New Beginnings

Ch. 31

Brothers and Sisters

"Claire, guess who we saw when we were buying lumber the other day?" Joseph asks as they wash the lunch dishes. Rob, having done the cooking is now supervising the clean up.

"I don't do guessing, Joseph. Just tell me."

"It was Alex. He was there to buy some things for his Da. He said to tell you he was sorry he couldn't come visit. His Da restricted him from visiting for three weeks. He wants us to tell you he will come out as soon as he can."

"Thanks Joseph." Claire answers while glaring at Rob.

"Hey, I got punished too, you know. I didn't just get off scot-free here, so stop giving me the evil eye, Claire." Rob tells her glaring right back.

"Well, it's your own fault you were punished and got Alex in trouble. At least you are free to go visit Emily, now! Alex is not off punishment!" Claire answers loudly

"Maybe so, but she isn't speaking to me right now so it doesn't do any good! Alex didn't have to go in the saloon with me you know. I didn't drag him in by the arm, he went by himself. So you could say he got himself in trouble." Rob answers back in the same tone.

"No! He did have to go! He did it to be friendly with you! He wants you to like him! You are being obtuse!" Claire shouts at him.

"I'm NOT obtuse, whatever that is! I do like him! Alex is his own person and can do as he likes." Rob yells back at her.

"What is going on in here? Claire! Rob! Why are you shouting at each other?" Ethan asks coming in from the barn.

"She's being unreasonable about Alex again."

"Well, you are being a horse's hind end!" Claire snaps angrily.

"Claire Lucille..." Ethan starts to say before being cut off by Rob.

"Stubborn ole broody hen!"

"Mule headed rooster!' Claire fires back, stomping her foot.

"Robert Jordan! Claire Lucille! This ends right now! Since neither of you is behaving as your true age, both of you go to your rooms until I say you may rejoin the family!"

"Pa! He is being..." Claire starts as Rob says at the same time "She started this and..."

"Not one more word either of you! You are behaving like a couple of six-year-olds. Now go!"

When neither child moves and continues to glare at the other he adds, "If you do not obey, I will treat you as six-year-olds and put you over my knee!"

Listening and watching his brother and sister scurry off, Joseph is grinning happily until his Pa notices him.

"Do you find this amusing, young man?"

"Err, no sir. It's just nice to see someone else be in trouble and not me." Joseph answers honestly.

"Go find your brothers. We need to put the chickens in the temporary pen while we build the new henhouse. You can start on that chore and I'll join you later." Ethan tells him, needing to have time to cool down without children around. Rob and Claire's ongoing feud is getting to him. He's fast losing patience with their squabbling.

Walking out to the treehouse, Joseph calls "Ben! George! Are you up there?'

"Yeah, what is it?" Ben asks looking out the window opening.

"I need you both to help me. Pa's not in a good mood right now and we need to get busy."

"Get busy doing what?" Ben asks jumping the last few rungs of the ladder.

"We're to move the chickens to the holding pen. Where's George? I thought he was up there with you."

"No, he's gone off to play by himself. We had a fuss earlier."

"There seems to be a lot of fussing today. Claire and Rob were shouting at each other just now and Pa sent them to their rooms!"

"He made them go to their rooms? I'm surprised. I thought it was just the three of us he did that too!" Ben replies wide eyed.

Walking into the chicken coop, Joseph checks to be sure his Pa isn't around before saying "Not only that, but Pa threatened to spank them, too!"

"Honest? He's never spanked Claire! Just us boys."

"He spanked Claire once. She was thirteen and I'd just turned eleven. Remember me telling you about that first winter we lived here, when she left me in town and a blizzard was coming? Pa was so mad that day, we both got our bottoms warmed! Pa is getting really tired of the two of them arguing with each other. I think he's going to punish them worse if they don't stop. If it was me and you, we'd have been walloped already! Let's grab a chicken."

After chasing a chicken around the pen for a time, Ben pants "How do you get them to stand still long enough to pick one up? I can't get hold of her if she's running from me!"

Laughing at that, Joseph says "You move fast and grab them around their body and hold the legs or they'll scratch. Watch me." Joseph walks by several chickens and then swiftly bends, grabs one around the body, and lifts it into his arms. See? Now you try."

"Got her!" Ben calls excited.

"Great going. Don't get cocky, just catch chickens!" Joseph tells him as he grabs another.

