New Beginnings

ch. 27

Consequences & A New Start

*************** A quick thank you to all who read and review. To whomever the "Guest" for the last few chapters (or if it is more than one person, Guests) that is kind enough to leave reviews too, Thank You. I do wish you'd sign up for an account (free) so I could thank you in person. ***************

"Papa! I am so glad you are home! I missed you so much!" Alyssa whispers as she snuggles in his lap.

"I missed you both too, sweetheart. My two days were very long and dull without my girl and my boy to brighten the day. Well Aaron, I hear you had quite the adventure while I was away. What do you have to say for yourself?"

"I know I did wrong, Uncle Chris. We were not to go to the corral and we did it anyway. Ben tried to stop me but I just wouldn't listen to him. I only wanted to pet the gray mare. She's been so friendly when ... Um, that is she seemed to be friendly and I wanted to pet her."

"You and Ben went to the corral more than just the time the stallion got loose. Isn't that correct, Aaron? You disobeyed more than once."

Biting his lip and busy examining a crack in the floor, Aaron doesn't answer.

"Answer me, I asked you a question."

"Yessir." Aaron manages to say around the knot in his throat. "We wanted to help Joseph give the horses water. We just wanted to help."

"Alyssa, go downstairs and help Mrs. Greenbush with dessert. Aaron and I will be down after we finish our discussion."

Looking over at her brother, Alyssa sees him nod to show he would be okay. "Yes Papa. Papa please don't whip Aaron. He's very sorry."

"Aaron will be fine, Alyssa. Now mind what I told you. We'll see you in a few minutes."

Coming into the kitchen, Mrs. Greenbush finds the little girl with her head on the table, sobbing into her arms.

"What's wrong with my cupcake? Why the tears. Your Papa is home now."

"He's going to whip Aaron! I just know it! Aaron was bad and disobeyed and caused a lot of trouble out at Uncle Ethan's. He let a expensive horse loose!"

"Hmm, that brother of yours is a good boy who has a way of finding mischief. I know your Papa will be fair with him. He's a fair man unlike your other Pa, cupcake." Mrs. Greenbush says stroking the girl's hair. She's been told of the children's background enough to understand their behavior.

Up in their living quarters, Chris has taken Aaron into his bedroom. "Son, Matthew told me how helpful you were when George first became ill. I am very proud of you for helping him the way you did. I understand you were helping Joseph at first. However, this doesn't excuse the fact that you deliberately put yourself in harms way. You were told not to go near the corral because those are wild horses and could hurt you. You disobeyed me and you disobeyed Ethan. We have told you many times why the horses are out of bounds and yet you deliberately ignored us. You could have been hurt and you boys allowed a valuable and dangerous animal to be let loose. Do you understand this son?"

"Yes sir and I'm really sorry."

"I know you are and I expect you to apologize to Ethan the next time we see him. Alright Aaron, I'm going to have to punish you for this. You put yourself and others in danger as well as being defiant. Aaron, this calls for a firm spanking. I'm going to use my hand plus a hairbrush for two licks and I'm going to take down your pants. I talked to you about minding the rules at the ranch the last time you misbehaved. I warned you then this would happen. Remember?

"I know. I don't want a brush spanking but I guess I deserve it. I 1kinda thought you might use your belt this time." Aaron whispers.

When it is over, Chris pulls the boy up into a tight hug. "I love you Aaron Anthony McGinnis. I don't want anything to harm you so I am hard on you for that reason."

"I lobe yew too, Papa and I'll be good now, I promise." Aaron sobs into his uncle's shirt. Those smacks hurt on his bare bottom but disappointing his uncle hurts more.

"Hush now, you don't need to cry so. Everything is fine. Come, wipe your face and let's go find your sister. She's convinced I would be too harsh."

"Alyssa knows you didn't hurt me. She can feel it. It's something we share." Aaron answers after washing his face in the washbowl.

"She feels the spanking? She was able to feel when your Father beat you?" Chris asks, aghast at the thoughts running through his head.

