Michael's Revenge
Story #7 from the Father of Five series: Twin brother Michael decides to take revenge on his troublemaking look-a-like. Michael's vengeance backfire's causing more harm to Jack than he ever wanted.
Michael's Revenge
By Carolyn James
Adam's boots wore a trial in the dirt where he had been walking back and forth with his hands on his hips. Once more his twin boys had managed to find trouble…
"Michael, if I told you once, I've told you a thousand times…the choices that you make will affect you and everyone around you. You are the only one responsible for your actions and you will suffer the consequences. I do wish you would think for yourself and not be so tempted to follow your brother in all his mischievous behaviors, because it is obvious to me that you have regrets every time you do."
A scornful Michael sat on a log with his head between his legs as he drew pictures in the dirt. His father had been lecturing him for quite some time now. Once again, the boy found himself in trouble along side his naughty twin brother.
"Even though throwing rocks at Mr. Green's barn windows was not your idea and the fact that Jack threw 20 rocks to your One, it was your ONE rock that broke the window. So, your actions will result in an unwanted consequence as well as for Jack.
Michael's head raised high above his legs and mouth dropped open. "How does this happen every time. Jack causes all the trouble and what do I get; a whippin'."
Michael tried and tried to persuade his father to understand that breaking the window wasn't his idea and that Jack should be the only one to receive the punishment, but deep-seated in his decision Adam walked both boys to the barn.
After his "necessary talk" with his father, Michael walked slowly to his bedroom with increasing avenge. He wasn't sure how or what he would do but Jack would pay for today and all the other days he's received the back of Adam's hand.
The accounts against his twin grew larger and larger in his mind. He thought of the time Jack dropped ants inside Missy Walter's lunch pail and the time he threw a giant pine cone at his big brother John. Each of these offenses caused Michael pain because of mistaken identity. Then he thought of all the times that he tried to convince his brother not to do something and the two were caught and reprimanded. Yes, Michael had enough and wanted to get even, "This time I won't be the one to get my tail popped, he thought." Michael vowed to himself that Jack would get into so much trouble that he wouldn't sit for a week.
Two weeks had passed and neither twin had found trouble with their father, teacher nor Granddad. The adults began to wonder if the twins were finally growing out of this mischievous stage. It was too soon to think that.
"Hey Michael, since we get out of school early today, let's go down to the pond." Jack skipped to and fro along side his brother, whom still had the privilege to ride horse.
"Nope, Dad said he wanted us straight home to clean the coop and that's what we're gonna do."
"Dad's not even going to be home today or the next three days after that."
"No way Jack, I'm not goin to the pond and neither are you. I won't clean that coop all by myself."
"You know what your problem is Michael? You're just chicken," Jack threw a dirt clog up at his brother and raced off to school. Michael sat back in his saddle thinking of more ways to get even with his brother.
The school day was almost over when things at the school house went awry….
"I want to know right now who put this snake on my desk."
A frazzled Mrs. Drake carefully examined her class to see if she could spot any deception on the children's faces. She turned to Michael who was snickering behind his book.
"Michael, maybe you could tell me who put this snake here?"
Michael's eyes moved towards his brother, then to Mrs. Drake and quickly back to his book.
"Class, you may be excused for the day, except Jack and Michael. Have a good weekend children and remember to look over your readers.
The twins stayed seated waiting for Elizabeth to approach them.
"Boys, you know this kind of behavior is unacceptable. Why must you end a perfectly good week with a stunt like this?" The teacher slowly paced back and forth studying the two boys to see who would give her information first.
"I don't know who put the snake in your desk Mrs. Drake, honest."
Michael dropped open his jaw and looked at Jack in disbelief hoping to show the teacher that his brother was lying.
Mrs. Drake took the bait. "Jack I will not tolerate lying. It is one thing to pull a prank but to lie on top of it…I will have to send a note home to your father."
