New Beginnings: Life Changes
Ch. 3
Important Discussions
Not able to sleep well, what with having to share a room with Joseph again, Rob wakes before daylight. Looking over at the snoring lump in the bed across from him, he thinks about how much nicer it will be when he has his own room again. Having given up his room for Claire to use until their new rooms are ready, he hopes they are ready by Saturday. Rising and pulling on his clothes, he takes his boots to the front room to put on. Taking a jacket from the coat rack by the door as the morning is cool, he heads out to milk the cows and put the horses out for the day.
Hearing Rob leave, Ben sneaks out to the end of the hall. Peeking around the corner to make sure no one is up before going to the kitchen. Pulling the curtain away from the pantry he reaches up to grab the box of salt before hurrying back to his room. Sliding the box under his bed, he crawls in to go back to sleep. Just as he's dozing off another idea comes into his mind. Quietly sneaking back out to the pantry once more, he finds the jar of honey. Taking that back to his room to hide it with the salt, he pulls the covers up to sleep a little longer.
An hour later after the sun has risen and the horses are now out in the pasture, Rob climbs the new front steps wearily. This wrangling of the boys while overseeing the ranch and home improvements is much more tiring than he expected it to be. Not having Claire to keep the little boys entertained was unexpected. He thought they would tire of running after bent nails and want to do something with Claire. They had tired of it but instead of asking to stay with Claire, they wanted to be in on the projects. He just wasn't sure how capable a ten and eleven-year-old could be with building. Today would be a test as they were to help lay the boards across the connection between the porches. Walking into the kitchen, he's surprised to see Joseph already cooking breakfast.
"Good morning, thanks for starting breakfast. I've done the barn chores and the milking. The horses are in the far pasture today. It's going to be a nice day so I thought they'd like some time outside. We've kept them in for the past three days. Just help me remember to go get them again. I'm so tired, I might just forget."
"Good morning and you're welcome. I'm making scrambled eggs, fried eggs, fried potatoes, sausage, ham, and pancakes to go with toast. We don't have biscuits and I don't have time to make any. If we forget the horses, we'll hear about it from Pa. He frowns about not keeping up with the horses if you remember."
"True, but he's not here and it's unlikely we'd forget them for days! Sooner or later we'd notice empty stalls! Yes, I recall that punishment we got the time we left the horses in the pasture overnight. My behind stung for hours!" Rob replies with a grin at his brother.
"My behind stung for hours too and my ears were still singed the next day from the fire blasting lecture on responsibility we got. It's not like Paradise has a team of horse thieves loose but he acted as if there were. The horses probably enjoyed a night out for a change."
"Joseph, that's funny. A night out! Do you suppose they'd like to take a night out to go to town to visit the saloon? Oh, I'm so tired, I'm making horrible jokes. I'll be so glad when we get this building project finished. What can I help you do?"
"Me as well, Rob. My arms ache all night from hauling and hammering. You can put the pancakes on and make coffee. I know Pa disapproves of us drinking coffee but I need it to be awake today. We just won't tell him about it and he'll be none the wiser. I have everything mixed we just have to pour the pancakes."
"Alright, I'll start pouring. I see you made enough batter for three times as many pancakes as we usually have. Are we feeding the building crew breakfast?" Rob can't resist teasing.
"No, but I get hungry during the mid-morning before we stop for lunch. It's a long time from breakfast to lunch since we start so early. A few pancakes rolled and sugared would be a nice snack don't you think?"
"I think that's a fabulous idea, Joseph. I will save a stack for us to have later."
"Good morning Rob, Joseph. That smells so good it woke me. You should have called me to fix breakfast. I could've done it."
"Morning, Claire." both boys answer as Joseph says "I wanted to cook this morning. You've been doing breakfast and then helping with lunch as well."
"The house is really looking good. It's amazing how much they've done in just three days. I'm already in love with the new pulley pantry. I was using it last night and it's going to work out well. What's the plan for today?" Claire asks.
"Today is supposed to be: finish the connection between the porches, put up railings along the porch, maybe build the stairs to the second floor and build walls for the second floor. I don't know what else but we're working as fast as we can to finish by Saturday. That's just two days. There's still the roof to get on. To me, that's going to be the most difficult part." Rob answers as he flips the pancakes.