Hesitating for just a minute, thinking this could save his backside in the future, Aaron decides to tell the truth. "It's not like she feels the same as I do, it's more she knows I'm hurting. If she falls and skins up her elbow or bangs her knee, I can tell she's hurting because my elbow or knee throbs just a little. I think it's the same with her. She's told me she could feel a tingling in her bottom when my Father would take the whip to me. Alyssa did not feel the same thing as me, I know."

"Come son, let's go find your sister and see if we have some dessert. Tomorrow I'm going to need both of you to come with me. We'll talk about that with Alyssa."

After everyone has finished a large piece of chocolate cake and the twins have finished their milk, Chris takes them back upstairs. Tucking them both into their bed, he asks "How would the two of you like to have your own bedrooms? Tomorrow we're going to go out to look at two houses. I'll let you two choose which house you would like us to live in. We're going to have a place of our own. How do you like that?"

"Oh, Papa! I like that idea, we could put up a swing and have a playhouse and a yard to play in outside and..." Laughing, Chris says "Shhh, let's let Aaron have a say, shall we? Well son, I know how your sister feels, what about you?"

"I think I'd like to have a house too. A room big enough for Ben and maybe George to sleep in with me. A place for Alyssa to play tea party with her friends and to have her own room would be nice. Do you think we can have a treehouse like Ben's at the ranch? Will we get horses?"

"We'll do our best to fix you two a treehouse or playhouse or both. I don't know about horses yet. We'll have to wait to see what house we choose and how much space we have. Living in town isn't the same as living on a ranch, son."

"Yessir, but I love horses. I want to own a ranch just like Uncle Ethan's someday. I'm going to raise stallions and sell them to the Army." Aaron answers yawning between sentences.

"That is an admirable ambition, Aaron. Right now though, it's time to go to sleep. We'll have a good time looking at the houses tomorrow. Good dreams, children."

"Night Papa" Chris hears from both as they snuggle into each other.

Whispering, Alyssa asks "How bad?" knowing Aaron would understand.

"Bare, two with a brush five with his hand, just stings some now."

"He is a good Papa, isn't he?"

"Yep!"

"Well here is the first house available. This one has three bedrooms, a W.C., a kitchen area big enough for a table and a small front room. Let's go look inside."

"The blue shutters are pretty on the plain gray boards, Papa."

"It's kind of close to the Mercantile isn't it? Looking across the yard at the store." Aaron asks frowning at Alyssa.

"Yes, the owner of the Mercantile owns the property. Mr. Axelrod chose to live in the upstairs apartment above the store instead of this house." Chris tells them.

Once inside, Aaron quickly decides it isn't the right house for them. The bedrooms are too small for anything but a bed and a washstand.

"Papa, where would we keep our clothes in this room? It's very small."

"That's true, son. We would find a place if we decide on this house. Let's look at the backyard."

"Oh, Papa! There aren't any trees big enough for anything. We can't have a swing or a treehouse or even put in a garden. It's just too small back here." Alyssa whispers.

"I see that, sweetheart. Well children, let's go down to the end of the street. The other house is sure to be better." Chris tells the disappointed pair.

The second house is painted white and has red shutters with green windowboxes for flowers. There is a white picket fence around the property.

"Oh, Papa! This house is just so pretty!"

"Alyssa! You said that about the other one. We don't pick a house by how pretty it is!" Aaron says irritably.

"Aaron, mind your manners. Alyssa can speak her opinion the same as you. No squabbling or we'll go back to the Boarding House."

"Come Alyssa, let's go see the inside." Aaron says taking her by the hand and pulling her to the door.

Going to the bedrooms first, Aaron pushes open the door to a room.

"Look, it has a window showing the backyard! Aaron! There's tall trees back there! We have space for a swing and maybe a treehouse too! The yard is big enough to have a garden."

"Yes, and the room is big enough for a bed, a washstand, a chiffarobe or chest of drawers and room left over even! Let's go see the other rooms and maybe they are big too! I hope so, don't you?"

