New Beginnings:

Ch. 38

warning **** Harsh discipline ****

Unsettled

Joseph, being housebound plus being confined inside for a week, finds himself having plenty of time to talk. He decides to confide in Claire the reason for going to find John Taylor.

"There is something special about him, Claire. He is more than just an older Indian man who likes to be by himself. Mama told George about him for a reason. She thinks he can help Ben. Pa refuses to let me talk about it though. Every time I try to talk to him he snaps at me or scolds me for something I've hardly even done. He's so irritable. When I tried the last time, he told me he would whip me if I mentioned John Taylor or the ring again. He meant it too!" Joseph tells Claire as he helps her snap peas.

"He's worried, Joseph. He's not sleeping much, either. I hear him moving around in his room at night. This illness is worrying him very much. Especially since Ben isn't getting better. I'm worried too. Try to be patient with him."

"George isn't sleeping well either. He's come to my room every night since Ben took ill. I just let him sleep with me." Joseph tells her.

"I guess that's why he is so sleepy he needs a nap in the afternoon again. He gave up naps five years ago."

"Claire? You do believe that Mama came to talk to George, don't you? He isn't making this up!"

"I do believe it but I just don't think Pa does. He doesn't seem to believe Mama talks to George. Even the fire at the school and George knowing about it ahead of time, hasn't convinced him. I think this is a problem we have to solve. This is hurting George. Have you noticed how he is so quiet and is back to sucking his thumb? He tries to hide it but I've seen him." Claire answers, dumping Joseph's bowl of peas into hers.

"I know, I've seen him too. He also wet himself yesterday morning right after he woke up. I helped him wash and dress. He was worried I would tell Pa and he'd get another spanking. He begged me not to say anything. Claire, there's something else I haven't told you. Pa seems to know who John Taylor is but they've never met here in Paradise. Whenever we talked about him before, Pa didn't know him. When we were at the caves he acted as if he knew who the man was. He called him Timber Wolf. I tried to get Pa to talk about that too, but he won't. I'm not to talk about that again either. I'm not sure what I can talk about. If I try to ask about Ben he goes all quiet and if I mention John Taylor he gets angry."

"Just try to be agreeable to anything he wants or says, Joseph. He's hurting and upset as we all are, but doesn't talk about it. You remember when we first moved here, how he was very quiet around us most of the time. He was hurting then too. Losing Mama was hard for him as well."

"I don't remember him being all that quiet. I remember many 'I'm disappointed in you' looks, scoldings, stern lectures, extra chores, and him walloping me."

"Yes, he spanked you but it was only after several months of your being deliberately hateful to us and disrespectful towards him. Joseph, you have to admit you were pushing him to show he was going to be a parent. You knew he would eventually get to the point where he was going to really punish you. He didn't do it for a long time even though you deserved it, badly. Even when he did wallop you, he only used his hand. I was ashamed of you back then. Uncle Ethan was doing all he could do to keep us out of an orphanage and you were being a rude brat!"

"Well, thanks so much Claire, for telling me how you really feel. I guess you think I'm still behaving as a rude brat!"

"Stop being so melodramatic Joseph. We have to find a way to get John Taylor to help Ben. There's some connection here between Mama's ring and John Taylor. I think I'll get Rob to go with me to visit him. Maybe I can get him to talk about this ring. Why do you suppose he wants to be called both names? Do you know?"

"No, he just said to call him John Taylor when I tried Mr. Taylor. Claire, this is not a good idea. I won't try to talk you out of it because I know it won't do any good. I warn you though you're going to be in trouble with Pa. He'll be angry with you too. You know we're forbidden to leave the ranch."

"Well, he'll just have to be angry. We're already confined to the ranch so it really won't be much of a punishment to be housebound. I'm going to do what I need to do to help my brother! Go get Rob for me please, Joseph. He's in the back pasture repairing the gates."

"I'm confined to the house, remember? I can't go all the way to the back pasture."

"Yes, you can. Pa is in town and won't be home for at least two hours yet. He told me he'd be home right around dark. Please Joseph, I've got to watch the stove. I have loaves of bread about to be ready."

"What are you doing out here? I thought you were confined to the house." Rob asks when Joseph reaches him.

"Claire sent me. She wants you to come inside so we can have a family meeting. We need to talk while Pa is not here."

