New Beginnings: Life Changes
Ch.16
Unexpected
Friday morning just after sunrise, Joseph cuts and wraps several thick slices of bread spread with butter and slices of roast beef in paper. Taking one of the lemonade jugs from the pulley pantry, he carefully opens the side door. Easing the door closed he tiptoes across the porch and heads for the barn. Pulling his boots out from behind a barrel he slips them on and quickly ties a feedbag to Sam. Saddling him as he eats, he leads the gelding to the corral. Tying him to a rail, he lifts the rope off of the saddle horn.
Opening the gate, Joseph walks calmly towards the golden stallion. "Hello big fella. I am not here to make you angry. I have no saddle. I have carrots and your favorite treat with me. Smell my hat." Watching as the animal leans down to sniff and then try to bite the hat held under his nose, he says "One carrot now and then the rest when you let me slip on the lasso."
Holding the lasso where the horse can see it, Joseph feeds a fresh carrot to him. "Good fella Goldie! Good boy." Joseph praises patting the horse's neck after successfully getting a lead rope on him. Leading the horse, he walks him into the trees before tying the rope to a low hanging branch. Walking quickly, Joseph returns to mount Sam riding him into the trees as well.
Having waited about ten minutes, he sees Theo, Jason and Jeff ride up from the west. Waving his hat as he urges Sam forward, Joseph waits for his friends to come beside him.
"Jeff, you and Theo ride on ahead and I will follow with Goldie. Jason, you ride on his right side but not too close. He gets angry if you are crowding him. Let's head out before my family wakes. We are going to the opening in the canyon."
"How do you plan to get him into this canyon where you say a group of wild horses live?"
"I don't just say they live there, I know it, Jeff. I have seen them myself. Goldie, loves bread with butter and sugar. I have several pieces rolled up to feed him as I lure him into the canyon. It is open on more than one side so he is not going to be trapped." Joseph explains patiently.
"What will Sheriff Cord have to say about you taking one of the horses that belongs to the Army and setting him loose?" Jason asks several minutes later.
"He will have quite a lot to say, no doubt. If you don't see me to hang out with for weeks you'll know I got restricted to the ranch again. I just have to help Goldie. It is not right to force him into servitude when he clearly doesn't want to be part of a domesticated life."
After a long period of riding in silence, Jeff remarks "You know something, Joseph? You are beginning to talk like a crazy person. You also sound like a teacher with those twenty dollar words you used. I am not quite sure what 'servitude' and 'domesticated life' means but if it means what I think it does, you do know horses are not people right? Horses are bred to work."
"Not this one. Goldie is to be free. I am going to see he gets to be free."
Sitting high in the loft of the climbing ship Rob created, Ben is mulling over the dinner conversation from the night before. Watching his face, George asks "Are you worried about Joseph?"
"No, not him."
"Mama is worried because she told Claire to look in town for him. She told her to send him home if he was found. I think he is in trouble because he did not ask to go somewhere. Cheer up, Ben. Pa might be home today."
"Yeah. George? Why do you think Mama told us about the time her cousins played with pig bladders? Remember? She talked about the cousin putting water in it and telling his sister it was from the pig before he threw it at her."
"It was just at supper last night, of course I remember. That was mean of her cousin to make out the bladder hadn't been emptied. He deserved the smacking with a stick his Pa gave him. He had been warned not to torment the girls after chasing them with a bloody head and throwing the entrails at them. After hearing about some of butchering, I'm happy we get meat from town, not have to see it done."
"Yeah. George, I dropped a water balloon on Mr. Axelrod from the boarding house balcony. Mama knows. I told her I didn't know what it would do."
"That is lying, Ben. You do know! We played with water filled pig bladders ourselves. Pa even let us hit each other with them because it was so hot. You remember that, right?"
"Yeah, I know but I didn't remember about those in time. Jackson had the idea to fill balloons with water. I haven't had balloons before. I got scared Mama would be mad. Mr. Axelrod was not upset. Now my stomach is churning up, down, sideways too. I feel really bad."
Studying his brother for several minutes, head cocked sideways, George finally replies "You know what Pa would say about your stomach. He'd say it was guilt. The only way to get better is to tell Mama why you feel guilty. Even if you get punished, you tell the truth. Pa has taught us the punishment will be less when we tell the truth."
"I know. George? Did you hear Joseph say he was moving Goldie from the corral? I don't see him over there."
"Joseph isn't over there, he is off somewhere."
"NOT Joseph! The horse! Goldie has been horsenapped!" Ben exclaims ending the discussion of his guilty conscience.
"We have to go tell Mama! Someone stole Goldie! Maybe you and I can track the thief if Mama lets us."
"She won't let us go hunting horsenappers George. We'll find a way to search though. I will look for clues by the big corral."
"You better not, Ben. We aren't allowed there and you know it. Come with me to get Mama. She needs to know."
"She said she was going to take a rest. We shouldn't wake her." Ben declares climbing down from their high perch.
