The Agreement

Ethan sighed and walked to the bedroom. The man knew he had to leave an impression more than pain.

Ethan gently sat down next to the boy. At this point, George began to cry again, obviously impressed by his father's presence.

Ethan took the child on his knees, hugging him. "I want you to calm down, so we can talk." Ethan waited patiently for the little boy to stop crying.

"So George, tell me what happened, why did you leave?"

"I wanted you, I came to get you, but I got lost, I couldn't find you or the house."

"George, I gave instructions and explained why I didn't want you out. I was also very clear about the spanking I was going to inflict. Do you remember what I said?" George nodded.

"Please use words, it's a form of respect." Ethan said softly but firmly.

"Yes Pa, I remember that."

"Claire was very scared, you know. Scared enough to look for you and risk being spanked herself. She told me you were pretending to take a toy, that was sneaky George, and that was lying too. Remember when I told Tess the other day that if she was old enough to do the nonsense, she was old enough to take the punishment? I'm thinking the exact same of you right now."

"I'm sorry, Pa."

"Thanks for the apology son, but you deserve to be punished. Do you understand that?"

"Yes Pa."

"When I say something George, I expect you to obey whether you agree or not. I hope the spanking I am going to give you and the fear you had of being lost will serve as a lesson. I don't want disobedience anymore because a spanking will result every time. I love you George enough to punish you when needed!"

Ethan placed the child in front of him, unbuttoning his pants and dropping them and his underwear onto his knees.

"Sorry Pa! I won't do it again!"

"I love you George! I'll make sure you think before doing it again!" Ethan replied firmly.

He placed the boy face down on his knees, wrapping his left arm around him to secure him, he raised his right hand and slapped hard five times. One for each year for a five-year-old. In fact, they weren't so hard but he made sure to leave a sound effect on the child. Ethan pulled up George's clothes and let him cry in that position, rubbing his back. Once the tears were done and he was no longer gasping for air, he sat him up and hugged him.

"I love you my son!" He said.

Snuggling into his dad's muscular arms, George replied "I'm really sorry, Pa!"

"I forgive you, sweetheart, you have been punished, it's over."

Leaving him alone in his room until morning like he would with the older children would be too hard on the little boy, Ethan decided not to.

"Lie on your stomach for a while, it helps with a spanking. When you're ready you can come out to join me."

Ethan began the meal, between the leftovers from the picnic and one of the pots he had in reserve. He set the table for the children, there were only four chairs, he placed an old chest from his room to make a fifth seat. The children should not be long in coming. George stood in front of him, then sat watching each of his gestures.

Ten minutes later, everyone has arrived.

"It went well?" Ethan asked the older two kids.

"Yes, except Tess is wet, she was playing, she forgot to ask, we didn't scold her Pa, I promise!" Joseph replied.

Tess was already looking at her father to see what he was going to say.

"No matter Tess, accidents are going to happen. Come on, Pa is going to wash and change you."

After eating and putting all his children to bed, exhausted, Ethan fell asleep in his chair.

The next day at breakfast, Ethan told all the older children that he would enroll them in school, this morning if possible.

"We haven't been there for a long time." Claire told him.

"I know, you're going to pick up where you left off, and we'll take it from there. I want you to be wise, respectful and do your best. I won't look at the grades just yet. do not worry.

"And me?" George asked. "I've never been there."

"I'll see if you can go too, you're smart, that shouldn't be a problem."

After taking a quick glance around town to show them, everyone headed for the school.

The teacher, Ms. Dodd agreed to let them start this morning. They would take tests for their levels and she would give George a test to see if he was ready. Ethan assured his children that would not be a problem. He also informed them that he would bring them sandwiches for lunch. After a kiss and a hug to each, he was about to leave ...

Suddenly, four children threw themselves into his arms, calling him "Uncle Ethan!"

"This is Adam, Jason and Jessie, the children of my friend Amelia Lawson and Carry, the daughter of my friend Dakota." Ethan explained to his worried children.

"I present to you my children, Claire, Joseph, Ben, George and Tess". Ethan explained,

"Look at me," he said to the nine children, "my heart is big enough for everyone! I love my children, but that doesn't change a thing for you, I will always be your uncle. I don't want an argument. between you for my love! Am I clear?"

"Yes Pa, yes Uncle Ethan," they said.

"Well, I'm counting on you and trusting you. We'll have a picnic together soon. I'll organize it."

They walked out of town from Dakota's house on foot. He was not disturbed by a twenty minute walk.

"Well, it's just you and me this morning sweetheart." He told Tess.

"Yes, Papa." Tess said, very quietly. Ethan smiles.

"Papa?"

Ethan's heart leaped in his chest! A question? A first for her baby!

"Yes my darling?" Ethan replied softly, as if it was normal, and that she had always spoken.

"Why are they calling you 'Uncle Ethan'?"

Ethan knelt down to face her.

"Because I've known them since birth. I'm their friendly uncle, but I'm your Papa. Nothing will change that. I love you, do you understand?"

"Yes Papa." she said, throwing herself into his arms. He hugged her in a muscular embrace.

"Ethan! My friend! How are you?" Did you bring your sister back?" Dakota asked as his wife asked "Who is this little princess?"

"Dakota, Marie, if you make me coffee, I'll tell you everything that happened."

"Ethan, you're going to live on your own raising five children! It won't be easy!" Marie said to him.

"I know. Actually, I'm looking for a farm to buy, and I accepted a sheriff's job here in Paradise. People have been scared since the bank attack. In fact, my cabin is going to be the new prison. Dakota, I'm going to ask you to be my assistant, Tim agrees. The salary will be seventy dollars per month, double month in November, all your fees paid by the city. It's a well paid Dakota, but don't give me an answer now, you both have time to talk about it."