"But, Mrs. Drake, I'm not lying. You gotta believe me." Elizabeth just shook her head as she opened her desk top to retrieve a piece of paper.
"Smash…eek!" The teacher shrieked as all the contents of the drawer dropped on the floor. She fumed at Jack, "And I suppose you didn't turn my drawer upside down either. I wish I had time to deal with you myself right now, unfortunately I have a stage to catch." Elizabeth finished writing her letter to Adam.
Michael turned his head and snickered some more. His plan was working.
"Jack here is your note, you may be excused now. Michael, please stay I would like to speak to you next."
Michaels' smile wiped from his face. "Yes, Mrs. Drake?"
"I do not approve of your laughing at your brother when he does something wrong. It only encourages his bad behavior."
"Yes, ma'am. I'm sorry."
"Okay then, you may go. Have a good weekend. Did Adam say when he would return from his trip?"
"Dad will be back on Monday; Uncle Joe and Aunt Amy are staying with us while he is gone."
"Yes, that's right, I almost forgot. It is unfortunate that we planned our trips out of town at the same time; otherwise I would have stayed with you children. Well tell Jack to give the letter to your Granddad please: Uncle Joe would be much too lenient."
"Yes, ma'am", Michael answered. The boy was relieved to walk out of the school house without a note of his own. "This is just the beginning Jack; with Dad away I will have plenty of time to play my little game with you." Michael thought of settling his scores."
A very angry Jack stood outside waiting for his brother. "Did you get a note too Michael?"
"No, I didn't do anything."
"Well neither did I."
"Humph", Michael played along as if he didn't believe his brother's innocence.
"I swear it Michael, I'd tell you if it was me. Besides, why would I want to make Mrs. Drake so mad? Just wait till Monday, I'll find out who did this and they'll regret it."
John and Ben headed out to the fields after lunch and the girls worked with Aunt Amy in the kitchen; the twins had finished all their chores and walked around aimlessly outside.
"Whatcha want to do Michael?"
"I don't know."
"We gotta do somthin." Jack pressed.
"Hey how bought we take that old firearm that Granddad lets us play with, you know the broken one. We can play outlaws." Jack ran into the house to retrieve his toy gun.
"Whoa, where are you going with that gun?" Aunt Amy asked wiping her sticky hands on the apron.
"It's broken Aunt Amy; Granddad said we can play with it." Jack retorted.
Amy put out her hands, "Hand it over, and let me check it first." Amy examined the rifle and noted that it was empty and definitely busted. "Okay Jack, it looks fine. You may take it outside, but remember your uncle Joe is breaking that new stallion. You boys stay clear away from that corral."
"Like I said before the gun was fine…" Jack smarted under his breath as he walked out the door.
"Jack, did you hear me?"
"Yes, Aunt Amy, we'll stay away from the corral."
Jack and Michael ran around the ranch pretending to be the bad outlaws holding up Vagina City.
"You go to our hideout Michael. I'll stay right here and wait for the sheriff to come out."
Michael grinned, "Sure Jack, I'll be right behind those bushes."
It didn't take Michael long to decide what to do next to get his brother into trouble. Plotting against his twin had never felt so good. Michael snuck around to the side of the house where no one could see him and slipped in his Granddad's window. He knew Ben kept a small pistol under his bed and went to pocket it. Michael slipped back out the window and into the brush and waited for his twin to make the next move.
"Pow, Pow" Jack played as he pretended to shoot the sheriff. "I got 'em Michael. I shoot the sheriff…Now, go into the bank and steal all the money."
"Wait, Jack, it looks like someone's on the rooftop. I think it's another sheriff, he's gonna shot at ya'." Michael laughed as he played along with the boyhood scene.
Jack aimed his toy riffle at the roof pretending to shoot the bad guy.
"KaPOOOWWWW! KaPoooWWWW!"
Michael hid behind the bushes firing the real gun that belonged to Ben; shooting it into the air, so he thought.
"Ping, Ping, Ping", the bullet rick-a-shied off the weathervane and passed the barn.