When they finally get all twenty chickens moved to the holding pen, Joseph says "Let's go sit on the front porch and rest, I'm hot."

While sitting on the porch, Ben sees a chicken walk by. "Joseph? Did we lose a chicken? Did you count them?"

"We got all that were in the pen. Why?" He asks as he looks to where Ben is pointing. There are now four chickens under the oak tree pecking for food.

"How did they get out? I know I checked the gate!" Joseph says frustrated at the idea of having to catch them again.

"Well, come on, let's go get them."

As the boys walk over towards the tree, Joseph sees a sight that makes him furious.

"GEORGE! What ...are... you ...doing?"

"The chickens don't like this pen. They don't have food or water! I'm letting them out to eat." George answers running four more chickens out the gate.

"HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MIND? WE JUST SPENT A LONG TIME PUTTING THEM IN THERE!" Joseph yells approaching his youngest brother with the intent to swat him a few times.

"JOSEPH! FREEZE!" Joseph hears as he grabs George by the arm and raises his hand to spank him.

"Pa! He deliberately let the chickens loose after Ben and I just got them all transferred over to this pen!"

"Why did you do this, George?" Ethan asks.

"The chickens didn't like the new pen, Papa. They wanted out."

"George, you know better than to do something like this. You knew we were moving the chickens in order to build the henhouse. Now, you have caused a lot of unnecessary work for all of us. You have just earned yourself being housebound to your room tomorrow morning after chores. We have too much work to do to cause more. Now help us get the chickens back inside."

"NO."

"Pardon me? What did you just say?" Ethan asks in a tone that makes Ben and Joseph involuntarily take a step back away from him.

"I shouldn't have to help, I don't like hurting the chickens."

"Two choices, George. Either help with the work now or spend the rest of today, and the whole day tomorrow, inside. Your choice would be?"

"Work now." George answers sullenly.

"Excellent choice. Now listen carefully, if you ever tell me you won't do something I tell you again, I'll tan your backside young man! Understand?" Ethan asks gazing into the boy's eyes.

"Yes sir." George quickly responds before Ethan decides to spank him now.

"We aren't hurting the chickens, George. We're just holding them." Joseph tells his youngest brother, amazed at the boy's daring. George is well aware, as all the boys are, that you do as you are told without answering back.

"Joseph, go tell Rob and Claire they are free to leave their rooms. Tell Rob to come help with the henhouse."

"Yes sir, I'll tell him." Joseph answers immediately. With his Pa in the mood he's in, it's best to be extremely polite and obedient.

"Rob, Pa sent me to tell you he wants you to come help with the henhouse. I'm to tell Claire she's sprung from her room too. I warn you though, he's in a bad mood today. I'm just letting you know ahead of time so you can be on guard. I'm doing everything he says right away. He has that look in his eyes that makes me think he's in no mood for problems today. George just barely escaped a walloping because he told Pa "No" when he was told to do something. I don't think he realizes just how close he came to getting his bottom warmed!"

"Thanks for the information, Joseph. I don't plan on causing any problems. I've had enough punishment lately."

"Ben, George, I'm going to set you two to building the new nesting boxes. Here are the boards, just make a square and nail the ends together. While you do that, we'll be putting the walls up." Ethan tells the two younger boys as Rob and Joseph walk up.

After swapping looks with George and hearing him mentally say "You ask him." Ben asks with concern, "Pa? We haven't nailed things before. What if we mess it up?"

"You will just pull out the nails and try it again. Just like we do when a nail goes in wrong. No one is perfect, son. I don't expect you two to be."

"Pa, they are correct, they haven't ever nailed anything. The nesting boxes are going to be a little difficult for them to build. Don't you think I should at least help?" Joseph asks watching Ben try to hold two boards and nail at the same time.

"I appreciate the offer, Joseph. I'm giving them the chance to learn how to do this on their own. You didn't know how to nail either when you first started, remember?"

"I remember nailing the corral gate on backwards. You had to show me how to take the nails out again. I was a greenhorn when I came here, a real city boy!" Joseph says shaking his head in disgust.

Listening to this, Rob chuckles "So, you hadn't used a hammer and nails before? What did you do in the big city? Sit around watching theater all day?" he jokes.

"Just about, and try to stay quiet so I wouldn't get whipped for being disruptive." Joseph replies angrily, shoving Rob's hand off the board he's holding up. "I don't need you to hold the board! I can do it by myself just fine! Go find your own board to hold!"