"I still have to finish this gate and fix the other one. That windstorm last week wrecked both of them. I have to get this done today. Pa told me to do it earlier this week but I forgot about them. He isn't going to like it if I don't get them done especially since I've had four days to finish. I was to toss hay down from the loft to the haymow and I haven't had the time to get to that, what with working on the gates. I wish you could help me. I'm having to do everything by myself."

"I do the barn, feed the animals plus do clean up chores and George is doing the chickens, so you don't do it all by yourself. Now, are you coming or do I go tell Claire you don't care to talk to her."

"Fine! I'm coming! This better not take long as I am not going to get in trouble for not finishing my assigned chores. Pa's on the warpath lately, all stern and snappish, and I don't want to be the one to cross him."

"So what you are saying is, you want to defy Pa by leaving the ranch and going up into the canyon to find some Indian hermit? You want me to do the same by taking you there?" Rob ask incredulously after listening to Claire's plan.

"Well I don't want to go off up there alone! Please Rob. We have to find help for Ben. This man knows something and can help him." Claire answers.

"Even if he does know something, it's Pa who has to get him to help, not us. You saw his reaction to Joseph and George going there. I'm not about to go off and do the same thing plus take you with me! I do like to have the ability to sit and want freedom to leave the ranch eventually. I won't have either if I go with your idea. My answer is NO! I love Ben but I'm not risking myself or you, to go chase someone Pa doesn't seem to want us to be around."

"Rob! We have to do this! It's important! I thought you were our brother!"

"I am your brother, Claire. I'm also not crazy. I'm just not going to put myself or you at risk by doing this. Now, excuse me while I go finish my assigned jobs before Pa comes home. I'll try to think of some other way to help you but not this way."

As soon as Rob is out of hearing range, Claire says "I'm going! I'll go by myself if I have to, but I am going to get Ben help! I'll leave just after breakfast tomorrow and be back before Pa ever knows I was gone. Don't say anything to anyone!"

"I won't. I swear it, Claire."

After Ethan has left for town the next morning and Rob is out with his assigned work for the day, Claire beckons Joseph to follow her. Going into Rob's room, she closes the door behind them.

"I need you to help me. I'm going to borrow some of Rob's pants and a shirt. I'm going to pin my hair up but I need to borrow one of your hats. Can I use your old pair of boots too? I can put two handkerchiefs in the toes so they'll fit me. Dressing like a boy will be safer than going as a girl."

"You get dressed and be quick about it. I'll get the boots and a hat for you. George is playing with his chicken game in his room for now."

Softly knocking on Rob's door, Joseph whispers "It's me. I have them. May I come in?"

Hearing permission, he opens the door just enough to squeeze inside and stops. "My, you make a pretty good looking fella! It's been years since I've seen you in pants! Oh, here's the boots and I already put the wads in the toes for you. I've fixed a rucksack of food and a jug of drink too. We may not need it but we have to be prepared."

"What do you mean 'WE' have to be prepared?" Claire asks busily pinning her braids on top of her head.

"I decided I'm going along. You don't even know the way or where he may be. It's safer if we go together." Joseph answers.

Reaching the caves, Joseph stops his horse and dismounts. Going over to his sister, he reaches up to help her off the horse.

"I'm quite able to dismount on my own, Joseph. Go see if John Taylor is in the cave, while I tether the horses to the bushes."

Coming back to help Claire, Joseph tells her "He isn't there. I don't see any signs of him being here recently either. There's no fire leavings, blankets, nothing to show someone is staying up there."

"Well, let's climb up and wait anyway. Bring the rucksack and we'll have an early lunch. All this sneaking around has me hungry." Claire answers.

Opening the food sack, Claire discovers at least six sandwiches, wrapped in a cloth towel.

"My gracious Joseph, you must have planned to stay awhile, what with all these sandwiches!" she teases, handing him a sandwich.

"I did kind of get carried away, I admit it. I just wanted to be sure we had enough just in case. It never hurts to have too much food on a journey, just not enough, Pa says."

After eating, they decide to pack up and check more caves in case John Taylor may be in a different one.

"Claire? I don't think we better wait any longer. Looking at the sun, it's past noon already. We had better start back if we want to get home before Pa does. We'll try again tomorrow, if we can get away. I don't think he's coming here anymore so we can try to look in town somehow." Joseph tells his sister after they have explored several caves.

In town, Dr. Amy is being questioned by Ethan during his daily visit with Ben.

"I know you are doing all you know to do. I'm not saying you aren't caring for the patients, I'm asking about other help. Have you heard of any treatment or anything at all to help here? We're nearing the middle of the third week."

