New Beginnings: Life Changes
Ch. 2
Building and Beginnings
By the third day of having twelve men around all day, Claire has decided to spend the day visiting Cecily in town. The noise of the hammering and the people traipsing in and out are too much to take. Leaving the boys with Rob and Joseph she takes her basket of sewing and heads for quiet as soon as breakfast is finished.
Washing up the few dishes they used, Rob begins to list the events that they hope will occur that day.
"Joseph and I will help build the porch while the other team builds the walls for the upper floor. Ben, George, I want you boys to do as you did yesterday. You will be the water boys taking the buckets of water with the dipper to the men. You will also be helping by picking up dropped nails and pounding bent nails straight. We need your help to keep everything moving."
"We can do that, can't we Ben?" George answers looking at his scowling brother.
"All we do is little things! I want to build too. I can hammer. Can we have a turn to build, Rob?"
"I'll see when we get to the part of laying the boards in for the porch. First, we have to build the bottom to connect the two porches. It's good that we have front and side already done and just need to build the connecting part. Ben, helping with the water is not little things. It's saving us time not having to stop to go get a drink."
"I really like how Papa and Mama's room stretches all the way across the side of the house now. I say it's two times longer than it used to be. The kitchen seems a lot bigger now too. With the stove in the middle, it seems big. Are we going to get the new table today? I want to see it."
"Not yet, George. We have to finish building inside, at least get the upper-level floor in first. We don't want anything dropping on the table. I think we may be able to get it tomorrow though. We'll see."
"Did they figure out where to put the stairs yet?" Joseph asks having dried the dishes and put them back in the basket. The family was only using a few dishes each meal to keep the rest packed.
"I believe the final plan is to put the staircase at the end of the kitchen. It's not going to be that wide so it won't be taking up to much room."
"Rob, who's going to sleep in your room if you move upstairs?" Ben asks.
"I suppose we'll just keep it empty for now, Ben."
"If you move upstairs, you and Claire will have awfully big rooms. They're going to be the whole house wide aren't they?" Ben asks next.
"No, we're only going to have the front half to use for our rooms and the back half will be for storage space. You'll see when we get it walled in, how it will look."
"Well, you're going to have to walk bent over 'cause the roof is close to the floor." Ben declares as he shows his brothers what he means.
Laughing at Ben's waddling stooped down in a crouch, Joseph says "Ben you really do a very good imitation of a chicken. They'll have room to stand straight. Remember what Uncle Matt told us. He knows how to build the roof higher."
"The wagons are here, let's go greet the men. Remember boys, you are to stay where Joseph or I can see you. I want cooperation and obedience from both of you. If someone tells you to do something, you do it. No backtalk, no arguing and especially no disobedience. Do you understand? Ben? George?"
"I won't cause trouble. I want to help, Rob." George answers.
"I understand," Ben replies opening the front door.
Seeing all four wagons full of more building supplies and men riding on top of the boards, George says "There's a lot of people, Rob."
"Hello, Cord family. We brought extra hands today." Mr. Blackstock calls as the men begin to unload the wagons.
"Good morning. Thank you for coming to help today." Rob replies speaking to all of the men.
"Well, we've already decided who is doing what so let's get started. Matthew will be out after lunch. He is going to close the general store at lunch. Chris is unable to come today. He's taking the jail duty. There was a little trouble in town. Someone decided to break into the mercantile and help themselves to Axelrod's supplies. Needless to say, he is mighty upset. Mitch and Chris are looking for clues."
"Where do you want Joseph and I to be?" Rob asks Mr. Blackstock. As self-declared head of the project, everyone answers to him. He and Matt have the most building experience of the men but all have completed projects such as building walls and floors before.
"Let's get you boys started on building the extension for the porch. You'll help Abe, Jonathan, and Swen. The rest of us will be working on the roof. We want to disassemble it if possible. Alright, groups let's get started. We need to get as much done as possible today. We have to be finished by Saturday at noon. That will give the women time to do whatever it is they are planning that afternoon and Monday. If I know Ethan, he may not stay the full nine days. We need to have this extension done by the weekend."
"That's a huge amount of building, sir," Rob says looking up at the roof.
"Ethan will not return to an unfinished home. We'll get it done." Mr. Jamison answers before Mr. Blackstock.