"What in the hell was that. Who's shootin' a gun out there?" Joseph Cartwright shouted.
Everyone ran out front looking to see what happened. The ranch hands had their guns drawn; Amy motioned for the girls to get inside off the porch. Joseph came running out from the corral with his handkerchief pressed to his cheek.
"Joseph, what happened, are you all right?" Amy ran to her husband frantically to assess his injury.
"It's just a knick Amy; the bullet flew right past me and clipped my cheek. Where are the children?"
"The girls are inside but the twins were out here playing. I don't see them now."
Joseph's eyes narrowed. "Boys, if you can hear me come on out." Joseph yelled. He had a gut feeling they had something to do with the gun shot.
Jack peered around the corner of the house with his toy rifle shaking in his hands. "I don't know how it happened, Uncle Joe, Honest."
One of the old ranch hands said to another, "That darn Jack's been playing with a gun." What will he think up next?"
Joseph didn't give his nephew a chance to explain; ripping the rifle right out of his hand. Joe's temper had been unleashed. He grabbed Jack by the arm and yanked him up onto the porch and proceeded to light his bottom on fire.
Joe lifted his nephew off his knee and stood him up facing him forward to look him in the eye.
"Don't ever let me catch you holding a rifle in your hand before your sixteenth birthday. Do you understand me young man?" Joseph shook Jack's shoulders firmly. "You could have killed someone. Now get in the house," he finalized with a large smack to his already soar bottom.
A victimized Jack ran into the house and up to his room. He cried so hard into his pillow. Not only did he bawl because of the spanking he just received from his uncle Joe but nobody believed him for the second time today. He couldn't understand why he was having so much bad luck when he was trying to be so good.
During all the commotion, Michael snuck back into the window returning the fired pistol. No one even questioned where the other twin might be. He climbed back out and positioned himself in a nearby tree pretending to be unaware of the situation.
"It worked! I gotcha, again brother. Twice in one day." Michael smiled with a wicked grin. His heart raced nervously as his mind tried to convince him that he was enjoying the fact that his revenge was working. Eventually he made his way up to his room where his brother laid on his tummy face down in the pillow.
"You Okay, Jack?"
"No! How 'bout you?"
"If your asking if I got in trouble too, the answer is no."
"What, why am I getting blamed for everything today?" Jack pounded his fist into his pillow.
"You had the rifle in your hand, brother." Michael cackled.
"Yea, but how did it go off, I thought it was broken and I never saw a bullet in the chamber. Besides it was an accident. Dad would have never spanked me for an accident. I wish he was home. Uncle Joe's so mean."
"Yea, you're just having a bad day I guess." Michael started to feel a little remorse for his miserable brother. But then he remembered how many times he lay on his stomach crying into the pillow because of Jack's doing. "Maybe after a few more times Jack will learn his lesson and behave." He thought to himself as he walked out of the room.
The next few days included several small pranks and Jack on the receiving end of the blame. Ben began to question why one boy was so innocent and the other finding so much trouble.
Sunday came and church service ended with Aunt Amy hauling Jack out by his ear for pulling the ribbon out of her hair. "I didn't do it Aunt Amy, you just gotta believe me."
Ben looked directly towards a snickering Michael.
"Seems to me that you're pleased about your brothers' trouble," Ben assumed staying seated in the pew with his grandson.
"Well, it's just nice that he's not dragging me down with him." Michael stated swinging his feet back and forth with his hands in his pockets.
"This is true; you've managed to stay clear of many 'necessary talks' here lately."
"Yes, sir, I have." Michael answered proudly.
"I'm sure your father will be quiet proud to hear your behavior was on the straight and narrow this past week. Adam expressed in all seriousness that the consequences would be severe to any child who misbehaved while he was out of town." Ben eyed his grandson carefully.
Michael gulped. For the first time he imagined what could happen if he were caught. "Was his grandfather on to something? He would have to be most careful."