"Joseph, Rob didn't mean to touch a sore spot with his comment. He was joking. Now simmer down and let's get busy. We don't have time for quarreling." Ethan tells the boy quietly.

After working out a strategy for building the nesting boxes, Ben and George take turns with holding the sides together while the other nails. After finishing one box, they are beginning the second when George misses with the hammer and hits the back of Ben's fingers. Letting out a scream of pain, Ben drops the boards he was holding together and hops around holding his fingers. "OWWWWW! George hurt my hand!" He calls trying to keep from crying with the pain.

"Let me look at it, Ben. Move your other hand off so I can see where you were hit." Ethan says, voice soft, trying to calm the boy down.

"Rob, please saddle Lightning for me. I need to take Ben in to visit Dr. Amy." Ethan says to Rob who, with Joseph and George are standing beside him.

"I'm sorry, Ben! I didn't mean to hit him, Papa! I didn't!" George sobs, against Joseph's side.

"It was an accident, son. I know that, so calm down. Ben will be alright. Stop crying now, George. I need you to help the boys work on the hen house." Ethan answers, reaching out to pull George to him when he sees his words have no effect on the sobbing child. Holding Ben with one arm and George with the other, he whispers to George. "It's alright son. Ben knows you didn't mean to hurt him."

"Well Ben, it's a good thing you don't use your left hand for much, you have two broken fingers. George must be a really good at hammering to hit you right on the fingers!" Dr. Amy says distracting Ben while she gently sets his fingers.

"Ouch, that hurt! No Ma'am, George is a bad hammerer. He couldn't hit the nails very good at all. He'd hit the board most of the time. This last time he hit me instead. He hit me with the side of the hammer not the head. How long do I have to have my fingers still and taped to the tongue sticks?"

"It will take about six weeks to heal those fingers. We'll try to take off the splints after four weeks." Amy says to the downcast boy.

"Sheriff, he'll need to keep the wrappings dry and not take them off. If you'll have him come here once a week, I'll redo the bandages so I can check the healing and they'll be mostly clean. One thing you can do is get him a man sized glove to wear when outside. You'll probably need to tie it on but it will let him do things he needs to do without getting too dirty."

"That's what we'll do, then. Thank you once again for putting one of my boys back together." Ethan answers while quickly tucking the powdered medicine packet away from Ben's eyes. Ben is the one child who fights taking medicine.

"You are quite welcome, Sheriff. Now Ben, you and your brothers need to stop playing Humpty Dumpty so I won't have to put you back together again!"

"Yes Ma'am." Ben giggles, accepting the sucker she hands him for being brave.

On the ride back home, Ben, sitting in front of Ethan on Lightning, calls back to him "Pa, I won't be able to unbutton or button my clothes. How am I going to dress and undress?

"Your brothers, Claire or I will help you. There's going to be several things you can't do one handed. We'll work it out so don't worry."

"Pa! Not Claire! I'm too old for my sister to see me without my clothes!"

"Oh, that's right. I forgot that the age of ten is nearly grown now. Well, the boys and I will help you, old man." Ethan answers smiling at the boy's being "too old".

"I don't think I can do the barn chores one handed either. I guess someone else will have to do the stalls for me." Ben says pretending to be sad about this situation.

"Nice try, Ben. You can hold a rake and clean stalls just fine. The lifting of the hay might be a problem for you and if it is Joseph or Rob will do that. Now listen Ben, I don't want you to try to use your hurt hand as an excuse to get out of helping with the chores. You will have to help however you are able. It takes all of us to keep the ranch."

"Yes sir." Ben answers sighing to himself. His freedom from chores just went away.

Arriving back home, Ethan dismounts and lifts Ben to the ground. "I'm going to put Lightning out to pasture as soon as I finish rubbing him down. You go on in and show everyone you lived through your ordeal. I'll be in soon."

"Yes sir. Pa, when you come in, will you tell Joseph and Rob they are to help me with my clothes? Rob probably will, but Joseph gets fussy and says I'm old enough to do things without help, when I ask."

"We'll have a talk about that very thing, Ben. You don't need to worry, as they will help you."

Well, boys, the new henhouse looks finished. Have you finished the inside also?" Ethan asks after answering questions about Ben's hand.

"No, we only finished the outside walls. We didn't know where you wanted the shelves for nesting or how many to put so we waited to do the rest." Joseph answers.