"That we will." another speaks up as he begins unloading lumber from the wagon.
"Let's get the ladders up. Bring the rope and saws along." Mr. Jamison calls to his team.
Watching the men unload long thick boards, George asks Joseph "Are we going to get to help as Rob said?"
"I believe so but first we have to watch as the men set the posts. See the holes in the ground? They'll pour cement down in them and set the posts. That will be the foundation for holding the porch. Let's go watch them mix the concrete." Joseph replies walking towards the men currently pouring bags into tall metal barrels.
"Mr. Johanson?" George asks having watched bags of what he thinks of as white dirt being poured into barrels.
"Yes, son?"
"Why are you mixing white dirt with water? How is that going to help hold up posts? Joseph says it will but if it rains the dirt will just wash away."
This brings much laughter to the men causing George to bristle with indignation and swipe his eyes of the unexpected tears. Used to his Papa, Rob and close family friends answering his or Ben's questions, it hurts his pride to have the men laugh at his questions.
Seeing the boy's reaction and him turn and walk away, Rob follows, pulls him aside to comfort him.
"It's alright, George. Don't cry. That's not white dirt, it's a mixture of sand and ground up rocks. They mix it with water to make concrete. Concrete will dry and harden into something very much like rock. Rain and other weather won't hurt it at all. If you have questions, go ahead and ask me or Joseph. The men are not used to children questioning things. Some boys are told to be quiet and stay out of adult's business. We aren't like that in our family and the men don't know this. For right now, how about you and Ben just watch and I'll tell you what is going on when I can. Okay?" Rob asks with a quick squeeze to the boy's shoulders.
"Yes, Rob," George answers, still blinking back tears.
While the work on their home is being done in Paradise, the newlyweds are enjoying time together free of responsibilities. Having spent the first couple of days after the train ride, in the hotel room, Ethan has brought his new bride to the marina.
"Have you ever been on a sailboat Delphie?" He asks as the couple relax on a bench watching the boats pass by.
"No, the only boats I've been on are a rowboat and then the steamer from Ireland. The steamer was not much fun. We weren't able to afford good tickets so we spent the trip below deck in steerage. One large room with twelve or more people packed together. Luckily we were able to get bunks as Amy and I arrived earlier than some. Those latecomers slept on the floor. No blankets were provided. We at least had a thin blanket but no pillow. The smell was not pleasant. Many were seasick. I'm sorry. I shouldn't be mentioning unpleasant memories."
"No, I want you to share your memories. Experiences are part of what makes us who we are. Let's not worry about the other's reactions. If we have something we wish to share, let's just do so. Agreed?"
"Yes, Ethan. I agree. Would it be possible for us to go on one of those boats? I believe gliding across the water would be something I'd enjoy."
"Let's go ask in the restaurant. There may be someone who will take us on a boat."
After discussing the possible sailboat trip while Delphie was enjoying pie and coffee, Ethan returns to the table. Waiting for his own pie and coffee, he explains what he's learned.
"I spoke with two men who have sailboats. Mr. Greenwood was nice enough to let me rent his boat for a couple of hours. He also told me all I need to know to operate it."
"Ethan, not to make it sound as if I don't believe in you, but is it safe? I can swim but weighted down in a dress, petticoats, pantaloons, ankle boots, I doubt I'd do well if we fell in the water."
"The water is not choppy at all. The boat has rails along the sides so you'll be safe. We'll just be floating on the water. There's not much wind today so we won't be moving quickly enough to capsize. Will you do me the honor of sailing with me Mi'lady?"
With a low giggle, she replies "I will be honored, your Lordship. Let's go now."
"Now? I haven't had my pie or coffee. The Lady will wait. Her Lordship has declared it so."
"Hmmpff. His Lordship better eat and drink quickly then. His lady might sail without him." Delphie replies eyes twinkling with laughter.
Thirty minutes later, enjoying the feel of the wet breeze on her face, Delphie says "We need to build a sailboat. This is quite fun."
"We have nowhere to sail in Paradise that I'm aware of anyway."
"What about the lake? We could start a tradition of sailboating on the lake where we have picnics."
"We just might. Ben would love it. So would Joseph. Those two thrive on adventure. Too much so as they've both found plenty of trouble to go with the adventure over the past few years."