Back at the ranch Amy and Hopsing sorted out the laundry in the kitchen. Hopsing grabbed a pair of small pants from the pile and a note dropped out. "Missy Cartwright, you read this note. Came from boy's pocket." Amy sighed as she read the letter.
"Joseph, could I please see you for a moment?" Amy called. Joe walked into the kitchen to see his wife holding Jack's pants in one hand and a note in the other.
"I'm afraid this is from Elizabeth Drake, Amy said with disappointment. Here you better read it for yourself."
Joe read the note and just shook his head. "What on earth has gotten into this boy? He leaned back on the table and propped his foot onto a chair. "Honey, I'm plum worn out from dealing with Jack," Joe moaned. "I know Adam asked us to deal with the children as best we could, but I think we need to talk to Pa. I don't know what else to do with the boy."
Joe walked in to the great room where the family was relaxing. Kate sat reading her book along with John. The twins played checkers and Molly lay on her backside twirling dolly in the air. "What a peaceful sight," Joseph thought to himself. "I really hate to disturb them."
"Pa, I would like to speak to you for a second in the kitchen."
"Sure, son." Ben rose up out of his chair and followed Joe into the kitchen. All the children looked in the direction of Jack.
"What are all of you looking at me for?" Jack snapped. The ten year old stood up on the sofa and screamed, "I DID NOT DO ANYTHING!"
Surprised at the loud sound the adults ran into the great room.
"Jack Richard Cartwright, get down off that sofa and lower your voice in this house." Ben demanded in an even tone. "Young man, I need to speak to you in your room please. Go on up and I will there in a few minutes."
"Now, what?" Jack sassed his grandfather.
"I have a matter to discuss with you concerning a certain note that you received from your teacher on Friday; seems that you left it in your pants pocket. Now, I suggest you watch your tone and head upstairs." Ben turned around and went back into the kitchen as he counted to ten.
Jack could not hold his temper any longer. He stomped on every step up to his room. He sat on his bed to wait for his grandfather contemplating his options.
Suddenly Jack had an idea. "No one believes me, everyone thinks I'm lying but I haven't done anything wrong. I won't take another whipping for something I didn't do. I'm leaving to go find my dad; he won't treat me like this. He will believe me, I just know it."
Jack wrote a quick note saying he was running away to find the one person that believed in him. He also included, "P.S. Dear Michael don't worry about me, I'll be back soon." He placed the letter on his pillow, went down the hall and out his sisters' window.
Ben waited to go up to Jack's room for quite some time. He contemplated his grandson's behavior. Jack was finding trouble morning, noon and night and his twin was not. Michael's behavior was oddly quiet, Ben noted his scheming eyes. "Yes, something was very indifferent about the twin's activities since their father had left town".
Ben's intensions were to simply talk with Jack and try to understand. He knocked first then entered the bedroom.
"Jack, are you in here?'
Ben looked around the room and then saw the note.
"Joseph…"
Ben and Joe rode around to all the familiar spots a boy might run for cover but came up empty handed.
"Pa, I feel terrible about this. I should have been more patient with Jack, Adam is so much better with his kids than I could ever be. I thought spanking him for shooting off that riffle was the right thing to do. He could have seriously hurt someone. Maybe, I was too harsh."
"Aw, Joe, you reacting in the best way you could. I have a feeling that this is no fault of yours. I think a certain boy who looks very much like Jack had something to do with his troubles this past week."
"Michael, why do you say that, Pa?"
"A father's intuition is all. Jack certainly finds plenty of trouble on his own but not as much as we've seen this weekend. I think Michael has helped him out more ways than one."
"Boy I hope Amy and I don't ever have twins. I have a hard enough time just handling one." Joe smiled at his father.
The men rode back to the house to discover Jack had not returned. Michael's eyes were swollen from crying along with his little sister molly. Ben picked up his granddaughter, "Now don't you worry a bit little darling, we'll find that brother of yours and bring him home safely.