"Uh huh, I want room to have shelves for some books and dolls and things. We never had toys before we moved in with Papa."

"Alyssa, just look at this! It has a indented space for clothes and it has a big floor. This one is probably for the grown person to have. Let's look at the other room. Good, it's the same as the first one we saw. This would be a good room for either of us. Don't you think so?"

"Yes, and it even has a window too! Let's find Papa and tell him we like these rooms."

"Papa! The bedrooms are so big! They have windows too!" Alyssa says rushing to him as he stands in the front room.

"I'm happy you like it, sweetie. Aaron? What do you think?"

"I like it too. We saw the back and it has three rooms one for each of us and a big one for you. Can you afford this house?"

"AARON!" Alyssa gasps in shock. "You're being so bad! You deserve to get spanked!" She whispers to her twin.

"How is he being 'bad' Alyssa?" Chris asks curiously, having heard the not so quiet whisper.

"Children are not to question grown folks business unless they want to feel the whip!" Alyssa answers quietly, obviously quoting her father.

"Well in our family, children have the right to ask questions of something they don't understand. If it isn't something you should know I will tell you. Now, Aaron, the answer to your question is; Yes, we can afford the payments on this house. Let's go over to the bank and we'll sign the papers making it OUR place! We are making a new start on our life together with our first house!"

The next day at the Cord Ranch, Ben, Aaron and Joseph are watching Rob work with a horse in the training corral.

With Rob throwing a saddle blanket over the horse's back over and over, Aaron begins to get bored. "Ben, let's go up in the treehouse and then go fishing after lunch."

"I'm restricted to the yard and can't go anywhere, Aaron. It will be Thursday before I can do anything away from the ranch. That's part of the punishment I got for letting the stallion loose." Ben tells him as they walk towards the treehouse."

"Your Pa didn't whip you? You said he would."

"I got really lucky. He walloped me with his hand, I have to do extra chores and I'm housebound to the ranchyard. What about you? What did Uncle Chris say?"

"He scolded me badly for causing trouble and disobeying the rules again. He popped my butt twice with a hairbrush and then smacks with his handI have to apologize to your Pa and take any punishment he wants to give me. Do you think he'll whip me?"

"I doubt it. If he didn't whip me, why would he whip you? Ben asks..

"Oh, I forgot to tell you! We have a house in town now. You can come stay overnight sometime when you are not on punishment. I have my own room and it even has a window. Papa is going to find a way to make us a treehouse and he promised Alyssa to hang a swing too!"

"Where is your house?"

"It's the white one with red shutters way at the end of main street after you pass the gazebo. Do you know it?"

"Yes, that's the one we used to call the red house. It had a red door, red shutters and red flowers in window boxes. I'm happy you got a room of your own, Aaron. You'll like it better than a boarding house."

"Boys? Come inside now, please. It's time for lunch." Chris calls up to them having asked Joseph where they were.

After lunch is finished, as Ben and Joseph begin gathering the dishes to wash, Chris turns to Aaron. "Aaron, you have something to say to Ethan, remember?"

"Yes sir. Uncle Ethan, I apologize for misbehaving and for letting the stallion get out. Papa said I have to accept punishment from you too. Please don't be mad at me." Aaron says watching Ethan's face carefully to see if he is angry.

"I'm not angry, Aaron. I'm disappointed though. Both you and Ben could have been hurt badly if one of the horses had stepped on you or bitten you. We make rules to keep you safe not to spoil your fun. Do you understand this, son?"

"Yessir." Aaron whispers, blushing at the stern scolding in front of everyone.

"Ben has been assigned extra chores and I think you should be also. I've talked to Chris and he agrees for you to come here every day for a week to help with these chores. The first one is to clean the stalls in the barn. Ben will do half and you will do the other half. You may go get started and Ben will join you as soon as the dishes are done."

"Yes sir." Aaron replies glumly. Cleaning the barn is his least favorite chore on the ranch. Stopping at the door to the side porch, he turns and asks "Uncle Ethan?"