"I'd like to hear about how you came to be the children's father. Will you tell me? Perhaps some about their mother as well."
"I will tell you how we came together but then let's not talk of children for a while. We are supposed to be on a honeymoon. I love the children but I also love time away from them. Are you sure you wouldn't rather speak of something else?"
At the long look he receives, Ethan reluctantly begins the story of how he became the children's guardian.
"I was working in and around Paradise as a hired gun. I've told you my background and how I came to be proficient with guns. Mostly, I worked as a guard at the mine but also did some work for the local sheriff if he needed me. My sister was married and living in Missouri so we had drifted apart. I went to visit once when Claire was probably six or seven. George was only a small baby at the time. I didn't get along with Lucy's husband and didn't stay very long. The man rubbed me the wrong way and was forceful in his speech with my sister. I didn't see any abuse and Lucy wouldn't talk to me about their relationship, not that I asked much. You know that some men are of the old school of thought. They are in charge of women and children. The family obeys the male."
"I don't like that way of thinking. Marriage should be equal in raising a family. I'm of the more modern thoughts. I know men are the ones who provide but women are capable of more than just being a homemaker!"
"Easy there, don't rock the boat with your ire. I agree with you. I am a modern thinker as well." Ethan replies teasingly.
"Not when it comes to your daughter's clothes you aren't. You really should let up on her about the modesty you insist on. Having her covered from neck to toes isn't in fashion or practical. You need to be more modern with that thinking."
"I'm easing up some. I did allow the dress for the wedding to end at the shoulders instead of her chin! I also allowed the vee in the neckline to end at the base of her neck. Her skirts are to the shin lately. I say that's progressive enough for now. I am not having my daughter show cleavage. She's just turned seventeen and is innocent, not some streetwalker and she will look as a young girl of seventeen!"
"Hmm, whatever you say, Ethan. She's not a child any longer. She's a young woman now, on the verge of marriage."
"Back to the story of how I came to be a Pa," Ethan says ignoring the comment. "About a year after I began work in Paradise, I received a telegram stating Lucy had died. There was also word, I had been appointed guardian. The telegram stated their Father was gone and no one was aware of his whereabouts. The children were staying with friends of Lucy's, members of the traveling stage show. I bought tickets and headed to Missouri. It was a long trip. It took days to get there as it was during the end of a hard winter. The further south we went the better the travel conditions were for the tracks."
"You just left everything to go pick up your niece and nephews? You didn't even think about what you needed for them? No house or supplies? Claire has told me you moved to the house after the children came here." Delphie asks.
"I didn't know much about children or their needs. All I knew was they were Lucy's and I was taking them. No one else was going to have them. When I arrived in St. Louis and heard their Father had abandoned them, I was worried he might interfere with Lucy's last wishes.. I did not know until after we arrived in Paradise, he had run off and left the family alone a year before. Lucy wasn't much on letter writing. Claire packed the children's clothes, what little they had, the couple they were with had packed their few possessions from the apartment Lucy kept. She had one over the town store. We gathered together all of the things I could take on a train and we came back to Paradise. That train trip was an adventure. Ben was not yet seven and George not quite six. None of the children had been on a train. Upon arrival, I was told after we spent a few days at the hotel, of a vacant cabin to rent. The cabin we have now was a kitchen, one bedroom, and a big front room with a fireplace. I curtained off the back of the cabin for the children to sleep. They had pallets on the floor for a month until their beds arrived from Missouri. We had to use the pallets as mattresses for a time before I could arrange to have feather beds made. I now own the house. We had some growing pains as we figured out how to be a family. That's a story for later. Let's just enjoy the beauty of the lake." Ethan finishes.
Back at the cabin as Ethan referred to it, progress is being made on the renovations. Having built the new wall on the expansion of the main bedroom, the team is now working on removing the existing roof. Since the roof consists of flat boards pegged together, the plan is to leave as much intact as possible and lower it to the ground until they build the walls of the upper floor.
Having been helping the men all morning by taking the water bucket to them, finding dropped nails and straightening bent nails, Ben and George are given permission to stop helping after eating lunch.