Ben turned to Michael. "Michael, do you have any idea where Jack would have gone?"
"No Sir, he didn't tell me." Michael's head hung low with tears dripping to the floor.
"Jack's had a real hard time this weekend." Uncle Joe looked down at Michael with his intense green eyes. "Most men would admit when wrong and take their punishment deservingly, but Jack insisted every time he was innocent. I can understand why the boy would want to run off if he really was telling the truth."
Michaels lip began to quiver. His plan to avenge his brother turned sour. Never in his lifetime would Michael want real harm to come to his identical twin.
"I just don't know how he could have gotten very far on foot. Between the two of us and the half dozen ranch hands we didn't spot him in several square miles of this property." Ben noted.
"Unless he wasn't on foot Pa?" Joseph implied.
"We checked the horses Joseph, they're all accounted for."
"I didn't check that new Stallion."
Both men looked at each other and headed out to the corral.
"It's gone, he took the wild horse", aghast Ben.
"How could that be possible? That stallion barely let me on his back."
"Stranger things have happened between animals and children, Joseph. It's a possibility we will have to consider."
"If Jack did get on that horse and the stallion agreed, Jack is on one hell of a ride. There's no telling where that wild horse will take him. Come on Pa, let's alert the others and track that horse."
Once again Jack found himself out on the Piute camp with a lump on his head and a sore arm. The medicine man continued to bandage his forehead.
"Young Cartwright boy has too much bravery and not enough sense." The medicine man smiled.
"Yes, we call this one 'Ghost Rider', his name suits him well", Yakima said.
"Can I just go on home now; I'm in enough trouble as it is." Jack tried to sit up and the medicine man pushed his shoulder back down on to the soft bear skin rug.
"You will stay here until your father comes for you." Yakima answered the boy firmly.
"But he won't be back till tomorrow. I gotta get home tonight, my family will be worried."
"You should have thought about that before you jumped on that wild stallion. Now take this, it will help you rest." The medicine man handed Jack his herbs.
"Oh' no the stallion, where is he."
"Back in the wild; he will be much harder to catch the next time." Yakima tied the splint around Jack's arm.
"Ouch!" Jack moaned, "My uncle Joes going to kill me for losing that horse.
"You are a boy who finds much trouble, just like a young Little Joe. Your uncle just might understand. Not to worry, you rest and wait for father."
The medicine man gave everyone in the camp strict orders to watch Jack carefully and not let him get up.
The search party met back at the ranch after the sun went down.
"We can't continue to look for him in the dark Joe, let's go in and get something to eat; we'll start out first light."
"He's just a small boy Pa. God, if something has happened to him Adam will never forgive us…"
"Joe, don't even talk like that. Adam taught his boys safety out in these woods; Jack will be okay tonight. Come on it's going to be a long evening."
Ben put his arm around his son and went inside. The two men sat up in their chairs trying to sleep, but it was no use. A creaking on the stairs caused them to open their eyes; it was Michael.
With eyes swollen red and a tremendous look of guilt and anguish, Michael attempted to speak his peace.
"It's my fault that Jack ran away, 'Sniff, Sniff'. He didn't cause all that trouble, I did." The boy began to sob.
Joe glanced at his father and just shook his head amazed at his wisdom of knowing things. Ben scooped up his grandson onto his lap and held his head to his chest allowing him to cry out his pain.
"Michael, I want you to do something for me right now but you will need to stop crying and take a deep breath."
Michael did as his grandfather instructed.
"Good. Now, close your eyes and think about Jack and where he might be right now."
Michael closed his eyes tight and took in a few more breaths. His lip began to tremble and a tear rolled down his cheek. "Jack, are you alright", the boy whispered softly. Michael took in a few more breaths before opening his eyes.
Joe pressed his hands against his head with elbows on his knees as he sat in the chair waiting for a response.
"He's safe Granddad, he's sleeping right now. I can't tell where he is but he's warm."