"Yes Aaron?"

"Instead of cleaning the barn, couldn't you just give me a whipping? I REALLY don't like cleaning dirty stalls! They stink!" he says wrinkling his face at the thought of the smell.

"AARON MCGINNIS!" Chris says sternly, shocked at the boy's audacity to question his punishment. "You best get yourself out to that barn and do as you're told young man or I will whip you and you will still clean the barn! You don't question what you are told to do! When you are told to do something, you do it!"

After the children have been sent outside, Chris apologizes to Ethan. "I don't know what to think about Aaron questioning you that way! I'm of a mind to take off my belt! I spanked him but I didn't whip him for the incident with the stallion. Maybe I should have! He's getting way out of hand. Thinking he can question commands now! I guess I've been too lenient with him and need to get tougher."

"No Chris. This is a good sign. I know you want him to obey and I agree he needs to do that at all times for safety if nothing else. My friend who gave me so much parenting advice, once said 'A child who feels comfortable will occasionally question authority. We just have to answer the question by showing we are the authority and they must mind.' You did just that. He isn't afraid of us, you see? This is good as we don't want to be like his father."

"Thank you for all the advice. Does it seem I come to you often? I feel overwhelmed at times. I just want to be the best new parent I can be to those two children. I'm all they have. It's up to me to teach them right from wrong." Chris exclaims.

"You are welcome and I'm no expert myself. I talked quite a lot to Tom back when I first began trying to raise the children. I think all parents make mistakes at times even those who have them from babies. We just have to do the best we can and use each other and the other parents for advice."

At a knock on the door, Ethan gets up from the table and after checking the side window to see who it is, opens the door.

"Well, hello Matthew. What brings you out here on a day like today? I thought you'd be out sparking a young lady on a picnic." Chris teases.

"Christopher. I do not have any desire to spark a young lady at this time. When I find one, I will. Ethan, I came as you requested, to speak to Joseph. What would you like me to do? Whip him?" Matthew asks grinning.

"If that is how you feel he should be punished, I won't stop you. I asked you here to talk with him and assign a punishment. He deliberately defied you and that needs to be addressed by you. I haven't punished him for it but you need to do so."

"Ethan, I'm not comfortable giving him a whippin' for this! In some ways I can understand why he defied me. I know You feel he needs to be punished though."

"I didn't say you had to whip him. It's up to you how you punish him. It needs to be something to make him decide not to disobey you the next time you give an order. Matt, he has to obey you at all times. It could be a matter of his life sometime. I won't have him thinking he can just choose when he will obey. He's out by the corral watching Rob. Why don't the two of you take a walk and discuss this away from the rest of the children."

"Well Joseph, I imagine you are aware of why we are taking this walk together today."

"Yes sir. Pa told me you would be the one to punish me for not minding you the other day. I am sorry Uncle Matt. I didn't do it to defy you exactly, I just needed to go save that stallion. I won't disobey you like that again."

"You do and I will show you how much I can make your backside burn! Don't test me on this unless you really want to know." Matthew replies glaring at his nephew.

"Yes sir. Does this mean you aren't going to whip me today? I know Pa gave you his permission to do so."

"You are being given another chance, Joseph. Don't mess it up."

"I won't and thanks Uncle Matt. You are a great Uncle! How are you going to get around Pa when he asks what my punishment was?"

"I'll tell him what your punishment is to be." Matthew answers turning to walk back to the house.

"WAIT! What punishment? You said I had another chance, here!" Joseph sputters in shock.

"At not being given a whipping, yes. At being given some other punishment, no."

"Uncle Matt! Come on! You're the young easy going, fun Uncle, remember?"

"Thank you Joseph. Now as for your punishment, I think being restricted to the ranch for a week starting tomorrow, will be enough."

