door.
"Of course! My Pa would whip me with a strop for not being on time for chores. I don't go anywhere so I am not ever late. I have to do everything he tells me to do perfectly or I get whipped. On your stalls, I see you have a little bit of used hay left up by the wooden walls. At my house, that would get me and my brother a whipping! We have to have every single piece of old hay removed before we put the clean down."
"My Pa wants it clean and we'd better make sure to have all the dirty hay out before we put clean down, but he doesn't get mad at us for leaving those little pieces at the sides. The only way to get them is by hand and I for one am not picking up pooped on hay by hand!" Ben says.
"Your Pa seems really nice. I bet he doesn't really whip you! If you get punished he goes for extra chores or staying in your room right?" Aaron says somewhat resentfully.
"Sometimes we get extra chores or sent to our room. He really does spank me and whip me though. If I do something really wrong he'll take the strop or a belt to me. The other day I got whipped with the razor strop. That sting lasted two days! I tell you, I don't want to get a whipping like that ever again!"
"What did you do?"
"We have this uncle who was visiting here. He taught me and George what he called a "Robin Hood "game. We went to different farms and took farm animals and food. Then we left them at other farms where the people didn't have those animals. When Pa found out about it, he whipped me with the strop for stealing and breaking the law. Our uncle is in jail right now and he isn't going to get out until there is a trial. I'm not allowed to go to town to see Uncle Matt and neither are any of the rest of the kids. Pa said we are all to stay away from him or we would get a whipping! He means it too!"
"When is the trial?"
"Don't say anything about it because I'll get in trouble for eavesdropping. I listened in when Mitch, he's Pa's deputy, came out yesterday. Mitch said 'there would be a trial and they were in the process of acquiring a judge to come from Colorado Springs.' When they can get a judge, they will hold trial."
Ben jumped guiltily when George says "BEN! You listened to a private conversation! Papa would spank you if he knew about that! You must have forgotten when he told you the last time he caught you out of the bedroom listening in. He said the next time you were eavesdropping you'd be dropping your pants! Remember?"
Blushing red, Ben growls to his brother "Just shut up George! You are too stupid to know what you are saying! Get off the swing! IT'S MY TURN!"
"BEN! You know better than to talk that way! Do you need me to go get Pa or can you apologize and behave?" Ben hears from behind them.
Turning to look behind them, Aaron sees Rob standing there glaring at Ben. "Well Ben? What's your answer? Talk to Pa or apologize?"
"Rob! You wouldn't tell on me would you? I'd get in a lot of trouble! C'mon Rob it's just a little argument."
"BEN, you have until the count of three and then I'm going for Pa. He won't be at all pleased to have to stop working with the horse either! ONE… TWO…. THR"
"Okay! I'm so sorry George for talking ugly to you. I shouldn't have said that and I apologize." Ben gets out quickly.
"Good choice Ben. Now come over here to me." Rob tells him.
When Ben gets to him, Rob takes hold of his arm, turns him sideways and delivers five whacks to the boy's bottom. " NO… LISTENING …. TO…. PRIVATE …. CONVERSATIONS!" Rob says between whacks. "Don't let me hear you were eavesdropping again. If I do, I will tell Pa you have been listening to private conversations knowing it was wrong! What do you think he'd do about that?"
Rubbing his stinging backside, Ben answers softly "He'd give me a walloping."
"Yes, he certainly would. You'd best remember that! You also better be treating Aaron nicer than you were George or I'll be spanking you with your pants down! He's your guest and my friend." Rob says before picking up the harness he came in for and leaving the boys to finish playing.
Ben sees Aaron standing there with wide eyes just staring at the door Rob walked out of.
"Aaron? What's wrong?"
"Does your Pa allow Rob to spank you like that?"
"Um, well not really unless Rob is left in charge while he's not here. Why?"
"If Scott were to wallop me like that, I'd tell my Pa on him. If you did tell your Pa, would Rob be in trouble?"
"He'd probably be scolded but that would be it. I would wind up getting a whipping though. He'd whip me for being disrespectful to George, not minding Rob when he told me to do something and especially for eavesdropping. I'm not mentioning this and neither will you or George, right?"
"I'll keep quiet." Aaron says smiling now.
"Me too, Ben. I don't want to see you get punished again. Here, it's your turn to swing."
"I'll skip this turn. Aaron you take my turn. My backside is stinging too much to sit right now." Ben says to Aaron.
"I'm tired of swinging. Can we go up to the treehouse? I'd like to see it and just sit up there for a time." Aaron says.
"Fine, come on George. Let's go get some lemonade and glasses first. Claire will probably fix us a basket of cookies too."
"Ben, you two go on and I'll meet you at the treehouse. I've got to go somewhere first."George tells him as he walks quickly towards the door.
"George, you promised you wouldn't tell on me!"
"I'm not going to go tell!" George says stopping to glare at Ben. "I'm not a tell tale! I need to go to the outhouse." he calls as he runs from the barn.
"He's in a big hurry, isn't he?" Aaron says to Ben as he watches George dash out the door.
"Yeah, he has this habit of holding it until he's about to go and then he'll run for the outhouse. He absolutely hates the outhouse. We're going to be getting a water closet inside sometime this summer."
"Well, let's go see that treehouse you showed me."
"Wait Aaron, Rob needs the stallion moved from the stall to the corral beside the barn. You take him out the back way. Will you do this for Rob? You are so good with horses and all I'm sure it wouldn't be hard."
"I thought your Pa said not to get around the stallions, though."
"Well that's the Army horses he was talking about at the time. Lightning isn't an Army horse. Go on, get him moved so we can go to the treehouse."
"Well alright." Aaron walks over to the stall where the big gray horse is standing and opens the stall door. Walking in carefully, he soothes the horse "Hey boy. Pretty boy. I'm just going to walk you out. Easy fella." Aaron adds as the horse stomps his foot and snorts forcefully. Reaching up, Aaron takes hold of the bridle strap and carefully backs the horse out of the stall. Then he leads him out the back door and puts him into the corral.
Out in the back pasture, removing stumps, Rob looks up from digging just in time to see Aaron lead Lightning out of the barn. "My God! What is he thinking?" he gasps out loud.
"Robert! Your mouth is going to get you in trouble. Now what are you ..." Having looked up during his reprimand, Ethan sees a sight that makes him drop the shovel and run for the corral.
"Pa! He's good with horses. He didn't mean to do wrong." Rob calls. Realizing his Pa is upset, attempting to get Ethan to calm down.
Reaching the corral as Aaron closes the gate after putting the horse in, he says sternly "Come with me, young man. We need to have a talk inside the barn. You just deliberately disobeyed me! I will not have that behavior when you are in my care! Let's go!" When Aaron continues to stand and not move, Ethan takes his arm and begins to walk, having to make the child move.
"Let Me Go! I don't wanna whipping!" Aaron yells struggling to free himself from the iron grip on his arm.
"Aaron, calm down. I said we were going to talk and we are. However, if you keep being defiant, this talk we are going to have, can turn into a trip over my knee! Is that what you want me to do? Put you over my knee and spank you?" Ethan asks the boy sternly.
"No Sir. I don't and I'm sorry. You just scared me, sir." Aaron explains quietly.
"Let's walk Aaron. We have some talking to do, young man!"
Ben, hiding in the haymow just inside the barn, smiles to himself. "HA! Take that, intruder! Rob won't think you're wonderful now!" he thinks.