"I wired Colorado Springs and Denver. Neither hospital has any treatment other than what we've been doing. I also wired Boston. They replied this morning. There is no medication developed for scarlet fever. The head of the hospital wrote a reply to my wire. I'll let you read it yourself." Americus replies handing over the folded telegram.

Unfolding it, Ethan reads: Condolences on your outbreak of scarlet fever. Bathing in ice water, forcing liquids, cool compresses made of oats to relieve itching, all you mentioned having done are all we know to do. Patients either combat this illness or succumb to it. The illness rarely lasts more than four weeks before the patient is unable to recover.

Looking up from reading the telegram, Ethan's eyes automatically go to Ben. His boy is not responding to any of the methods Dr. Amy has tried, to bring him out of his deep sleep. The fever has returned also, making him restless in his sleep. He hasn't spoken or opened his eyes since the day Joseph brought him here.

"Ethan? We're doing all we can do for him. He's strong and a fighter. He'll come back to you." Amy says softly, unable to keep quiet at the look in Ethan's eyes.

"Delphie mentioned three children didn't survive the night. Who were they?" Ethan asks, still gazing at Ben.

"Both of the Matthias boys and Elizabeth Hale."

"Patrick Hale's daughter? I didn't realize she was here."

"She wasn't. They brought her in late yesterday afternoon along with her younger brother. Both were burning up with fever. I cooled down young Danny and he's some better. Elizabeth didn't survive the night. Her throat was so closed she couldn't breathe."

"Do the parents know?"

"No. I haven't had the time to leave the clinic to inform them. Would you do it?"

"I suppose that would be something a sheriff needs to do. I'll do this and then head home. I need to check on my other children." Ethan responds.

Finding Mitch sitting outside the sheriff's office, Ethan walks over to talk.

"H'lo Ethan. How's young Ben today?"

"Not much change. Mitch, we lost three children last night. The two Matthias boys we brought from the mining camp and young Elizabeth Hale. I'm headed out to the Hale's ranch right now. Would you go to the mining camp and inform the boy's parents. They live in the second shack from the paymaster's building."

"I will. This illness is going on a long time, Ethan. Any idea on when we can expect these young ones to recover? Chris was probably right to take the twins to Colorado Springs after the first week. If I had young ones in town, I'd want to leave too. I miss them, though."

"Dr. Americus found out from Boston, there is no medication. We just keep doing what we've been doing and hope it helps. We will do all we can to help them survive this, Mitch."

Nodding his head in understanding of what Ethan is not saying, Mitch heads down to the livery to get his horse.

Riding home from the Hale ranch, Ethan fervently hopes it never falls to him to tell a family of a child's death again. The girl's mother was still screaming when he left. Young Alex consoling her the best he could. Patrick trying to be brave in front of Ethan was also something he didn't want to experience again. The agony he saw in the man's eyes and the lost look in the woman's. He hopes the mother survives this tragedy. What with having a month old baby in the house to care for, as well as having two of her children come down with scarlet fever, is much to handle at one time.

Coming into the ranch house, Ethan is nearly knocked down by George who flings himself into his Pa's arms.

"Papa find them! I don' wanna lose them too. Papa go find them." George sobs against Ethan's waist.

"George? What is it? Calm down and talk to me. Who is missing? Who do I need to find?" Ethan asks after hugging the boy close.

"It's Joseph and Claire, Pa. They seem to have gone off." Rob answers for George.

"Gone off? Where would they have gone, Rob? What do you know of this?" Ethan asks, his voice turning stern.

"All I know is what George told me. He woke up this morning and after playing in his room waiting for breakfast, he came out to find no one here. I'd left to do my work already. I came in for lunch and he was sobbing on his bed. He was not making any sense when I tried to talk to him. I finally got him to talk after rocking him in his Mama's chair. He's acted like a very little boy all day long. He won't let me leave his sight. I even had to take him into the w.c with me."

"George? Son, stop crying now. Listen to me. We will find your brother and sister and bring them home."

"They left me all alone. Ben's gone and they are too. I'm all alone." George sobs into Ethan's shirt.

Realizing George's fear at being abandoned has returned with the circumstances of Ben's illness, Ethan tries to comfort him. This fear began right after his Mama died and returns in stressful times. It's not the first time he's had to be coaxed out of the fear of abandonment.

"You're not alone, George. I'm here and so is Rob. Your brothers and sister will be back. Don't worry, son. Rob, can you tell me anything else? Do you have any idea why they left or where they could have gone?"