"But Saturday, the church is having a Supper Social again. I'll not get to go if I'm restricted to the ranch! Oh, Jason and Jeff are having a birthday party on Thursday. They'll have games and prizes too. I can't miss that! Let's think of a different punishment. How about I wash all the dishes for two nights, do all the chicken chores for two days and clean the fireplaces too?" When his uncle shakes his head, he tries again. "How about we have me housebound up until Thursday and then Friday, Sunday plus Monday of next week? That way I could still go to the party and the social."

"No, the restriction to the ranch for a week is the punishment. You already have the other chores so that wouldn't be much of a punishment. Now, I'm sorry you'll miss out on fun activities but the restriction stands, Joseph." Matthew answers firmly while wishing he didn't have to be the bad guy who punished.

"I take back what I said about you being the easy going fun uncle!" Joseph tells him huffily, walking back towards the house.

Watching Joseph stomp into the house and slam the door, Ethan says from the side of the corral, "Well, he's not too happy. What did you tell him?"

"I burst his bubble of happiness. At first he was thrilled when I told him he wasn't going to get a whipping. He took that to mean he wasn't going to be punished. When I restricted him to the ranch for a week, he tried to bargain me into something else. I didn't go with his idea. He's miffed at me." Matthew answers dejectedly.

"He has been angry with me often. He'll live through it. What was his idea for punishment?" Ethan asks curious to see what Joseph would suggest.

"Cleaning the chicken house and coop, feeding the chickens, washing dishes, cleaning the fireplaces, each set for two days." Matthew replies grinning at the look on Ethan's face as Chris chuckles.

"Joseph has all of those chores already. He does them now. I'm surprised you didn't fall for that." Ethan smirks.

"I remembered he had to do those while I was staying with you those weeks. He also tried to negotiate which days he was to be housebound. He wanted off on the days the fun activities are to be. He was disappointed I didn't employ his ideas!"

"Good for you, Matthew. You gave him a suitable punishment, one he will not enjoy. I know that wasn't easy for you to do. You showed him you are to be obeyed. I will see to it he follows the restriction." Ethan responds smiling at the younger man.

Inside the house, Joseph stomps past George heading to his room. "What are you so mad about, Joseph? You aren't supposed to go around slamming doors. You're going to get in trouble."

"SHUT UP! Get out of my way and leave me alone you measly little whiny brat!" Joseph says shoving the boy and continuing to his room slamming that door also.

"Claire! He pushed me down! Why is he being so mean?" George sobs into his sister's dress.

"He's upset but he shouldn't take it out on you. Hush George, Joseph didn't mean what he said. He's just angry right now."

Coming into the house and finding George crying, Ethan asks "What's happened, Claire?"

"Joseph hurt his feelings and his leg."

"What did he do George?" Ethan asks.

"Papa, Joseph yelled at me to shut up, pushed me down on the floor and called me a whiny brat just cause I said he should not slam the door. Then he slammed his room door too." George answers wiping the tears from his face.

Nodding, Ethan went to discuss this with Joseph. Not bothering to knock he just opens the door and walks into the bedroom.

"What is all this about Joseph?"

"What?" Joseph answers scornfully.

"Watch your tone young man! Why are you shoving your brother down and calling him names? You know well that is against our family rules!"

"I FELT LIKE SLAMMING DOORS AND GOT MAD AT BEING SCOLDED BY A NINE YEAR OLD!" Joseph shouts.

"Joseph, I am going to ask you one more time and if you don't give me a legitimate reason for your behavior you will have a problem! Now what are you upset about, tell the truth and I strongly advise you to do it without shouting this time! Because, if you are going to act like a young child, I will treat you as one!"

Hearing the warning in Ethan's voice and the fact he has his hands on his waist, close to his belt, Joseph's temper vanishes quickly.

"I apologize for shouting, Pa." Joseph whispers blinking away the stupid tears that insisted on coming with his Pa's stern scolding.

"Thank you Joseph. You will be respectful to me and to your brothers and sister! You will not shove, call names or shout! If you have a problem, you talk to me. Do you understand me or do we need to discuss this a different way?" Ethan asks calmly.

