New Beginnings

Ch. 33

Getting Ready

While he is hitching up the horse to the buggy, Rob sees Joseph standing nearby. "Well don't just stand there, come help me hitch up the buggy. How about attaching the strap to the buggy on that side?"

"Where are you going, Rob? Why are you taking the buggy? Are you taking Emily somewhere?"

"Not that it's any of your business, but no, I'm not taking Emily anywhere." Rob answers looking over the horse's back at Joseph.

"Come on, Rob! I need to know if I'm going to be stuck here watching the boys all day! I have plans too, you know!"

"Oh really? Do you have a special girl to escort out and about that I don't know about?"

"ROB! I don't have any girl. I don't want one either after seeing what you've been through. She's gotten you in more trouble than you ever used to be. Because of her you ..."

"Stop right there, don't finish that sentence!" Rob commands angrily before taking a few deep breaths. "I haven't been in trouble because of her, Joseph. It was my doing not hers. Let's don't argue. Claire and I are going to town but we'll be back in an hour. You'll have plenty of time for whatever it is you have planned. Thank you for helping with the horse."

Once in town, the two agree to split up. Claire will go talk to Mr. Anderson and Rob will visit Mr. Hale.

"Okay now remember, Rob, we have to let them know we want to go alone. You can't skip that part or you'll be in trouble." Claire reminds him.

"Yes Mother. Sometimes I think you have never been a young girl, Claire. You always act so proper and never take time to be a girl. Loosen up on the reins, will ya? You aren't a grown woman yet so don't behave like one."

"Every time I loosen up on the reins, as you called it, one of you boys goes and does something dumb. Then you wind up getting punished for it. You ought to be grateful to me not insulting." Claire replies, flouncing off towards Anderson's Hardware Store.

Walking inside, she hears the bell over the door jingle announcing her entrance.

"I'll be there in just a couple of minutes!" she hears Mr. Anderson call from somewhere in the back of the store.

Hurrying up to the front counter, Mr. Anderson says "Claire! What a surprise. I haven't seen you in the store in months. It's usually Rob or Joseph that comes to deliver Ethan's order or pick up one. What can I order for you today?"

"I'm not here to order anything this time, sir. I came to ask your permission for Emily to go on a picnic. Alex, Rob, Emily and I would like to take a picnic to the lake to spend time alone together." She says all in a rush.

"Well now, that seems impossible to me. How are you children planning to be alone if you are together?" Mr. Anderson teases, his green eyes twinkling.

"Pa said we had to ask you and Alex's Da and tell them we want to go alone without a chaperone."

"No chaperone? What did Ethan say about your idea? Do you have his permission for this trip?"

"He told us to talk to you and Mr. Hale. He said he would allow it if the two of you agreed to let us go. Please let Emily come, Mr. Anderson. We'll not do anything wrong."

"Hmm, well as you know Mrs. Anderson has gone to the Springs to visit her sister. She's not expected home until next Thursday. I need Emily to stay home to take care of Lydia and the house. Could you postpone the picnic until next week?"

"Yes sir. We can have it after Mrs. Anderson is home. That won't be a problem at all." Claire replies hoping the answer will get him to agree to the picnic.

"Okay then, I will allow it. I'll let you go to our house and talk to Emily about it. Have a good day, Claire."

"Thank you Mr. Anderson, I will."

As Claire is talking to Mr. Anderson, Rob is meeting with Alex' Da.

"Mr. Hale, please! I need to talk to you." Rob implores the man about to close the door in his face.

"I'd rather not talk to some leprechaun who tempts me boy into saloons! You just take yourself off from here, Robert!"

"Mr. Hale! I apologize again for what happened the night of the church social. I made a bad decision and Alex went with me. We honestly were not there for anything forbidden. My Pa nearly whipped me because of what I did. I realize now it was not a good decision and I could have put us both in danger. I give my word, I won't be taking Alex in a saloon again, sir. I would get the strop used on me if I went there again!"

"Very well, you sound sincere in your words. What is it you came for as I doubt it was to apologize again."