"We'll work on it some more tomorrow. For now, let's get the chickens back into their original pen for the night. I thought we'd have this finished today but at least they have a shelter to go into if they need too." Ethan replies.

"You know Pa, I think these chickens are going to learn to march themselves back and forth between pens the way we keep moving them!" Ben says watching his brothers move the chickens.

"They just might, Ben." Ethan agrees, chuckling.

Waking to rain the next day, Ethan informs the boys they will postpone the work on the hen house. Having a day to mostly do as they wish inside is a nice break to the boys. The third day of soaking rain isn't as much fun. Tired of having Ben and George constantly complaining or asking "When will the rain stop?"Claire sends them to the barn to play.

"Cover yourselves with this oilcloth and the water will roll off. You two need to get out of here before I swat both of you." She says opening the side door for them.

"Ben will you push me on the circle seat swing? I'll push you too." George asks after they run into the barn.

"Okay, but we have to swing inside. We'd probably get scolded if we got all wet swinging out the barn door. I'll open it but only to keep from hitting it when we swing. I won't pull you back as far so you won't swing out. You do me the same way. Okay George?"

"Yes, I get it. Now swing me!" George answers climbing on the wooden disc swing.

Ten swings later the boys were bored with swinging. "Let's get out the gifts from the barrel and play. No one will come out in the rain." George suggests.

"I'm scared they will and we'll have to tell where they came from."

"How about we go into the haymow and play?" George asks. At Ben's shake of his head, he says "How 'bout the first loft in the back corner? It's hidden behind hay bales."

"All right that sounds good. Get the toys. I'll put one down my shirt and you do the other." Ben answers.

Climbing carefully with his good hand, Ben steps off the ladder on to the loft. Reaching out he helps George step off when he reaches the top. "Okay, now let's go to the corner."

Absorbed in playing with the dancing man and the chicken pecking game, the boys don't hear Ethan come into the barn.

Hearing them talking as he brushes down Lightning, Ethan wonders what they are doing up in the loft. Calling their names he says "Come down here."

Dropping the toys behind the hay bales, Ben and George climb down to stand in front of him.

"What are the two of you doing in the loft? Even the first loft is too high for Ben to be in with the use of only one hand!"

"We were just playing, Papa." George answers.

"What were you playing with?" Ethan asks having heard the boys use the words "dance" and "man" when he was brushing the horse.

"We were playing with toys, Pa." Ben hedges around the full answer.

"George, let me see these toys. Climb up and bring them back down." Ethan orders.

Standing before his Pa with the toys in his shirt, George glances at Ben for help. Ben is standing with his eyes on the ground and doesn't offer any assistance. He's busy trying to think of a way out of this trouble they are in all of a sudden.

"Hand me the toys, George." Ethan instructs.

Looking at the wooden toys, he begins to suspect these are the toys Mr. Hiram reported as stolen a week ago.

"Ben, look at me." He says sternly.

"Where did the Dancing Man come from? Did you buy one somehow? I know I didn't buy it. I told you we weren't going to buy one, remember?"

"Yes sir, I remember. I didn't buy it, Pa. It was a gift." Ben replies.

"A gift from whom? Where did this come from Ben? Did you realize Mr. Hiram has reported toys just like this being stolen?"

"No sir, I didn't know that."

"Ben, George, unless you can give me a reasonable explanation as to how you have these toys, I'm going to think you took them! Now explain to me where they came from." Ethan tells the two squirming children firmly.

"George, don't tell on Aaron and Alyssa. Just say we were given the toys." Ben says silently, watching George blink his eyes to show he understands.

"Ben! George! I'm waiting for your answer. How did you get these toys?"

"We were given the toys Papa. That's the truth." George answers, lip trembling at his Pa's stern look.

"Pa? You can go to town and ask Mr. Hiram. He can tell you we have not been in his store since you took us the last time. That was weeks ago. We couldn't have taken the toys from Mr. Hiram if we were not there." Ben assures Ethan earnestly.

"Very well boys, all three of us will go to town right now. You better be telling me the truth, or it will be very unpleasant when we come home!"

Riding into town in the wagon, George sends Ben a silent message "What are we going to do if Mr. Hiram tells Papa we WERE in the store? We're going to be in huge trouble if he tells him we took the toys!"