"I understand and I don't need any more discussion, I'll be polite, I swear it, Pa." Joseph answers, knowing well that "discuss this a different way" means a spanking.

"Good, now what is this tantrum really about?" Ethan asks again.

"Uncle Matthew said I'm housebound to the ranch for a whole week! The church social and Jeff and Jason's party are both this week! I've been waiting for the party for a month and I don't want to miss it. I tried to tell him to give me a different punishment and he wouldn't do it! I don't want to be housebound this whole darn week!" Joseph says blinking away the tears forming again in his eyes.

"Well son, you must accept the consequences for defying Matthew. The punishment stands and you will have to miss those activities this time. You will just have to explain to your friends when you see them. I expect you to obey the restriction without problems or it can be extended. Now, come out and apologize to George."

By Thursday afternoon, Joseph has come up with a plan to go to the Anderson twins' party that evening. Since it begins at seven, he feels he can go for awhile and be back before anyone knows he's left. All he has to do is go to his room as he's done every night after supper, and climb out the window. It shouldn't be hard.

"I can go and get back the same way and no one will miss me. Jeff and Jason are my best friends. A guy doesn't miss his best friend's birthday party! They'd do it for me, I know." Joseph tells himself as he finishes gathering the wood for the woodbox.

Walking back towards the house with an armload of wood, he sees Ben come running out of the house. "Hey Joseph! Guess what I get to do! Pa said I could go spend the night with Aaron at his house tonight. I have to get the barn chores done first then Pa is going to take me to town! I'll see you tomorrow."

"Yeah, have fun Ben. Behave yourself or you won't get to go again."

"I know, I'll be good, I swear it! I'm sorry you can't go to town too. I know you wanted to go to the twins' party today."

"Yeah, I did. I hope they won't be mad because I didn't come."

"They're your friends, they'll forgive you. I've got to get the chores done, Joseph." Ben answers walking off.

Aaron, this is a terrific room! You even have a window! I don't have a window in my room. Rob and Joseph do but George and I don't. You have a lot of toys here too. Where'd you get this and what does it do?" Ben asks picking a wooden man off the shelf.

"Papa got it for us in the General Store. It's a dancing man. See you hold the wooden rod and let his feet just touch this wooden platform. Now watch, when I jiggle the rod, he dances!"

"OHH, I like that. Can I try it?" After making the man dance several times, Ben stops it and looks carefully at the toy. "Aaron, this toy has joints just like we do! I've never seen a wooden man that has legs that are movable. I wish George could see it!"

"Well he can, the next time he comes. Let's go outside and I'll show you where Papa is going to make us a treehouse on the ground."

"Aaron, if it's on the ground it's not a treehouse, silly!" Ben teases laughing.

"Well it's a treehouse if I want it to be! Now stop laughing!" Aaron orders frowning.

"Sorry, I wasn't trying to make you mad or be mean. Don't be mad, okay?"

"Just come on outside. We can talk more there."

Not long after the two boys examined the yard, Chris came to the back door. "Boys, come in and wash up. We're going to go to the hotel for supper tonight. Ben, you are our first overnight guest and get treated to supper!"

"Thanks Uncle Chris. I didn't bring any money so Pa will have to pay you tomorrow."

"No son, when I said you will be treated to supper, I mean I will pay for it. You can order anything you like."

"I'd like to have meatloaf, green beans, creamed potatoes, and ice cream." Ben answers when Chris asks, as the waiter appears to take their order.

"Well, that is a fine choice Ben. We'll hold off on the ice cream until after we eat our supper though." Chris says with a wink at the waiter.

"Alright Aaron, your turn. What would you like?" Chris asks looking at the boy.

"Umm, well, I can't pick which one. I want fried chicken but I want meatloaf too. Can I have both?"

"Son, you'd never be able to eat all of that. You need to pick one."

"But Papa I want both of them! I can't choose just one."

"Young man, what is your most favorite piece of the chicken, the drumstick or the breast?" The waiter asks.