"Claire wants to know if Alex can join myself, Claire and Emily Anderson on a picnic to the lake sometime soon. My Pa has given his permission for the four of us to go to the lake to spend time alone."

"Mr. Cord will allow you to go without a chaperone? Are you pulling me leg me boy? Aye, you must have been kissing the blarney stone young Robert."

"No Sir, I haven't kissed any stones. I haven't touched you sir! Please don't go telling my Pa I tried to hurt you, Mr. Hale!" Rob says anxiously, thinking of what would happen if he did.

Coming in from the barn at the beginning of the conversation, but waiting to make his presence known, Alex steps up next to his Da.

"Hi, Rob. You can calm down. Da is not saying you hurt him. He's asking you if you are telling him the truth or making something up. In the old country, 'kissing the blarney stone' means someone is good at telling tall tales as you call them here."

"Oh, thanks Alex, for letting me know. I was beginning to get worried. No sir, I'm not lying. Pa gave his permission as long as Claire and I had permission from you and Mr. Anderson. Claire is asking him as we speak. May Alex go with us, sir?"

"Please may I go along, Da? We won't cause or find any trouble at all. The girls will make sure of that!" Alex asks, smiling at his father.

"Very well, I find it difficult but I will give permission. When is this picnic to be?" Mr. Hale asks Rob.

"We haven't decided on that part yet. We had to get permission first. I'll come and tell you or tell Alex when we decide." Rob replies smiling happily.

As they drive by the town square, Claire says "Rob, stop at Uncle Chris' house. I want to check to see how Aaron is."

"Hi, Uncle Chris. I know not to come in, but we were passing by so I wanted to check on Aaron. Is he feeling better?"

"He's feeling some better, Claire. Dr. Amy gave me some medicine for his stomach and told me how to make a paste for his rash. She said to watch him and if he got worse bring him back. I was afraid it was the pox or measles when he broke out in a rash. Since he hasn't been sick again or had a fever, Dr. Amy thinks it might just be from getting too hot. Aaron told me he had broken out in a rash and been sick before after eating beets so we decided to never let him eat them again." Chris tells her before he whispers: "Actually, I don't really think it was the food. I'll go along with him just this once. I don't care for beets either!"

"Don't let Aaron tell George about this or we'll have a big problem. I can just see George trying to be sick so he won't ever have to eat beets again! I'm glad to know Aaron is not badly ill. I'll tell Pa for you, as he's been worried too. One thing that works with the boys for rashes, is putting oatmeal in the bathwater. I don't know if Dr. Amy suggests such things, but I know it stops the boys from itching so!"

"Thank you for that suggestion, Claire. I was making a paste out of cornmeal to spread on him and he absolutely hates it. He says it makes him feel like he's a piece of chicken ready to be fried! He also complains that it makes the itching worse because he gets so hot. I'll try the oatmeal bathwater. Tell Ethan not to let the boys come visit until we make sure this isn't something serious."

"He's already confined them to the ranch. There's no use telling them not to visit as they will if they can get to town."

By Saturday, the only thing Ethan has left to do with the root cellar is to cut a trap door from the house to the cellar. If this is to be used as a storm shelter, he wants access from the house.

Knowing her Pa is planning to cut a door in the front room floor, Claire decides to clean the floor before he begins the work. Gathering up the buckets and scrub brushes, she begins to fill the buckets with water as Ben comes in the door.

"Claire, I'm thirsty. Can I have some lemonade? What are you getting ready to clean this time? You just scrubbed down the kitchen two days ago."

"Yes, to the lemonade. I'm getting ready to clean the front room floor because Pa is going to be working there."

"Thanks for the lemonade. See you later." Ben calls after hastily drinking a glassful.

Running into the barn to find his brothers, Ben calls "Joseph! George! Come here quick!"

"What's the rush, Ben?" Joseph asks.

"Claire's about to clean the front room floor!"

"Okay, so what is the problem? Did she say we had to scrub too?"