"If you need it, I can keep this little princess who is snuggled up to you. You have kept Carry for us many times when we needed it. Don't hesitate, it will be my pleasure."

"Thank you Marie, but between Carry and this baby you are expecting, you already have a lot to do, but I take note of it punctually. It is kind of you to give the offer."

Ethan went home and laid Tess down for a nap, the child was exhausted from walking. He made sandwiches for his children at school. He was about to take Tess to bring them when Joseph entered.

"Pa, please don't be mad. I have permission from Mrs. Dodd, to come get the sandwiches. I thought Tess would be asleep. Are you going to punish me for leaving school?"

"No Joseph, thanks for thinking about it. As long as Mrs. Dodd knows, I'm not mad. Here, get the sandwiches and the fruit. Was the morning okay?"

"Yes sir, Mrs Dodd is nice. George isn't far behind the early years, he's actually quite good. Pa? Can we keep playing on the school field after school like here?"

"You're going to tell me everything tonight, I agree you can all stay and play for an hour after school."

"Okay, thank you Pa. See you this afternoon!"

At two o'clock, Ethan was in front of the bank waiting for Amelia to escort him to visit the property.

"I would like to introduce my youngest, Tess, she is three years old."

"Since I'm 'Uncle Ethan' to your kids, will you be 'Aunt Amelia' to mine?" He asked with a smile.

"With pleasure, you know!"

"Tess, this is your Aunt Amelia," he said softly.

"Tess, will you come to my knees while your Papa drives?"

Tess' response was to hang on to her father's neck.

"It's okay, Tess. You can drive with me if you want." Ethan reassures her.

The property was huge, with a small stream running through it, a swimming hole, woods, and a small cabin at the south end. They took over an hour to go around.

There was a barn with several stalls and a fairly large tack room.

The house was also large, a large living room, an open fitted kitchen, a sink, a water pump, a stove, it seems to be in good condition. Then a large bedroom.

The next floor consisted of five rooms but unusable, it would require redoing the waterproofing, moldy paint and cracked floor. A staircase led to a third floor, attic, also to be redone. The previous owners had only lived downstairs it seemed.

"There's a lot of work to do, but the downstairs is immediately habitable and you have time for the rest when you get there. In the end it will be a nice house, Ethan. It would be too expensive if it was in good condition. What do you think?"

Ethan had tears in his eyes, "Actually, it's perfect Amelia! Thank you!"

"I saw Tim this morning. With the city buying your cottage and your accounts, you can buy it in cash."

"No thank you, I prefer to keep my accounts for the unexpected, there will necessarily be some. I also want to keep money for my children if something happens to me. I promised Claire. I'll get paid pretty well by the city for my job as a sheriff, I can afford rent every month for a few years, maybe you can include the work in this loan? My account will be there as collateral."

"I understand, you're right and it seems doable to me, I'll see to that ... well, the keys are yours, you won't find anything better for your big family, I promise you! The rest is just to paperwork."

"Thanks Amelia. Come home with me, I'll put Tess to sleep, make some coffee or tea and we'll talk. Want a hot chocolate Tess, before your nap? But you drink it from the bowl."

"Amelia, Tim told me your kids have been causing trouble in town for a while, do you want to tell me about it?"

"They are lost, they need time to recover from losing their father."

"Don't make excuses for them, there's no excuse to be disrespectful. James was strict, I know, I've seen him punish harshly more than once. He wouldn't have tolerated such behavior. Let me help you keep them in line, I owe that to James."

"You're right, they crossed the line, but ..."

"If you let them do it now, what will they do later? Raise your hand to you?"

"It's already been done. Adam did it." Amelia confessed sadly.

"What? Adam? When?"

"This morning he didn't want to tidy up his room and he got angry ... he slapped me."

"What? I don't believe it! Do you realize how disrespectful that is? And you weren't going to tell me?" Ethan said angrily.

"He didn't want to obey, he left in the madness of the moment ..."

"Are you kidding? Can you hear me? It's inexcusable! I promise he never will do it again! In memory of James, I won't let him!"

I also need a favor." Ethan said, calming down.

"Let's say I help you and you help me. I will need someone to babysit Tess for a few hours while I work. Can you do this for me? When you have an important meeting or a trip, Marie offered to keep her. In return, I help you keep your children in line."

"Yes it's a good idea."

"I'll be clear, I intend to punish them however I want if I help you. You know I'm strict but fair. I need your full trust, that you never doubt my discipline and support me, regardless of the punishment. I would never abuse them, I will be the same as I am with my own children. I would give what they can take depending on their age, never bruising. I promise you!"

"I know, Ethan, I trust you, I'll trust you with my life!"

"Okay, we have a deal so, I gave my kids permission to stay and play for an hour after school. I'll drop Tess off and they'll keep her, We'll bring your kids together to talk about their behavior and let them know it's over now! For the twins, a simple raising of voice should impress them, maybe a few slaps on their behind. However, I will spank Adam with his pants down. I'll see that he keeps his underwear on depending on his attitude, I can't stand what he did this morning. I will not use my belt this time, but I will if he does it again. Do you agree or do you want me to be tougher?"

"No, you're fair, Ethan, I agree, just your hand is perfect for Adam this time. Thank you."

"Well, I'll try to inform you of the penalties first, but sometimes that won't be possible. This is where you have to trust me. If I have any defiance or disrespect during punishment, I might be more severe than I expected. Do not hesitate to use me to threaten them if necessary. I will follow your words no matter what you promise."

"Thanks Ethan, you will punishh with love like James did, I trust you."