"I like the breast the best." Aaron answers. "It has more meat."

"That's very true. Now, how about I serve you one chicken breast and a smaller portion of the meatloaf with all the trimmings your brother ordered. Would that be acceptable?" The young man asks glancing at Chris.

"Yes, that would be fine. Now for myself, I'd like a steak, baked potato and the broccoli with cheese. The boys will have milk but I'll have water and coffee, please."

"Yes sir. We'll get that to you soon."

As the man walks off, Aaron starts to giggle. "He called us brothers! Did you hear that Ben? He said "Your brother!" I wish Alyssa was here instead of staying at the boarding house tonight. We're having a fine supper and she's missing out!" Aaron tells Ben.

"I'm sure your sister is having a fine supper too, Aaron. Mrs. Greenbush is a very good cook." Chris reminds him.

"Why didn't she want to stay home tonight? Is it because of me coming without George? George just doesn't feel good still and Pa said he needed to stay home this time. If we get to do this again, maybe he can come and Alyssa will be here too." Ben says.

"Alyssa likes you just fine, Ben. Aaron was getting to do something special and I suggested she could stay with Mrs. Greenbush. She and Alyssa are good friends and Alyssa loves to spend time with her." Chris reassures Ben.

Back at the ranch house, Joseph has finished clearing the table and washing dishes. "I've finished clean up Pa. I'm going to go to my room and read now."

"That's fine, Joseph. Good night."

"Night everyone, I'll see you tomorrow." Joseph calls, walking to his room. Quickly changing into his church clothes, he carefully makes up the bed to look as if he's sleeping. Very quietly and slowly he raises his window and climbs out closing it back. Running, he makes it to the barn without being seen.

"Whoo Betsy, I just knew I'd get caught climbing out that window. It wouldn't be good for me if I did! Well girl, I'd like to take you along but I can't risk it. Someone might come out and notice you are gone. You just keep my secret now, you hear? I'll be back in an hour and I'll see you then." Joseph whispers to his horse as he catches his breath. Walking quickly he goes through the back door of the barn and closes it quietly. Running again he cuts through the back pasture until he reaches the road. Walking now he hurries to town.

Making it to the Anderson's house without being seen, he knocks on the door.

"Joseph! Oh good, we didn't think your Pa was going to let you come. Rob told us you were housebound. I'm glad you could make it." Jason says after opening the door.

"Jason, he didn't let me come. I snuck out. I just had to come and tell you both Happy Birthday. Here, this is my gift for you both. I have to get back but I'll see you next week." Joseph whispers to his friend.

"You have to come in. We're about to have cake and ice cream too! Besides we want to open this with you here. You can stay that long can't you?" Jeff says having come up during Joseph's conversation.

"I guess I can stay a little while. Not more than thirty minutes though. If I get caught, I'm in for it!" Joseph whispers.

"Ah Joseph! Nice to see you again!" Mrs. Anderson says as he walks into the dining room. "Now everyone stand around the chairs and then when we play the phonograph you all march around the chairs. When I stop the music you sit in a chair as quickly as you can. Whomever is left standing is out of the game. Let's begin."

By the time there were down to one chair, the only ones still playing were Jeff and Joseph. When the music stopped Joseph quickly flopped into the chair seconds before Jeff landed on top of him. "ERRR get off of me you big thing! You're too old to sit on my lap!" Joseph calls out making everyone laugh.

"Alright then, now we'll have the cake. Gather around the table and I'll bring it in. Everyone sing now." Mrs. Anderson calls out as she brings in the three layer cake with lit candles. As the final notes of Happy Birthday are heard, Jeff and Jason lean over the cake and blow. They blow so hard some of the icing is blown off causing the children to laugh.

"Well then, everyone line up and bring your plate with you. I'll cut and serve from here. Mrs. Anderson tells the guests."

"Jeff, I'm sorry but I really need to leave. I've got to get home. I promise I'll come see all your gifts when I can." Joseph whispers after cornering Jeff away from his family and friends.

