Nonsense
Friday morning Judge Williams arrived by the ten o'clock stage.
"Hello Ethan!"
"Hello Alec! Did you have a good trip?"
"Yes thank you. Ethan, this is my son Tom. My wife and my eldest, my daughter, passed away six months ago. I had no choice but to bring him with me."
"I'm sorry for the loss of your wife and daughter, I lost my sister too, as you know, it's hard but eventually it gets better. I have no problem with you bringing your son. Hello Tom! I am Sheriff Cord."
The child did not answer.
"Do you want to come and sleep at my home or do you prefer the hotel?" Ethan asked.
"The hotel is fine, but we will come over for dinner if you agree."
"Okay, let's get you settled in and we'll sign the papers later."
"Sounds good! Thanks Ethan, I'm a little tired from the trip, Tom? Can you take the bags please?"
"Take them yourself!" Replies the child!
Ethan was stunned by the boy! His friend being unresponsive in correcting the child, Ethan allowed himself to do so. He knew Alec well enough to trust he would not mind! Ethan grabbed the thirteen year old by the wrist.
"Not so fast young man!" He said sternly as the boy tried to leave.
"I don't know how it is with your home, but in MY TOWN, a child obeys adults or he is spanked! Am I being clear enough?" Ethan looked the child straight in the eye.
"Take the bags! This is not a request, this is an order!"
The child obeyed, reluctantly..
Ethan and Dakota returned to the office.
"He's strange, your friend, not too much authority over his son for a judge!"
"I know he's usually tougher, something's wrong, but he just lost his family, give him a little time."
"Six months Ethan is a long time but you bounced back faster than that!"
"I know I have a bad feeling but let's not assume anything and wait and see."
At the end of the morning, Tom came running into their office.
"Sheriff Cord! Pa's down on the ground! Come on, please! He's not moving!"
"I'm coming Tom, calm down and let's go!"
Ethan and Dakota followed the boy, finding the judge lying on the ground drunk, an empty whiskey bottle still in his hand.
"Dakota, go get my cart. Tom, I want you to go with him. Leave me alone with your father."
"No! He's my pa! Are you going to hurt him? Are you going to hit him?"
"No Tom! He's my friend! I won't hurt him, I give you my word! Trust me and obey me!"
The child obeyed and left with Dakota.
Ethan closed the travel bags and emptied any bottles of liquor he could find, when the judge awoke.
"Ethan? what are you doing?"
"I'm saving your life and that of your son! You come with me!"
"What if I refuse?"
"If you want me to hit you, I would! But you're going to follow me! How do you take care of your son in this state?"
"But what of my job?"
"In your state, that is impossible to do too! I'll make you disappear for a few days! No one will question."
Dakota arrived with the cart.
"Let's go!" Ethan ordered.
"Where are we going? To your home?" Dakota asked.
"No, I'm going to protect my family from his unpredictable reactions. I have a little cabin at the south end of my property. It will be dirty and need to be cleaned up, but we'll manage!"
To Ethan's astonishment, the place was clean, The bed was made, surely Claire's work. A small table and two chairs had been built with wood. Most likely the work of Joseph.
Ethan recognized his expertise! There were saucepans, kitchen utensils, there were even pots in reserve!
He settled Alec on the bed and urged everyone out to have a chat.
"I'm going to have to have a chat with my older kids. They must have come in secret to fix up the place! Although right now all I want is to give them a hug!"
"What do we do with Tom? Do you want me to take him?"
"No, not with pregnant Marie, little Carry, and you at work, we'll find something else."
"I want to stay here, with my father!" Tom said.
"No!" Ethan replied firmly. "I might have to be tough and jostle him around a bit. I don't want you to be in harm's way. I won't hurt him! I promise you! Trust me! If I let you go stay with my family, do you promise to behave?"
"Would you trust me there?"
"Yes, I know your father well. He is in pain too, but I doubt you are a delinquent! If I'm wrong, my two older sons won't let you hurt the family."
"I'm not, a delinquent, I promise."
"Alright, it's settled then, you will do whatever the adults and especially my future wife tell you! If there is any problem, I will take my belt off and spank you, naked! I will treat you as my own child, it's a promise! Do you understand?"
"Yes sir!"
"Dakota, please take Tom to school, give him my lunch on the way. Introduce him to Mrs. Dodd and the kids, there's no point in him going around in circles all day!
Then you warn Tim that the judge will be away for a few days, he'll cover my responsibilities. Finally warn Amelia what's going on, she'll bring me the meals. I think we're going having to postpone repairs and my little surprise!"
"Understood Ethan! Sorry you have to cancel your surprise weekend! Do you think you can help him?"
"It's just postponed for a few days and yes, I think so. Tom? Did your father drink before your family members died?"
"No, sir. He used to be stern and strict, like you! Now I do what I want and he doesn't care. He doesn't love me anymore!"