"I know that, George! I barely had time to think up going to Mr. Hiram in the first place! I sure don't have a plan for what to do if this doesn't work! We're going to get a whipping if Pa continues to believe we stole the toys."

George nods sadly in agreement before asking "Ben, do you think Alyssa and Aaron stole the toys? They never did tell us how they got them. I think they did!"

"I just don't know, George. They might have put them on the charge sheet, but it could be they didn't. They could have bought them, but something makes me think they just took the toys."

"Maybe we should just tell Papa about this. Uncle Chris wouldn't punish them the way we are going to be punished if we don't tell." George sends silently just as the wagon stops beside the General Store.

"NO! You don't tell on friends, George. Friends don't get friends in bad trouble. I'd rather take a whipping than squeal on Aaron or Alyssa!"

Walking the boys into the store, Ethan says "Hello Mr. Hiram. The boys have something they need to show you. Go ahead boys, show him the toys."

"Well, these are some of the toys that went missing. There is also a stuffed bear and a small toy horse missing. Would you two know about those toys?" Mr. Hiram asks frowning down at the pair.

"No sir, I don't know anything about those toys." George answers.

"I haven't seen them, sir. Mr. Hiram? We didn't take these toys. George and I haven't been in your store in weeks. The last time we came was when Pa was buying himself a new shirt for church."

"That is true, Sheriff. I have not seen any of your children in at least two weeks. I saw the children of Deputy Johnston several times in the last few weeks but not any of your children. Are you not allowing your older children to come to my store? Claire and Robert both used to walk in with their friends to look at new clothes or other items. I haven't seen either of them lately."

"Thank you for telling me, Mr. Hiram. The older two have been kept from town for awhile but I'm sure they'll be back. Now, would you like the toys back?" Ethan asks.

"No, they have been used now so I wouldn't sell them. Just let the boys have these. I can get my delivery boy to find some more for me. He's the one who brought me these from someone. There's a talented woodcarver in town somewhere. He prefers to be anonymous for some reason. Well, thank you for showing me the toys and we'll have to keep working on who took them."

"I will do that. Let's go to the wagon, boys." Ethan answers steering the two children back outside to the wagon.

"All right, it's time to tell me exactly how you got these toys. I want the truth and nothing else. No side stories, no talking around the questions, just straight out facts. If you do not tell me this right now, you will have a sore backside to ride home on. Understand me?

"Yes Sir!" Ben and George answer in unison.

"Now, about these toys, you said you were given them. Who gave them to you? Was it Aaron and you are protecting him?"

"Yes sir. We ddn't know if he stole. Honest, we don't. He told us to wait outside while they, I mean he, went in the store. He came out and gave me the dancing man." Ben answers regretting he has to tell this.

"George? What do you have to say about this? I feel you know something also."

Sighing and with a side look at Ben he says "Alyssa brought me the chicken game. I don't know how she got it, but she came out with Aaron and gave it to me. They got the toys for us because they are our friends. Are you going to spank us Papa?"

"No, you have told me the truth and were not involved in taking the toys. I understand you were protecting your friends. We'll talk more about this later. We are going to go visit the twins, however. I think Chris needs to be made aware of their behavior."

"Aww Papa! You're going to get them in trouble and it's our fault!" George whines.

"In what way is it your fault? Did you ASK the twins to take these toys, young man?" Ethan asks sternly.

"No sir! We really didn't know they were doing it! We did talk about wishing we had toys like theirs. They both have these toys at home. That's all we did, Pa. Honest!" Ben answers, wringing his hands in front of him. His Pa has the spanking look in his eyes again.

"Calm down son, I believe you. I'm not going to punish you, so stop worrying." Ethan whispers to Ben as he lifts him up into the back of the wagon.

Stopping the wagon right outside the gate to Chris' house, Ethan tells the boys to climb down.

"Bring the toys with you and let's go talk to the twins about this." Ethan says walking up the path to the front door.

Answering the door at Ethan's knock, Chris says "Ethan, boys! I didn't know you were planning to visit today but come in. Boys, the children are out back if you'd like to go out with them."

"Hello Chris. I'm afraid we aren't here for a visit. We came on official business. I need to speak to Aaron and Alyssa. Chris, the boys have the wooden toys that were stolen. They told me the twins went into the General Store and came out with them. The boys haven't been in the store. Mr. Hiram confirmed this. I just came from there and he confirmed the twins were in several times lately. He's also missing a toy horse and a stuffed bear along with the dancing man and tapping chickens."