"Yes sir, I think I know." After telling Ethan about Claire's request, he finishes by saying "I told her no, I would not take her to the caves. I told her it wasn't safe and you forbid us to go. I understand they want to help Ben. I want to help him too but I know not to run after some crazy Indian."

"He's more than 'some crazy Indian' Rob. You know better than to say something such as that! Don't speak disrespectfully about John Taylor again!" Ethan scolds him.

"Yes sir, I'm sorry. It just seems he is the cause of all this running off. We don't know he can do anything about Ben!"

"Mama told us to find him. He can help Ben! Mama said!" George tells Rob huffily while stomping his foot.

"George! Manners, young man! Rob, don't antagonize him! I realize you are both upset but you are still going to be polite!" Ethan scolds the scowling children.

"Rob, George could be right. John Taylor may be able to help us. This doesn't mean I want my children chasing him in the wilderness, however. The man they know as John Taylor is actually an Indian Healer by the name of Timber Wolf. He saved my life once back in Texas. I'd been shot in the leg and it was bleeding badly. No one offered to help me. The man who shot me left me to bleed out. If Timber Wolf hadn't taken me in, I wouldn't be here to talk to you."

"Yes sir. Why did the man shoot you, Pa?"

"That's a story for another time. I was a young eighteen year old hot head with a gun who ran up on something I couldn't handle." Ethan answers. The tone of voice he uses lets Rob know the topic is now closed.

"If you'll pack a couple of meat sandwiches and fix a jug of drink, I'll ride out after them. Will you be able to stay with him and comfort him while I'm away?" Ethan asks, motioning towards his tearful youngest.

"I'll look out for him, while you get the wayward twosome home safely. I can't believe Claire would do this. She's usually so sensible!" Rob answers.

"Joseph, something is coming! I hear scrabbling noises headed straight for us! It's not a person." Claire whispers as they are walking out of the cave.

Minutes later, two large gray wolves appear followed by three wolf cubs. The largest of the wolves bares it's teeth at the children as it moves closer.

"Claire, hand me the rucksack quickly but don't move any closer!" Joseph whispers. Grabbing the sandwiches out of the bag, Joseph tosses one in front of the wolf and the rest out to the side of where they are standing. When the animals move towards the food, he grabs Claire's hand and runs pulling her along beside him.

"Horses! Ride Fast! Don't look back!" Joseph gets out as he runs down the rocks.

Clearing the trees bordering the canyon, Joseph slows his horse to a walk to let the panting animal cool down.

"That was quick thinking Joseph! I was so terrified it was going to jump us!" Claire praises.

"I didn't know if it would work but it's all I could think to do so we could get away."

"Get away from what? Where have the two of you been? I've been searching for you!" They hear as Ethan rides from the trees.

"Oh, Pa! I'm so happy to see you! We were cornered in a cave by a wolf family! Joseph got us out though. He threw sandwiches and when they went after them we ran."

"You two are extremely lucky. You could have been killed with the foolish stunt you pulled! Claire! I am very disappointed. You have more sense than to do something such as this! Joseph, after seeing the wolf cub last week, you should have known wolves were in the area! You are to protect your sister not run off into danger with her! I thought we settled this idea of running off just last week. Apparently you didn't get the message I meant to deliver." Ethan tells the two youngsters facing him.

"Let's get home. We will talk more of this then. Rob and George are waiting and worrying."

Upon reaching the barn, Ethan says "We'll leave the horses outside for now. I'll put them up later. Come with me."

Dismounting and following their Pa towards the barn, Claire takes a quick glance at Joseph. Seeing the downcast look on his face, she quickly whispers, "Thanks Joseph. It meant a lot for you to do this for me."

Entering the barn Ethan tells Joseph "I will speak to you in a few minutes after I speak to Claire. You go into the tack room and wait."

"Yes sir."

"Claire, sit down." Ethan tells his niece as he tries to calm himself with deep breaths.

Walking back and forth in front of the bale of hay she's sitting on, Ethan asks "What were you thinking today?"

"I wanted to talk to John Taylor about helping Ben. He can do it if he just will. Mama told this to George and she knows things we don't know. I'm convinced he can cure Ben."

"That may very well be true but, you put yourself and Joseph in danger didn't you? You also disobeyed a direct order. I told you not to leave the ranch, did I not?"

"Yes, but how was I to talk to John Taylor about Ben if I stayed on the ranch?"