"He still loves you Tom, believe me he's just 'lost'. Has he bern violent? Did he hit you before when drinking? I'm not talking about spanking for nonsense,Tom."
"No sir."
"So, please lift your shirt and turn around so I can see your back for myself."
Ethan had to be sure, men were often violent under the influence of alcohol and children would lie to cover for them! If the judge was violent he would not help him, only the child."
The child obeyed, no sign of a blow, recent or old.
"Thanks Tom, put your shirt back down."
"Well, he's not violent, and he's been drinking for less than six months, I think his body hasn't had time to get used to alcohol. I'm taking the risk of getting him out of the habit. I think a few days should be enough! "
"You are a great man Ethan!" Dakota said.
And then, taking Ethan by surprise, Tom threw himself on his middle, hugging him tight. The man tightening his arms around the child, returning the hug.
"Don't worry Tom, I'll bring him back to you. He will be like before, I promise! Your job will be to help me by obeying me and behaving yourself. Don't disappoint me!"
Dakota brought the boy to school. He explained to Mrs. Dodd that Tom was passing through, his father was working, and that he would be living with the Cord familiy for a few days. Dakota also stated Tom would be following the same rules.
It was lunchtime so Dakota was able to introduce every one of the Cord children before he left.
"Children, he will come home with you this evening. Your Pa and his are going to be working a job together away from home. I'm counting on you to help him!"
"Yes sir! They said.
"So? You want to explain to us what is really going on? Something doesn't seem right to me. Our Pa doesn't work going away like this." Adam asked.
Tom quickly recounted the story and Adam, Joseph and Claire turned white! Their father would know they had gone to the cabin on the sly!
"What are we gonna do Adam? Pa is going to be so mad!" Claire asked.
"He was a little surprised, but he was happy enough, I don't think he is all that mad because he guessed it was you. I heard him say he wanted to hug you and he said he will talk to you." Tom replied.
"Sorry for your mother and your sister, Tom. Our parents are also deceased, as well as the father of Adam. We know how you feel." Claire informed him
"Really? Isn't the Sheriff your real father?"
"He is now! But no, he is our uncle, our mother's brother. He adopted me, my brothers; Joseph, Ben, George, and our little sister, Tess, when our Mama died. Amelia, you'll meet her tonight, she's sweet. She's the mother of Adam, Jessie and Jason. Their Pa is dead. He died not all that long ago. Now our parents are together. They were good friends long before the deaths."
"Well! That's complicated! Your father is not their father, and their mother is not your mother! And you obey them without saying anything?"
"What do you mean?"Joseph asked.
"Well, a woman who isn't my mother doesn't have the right to order me around! A man who isn't my father either! You should do some nonsense to annoy them!"
"Are you crazy? You don't know my father! He would kill us all!" Joseph said.
"He is not going to be there!" Tom said. "Let's have a little fun! Nothing dangerous for your Ma, Adam. Of course we can do whatever we want!"
Let's go back to class, Mrs. Dodd is calling." Joseph informed them.
"Ethan, I can't live without them! Just let me drink!"
"You can Alec! Life goes on! Do it for your son! He still lives! He needs his father! My future wife lost her husband not long ago. It was the bank attack, did you hear about it?"
"Yes of course ..., his name was Dawson? Wasn't it?"
"Lawson. James, my best friend was the banker who was murdered. It's not even been two months but we love each other! We're already a family! We share raising both sets of children. You should see her eyes when she looks at me! You understand? "
"Yes."
"Rest a bit, then we'll fill the small washtub with water."
"Hello Ma'am." Tom greets the woman politely.
"Hello Tom, welcome," Amelia said, having expected the boy after Dakota's explanation.
"Thank you Ma'am."
"Adam, you're going to take food and coffee to Ethan. Do you know where the cabin is?"
"Yes, Ma!"
"I am going too!" Joseph declares.
"No, you are to stay here." Amelia said.
Joseph left with Adam and Tom, defying her orders.
The week Ethan was away has been total nonsense! All of the children refused to do their assigned chores. They no longer obeyed Amelia!, They answered back and refused to do anything to help. No making the beds, cleaning the table, doing the dishes, helping with the laundry, no fetching wood. They refused to clean the barn or water the animals. Jessie was in her element! Even George and Jason, usually calm and obedient, were unleashed! Tess was out of control, sticking her tongue out at every request from Amelia!
Amelia couldn't do everything on her own anymore, she was exhausted!
"Let's go upstairs to play on the forbidden floor!" Joseph said, he had wanted it for days!
"If Pa finds out, it will be a naked spanking, in front of everyone!" Claire reminded.
"If we stay together around him he won't! He can't bare us in front of you girls, or you girls in front of us, has he already?" Tom asked.
"No, he always makes sure we don't see each other, he would put us in the corner, in separate rooms." Claire replied.