"Joseph! She's going to find the burned spot! We're going to be in big trouble when she does!"

Hearing this, George runs for the house. Bursting through the front door, he throws himself at Claire.

"NO! You can't clean right now! No Claire!"

"George! What is with you today? Let me go so I can do my work."

"NO! I WON'T! You can't move the rug!" George yells stomping his feet.

"George Allen Cord! What is all this I'm hearing? I thought we settled this tantrum throwing!" Ethan says coming in from the side porch.

"He's having a fit because I'm about to clean the floor and he doesn't want me to move the rug." Claire tells him, sounding perplexed.

Suspicious, Ethan walks over, moves the table off the rug and lifts the rug. Seeing the log shaped burned spot, he says "Claire, go get Ben and Joseph. George, stay right where you are."

Coming into the house, Joseph and Ben look at Ethan but don't speak.

"Boys, there is a burned place here on the floor and I want to know right now how it got here. No beating around the bush, just straight out answers. Joseph, what do you know?" Ethan asks, his tone of voice stern and demanding.

Swallowing to wet his suddenly dry throat, Joseph replies "It's from a log, Pa."

"Yes, I guessed as much. What I want to know is; how did the log come out of the fireplace and when did this happen? Logs don't roll all the way over here by themselves."

"It happened the night Lucky was born." Joseph answers with a glance at George.

"George? What do you know of this?" Ethan asks having seen the quick look Joseph sent his brother.

"Papa, the log was so sparkly white and pretty. I just wanted to see it up close so I rolled it out with the poker. It was just to look at it sparkle." George says quietly, avoiding his Pa's eyes as much as possible.

"Joseph! Where were you when this happened. As I recall, you were left in charge that night. Did you leave the boys alone?"

"No sir! Ben and I were in the kitchen getting the popcorn basket ready. George had taken the log out before I even knew he was doing it. I flipped it back into the fireplace as soon as I noticed it, but it still burned the floor."

"George, you do know you are never to play with fire. Am I correct?" Ethan asks in a quiet voice.

"Yes Papa."

"Ben, Joseph, we are going to have a talk about your part in this later. You both deliberately deceived me. For now, both of you wait for me in Joseph's room. George, come with me." Ethan says taking George's hand.

"Do you think he's going to whip us too?" Ben asks a few minutes later while waiting anxiously in Joseph's room.

"How do you know he's going to whip George? He could just spank him again." Joseph asks. "Stop walking back and forth, and sit. You're making me nervous."

"I can't sit! I'm too worried we're going to get a whipping too. He said we deceived him. That's the same as lying isn't it? If we tell a lie, we get a whipping! I think Pa is using his belt this time. George's getting his bottom warmed good, I can feel it. Mine is prickling already and I haven't even gotten a smack yet!"

"We didn't lie, Ben. No one ever asked us about the floor before today, so we didn't lie. We did cover up what happened and that is why he's upset with us. I don't think we're going to get a whipping though. We didn't cause George to play with fire or not watch out for him. We just couldn't stop him before he did it. We're in trouble for hiding this from Pa. I guess I should have told him what happened. I just didn't want to. I felt guilty and thought he might say I was at fault. I know better now."

Later that evening, after a very quiet supper, Ben goes to his room. Having been sent to bed early as part of his punishment.

"George? Are you awake? What happened?" Ben thinks as he goes over to his brother's bed. He knows he is not to be talking when he's to be in bed. Ethan is firm on bedtime being the time to go to sleep, not visit.

"Papa whipped me with his belt. He said I could have gotten myself caught on fire or burned the house down with all of us inside. I got nine whacks on my bare bottom. He's never ever whipped me this many. It really stings too. Did you get spanked Ben? I couldn't tell with my bottom burning, if yours was too."

"Joseph and I got a long lecture on how we are never to cover up for someone's dangerous behavior. He punished us by having us scrub the front room floor. It's not fun to scrub on your hands and knees either! We have to go to bed an hour early for the whole week!"

"So do I. At least we can be together and talk in our heads like we are now." George answers.

