You Have to Believe!
The train would leave for Santa Fe at ten o'clock. It took two days by train to reach town. William was proud and handsome in his new clothes!
Scott had given him a haircut as well.
The man took the opportunity to post another long letter to Sam explaining that William was in fact respectful, he had a little sister seven year old Louise. He told Sam
they had to pick Louise up from orphanage in Santa Fe, that was one of the unforeseen events he had spoken earlier. Scott told her he loved her very much, and reminded her
that no one would take her place. Just as it had when he met Evi, his heart was growing. There was enough love for all.
After a few hours on the train, William found it difficult to sit still, although Scott had put their jackets on the seat to make the child sit more comfortably.
The couple told him about themselves and the family. Evi told him she was a schoolteacher, they talked about the ranch, Sam, Johnny and Murdoch.
"Sir, when are we going to have lunch?" William asked.
"Are you are hungry Evi replied.
"Yes Ma'am, and above all, I would like to get up!"
"We're going then." Scott informed.
"Don't you want to call us Scott and Evi? Sir and Ma'am, would be good when you're in trouble!" Scott teased.
"No sir, that would not be correct."
"Okay then, how about Uncle Scott and Aunt Evi?" Evi asked.
"I don't know, that would be weird since you are my sister, not my aunt."
"Sister Evi, that makes a bit of a good sister! Don't you think so?" Scott teased as the boy and Evi burst out laughing!
"I never had a dad, my real dad died when I was a baby, and Lou's dad was mean to me."
"Mean? Did he beat you too?" Scott asked.
"Yes sir, maybe more than an orphanage!"
"My God!" Evi exclaimed.
'Had this kid ever had a man to take his bearings on? Apparently not, that's why he clung to him like a life jacket!' Scott thought.
"And Lou? She didn't look beaten up, rather spoiled! I must have been tough on her because I even gave her a little spanking!" The man informed the boy.
"Yes Lou did whatever she wanted, she was his real daughter, me, a bastard, he beat me!"
"Don't use that word boy!" Scott growled softly. "He's dead, he won't hurt you anymore."
"Yes sir!"
Go for Mister then, Scott thought.
In the dining car, a man pushed William.
"My word boy, get out of here!"
"It's alright Idiot! There will be something for everyone!" The child replied.
"If you were my son…! "
"What is happening?" Scott asked.
"Is this your son?"
"Yes."
"He was disrespectful to me!"
Scott turned to William. "Have you been disrespectful?"
"Yes sir, but he pushed me first! He's an idiot!"
"Go and wait for me in the compartment." Scott ordered sternly.
The child had curled up between the seats, shaking.
"Calm down William, I'm not going to beat you!"
"But you sent me here." The boy replied softly.
Scott sat down.
"Come here, between my knees," he ordered.
"I took you away from the man, but you insulted him, this behavior will not be accepted, you should have come to see me and let me manage it. Look at me. None of my children will be disrespectful! I will punish you, but not spank you, you're not ready for that yet."
"What are you going to do?" The child asked uncertainly.
"William, have you ever been punished without being beaten?"
"No sir."
"You are going to write an essay on the rules I told you about this morning. Write about what I expect from you, and what you can do to do your best and make me proud."
"Yes sir."
"Well, let's have lunch, then you will do it this afternoon, that should keep you occupied for a while."
"Yes sir, can I still eat?"
"Of course William, depriving you of food will never be a punishment, I want you to eat."
"Yes sir."
"Look at me!" The man waited for the child to obey. "I will never beat you, William! Even if I have to spank you one day, it will be with love and fairness, never leaving any mark or bruise. It will be nothing like what you went through. You should start to know me now. I would never hurt you, you gotta believe it boy!"
The child threw himself into his arms crying, Scott wrapped his arms around his head, the only place where there was no bruise.
In the afternoon William wrote his essay, in fact he ended up writing while on his stomach draped over Scott's knees.
"I'm not used to having a child in this position without giving out a spanking!" Scott teased.
"Sorry! If that bothers you, I'll stay up sir!" The child replied.
"I don't mind boy, I'm just teasing you."
The essay was well done. It showed the kid was good at vocabulary and spelling. After reading it, Scott passed it to Evi.
"You do well in school, don't you?" Evi asked.
"Yes, I am always at the top of the class and I never even work hard!"
"I was like that as a child. Were you also Scott?"
Both were eagerly waiting for his answer. It made him smile.
"Yes, I had facuities, however, I will not accept this way of driving you William. I would be severe about it. I work hard so that we can live comfortably. It is your job to work hard at school even if you have good mental ability, you can always do better with hard work. You put forth your best effort and never slack off. My father won't let me do it and I won't let you either, you understand me young man?"
"Yes sir."
The journey continued between discussions, laughter, teasing and even a checkers game that Scott had borrowed from the train company.
"Gather our things, we'll be there soon." The man informed.
The Santa Fe orphanage was much smaller than the Denver one, more like a farm or boarding house. The manager was friendly, there were mostly young children with Lou being one of the oldest.
The three waited for Louise in a small room. The child came running, apparently she had been informed of their arrival.
"Scott! You came to get me! For real? Are you going to be my daddy?" The little girl asked, crying with joy!
The little girl only saw Scott, she hadn't noticed Evi and William.
"Yes, I came! Calm down, Lou, so we can talk!" He said hugging her!
It took Scott at least ten minutes of hugging and soothing to reassure the little girl he had come to pick her up and he would not leave without her.
"I didn't come alone Louise, turn around!" Scott said teasingly.
And there Louise's eyes widened!
"William? How?"
The child threw herself into her brother's arms crying! Squeezing him tight! Scott saw Will wince in pain as Lou put her arms behind his back, but he clenched his teeth andput his arms around his little sister, hugging her. in turn.
"Oh Will! You found me! I knew that you would!" Said the happy child!
"It's thanks to Mr. Lancer, that I did!" Will replied.
"I told you to believe it Lou!" Scott said.
" How or what?" Lou asked again.
"Go get your things Louise, we're leaving, our train leaves at six o'clock. We'll have plenty of time on the train to tell you the whole story, we promise!" Scott ordered.
Meanwhile, in Lancer, time was starting to seem long to Sam and her mood was horrible. Murdoch tried to be patient, but the little girl pushed him over the edge.
"Where have you been Samantha? I've been looking for you for over an hour, you're supposed to tell me where you are!" The man scolded.
"You are not my father! I don't have to listen to you!" The child shouted.
"Alright, that is enough! Sam, go to your room! We will talk there!" The man ordered.
"No!"
"I've had enough of your disrespect for a few days! It will be here then, in front of everyone!" It was just Rita, but the man knew she wouldn't mind.
With these words, Murdoch sat down on the kitchen chair, pulled the little girl onto his knees, lifted her dress, and lowered his hand five times on the small, covered bot
"Ouch! Sorry Grandfather! I will be good! Sorry! Ohw"
Then the man stopped, sat the child on his knee and hugged her.
"This behavior stops now! Your father won't let you act like this and neither will I. Have you got me?"
"Yes Grandfather!" Sam replied sobbing.
"Good, because if it happens again, it will be your age spanking on your bare butt! Am I clear?"
"Yes Grandfather!"
"Good, now go to your room, supper will be brought to you there."
"Yes Grandpa, Daddy's room?" She asked curiously.
"Yes Sam, I told you that would be your room while he was gone. I won't punish you by taking that privilege away from you, no matter what you do, I promise."
"Okay," and the little girl obeyed.
After bringing her meal to Sam, Murdoch hugged her, telling her that he loved her and forgave her. The little girl fell asleep against the man thinking of her daddy who she
missed so much.