"So, no more naked spanking in front of everyone! Come on, he won't even know! Who's coming?" Tom stated.
All the kids followed, even Tess.
"Get your things ready Alec!"
"Why?"
"I'll take you to my place! We'll be better off there than here! I think you're ready, now. All you have left is to keep the will not to drink! But I trust you, you'll get there!"
"Thanks Ethan for pushing me around a bit and showing me that life goes on!"
"I'm your friend Alec! I'll always be here!"
The upstairs tour was really appealing to the kids, Tess was running around. Ben, George, Jessie and Jason were exploring the attic floor. Joseph was imagining the carpentry repairs he wished he could be allowed to do. Claire, busy imagining herself being a princess in her castle. Adam and Tom were having fun fighting. Suddenly, the floor under Adam's feet collapsed!
"MA!" Adam yelled, hoping his mother would hear him from the barn where she worked.
Tom was there in a rush and was holding him tight by his hands at arm's length.
"Joseph! Claire! Come help me! I won't last long holding him!"
They joined in with Tom. Joseph grabbed Adam's other arm, and Claire, as best she could held Adam by his shirt.
Ethan, having just arrived in front of the house, had heard Adam scream, real fear in his voice. He rushed into the house followed by Alec.
What he saw shocked him! A huge hole had opened in the ceiling in the main room. Through this hole, Adam's legs were wriggling.
"It's okay kids, I'm here," Ethan reassured loudly, "Let him go, I'll catch him! ... Tom, listen to me!, I will have him!, Go on now, let him go!" The boy was in shock, but Ethan's firm voice made him let go.
Ethan welcomed Adam into his muscular arms easily.
"No one moves and just sit where you are!" Ethan shouted for everyone to hear, "I'm going to come get you! Are you okay Adam?"
"Yes sir! I am sorry. I just...!"
"Not now Adam!" The man interrupted. "Amelia, Alec,, carry the mattresses from the bedroom and put them here on the floor, just in case."
Ethan walked upstairs stopping at the hallway door. He was within calling distance of the children at the area with the hole.
"Tess? Are you seated?" Ethan called out so that both floors could hear him.
" Yes Papa!"
"Well no one moves until I call you! Got it?" The man hearing nothing from the children, demands "I want an answer!"
"Yes sir!" They quickly replied!
"I'm not going to add my weight to yours, you will walk to me here by the stairs. Very slowly, one by one when I call you. We will proceed in order of weight. Tom, you are most likely the heaviest, you are first, come here, very slowly. Okay, Joseph, now come, slowly." Then in order he called Claire, Ben, Jason, Jessie, George and Tess, as the children came the risk of collapse reduced.
Finally all were safe. Ethan and Amelia hugged all the children for reassurance, Alec did the same with his son.
"I know what I promised if you went up there! I didn't forget but I think you're all too shocked to talk about it now. Go to your room, you too Tom, I want you to think about what could have happened! Put the mattresses back and make the beds again! I will call you when I have decided how to proceed with your punishment and I am calm enough to face it!"
"Yes sir!" The solemn children answered and obeyed.
"Adam, Jason and Jessie are Amelia's children." Ethan told Alec. "Amelia, this is Judge Alec Williams. Alec, this is my future wife, Amelia Lawson."
"Hello Ma'am!"
"Hello, pleasure to meet you Judge Williams!"
"Ethan, I was so scared just now!" She said moving closer for a hug.
He hugged her tight, "Me too honey, me too! Where were you when we arrived?"
"I was doing the chores in the barn."
"Why? Isn't that the boys' job?"
Amelia then told him of the nonsense of their children while he was away. Ethan was furious!
"How dare they behave that way! Leaving you to do everything!"
Amelia served coffee to calm the adults, she brought milk and cookies to the children. "After all, even men having been sentenced to death had the right to a meal." She said, Ethan and Alec agreed.
"What are you going to do? And how are you going to do it? Girls together and boys together?" Amelia asked.
"Exactly what I promised for the upstairs visit, a naked spanking in front of everyone. I don't know how yet, I'm going to find a way, only I have to add the disobedience and refusal to do the chores! it's a lot of spanking to come, I have to find a solution so that it is severe but fair, without excess." Ethan clarified.
After a moment of thought, Ethan asked Alec if he would stay there with Tom again this week. He wanted Tom to be punished like his children, so he could catch up with his work during the day.
"I made a promise to your son, Alec. I would like to punish him like my children. I will tell you what's on my mind, you can give me your agreement or not."
"Your house, your rules. Ethan, you have carte blanche with Tom. What do you plan to do?"
Ethan explained in detail what he was planning.
"You are a genius with punishment Ethan! They will be well punished in front of everyone without anyone seeing anything! It is severe but fair and not excessive at all! You have my permission for Tom!" said Alec
"Alright! Thank you Alec!"