"You weren't! This is not your affair to handle, young lady! This is my responsibility to keep you children safe and well. I'm working as hard as I can to find help for Ben. I told you children I would and I keep my promises. I also promised punishment for disobeying did I not?"

"Yessir." Claire answers, fighting tears at his harsh tone.

"I meant it when I told you to stay on the ranch to stay safe. You and Joseph could have been killed by those wolves today because of your recklessness. I intend to see to it you think very hard before you put yourself or someone else in danger again. There is always a good reason for what I tell you and if you heed me you will not come to any harm! Stand and bend over the bale. Claire, I never thought I would have to punish you in this way, but your behavior today leaves me no choice."

Removing his belt and folding it in half, he delivers six firm whacks against the seat of his niece's pants. "You remember this, young lady. I don't want to have to use my belt on you ever again. I will if you ever do something as foolish as this again! Go inside, stay in your room until morning!"

Waiting in the tack room, Joseph can hear the lecture and the punishment being delivered. Shocked at his Pa actually giving Claire a whipping, he waits anxiously for his turn.

"Mama? I know you are around us. You have been talking to George. PLEASE Mama, we need you to come talk to Pa. He needs you to tell him to go get John Taylor for Ben. He's not listening to us at all. Ah, he's coming in here now. Please Mama, talk to him." Joseph whispers quickly, as he wipes the tears off his face.

Opening the door and walking in to find Joseph already in tears doesn't keep Ethan from showing his anger.

"I am extremely disappointed in you, young man. I thought you were becoming more responsible, but your actions lately have shown me otherwise. Taking first George and now Claire into danger! If you had heeded me and obeyed my instructions, you would not have nearly been attacked by wolves! Joseph, I do not give instructions just to be bossy! I do so to keep you from harm! I must not have made a good enough impression on you about the danger in your thinking. I aim to remedy that right now. Over the barrel, Joseph." Ethan finishes as he lifts the razor strop off the nail in the wall.

"Pa! Please! Don't! I'm sorry! I am, truly! I was trying to help Ben." Joseph replies as he eyes the strop. The one time, he felt the strop, when he shot off a gun, was enough to make him realize he did not want to feel it again. It might be short and thin, but that leather stings badly.

"You put yourself and Claire into extreme danger by disobeying me for the second time in less than two weeks. This stops right now. You are confined to your room for the next three days and confined to the house until I tell you differently. Now, do as I tell you. Turn around, lean over the lid on that barrel and do not move."

One lick into it and Joseph remembers well, why he hates the strop so. His bottom is on fire and he feels it isn't anywhere close to being over. After the third whack, he calls out "Pa? Please stop. I'll obey you from now on! I will do better thinking and be responsible too."

"I'm sure you will attempt to, Joseph. Stay still, five more and it's over. You think back on this the next time you are tempted to do something dangerous. I can't be there to protect you at all times. You have to make decisions to help yourself and those around you. You knew better, son." Ethan replies as he applies another lick to the boy's backside.

"ETHAN! That is quite enough of this! Leave Joseph be! That is enough punishment. LISTEN ETHAN" a voice remarkably like Claire's says in his ear, just after he delivers the sixth lick.

Spinning around expecting to see his niece, he sees someone else instead.

Hearing the voice, Joseph has also turned around. His eyes still streaming tears, he smiles at who he sees in front of him.

"Lucy? It can't be." I'm seeing things now? I'm hearing them too! I've got to get more rest. Ethan thinks.

"You aren't imagining me or hearing things little brother! I'm here in front of you to tell you to listen to the children. They are trying to help you but you won't listen. Take Ben to Timber Wolf, Ethan. The connection with the ring is between our families. Our grandfather saved Timber Wolf's father's life as a boy. The boy was the son of a chief and nephew of the tribe healer. They presented our grandfather with food for his family, skins to trade for goods and gave our mother the ring. It's a symbol to help him remember. He will cure Ben. Do it tomorrow if not tonight. Take care of yourself, Ethan. I need you to be the children's Pa. I love you Joseph. You mind your Pa and not make him have to do this again. He's right, you both knew better! Tell Claire and George I'm watching and love them too."

"Bye Mama. I love you too. Come back again." Joseph whispers as she disappears.

"Did you hear that, Joseph? Did you see your Mother here?" Ethan asks, a little shaken.

"Yes Pa, she was here. She's been coming to visit George and now she's come to us. She looked so healthy and happy too. I miss her." Joseph whispers as he tries to keep from sobbing. The pain in his backside and now his heart with seeing his Mama again, has him fighting for control.