"Alyssa and Aaron have a new horse and bear. When I asked where they came from Aaron told me Ben and George gave it to them. Did you boys give the twins the toys?" Chris asks already suspecting the answer.

"No, Uncle Chris." Ben says as George shakes his head sadly.

"It seems we have caught the Toy Bandits. I think you need to go get your children as we all need to have a talk." Ethan tells him.

"I'll be right back. Please have a seat in the front room." Chris says walking to the back door.

After the twins were seated, Ethan looks to Chris to see if he'd like to begin the talk.

"Aaron, Alyssa, Sheriff Cord is here on business today. I want the two of you to listen carefully to him. Go ahead, Sheriff." Chris says, deliberately calling attention to Ethan's title.

"Children, Mr. Hiram came to me recently and filed a report on stolen toys. He reported two wooden toys, a dancing man and a pecking chickens toy as stolen." Ethan stops to see if either of the twins will talk. Aaron looks mutinous and Alyssa has gone pale but neither speaks so he continues. "Earlier today, I found Ben and George with the missing toys. We came to town to talk to Mr. Hiram as it looked as if the boys had stolen them. I found out differently though. Would you like to tell me about this, now?"

"I'm sorry Uncle Ethan and Papa! I took the chicken game! I knew George wanted one and I just stole it!" Alyssa whispers covering her face as she begins to cry.

Looking at Aaron, he's sitting with his arms folded, still looking mutinous with his lips poked out.

"Aaron? Don't you have something to say?" Chris prompts.

"No."

"Aaron! I believe you had better speak up, young man. You are in pretty big trouble already so I wouldn't make it worse on myself!" Ethan scolds sternly.

"You already know the answer so why should I talk! So what if he missed a couple of toys! He has a whole shelf of toys!" Aaron answers defiantly.

"That's not the point, Aaron." Ethan begins as Chris cuts him off.

"Aaron Anthony McGinnis! You have no right to speak to Ethan in that tone. Go to your room and wait for me there! I will be in to discuss this soon! Go!" Chris tells the child, pointing to his room. "Alyssa, you go to your room also. We'll talk about this soon."

Both children obey as George and Ben watch in sympathy for what they guess will happen soon.

"I'll handle this at home, if you don't mind, Ethan. There's no reason to handle this in the office is there?" Chris asks, after Ethan sends his boys to the wagon.

"This type of thing is handled between parent and child at home, Chris. We don't usually make it a practice to lock up youngsters. Although, it has been done before to make a point. Be firm, Chris, as this needs to be addressed right now. You want to send a strong message that this is unacceptable behavior!" Ethan replies to the younger man as he turns to open the door.

Taking a few deep breaths and exhaling, Chris goes to Alyssa's room first. Walking in after a quick knock, he sits on the side of her bed.

"Sit up beside me, Alyssa and let's talk about this problem we now have. This was Aaron's idea to take the toys wasn't it?" Chris asks softly. When he gets a nod of yes, he asks "Well, why did you go along with it, you know stealing is very wrong."

"He talked me into it. I tried to say 'No' but he made me feel ashamed for not wanting to get George a gift. We used to have to take things from a Mercantile for Pa. We didn't have money to buy food sometimes and he made us put food in our clothes. That's what we did with the toys. I'm so sorry, Papa! I won't ever, ever, ever do it anymore." Alyssa says all in a rush stopping only once to gasp for breath.

"I love you very much Alyssa and because I love you so much, I have to punish you when you do things that are wrong. Part of my job as your Papa is to teach you to obey the laws and the rules in life. You and Aaron broke the law. Stealing is just wrong no matter why you did it. Grown people are punished for stealing by spending time in jail. Children are punished by their parents. Do you understand what I am saying?" Chris asks the little girl beside him.

"Yes sir, you have to use a whip on me now because I broke the law."

"No, Alyssa, i will never use a whip. I am going to give you a spanking. I will never treat you as your father did." Chris answers laying the child over his lap. Pulling her dress and petticoat up, he looks at the little bottom on his lap regretting what he must do. "I'm giving you five, Alyssa." He says raising his hand and applying it to her bottom. Four firm smacks later he has a lapful of sobbing little girl. "One more and we're done. I don't want to ever have to do this again, but I will if I have to." Chris says as he applies his hand one last time.