"Wow, that lunch was so good. The town ladies sending us fried chicken, hot peas, and cornbread plus meat sandwiches was nice. Having cold lemonade to drink instead of water was great. I really liked those cookies too. Do you think Claire helped make the food? Alex didn't say when he drove it all out here." Ben asks George as they take turns on the swing.
"You made me think of Alex driving the food the way cowboys drive cows. With a whip and a 'yee-haw, get along there!' I could see the baskets and jugs scurrying in front of him as he cracks the whip on the ground behind them!" George giggles.
"GEORGE. You know that's not what I meant. Now, do you think Claire made the chicken or not?" Ben asks, exasperated with his brother.
"I'm sure she did. The first piece of chicken I had sure tasted like her chicken. You know how she adds cinnamon and ginger to the cornmeal before she fries the chicken?" At Ben's nod, George continues. "I could taste the special flavor in the first piece. The drumstick didn't have that same taste though. Get off, it's my turn to swing."
"Let's go up in the loft, George. We won't go in the top one just the second one. I want to see how the kittens are doing." Ben says as he spins George on the disc swing. "Mama is going to be surprised to find we have kittens! I didn't even know Shadow was a girl! How does a grey cat have an orange kitten anyway? We have orange, black, white, grey and the black, orange and white one. What did Joseph say that one was? A cattico?"
"CALico not cattico. I didn't know Shadow was grown up enough to be a Momma. Rob was surprised when we showed him the kittens. You do remember he said to stay out of that loft and leave the kittens alone, right?"
"He's busy. He won't even know we went up there. I'm not going to bother the babies, George. I just want to look."
"I think we better do our chores. We'll be fussed at by Rob if we don't get the eggs gathered and the stalls cleaned. That's what he said we were to do after we ate. You know that too, right?"
"George, stop asking me if I know that! Can't you just have fun without talking about rules and chores? I'm going up! You can stay down here like a be-gooder or come with me. I don't care. You always have to be good all the time. Try having fun sometimes!" Ben replies scornfully as he begins to climb the ladder.
"I DO have fun. I can find fun things to do that don't get me in trouble though. I don't think be-gooder is a real word anyway!" George answers frowning at his brother's back.
"Oh, the kittens are getting bigger. I think they're longer today than two days ago. The black one is bigger than the others and he's pushing the others down while he climbs on them to eat from Shadow. You have to come see, George!" Ben calls down to his brother who is at the bottom of the ladder.
Unable to resist the longing to see the kittens, George finds himself up in the loft a few minutes later. Staring intently at the small bodies crawling over one another to reach a teat, he whispers "Ben, the little white one is having trouble finding a place to eat. I'm going to help him." Reaching over the other kittens, he carefully moves the smallest to reach an empty feeding station on Shadow.
"There. Now the paleface has a place to eat. Good job, George." Ben whispers back. Neither boy wants to startle the cat family by speaking loudly.
"Paleface? That would be a great name for the white one." George says smiling at the sight of all five kittens eagerly nursing as Shadow seems to smile also. The mother cat is purring contentedly while kneading her paws.
"Shadow likes being a Momma cat doesn't she?" Ben whispers. Before George can reply, they hear the barn door open below. Instantly both boys flatten out on their stomachs barely daring to breathe.
"Ben? George? Are you here?" They hear Rob ask.
Unfortunately, George has to sneeze right at that moment and the sneeze alerts their brother to where they are hiding.
"COME DOWN! RIGHT NOW!"
When the two children are standing before him, Rob says "You aren't allowed in the loft. You know this. I also told you to leave the kittens alone and here you are up there with them! You have chores to do, go do them! I want these stalls clean and the chickens cared for. We're working on the top floor now so stay back from the house. It isn't safe for you to be there right now."
After Rob leaves, Ben says "Why do we have to stay away from the house when we live there too? He's so bossy and thinks he can tell everyone what to do. I'm going to go watch the building. I'll get to the stalls later. We only get to build on a house a few days and I want to see it!"
"Rob said to stay, it isn't safe. You heard that as well as I did! If you don't do what he says you'll get in trouble. He's in charge along with Claire and Joseph. We have to obey them, Pa said so. If you don't you'll get in a lot of trouble when Pa gets home. He might give you a whipping, Ben."