"Uncle Matt will be coming today. He told me day before yesterday, how the roof would work. He said they'd put a long board across the very top called the ridgepole. Then put more boards across each side. The flat boards they took off the roof before, are nailed on those. He also said they might close in the inside roof as well. "
"What about windows? Aren't we having windows put in up there? We are also supposed to add two windows downstairs. One in Pa and Mama's room and another here in the kitchen. We want two windows facing out to the front yard. Not just the one in the front room." Claire asks.
"We'll get to it. We can add them in after we get the rest done. I'll talk to Mr. Blackstock or Uncle Matt about it. They know when to do what more than I do."
"What about the stovepipe? How are we to get it to the roof now that we are having a second floor? Are we having a stovepipe run through a bedroom?" Claire asks.
"I don't know that either, Claire. I'm sure the men know what they're doing though. For now, they've fixed it to blow smoke over the top they just left it as it was but with a cover to keep any ash from blowing out." Rob answers.
"Do you have any requests for lunch today? Sandwiches or baked things? We don't have to make fried chicken again. The ladies can make something different."
"I would like a hot lunch, Claire. I'm getting tired of cold meat and sandwiches." Joseph answers before his brother.
"We try to send it hot but it cools down by the time it gets here," Claire replies before adding "I hear the boys coming. Are we ready for them to set the table?"
"I'm ready. Joseph's already finished his part of the breakfast. Pour the milk and coffee and we're ready." Rob replies before greeting his young brothers with "Good morning, boys."
"Good morning," George answers sleepily.
"Morning," Ben replies heading for the front door.
"Where are you going, Ben? I've done the morning chores, already." Rob asks.
"I want to go check the kittens."
"We're ready to eat, Ben. Help set the table, please. I don't want you in that loft. Remember what I told you yesterday. No more misbehavior and that includes going up to the second loft." Rob tells the scowling child.
"Yes, I remember. I don't see why we can't go in the second loft now. We aren't little kids anymore. We won't fall off. Pa is not reasonable." Ben answers moving to gather silverware as George has the tin cups and plates already.
"Why don't you tell Pa he is being unreasonable and also how you are fine in the second loft. You can tell him all about climbing up there while he was away." Joseph says as he passes his brother to put the eggs, sausage, and toast on the table.
"Yes, Ben. Joseph has a grand idea. You go right ahead and speak to Pa about how unreasonable his rules are as soon as he gets home." Rob tells the boy.
"No, I don't think that's a good idea at all!" Ben answers, shaking his head. "Rob, Joseph, you just want to get me in trouble," Ben replies lower lip poked out as he slides into his chair.
"I don't see how Joseph and I are trying to get you in trouble. We aren't the ones who are breaking long set rules, are we Joseph?"
"Let me think about it a minute," Joseph says pretending to be deep in thought. "No Rob, we haven't broken a single rule. It's not us that will be in trouble."
"Me either! I didn't break any rules." George adds to the conversation. "Well, except for going to the loft." He amends after an eyebrow raised look from Rob.
"You both better stay out of that loft or your backside will be sore. I'm not giving out any more warnings on anything. You are ten and eleven now and know what behavior is acceptable. I will also be telling Pa all about how you've behaved when he asks. You know he'll ask as he always does."
"I've been good, Rob! I only wanted to see the babies one time! You won't tell Papa on me for one time will you?" George asks. A sudden memory of his Pa telling he and Ben the last time they were caught in the second loft "One more time and it will be your bottom that suffers, boys. That loft is not safe and is off limits! This is the final warning." has him twisting his cloth napkin worriedly.
"Yesterday's loft visit is your one free pass, boys. I will not mention that but I will tell him everything else."
"The kittens will be moved from where we can find them if you don't leave them alone. We will just have to wait a couple more weeks and then maybe Pa will let us move them to the barn floor. We'll point out how it isn't safe for the little ones as they could fall off when they start walking around." Claire tells her young brothers as they begin eating.
By lunch, the building crew has finished building the framework of the walls for the top floor. Having decided it would be easier to build the walls on the ground instead of hauling boards one or two at a time to the top level. The next step is to use ropes to pull them to the top level.
Ben, George, Aaron, and Caleb have been allowed to hammer boards in place to the porch extension. Ben and Caleb have been working with Matt while Aaron and George work with Rob and Joseph.
"This is fun, Rob. Can we nail some more boards?" George asks as they finish the two they were working on.
"You've done well and been excellent listeners so yes, you can continue to help." Rob praises as he lays out two more boards next to the ones they just finished.
"Rob?" Matt calls across the narrow connection, "These two boys are going to begin being water boys and nail straighteners. They aren't ready to follow directions."