Later that night George wakes up sweating and shaking. Climbing out of bed he goes to Ethan's room. As he is crawling under the covers, he wakes his Papa.

"George? What are you doing in here? Are you feeling sick?" Ethan asks the last question after seeing the child's sweaty, pale face.

"I'm sorry Papa. I didn't mean to kill everyone in burning up the house. I didn't!" George whispers still shaking.

"Come, slide over by me." Ethan says wrapping his arm around the boy when he does. "Listen son, you were having a bad dream. No one is hurt. I know you didn't mean to nearly cause a fire, George. That was still a very dangerous thing to do. I had to punish you harshly to be sure you remember to never ever play with fire again. Do you understand, son?"

"Yes, you didn't want me to burn up the house."

"It isn't the house I love, George. I wouldn't care about the house. We could build another or move, but I can't build another you. I don't want anything to happen to any of my children. If you do something that puts you or someone else in danger, I'm going to punish you for it, to help you learn better."

"I love you too, Papa. I'm sorry for being bad. I'll be your best boy again." George answers sleepily as his eyes close.

Two days later, Claire and Rob are talking in the kitchen when they see the front room rug lift up and Ben's head appear. Ethan has tacked the rug to the trap door so it will stay in place.

"Ben! You frightened me by coming up through the floor that way! What were you doing in the root cellar?" Claire asks.

"I thought Pa told you boys not to keep opening and closing the trap door. You two aren't even supposed to be playing down there!" Rob says as George comes up the steps and through the trap door right behind Ben.

"We're not playing. Pa sent us to get his favorite hammer when he remembered it was up here." George explains.

"Get it and go, please. Rob and I have a private conversation to finish."

"What about?" Ben asks, giggling as Rob pretends to swat him.

"Boys? Did you find the hammer?" Ethan calls from below.

"Yessir and we're coming." Ben calls back. "George and I are helping Pa put railings on the steps in the cellar." Ben explains as he waits for George to disappear through the trap door.

"Good for you. Have fun down there." Rob tells him as his head disappears from sight.

"I can predict the future, Claire. Those two are going to be coming and going through the floor at all times!" Rob tells his sister.

"Yes, I think you are right, Rob. It's a new game now and they love it! Let's go back to talking about the picnic. Do you know if Mrs. Anderson is home from her trip?"

"When I was in town yesterday, Jason told me his Mama was coming in on the afternoon train. I'm guessing she did. Let's plan the picnic for Friday afternoon, maybe for lunch. What do you think?"

"I like that idea. Alex's Da is going to let him come, right? You never really told me if he was coming." Claire asks eagerly.

"I didn't?" Rob asks innocently. "I thought I mentioned it. His Da is one difficult man to talk to, I tell you. He talks in riddles."

"ROBERT! I need to know! Is Alex coming?"

"He was the last time I talked to him. He requested we have apple pie at the picnic. Oh, he also said he wants some of your biscuits too, and chocolate cake." Rob adds as an afterthought.

"Rob! I think you are the one who wants the chocolate cake. I know Alex doesn't eat chocolate often." Claire answers grinning at her brother. "Besides, we don't need two desserts just for the four of us. Don't look so sad, I'll make a chocolate cake for us to have here at home. You are as bad as the boys, always wanting cakes and cookies!"

"I happen to like cake and cookies. Pies too, so when you make an apple pie make two. One to take to the picnic and one to have here." Rob declares.

"I hope that you have told Emily about your sweet tooth. If you two decide to get married someday, she's going to be staying inside baking all the time just to keep up with your demands! Now, we can have cake this weekend and pie next week or the other way around, but not both. We still have cookies from yesterday's baking that will last until next week. You can tell me which one you want later. I'm off to go visit Emily, now. We need to get together on what to cook."

"Does Pa want me to take you into town?" Rob asks hopefully.

"He didn't say. You can see Emily in two days so let me go alone today. She can't visit with me if you are around."