"Come here, son." Ethan says opening his arms.

"I know you miss your Mama, Joseph. I miss her too. She honored us just now. Always remember this gift she gave you." Ethan tells the sobbing boy after holding him close a few minutes.

"What gift Pa? I didn't get a gift, just a thrashing. You whipped me with the strop, that hurt too." Joseph manages to say through his tears.

"Joseph, coming to you was her gift. I don't know if we will ever receive such a gift again so share it with your brothers and sister. It was a gift of love, Joseph. I love you too, son. I am harsh with you because I can't bear to lose you. You must begin to think and not be so quick to act. Think things through and if necessary talk to me or even Rob before you jump into something like this again. Rob would have stopped Claire and you would not be standing here with a throbbing backside. I do understand you were trying to find help for Ben. You have a good heart son, now have a good mind to go with it. I'm going to take Ben to John Taylor, son. Come with me to talk to your brothers and sister."

Twelve days later:

Joseph, released from his confinement by Rob, is just finishing up raking out the stalls when George appears.

"Joseph? Tell me again what Mama looked like. Was she all shimmery?"

"No, she looked just like you or me. I've already told you this many times."

"I know but I want to hear it again. Did you hug her? I would have."

"I wanted to touch her but I couldn't move. It all happened so fast. Is she shimmery when you see her?"

"I've not seen her but the one time right after the fire. I just hear her talking to me. She isn't talking to me anymore. Do you think that means Ben is dead? I know other kids have died. I heard Papa telling about it when he didn't know I could hear him."

"Well George, if Ben was dead, wouldn't Pa come home? He's still out there somewhere with Ben getting John Taylor's help. It might take a long time to make Ben well enough to come home. We have to wait."

"I am so tired of waiting. Everyone tells me to wait. I don't want to wait anymore, I want to see Ben! It's been nearly four weeks since I've seen him. I want Papa back. Rob is mean and hateful. All he does is boss me around and I don't like that!"

"Behave George. You have to obey Rob, Pa told us to listen to him, remember? You haven't been very nice to Rob. Talking back and arguing with him. He's trying to be patient with you but you are getting on his nerves. Do you want him to spank you? You must have forgotten how he spanked you for going in the loft! He's about ready to do that again, just so you know."

"Rob isn't going to do that, Joseph. I'll be better. Will you hitch up the pony cart and take me riding? I haven't been riding in so long."

"I'll ask Rob. If he says we can then I will. Now, how about helping me spread the clean hay? I will throw it in and you do one stall while I do the next. We'll get done faster if you help me."

"I'll help. Will you let me toss a forkful too? I'm big enough to hold the pitchfork now, Joseph. I can do it!"

"Sure I will, George. Come stand in front of me and I'll lift the hay from the wheelbarrow for you. It's heavy."

Just as the boys finish the last stall, they hear a horse coming into the yard. Looking out the window, George yells "It's Papa!" Dropping the pitchfork, he runs from the barn. Joseph, follows after putting the pitchfork in the haymow.

Walking out of the barn he sees his Pa holding George. "Hi, Pa. We've missed you."

"Hello, son. I've missed all of you too. Joseph? How did the barn get white?"

"We all whitewashed it, Pa. It was Rob's idea. We worked on it for four days. Do you like it?" Joseph asks.

"It looks very nice. Whose idea was it to paint the doors? I like the light brown color."

"We had brown paint left over from the time we made you the gun display box. We put a little water in it and had enough for the doors. We painted over the whitewash and it turned light brown. It was Claire who remembered the paint." George tells him.

"You children have made our barn the nicest in Paradise. Come boys, let's go inside. I have some good news to share with all of you."

*********A.N.********

Some may wonder why Ethan reacted so harshly in this chapter. You may find his treatment of Claire and Joseph excessive. In my mind, Ethan has been through as a friend put it so well, "an emotional roller coaster." He's had to deal with the possibility Ben would not survive this illness, try to keep the rest of the children comforted and safe from the disease, deal with the spreading of scarlet fever in the community, inform a friend of the death of his child from the disease. This would bring fear to anyone with a seriously ill child, that their child could be next. On top of that, the children put themselves in extreme danger (Joseph for the second time) and the fact the past has come back to him with the recognition of John Taylor. All of this stress led him to behave more harshly with the children than he normally would. Things in Paradise will begin to get better for everyone soon.