"That's fine. Ben, don't wander away and stay off the ladder to the top floor." Rob instructs as he gives his young brother a frowning look.
"I want to see the top floor, Rob!" Ben protests glaring back at his older brother.
"BEN! I told..." Rob begins before Joseph whispers, "Let me talk to him. I think I can get through to him."
"Alright, you try. I've had it with his behavior." Rob answers
"Ben," Joseph calls "Come with me and let me help you with the well. I'll help you carry the buckets too. Caleb, we'll be back in just a bit." Joseph tells the other child as he steers his young obstinate brother away from the men.
"Ben, you have to stop being so ornery. Just because you can't do everything you want right this minute doesn't mean you can't do it at all. Rob has been working very hard to help get the house finished before Mama and Pa come home. He's tired and isn't going to have patience with your complaining and disobeying him. I'm just telling you this for your own good. STOP PUSHING HIM. He is ready to take you to the barn and it won't be to see the kittens! Do you get my meaning or should I say it where everyone can understand?"
"I understand, Joseph. Will you carry the buckets? It's too heavy when it's all full."
"Lazy kid! I was carrying two buckets from this very well many times a day when I was eleven! Come irritating one, let's get back to work." Joseph says giving the boy a slight shove to get a grin out of him.
Taking one bucket, Ben whispers to Caleb. I want to make sure I get to the man, Mr. McIntire who was hateful to me yesterday. I have a special treat for him!"
"But, you messed up your bucket. You put salt in the water! Salty water is only going to make them more thirsty not help them when they are already thirsty!"
"Yep! That's the plan. Now, we are going to fix something really special over in the outhouse. You'll help me won't you?"
"Yes, but then let's go do what I want to do. You're getting to do what you want."
"I'll do what you want as long as you help me and keep quiet," Ben answers picking up his bucket as the boys head for the outhouse. Having completed that task through much stifled giggling, the two head back to the house.
"Alright Caleb, you go around outside to the men there and I'll do the inside. I want to find Mr. McIntire and let him have mine. He got me scolded and nearly whacked by Rob last night. I'm going to fix his wagon this time!"
"Hey, kid! Bring that water here! I'm parched!" Mr. McIntire beckons as he comes down the ladder from the upper floor.
"Yes, sir. Here you are sir, fresh from the well." Ben says taking the large dipper and dipping it full of water before handing it over.
Drinking the dipperful in one swallow, the man's face puckers and he begins to sputter and cough. "Why ...you... little...
"Is there a problem here, Ian?" Ben hears Uncle Matt ask from the floor above.
"This bucket is full of salt water! The boy tried to make me sick. I oughta belt 'em one right here and now. No home training at all! My thoughts were right about that! Yesterday, he backtalks me when he's in the wrong and now tries to poison me. Ethan should raise him better."
"You stop talking bad about my Pa!" Ben says as he glares at his new enemy.
"Ben! You don't speak to adults this way. Apologize at once!" Matt scolds.
"He just gave me salt water to drink instead of fresh! This child is a menace! He needs a butt warming in the worst way!"
Before Matt has a chance to even comment, they hear a shout from outside. Hurrying, Matt reaches the side yard with McIntire and Ben a few steps behind him.
"I tell you, I nearly stuck to the seat! Someone put honey on it! The bugs are all around it now. I could've been stung. Is this how you treat volunteer workers, Robert?"
"I had no idea there was a problem. I apologize Mr. Carrothers. I'll take care of the problem right away." Rob answers with a stern look at Ben who is now doing his best to smother his laughter.
"Ben! Are you responsible for this?" Rob asks the snickering child.
"I know he's responsible for salt water instead of fresh drinking water. You didn't teach him better last night than to disrespect his elders, I see. I'll just have a talk with your father about his sons when he returns. He needs to take them in hand. Including you." McIntire tells Rob.
"Now look, Mr. McIntire, I had a long talk.."
"Talk does nothing. Action is what works. Beat the boy's behind and he'll come around to the right. I raised four boys I know what I'm talking about. Shouldn't have left a boy in charge of a man's job."
Seeing Rob's face get red and his eyes narrow dangerously, Matt intervenes. "Rob, I need you to go pick up the windows from town. We are ready to put in the windows down here and we'll have them for the upstairs. I'll handle things here while you're gone."
"Yes, sir."
"Ben, you take that bucket of salt water and a rag to the outhouse. You clean every spec of honey out of it and then report to me. Don't leave even a drop or you and I will have a talk in the barn. Get going!" Matt orders.