The day of the picnic finally arrives. It seems to Rob, to have taken a week from the day Claire consulted with Emily. Having to wait for the fried chicken, biscuits, and apple pie is just torture for him.

"Let's get the basket all packed, Claire. As soon as you get it ready, I'll put it in the wagon." He tells his sister.

"Rob! We just finished breakfast for goodness sakes! We're not going to leave until eleven thirty and that's four hours from now. Don't you have some chores or something to do outside?" Claire asks hoping to get him away from her. Rob is as bad as the rest of the boys in wanting everything to happen right then.

"Yes, but I can do that after you pack the food basket."

"No, young man, you can not. Leave Claire alone and go start your outside chores. You have plenty of time to finish them before you get ready for the picnic. Remember, chores come before fun." Ethan speaks up having walked in on their discussion.

"Pa! You are talking to me as if I'm one of the little boys. I'm way older than nine or ten!" Rob protests.

"Yes, I realize that. The rule goes for all of us, not just people under the age of eleven! Now if you wish to go on this picnic today, you must get the chores finished. The saddles need waxing and the horses need their hooves cleaned. Joseph is to help you with both of those tasks. He is waiting for you in the barn."

"It takes at least two hours to clean hooves and wax all five saddles! Couldn't I do that tomorrow?" Rob asks irritably.

"You could, but then you'd spend the rest of today in your room, for not completing your assigned jobs. Would you prefer to take the day off and spend it inside your room today?" Ethan responds firmly, tired of this argument.

"No sir, I don't want to be housebound today or any other day either. I'll just go start on my work." Rob replies walking out the side door.

As soon as the door closes, Claire says "Pa, if I didn't know better, I'd think he was a blood brother of the boys! He acts just like Joseph, Ben and George sometimes. Pleading and arguing as well as being conniving to get his way."

"That's all boys, Claire. Eventually we do grow out of it. Usually by the age of maturity, which comes later for some than others. Don't let him get to you when he starts his pleading. Be firm, the way you are with the other boys. "

"I try to be, it's just he's harder to convince since I can't put him in the corner, the way I do the boys."

"You could. It might make him straighten up to be reminded he is acting as a little boy. I'll see you later this morning, I have to go supervise the boys and exercise Daisy. I'll keep the boys out from underfoot so you can get your pie baked. If you have the time, I would love to have one of your pies for us here at home as well as the one you're baking for your picnic. PLEASE, Claire?" Ethan pleads in a good imitation of George.

"I'd already planned to bake two." Claire answers laughing at her silly Pa. "Rob already convinced me we needed to have one here at home as well as one for the picnic. He wants a chocolate cake too. Rob sure does have a hankering for sweets, Pa."

"I don't think he ever had any when he lived with his Uncle Vernon. The man was not nearly the cook you are, Claire."

"Well, you taught me some of what I know and Mrs. Anderson taught me the rest. She taught me how to bake bread and sweet things plus make butter. She told me the last time I visited, she would teach me how to make ice cream with chipped ice soon. Can you believe we can have ice cream here at home?"

"That is one of the new wonders, that's true. Now that we have a way to keep ice frozen, there are many new things to discover." Ethan answers with a smile.

Out in the barn, Rob is complaining to Joseph. "I don't have the time to do all of these chores today. I have to get cleaned up and get the wagon ready for our picnic. I don't see why we couldn't do this tomorrow instead of right now!"

"Did you ask if we could wait until tomorrow?" Joseph asks as he continues to rub wax into the saddle leather.

"Yeah, I did."

"Well, what was Pa's answer?'

"I could wait until tomorrow, for a price."

"What do you mean? You'd have to pay money to wait until tomorrow to do this?" Joseph asks, confused.

"Not that kind of price. He told me I could wait if I was willing to spend today in my room."

"He threatened to housebound you?"

"Yes, and you don't have to pretend to be amazed, Joseph. You knew the answer was going to be something like that, didn't you?"

"Well, I knew it would have been for me but with you, I wasn't sure. If I had tried to skip my chores, he would have probably threatened to spank me. That's what happened when I tried it last year. You are older than I am and he lets you get away with things more than me."