"Lie here and calm down while I talk to your brother. We'll talk more about this later, sweetheart." Chris says wiping the tears from her face.

"Aaron, I am very disappointed in your behavior. You not only broke the law, but you convinced your sister to steal also! Then today, you get surly and disrespectful with Ethan. You are going to be punished for this behavior. Stealing is wrong no matter why! Adults who steal are locked up in a cell for days or months. You will not be one of those adults because this better be the only time you steal from now on!" Chris tells the still frowning child.

"You have five licks coming, Aaron. I'm using my belt this time, not my hand," he says folding his belt in half. "I will not beat you as your father did, but it will sting. Bend over my lap, son. I love you and I will not allow you to behave this way."

When he's finished, he has a sobbing boy hugging him around the waist muttering "I'm sorry! I'll be good!" over and over into his shirtfront.

"Aaron, shhhh, calm down now, it's all over and you are forgiven. I love you and want you to be the best child you can be. Now, settle down and lay on the bed until I call you to come out in a few minutes. You, Alyssa and I are going to talk more about this."

Needing something to do to calm his frayed nerves before he continues talking to the twins, Chris makes a pot of hot cocoa and pours it into three mugs. Taking out some cookies from the top shelf of the pantry, he places them on a plate. Placing everything on a tray, he carries it out to the short table in the front room, as he calls the children.

"Alyssa, Aaron, both of you come to the front room please." When the children appear he says "Come sit with me. I have hot cocoa and cookies for us to share as we have a family discussion. I have some things to say."

Settled on the loveseat side by side, the twins look very guilty. Neither child will look at him.

"Come now, your punishment is over and everything is forgiven. I didn't call you out here to punish you again but to tell you a story about myself at your age."

Seeing them looking at him now he says, "Have your cocoa and cookies while you listen. When I was ten years old I got caught stealing just like you two. We lived in a town smaller than Paradise and my Pa was the local Marshal. Most of my friends had sacks of marbles and I wanted one badly. I kept asking my Pa for money to buy some and he refused. He said "Marbles were gambling tools." I didn't want to gamble, I told him, just to play games with other boys. Still, he would not let me get any, so I went into the mercantile and put a bag down the front of my overalls. When I started to walk out the door, the owner grabbed me by the back straps and lifted me off the floor. He shook me so hard the bag of marbles fell out my pant leg." Chris stops as Aaron and Alyssa both fight the giggles.

"It's okay to laugh. It is a funny picture when you think about it. I tell you though, it was not funny then. I was so scared I almost wet myself!"

"Did the owner spank you?" Alyssa asks when he doesn't continue.

"No, he did something much worse. He set me down on my feet, picked up the bag of marbles and made me walk to my Pa's office. He made me stand in front of my Pa and tell him what I had done. Pa took me into the jail cell and locked me in it. I had to stay in there the rest of that day. Just like any other prisoner, I had a bucket for an outhouse and bread, butter, dried beef and water for a meal. After his day at work was done we went home."

"What happened when he got you home? Did he spank you?" Aaron asks enthralled with the story.

"Pa took me into the woodshed out back of the house and he whipped me with a razor strop. I got ten hard licks on the seat of my overalls. I never thought of stealing anything again."

"I won't ever think of stealing again either, Pa. I promise you on my word as your son, I won't do it." Aaron says quietly.

"I'm never going to let someone talk me into stealing again, Papa. I promise." Alyssa tells him.

"I know you won't children. Now, do you two have some toys other than the wooden ones, that belong to the General Store? The toy horse and a bear maybe?" Chris asks.

"Yes sir." The twins whisper together.

"Were those taken also?"

"Yes sir. I took them and I'll take the punishment for it. Alyssa didn't do it." Aaron answers.

"You've been punished already. What we are going to do is go to the General Store with the toys tomorrow. You will apologize to Mr. Hiram and I will pay for them. From this day on, if you want something, you ask me for it. I am not saying you will always get what you ask for, but you sometimes will. No more taking of anything without paying for it or asking permission from someone. Understood?"

"Yes Pa."

"Yes Papa."

"Very good. It's time for baths and then bed. Both of you will have an earlier bedtime for the next week as a reminder of obeying the law. Now come let me hug each of you and you may go get ready for bed."

A/N : Many thanks to Jess for her prompt for the twins and Chris. If you are reading this please review. If anyone else has any ideas, I take suggestions. :)