"Uncle Maaaatttt! I was only funnin' it wasn't anything but a joke."
"No one is laughing. I'm counting to five and you better be moving by five. One, Two, Three..." At three the boy is running for the outhouse not caring that the bucket is sloshing as he goes.
"I'm done. I cleaned all the honey off and I have fresh water here now. I'm sorry Uncle Matt." Ben apologizes as he stands before his uncle twenty minutes later.
"Thank you for your apology. Aaron, George, and Caleb are all on the pirate ship. You may go play as well. No more pranks or problems Ben. It ends here or I will be taking you to the tack room! I know exactly how your Pa would handle your behavior and I aim to act in his place. Do you hear me, Ben?"
"Yes, Uncle Matt," Ben answers before walking out to find the other boys.
"What did I miss while I had to clean the outhouse?" Ben asks climbing up to where the other three are sitting.
"Phew, Ben! You stink! Did you fall in while you were cleaning?" Aaron teases.
"Hush up, Aaron!"
"The men hauled the walls up to the top floor. They tied ropes at each end and just pulled them right up the side of the house! Now they're nailed down and the outside is even done. The putting on of the outside parts of the house before they hauled up the wall was smart. I wondered how they'd get the outside covered when it was way high that way. No ladder is going to reach all the way to the roof." George tells him.
"The roof isn't on yet though so at least I didn't miss that. Did you save any cookies from lunch? I'm hungry."
"No, we didn't get cookies today, remember? We had pies instead. We've eaten all the food that was sent out today." George answers.
"Caleb, Aaron, let's go berry picking. I'm ready to get away from here. We can play where the bushes are."
"I'm supposed to stay where Pa can see me. I can't leave the yard." Aaron continues when Ben frowns at him, "I'll get in trouble, Ben! He'd wallop me for sure. I got in trouble last night for arguing back and then for pushing Alyssa. I had to go stand in a corner for a half hour and then go to bed an hour early! Pa said one more thing from me and I'd be over his knee! He means it too!"
"I'm not leaving the yard either. Rob and Joseph both told us to stay where we can be seen."
"Fine, George! Caleb? You'll come, won't you? We can have fun just you and me and let the be gooders stay here!"
"I'll come, Ben. Let's go through the barn as I want to get something first."
Inside the barn, Ben watches as Caleb goes to the barrel closest to the back doors. Reaching around to the back, Caleb lifts the revolver hidden behind a loose panel.
"Hey! How'd you know that was there? I didn't even know it was there and it's my barn!"
"I saw Uncle Ethan put it here when I was staying over one time. I remembered. Come on, let's go out to those bushes you wanted to go to. They can't see us from here with the bushes in the way. I want to show you some moves."
"Moves?"
"Tricks with the gun. I know some from when I had my Papa's pistol before Pa took it away from me. He and Ma won't let me have it until I'm eighteen. IT'S MY GUN. The grownups are so difficult to deal with. Come on." Caleb says leading the way to the bushes.
Returning from town with the new windows, Rob calls Matt to come down to check the order. With Mr. Blackstock having to stay in town, Matt has taken over as foreman of the building project for the day.
"Is this what you ordered? There are two with small panes and the others are the new picture windows. They don't have the divided panes."
"I think the new picture windows would look nice here on the front of the house. The two with dividers can be for the side with Ethan's new room and maybe one at the back of the kitchen. Is there another spot you had in mind for a window other than the back of the kitchen?" Matt asks as he sees the turned down mouth of his adopted nephew.
"Well, one by the side porch might be nice. I was thinking next to the door. We don't always know who is coming up that way. Pa likes to know who is coming into the yard. I know Claire said she wanted a window in the back of the kitchen but that could be added later. We don't really need to see out the very back as it's nothing but woods back there." Rob replies thoughtfully.
"This will be perfect for that space by the side door. Now, do you want to help me place the windows?"
"Sure, I'll help. Where are the boys and Joseph? Did Joseph take them somewhere?"
"Joseph is up above helping to seal in the new walls. That boy is great with a hammer! I haven't seen Ben or Caleb for some time now that you mention it. Aaron and George are playing together on the ship you built."
Just as he finishes speaking the two hear a gunshot coming from the direction of the berry patch behind the barn.
"Someone's shooting!" Rob exclaims.
"Matt? I saw Ben and Caleb go that way not too long ago." Calls Mr. Anderson from up above.