"Joseph?" Rob asks, lifting a saddle to take outside for waxing.

"Yeah?"

"You need to wake up from whatever dreamland you've been living in, if you think I get away with things! I get punished just as fast as the rest of you when I do something he disagrees with. Just think of what happened to me for fetching the ice for the social. I sure didn't "get away with" anything then!" Rob tells him somewhat angrily.

"Calm down. I wasn't trying to make you mad, Rob. It just seems to me you don't get punished as much as I do."

"I don't do as much crazy stunts, or things that I know are wrong, as you used to do, either. You are behaving much better though. I'm the one who has been in trouble more than you."

"George has been in trouble more lately, than both of us together!" Joseph smirks. Following Rob out, he carries another saddle with the can of wax balanced on the seat.

While the older boys are working on the saddles, Ben and George are working on their designated chores for the morning.

"I'm going to help Rob and Joseph with the saddles, now. Do you want to come?" Ben asks as they finish the last chore, cleaning the chicken house and gathering the eggs.

"No, I want to go watch Claire bake. Maybe she'll let me help taste. I'll take the eggs inside."

"Okay, see you later George. Don't get in the way or she'll not let you stay to help."

"You don't either, Ben! I'm not the only one who can be told I'm in the way." George answers back irritably.

Walking into the kitchen, George sees Claire mixing something in a bowl.

"Hi, Claire, I came to help you. Is that cake you are mixing?"

"It's pie crust, George. If you really want to help, then you can go down to the cellar for me. I need a basket of apples, please. Oh, bring up a mold of butter too while you're down there."

"Here's the basket of apples, Claire. I'll go back for the butter as I couldn't hold it and the apples too. When I come back, can I help you with the pie?"

"You can help me roll out the dough."

"Can I peel the apples too? You let Ben do it. If he can do it, I can too." George says hurriedly as he sees his sister begin to shake her head for "no".

"We'll try it, George. Let's get the pie crust made first. Please go get the butter now."

"That's thin enough, George. You rolled that dough out well. Now I'll lift it into the pie pan while you roll the next one. We're making two pies. If I let you peel, will you promise to be very careful?"

"I promise, Claire! I can do it now. My hands are bigger than last year. I won't cut myself or chunk up the peeling. You'll see."

"Oh, those pies smell so good! How long until we can cut into it to taste it?" George asks as his Pa comes in the side door.

"The pie is for dessert after you eat your supper, young man. Don't be trying to talk your sister into a piece now. What have you gotten into? You have flour all over your shirt. Have you been causing Claire trouble?" Ethan asks.

"He's been helping me bake. He cut up the apples, rolled the dough and helped me mix in the butter and cinnamon too. It was nice to have some help today as it went by faster." Claire explains.

"Well, that's good news, George. I'm proud of you for being such good help to your sister. I could use some help also. Someone forgot to clean out their three stalls this morning. I believe it was you, wasn't it?"

"No Papa, I didn't forget, I didn't have stalls today. I had breakfast cleanup, the chickens, and straighten up our bedroom. I didn't have barn clean up today. It wasn't on the chore chart." George explains as he points to the small blackboard they list the chores on.

"You're right son, it isn't on the chore chart. However, I told all of you boys at breakfast, to do three stalls each. Everyone did theirs except you." Ethan answers.

"OH! I remember now. I'm sorry Papa! I didn't mean to not do my chores. I was in a hurry to help Claire with the baking."

"I understand, son. I'm not upset with you. Just go do those stalls now, please. Get that finished and you are done for the afternoon. You, Ben, Joseph and I are going to do some tall fishing while Claire and Rob go sit by the lake and make googly eyes at their friends."

"PA! I don't make 'googly eyes' at anyone!" Claire exclaims as George giggles.

After finishing his outside chores, George comes back in to wait for Claire to get ready for the picnic. When she's dressed, she calls him in to her room.

"Alright, I'm ready now George."