"Alright, I understand. I'll tell everyone you had to leave. Good luck, Joseph. Thanks for risking it to come tonight."

Hurrying through town, Joseph rushes behind the buildings and avoids going near Mitch or Chris's house. Carefully sneaking past Matthew's place, he cuts through the woods to get back to their pasture. Hurrying and not really being able to see in the dark too well, he trips over a tree root.

"Ow! Oh great, I just tore my best pants at the knee! Now I've got to think of a way to get Claire to fix them without knowing what happened. This is turning out to be harder than I thought. I just hope I can get back inside without being found out." Joseph tells himself out loud. Talking out loud seems to make the dark a little less uncomfortable. Going back through the pasture, he quietly opens the back door to the barn. Walking in he closes it just as quietly. About halfway across the dark barn, he hears a match being struck and freezes in place as someone lights a lantern.

"Young man, just WHERE have you been? Do you know what time it is? What have you been doing out in the dark?" Ethan asks from the bale he's sitting on, his voice very stern and quiet.

"Hi Pa. I took a walk because I couldn't sleep. No, I don't know what time it is." Joseph replies, choosing to answer two of the three questions but not the first one.

"It is nearly ten o'clock! You took a walk! At night in the dark? Without a lantern? First though, you made up your bed to look as if someone was asleep in it. My question would be: why do that if you were just taking a nighttime stroll in the dark? Do you have an answer, Joseph?" Ethan asks walking towards the boy.

"I didn't want to worry anyone if they looked in so I fixed the bed." Joseph answers beginning to get nervous. The quiet tone Ethan is using is not a good sign. Unlike most people, the angrier he is, the more quiet he speaks.

"Yes, you fixed the bed TWO hours ago so you could take a walk in the dark. Your walk in the dark just happened to take you to town to the birthday party too. Isn't that right Joseph? You snuck out after fixing it so it would appear you were asleep in bed. You had this planned out as I see you are dressed for a party. Most people don't dress in their church clothes, arrange pillows in their bed as a body and climb out the window to go for a nighttime stroll! You were at the party weren't you?" Ethan asks, his voice at the dangerous level.

Swallowing before answering, Joseph knows he's not going to get out of this fix he's found himself in so it would be best to tell the truth now.

"I snuck out planning to go to the party for a few minutes. I only wanted to give them the gift and say Happy Birthday but I got into a game and then they had cake and well I just got caught up in it. I'm sorry for worrying you, Pa. I'll stay housebound another day added on to make up for this."

"You will stay housebound another WEEK young man! Not only that but you and I will now have a discussion in the tack room! March!" Ethan says pointing to the door of the tack room.

Later, laying face down on his bed, Joseph hears his bedroom door open and close and feels someone sit on the end of the bed. Rolling over with a slight groan at the sting that causes, he sees Rob sitting there.

"Oh, sorry to wake you up. I just wanted to check to see if you made it through the meeting in the barn." Rob whispers smiling.

"I made it but my butt is burning off! Did you happen to bring any salve with you? I'll never get to sleep without it!"

"No, sorry, I couldn't go find it to bring it in. I take it you got yourself a whipping. Pa was some mad when he discovered you missing. Breaking being housebound wasn't very bright! He's been waiting in the barn for two hours!"

"Yes, thanks for telling me he was mad. I couldn't have figured that out by myself. The fact that he whipped me with the strap didn't tell me he was mad at all!" Joseph answers sarcastically. "He just broke my long streak of over six weeks without a whipping! I didn't even get one for going after the stallion or taking a gun along!"

"Well, I think you got lucky on that one, at least it's over and you aren't housebound for more time."

"Oh yes I am! He whipped me but he also added another week to being housebound! The way my luck is going, I'll be an old man by the time I ever get to leave the ranch again!"

"Night Joseph. Try not to cause anymore trouble so you won't be dead before you can leave the ranch." Rob whispers back, snickering as he leaves the room.