"Good. I had hoped so. You did a good job son. You and your brother have a special bond that none of us can compare. Now, why don't you get some rest and you can go out with us in the morning to find Jack."
Michael slid off his grandfather's lap. He stopped before the fireplace and looked up at the portrait of his family. Biting his lip he spoke softly, "I did a real bad thing."
Ben shared a glimpse with Joe and added, "You will have time to discus that with your Dad and Jack. But for now, it is good that you realize your wrong and admit to your mistake. Everything else will work itself out."
A shameful Michael turned to his granddad and uncle with a sigh of relief. "I don't care what happens to me, I just want my brother back."
"I know, son, he will be home soon. Try to get some rest."
Adam's stage came in two hours earlier than planned and he headed home feeling refreshed and ready for his family. "It was a good idea of Pa's to suggest taking a trip for a few days. I feel great!" Adam thought to himself as he rode in his saddle.
Adam didn't bother hurrying home. He decided to take a long route and follow one of his favorite scenic trails. He couldn't help but notice he was being watched. An Indian sat perched on top of a bluff. Adam kept close eye on him, with his hand at his side just encase he had to draw his gun. Adam approached the trail near the bluff carefully hoping not to cause his guest any unwanted threat. In a swift movement, the Indian was gone, which drew concern for Adam. He decided to get off his horse and kneel down at the closest bolder he could fine. Rocks spilled from a nearby ledge alerting Adam that his perpetrator was close by.
"I mean no harm Sir, so why don't you just come on out." Adam said firmly.
"And, I mean you no harm Adam Cartwright." Yakima answered with a smile as he traveled down the graveled path.
"Yakima, it is you, my Piute friend." Adam laughed. The two embraced in a manly hug.
"Now why must you taunt me like that? You move around me like a stealth mountain lion on his prey." Adam teased feeling relieved at this point that he would not be defending himself today.
"I do not know any other way. I had to be sure it was you first." Yakima smirked.
"It has been a while my friend." Adam noted
"Yes, we met for similar reasons last time too. Ghost rider has paid another visit to our camp."
"Ghost rider? You mean my son Jack. He's been to your camp?" Adam's calm state began to shift. "Has he caused you trouble?"
"Not to one of us, only to himself and maybe his family. He resides at our camp, Adam. The medicine man is carrying for his minor scraps. He is safe and healthy with your Piute neighbors. Please, come, I'll show you."
"Jack's been hurt, but how?" Adam said excitedly.
"Boys fine now, fell off wild stallion. Beautiful animal he was."
"Continue Yakima; tell me the whole story slowly please." The two friends rode their horse back to the Piute camp.
Adam couldn't believe his ears. He had only been gone for five days and the Ponderosa had been turned upside down.
Jack rested in the saddle snuggled up to his father. Adam's big arm wrapped around his son holding him close, as they followed the trail leading them home. Adam listened to Jack closely trying to understand his distress and fill in the missing pieces of the story.
"Jack, I can't explain it either. All I know is that everything will work itself out. Don't feel too badly son, it may have been a rotten few days but I'm sure you've learned something of a lesson."
Jack wiggled to get comfortable in his seat, "What kind of lesson Dad?"
"The Lesson that you need your family's trust, and that lying and deceit can alter one's belief in you." Therefore you must always tell the truth Jack, no matter what."
"This time I was telling the truth though, and no one believed me." Jack whined.
Adam agreed, "Ah' huh. Exactly."
Jack felt the warm vibrations on his father's chest as he spoke to him bringing him great comfort.
"You do believe me though, right Dad?"
"Yes, son I do believe you."
"Thanks dad, I knew you would. I don't like it when you're gone…."
"Sometimes a dad needs to get away. You know I'll always come back."
Jack sat quietly for awhile contemplating his dreaded question.
"Dad, am I in trouble?"
"No, son, you're not in trouble but I have a hunch someone else your size just might be."
"Really, who?"