"Take this blue hair ribbon and weave it through my braid, please. After that, will you tie another blue one on the end for me? I can't tie it behind my back."

"That's a pretty dress you made. The light blue cloth matches your eyes. Claire, your hair is much longer now. It's hanging even with your shoulder blades. Do you miss the short hair you had after the fire?" George asks tying the hair ribbon.

"No, I want my hair longer. Short hair isn't in style except for the fringe in the front. Thank you for helping me today. You're a great little brother."

"Am I great enough to go along with you? I really love picnics! Please can't I come? I won't get in your way when you're with Alex. I'll be really quiet and you won't even know I'm around. Please?"

"No, George. Rob and I want to spend time with our friends alone. Besides, you are going fishing with Pa, remember?"

"I like picnics better."

"Come on, Mischief. Let's go show off my dress and your work on my hair." Claire tells him, picking up her straw hat.

"Why are you taking a hat instead of your bonnet?"

"The hat is cooler, George. I have to wear something to keep the sun off my face so I won't brown." She answers, anticipating his question of why wear any head covering.

"My Claire, that is one nice dress you made. The blue brings out your eyes. I see you have tied a white scarf around the hat to match the white sprigs on the dress. You are beautiful, sweetheart." Ethan approves as she comes into the front room.

"You are beautiful too, Rob. I love how you are wearing the white shirt with the dark dungarees and blue suspenders. The white shirt matches your face. Why are you pale, Rob? Scared to be alone with two girls? I know Claire can hit, but I didn't know Emily would beat you up too. No wonder you're scared. " Joseph teases, making Ben laugh.

"Hush UP, Joseph! I'm not scared and Emily isn't going to beat me up! You are being a brat!" Rob growls at him.

"OOOH, he's growling now. Look out boys, he's gone mad! This dog might bite!" Joseph answers dancing out of reach as Rob tries to grab him.

Watching and listening, Ben and George are finding this extremely funny as both are leaning on each other laughing.

"Enough, Joseph. Stop this teasing, now. Rob, I need a word with you. Come into my room, please." Ethan intervenes before the two get into the pushing or hitting stage.

"UH Oh! You are in big trouble now, Rob! Being called into Pa's room this way! Rob's in trouble!" Joseph singsongs, ignoring his Pa's admonishment.

"Joseph Adam! I said ENOUGH!"

"Yes Sir." Joseph answers, quickly ending the teasing. The use of his first two names makes him realize he's pushed as far as he can get without being punished.

"Before you leave, I want to talk about today. I want your word that you will behave yourself today. I'm giving you this opportunity to show me you are capable of behaving as a gentleman. You are to keep your hands to yourself and treat Emily as you would Claire. I also want you to look after your sister. I want your promise, Robert."

"I promise to behave as a gentleman and to watch out for Claire. Really though, Pa, she can look after herself!"

"Nonetheless, you are in charge as the eldest. You make sure you make good decisions and the right choices today. I don't want any problems at all. Do you understand me, young man?"

"Yes sir." Rob answers just a little sullenly.

Recognizing the tone and understanding the reason behind it, Ethan says "Son, I'm not saying you will deliberately cause trouble. I know you won't. It's just that lately, trouble has managed to find you even when you were not looking for it. You are at a difficult time here. Both Emily and Alex's father's are watching you as am I, to see that you are as grown up as you say you are. You need to prove it to us that you are capable of making mature decisions. Do you see what I am telling you, son?'

"Yes Pa. I'll behave myself and not let any problems happen."

"Good. Now, I expect you both home by four o'clock. It's twelve thirty now, so that gives you plenty of time to pick up Emily, Alex and ride to the lake. Remember what the rules for the lake are. No one is to go swimming, or to go into the woods alone. It's too dangerous without an adult nearby. Promise?"

"Yes Pa, we won't be swimming or hiking and we'll be home on time. I'm taking my pocket watch along." Rob answers keeping himself from rolling his eyes or grinding his teeth at the lecture. I despise these lectures that make me feel all of ten years old. Behave or suffer the consequences lectures! Rob thinks.