"Let's go, Rob." Matt says taking off in a sprint towards the sound.
"CALEB! That gun was loaded!" Ben says shaking as they both stare at the dead rabbit.
"I see that. I told you I could shoot. I shot that rabbit clean through the head. I bet you couldn't do as well!"
"But the gun wasn't supposed to be loaded... I mean I didn't know... we should ... I think... Ohhhh..." Ben babbles ending with "ohhhh" as Matt and Rob burst out of the bushes. Having checked the surroundings before approaching the boys, both men are furious.
"What are the two of you doing?" Rob asks panting a little from his dead run.
"Caleb! Carefully hand that gun to me, NOW." Matt commands taking the gun and then checking the chambers. Having dropped three more bullets from the gun into his hand, he glances at Rob before asking "Where did this gun come from and just WHAT were you doing?"
"I... I ... I ...I ... didn't know it was loaded." Ben stutters looking at his oldest brother. The furious blue eyes burning into his own has Ben unable to speak without stuttering.
"WELL, IT WAS LOADED, WASN'T IT?! YOU KNOW BETTER THAN TO TOUCH A GUN!" Rob returns, advancing on the child.
"Rob! NO! Please don't! I DIDN'T MEAN TO! OWWWWCH! STOP IT! ROOOBBBB! OWWWW, that burns, Rob!" Ben says rubbing his bottom and hopping from foot to foot after receiving six quick hard smacks to the seat of his pants.
"Caleb. Answer my question." Matt orders the staring child in a firm quiet voice as Rob rubs his hand on his dungarees.
"We got it from the barrel in the barn. We were only going to play gunfighter and practice our draw. Then the gun fired."
"Caleb said we'd get dinner. He shot a rabbit." Ben speaks up tearfully as he is still rubbing the sting out of his bottom.
"You fired the gun too!" Caleb says. Your shot went way over the rabbit so mine was the kill shot."
"NOO. I didn't." Ben says shaking his head as Rob glares at him. "I held it but I didn't pull the trigger. Honest, Rob! I didn't. The gun only shot one time."
"Both of you boys come with us. We'll finish this in the barn." Matt says as he takes Caleb by the arm nodding for Rob to do the same.
Reaching the back entrance of the barn Matt orders "Ben, Caleb, go inside and wait for me. I'll be right there."
After the children are inside, he turns to Rob. "You know what needs to be done here, do you not? Do you want to handle this with Ben?"
"Pa would use the razor strap for this. I can't do it. I can spank him but not this. Would you take over? He deserves a whipping. He could have ... oh God... Matt... they could have been... I can't even say it. I feel sick."
"I will handle this and we'll be done. Caleb will be kept home for several days. After I am finished he won't feel up to going anywhere for some time to come. Let me get to them. You go get a cold drink and stay inside." Matt says to the pale and now shaking young man.
"Thank you. I'm not cut out for fatherhood. I am not cut out for eldest brother in charge either. Yesterday he was so disrespectful to a worker, I guess you heard about that." Rob says as Matt nods in agreement. "Just look at the pranks Ben has pulled today and now this. I thought I could handle him. I can't."
"You do fine. Go on inside. Tell the men we are finished for today. We will start tomorrow with the roof and finish anything left to do. I have a chore I need to get done." Matt replies as he heads inside the barn.
"Boys, repeat to me what we talked about before we finish this discussion. Ben, you first." Matt declares holding the boy's gaze firmly.
"Guns are dangerous and are not to be touched by someone not prepared to use them. We are too young to touch a gun and could have been killed. We knew we were forbidden to ever handle a gun."
"Very good. Now Caleb, add to what he said. What did you do that was wrong?"
"I didn't check to see if it was loaded and fired the gun. I could have hurt my cousin or myself. I have been told before about guns and disobeyed."
"You also stole the gun, did you not?"
"I didn't steal it! I only borrowed it because I was going to put it back, Pa."
"Alright, stole is a strong word. However you knew you were not to touch a gun, you took something that did not belong to you without permission, snuck away after being told to stay in sight, fired the gun, tried to frame Ben by saying he shot also when we know the gun only fired once. So you were lying. Am I correct here, Caleb?"
"Yes, Sir."
"Bare your bottom and lean over a barrel, both of you," Matt tells the two forlorn children.
"This punishment will remain with you for a time. I do not want to repeat it so you two had best remember how this feels. You will NOT endanger yourselves or someone else!" Matt says as he lifts the thick leather razor strop from the hook on the wall.