"Naw, he won't. Mama won't let him whip me. She says she doesn't like it when he whips us or spanks us. I've heard her tell him that. We won't be getting spankings or whippings anymore because we have a Mama now. You stay and do exactly as you're told like a be-gooder. I'm going to watch them put on a floor up high!"
Raking the dirty hay from Beauty's stall, George complains to the horse "Ben thinks he knows everything. He doesn't. He may call me names and be hateful but I'm the one who is obeying. Ben is probably going to find out he still will get spanked. I don't believe Papa will let him get away with being bad. You know what else? I'm not doing his side of the barn. He can do it or not do it, I don't care!" He receives a whinny and a long studying look from his listener. "Yes, I know. I do care. I don't want my brother to be in trouble. I'm not doing his job for him though. Pa said long ago that I had to let Ben learn on his own and not keep him from consequences."
Sneaking inside while the men are busy, Ben stands below the section of flooring already finished so he can see through the opening. Watching, he sees the men lay another long piece of flat wood down and hammer it to the crossbeams. Easing closer, he can see even better. Suddenly a man's voice behind him says "OUT of here young fella! Something could fall and you'd be hit. Now scram!"
"It's MY house! I can stay if I want to stay!" Ben answers scowling over his shoulder.
"We'll see about that! ROB!" The man calls up to the floor above.
"Yes?" Rob asks leaning through the opening. Then seeing Ben he says "Ben! I told you to stay out of here!"
"I just told him to stay out myself. He answered 'It's my house and I can stay if I want to stay.' I told him it wasn't safe but he doesn't listen well."
"BENJAMIN ETHAN CORD, did you answer back to Mr. McIntire that way?" Rob growls coming down the ladder from the upper floor.
"He's not my boss! I don't have to mind him!"
"Excuse me, sir. I'll be back to help in a few minutes. I need to have a few words with my obstinate little brother." Rob tells the man listening in.
"Come with me, Ben. We are going to have a talk out in the barn." Rob says through gritted teeth as he pulls the boy by the arm out the front door.
"George, I need to speak to Ben in private. Would you leave, please?" Rob asks coming into the barn with a tight grip on Ben's arm.
"Yes, I'll be picking up kindling," George answers moving quickly to leave the barn.
"Now listen well, Ben. I told you this morning just like every other day, you were to obey the adults who were working here. You also know you are to do what I tell you while Pa is gone. Isn't that right?"
"I suppose so. I just wanted to see. I wasn't causing any trouble, Rob. I was just looking up through the opening to see how they put on the floor. That man was bossing me and told me to scram. It is my house too. I Live There!"
Trying to hold on to his patience and not swat the child, Rob answers, "Yes it is your house too. I know you are curious about how we are building the top floor. I understand that but standing right below the opening isn't safe. Something could be dropped and hit you. A hammer, a board, something that would hurt. I don't want to see you hurt and neither do the men. Do you understand what I'm telling you?"
"Yes."
"Good. Now, this is the very last time I'm going to warn you. You do as I tell you to do. You do as Joseph and Claire tell you to do. You do as the men working here tell you to do WITH NO BACK TALK! Do you hear me, Ben? Just one more time of you not obeying and your backside is going to be burning! Now I want these chores finished by the time the men leave today. I will not repeat myself. If you want to go to bed tonight with a burning bottom then you disobey me and I will grant your wish!"
"No, I don't want to."
"NO?! YOU DON'T WANT TO?!" Rob asks his voice now deep and threatening. To the young boy listening, he sounds very much like their Pa when he is upset.
Licking his lips and eyeing his brother's hands nervously, Ben quickly explains "I don't want to go to bed with a sore bottom. That's what I mean. Not that I don't want to do what you say."
"Last chance kid. I suggest you get busy on your side of the barn. Supper is in two hours." Rob tells the boy as he walks towards the barn doors.
"Last chance kid. I suggest you get busy on your side of the barn. Supper is in two hours." Ben mimics after making sure Rob is far enough away he can't hear. "I just wish I was old enough to be the boss. If I was boss I wouldn't make me do horrible nasty things like clean the stalls! I'd be telling THEM what to do. Tomorrow I WILL be helping and watching or they're going to be sorry! IT IS MY HOUSE TOO SO I CAN BUILD IF I WANT TO!" Ben declares to the horses busy eating the hay George put in their feedboxes.