"Yes, but this is important! We need to tell Mama!" George argues following his brother down the climbing ship.
"We can tell her after we find clues to what happened."
"Ben! Look past the corral by the barn. Do you see someone coming? Who... wait.. PAPA! I SEE PAPA!" George shouts before running towards the barn.
Following right behind, Ben also climbs to stand on the lower rail as they watch Ethan ride up.
"We missed you, Papa! Did you catch the bad people?" George asks as Ben calls "Hello, Papa."
"Well now, I like having a welcoming commitee! Hello George! Hello Ben! I missed you two." Ethan states as he swings each boy up into a hug before placing them on the horse. "Lightning is ready for a rubdown and some food. Come help me get him comfortable, boys." He continues, leading the horse into the barn.
Helping their Pa by bringing brushes, rags and a bucket of feed, the boys carry on a silent conversation.
"George, let's don't talk about Goldie being missing yet."
"Pa would want to know! We can't not tell him! You know this!"
"He will be told but he can rest first. I need to talk to him before he goes to track Goldie, George."
"About the balloons?"
"Uh huh. I want my stomach whale to go away."
Grinning at his brother's description of his stomach, George asks his Pa again if they caught the "bad people".
"George, that is not for you to concern yourself with. Let us go inside so I can greet the rest of the familly."
"Mama is resting, Papa. She wanted us to play outside until she called us." George explains.
"Well in this case, I believe we can wake her. Me coming home is worth waking up for right? Where is Joseph? In town? I assume Claire is working."
"Claire is always working." Ben answers as he leads the way to the house.
"That is quite the list of events that took place while I was away, Delphie. Matt needs help in the store so the young couple will be of use to him. I hope to meet them soon. I am sorry to hear of Alex's father's ill health. We will pray for him. The children's parade sounds like quite the undertaking. Are you sure you are feeling up to it?"
"Yes, I look forward to it. Ethan, Alex wanted Claire to go along. I felt it was best for her to stay here until you could make the decision on her traveling. He left on the train to Boston very early this morning. Claire is unhappy so I don't know if I made the right decision."
"Yes, you were right to have Claire stay here. Right now, Alex should spend time with his family. It has been nearly two years since he saw his parents and the younger children. How were the boys? You spoke of Claire but not the boys. What are you neglecting to tell me? I sense something is going on."
"Joseph and the boys have been extremely helpful. Joseph helped me by pulling the mattresses outside and put fresh straw in them. He helped hang wet bedding and beat the dirt from the rugs. The boys cleaned inside with me and all three washed the windows and porches."
"It is good to hear they were great helpers. What are you still not telling me?" Ethan asks, stroking his wife's hand as he sits beside her on their bed.
"I see, well I did speak to Laurence in town. I heard about that incident and will definitely have a long talk with Ben. He will apologize for deceiving you."
"Ethan, don't spank him. He was feeling so guilty he could not eat much this morning." I feel I am not doing well at being a mother. Ben was so earnest, swearing he didn't know what the balloon would do. I believed him. Claire told me otherwise. She is a better mother than I am! I told the boys a story from my childhood when a cousin caused trouble with filled pig bladders. That is what caused Ben not to be able to eat. I am a bad mother!"
"Dear, I apologize for Ben making you feel such. You are a terrific mother. Now, you forget Claire was forced by necessity to look after the boys while her parents were doing their stage shows. All of that experience caused her to become like a mother to the boys. She was a much better parent than I was when they moved in with me. She was not even thirteen yet at the time! You will continue to learn just as I am still learning. Let's go eat. I am famished. Ben will have to have consequences for lying. I will not let it go this time. He knows the consequences and we have to be consistent. Do you understand? We can't let him think it is alright to tell lies."
"Yes, I understand. One more thing, Ethan. Joseph has disappeared. I got up early this morning and discovered his bed empty. You know I check the children when I get up, no matter night or morning. I had no note and he did not ask to leave or tell me he was leaving. I haven't seen him since last night and it is worrying me."
"He will discuss this with me when he does return. I assume he went out with friends. He knows he is to always ask before leaving or in an emergency, to leave a note! Come, help me fix something to eat. I need to stop my stomach from complaining. We'll have a talk with Joseph when he returns."
Watching his Pa finishing his second helping of beef stew, Ben gathers his courage.
"Papa? Will you come outside with me when you finish? I need to talk privately."
Fighting to not smile at his eleven year old's adult seriousness, Ethan agrees.
"Let me just wash my dishes and we'll talk."
"You and Ben have that talk. George and I will handle cleanup." taking the tin plate from in front of her husband.
"Thank you both. Let's go, Ben."
Settling the boy on the top rail of the smaller corral right beside the barn, Ethan asks "What's on your mind, son? Your Mama told me what an excellent helper you have been. I appreciate that."
"Thank you, Pa. Papa? I have a whale swimming in my stomach. I need to tell you something but you won't like it."
Proceeding to explain the water balloon incident, Ben ends with "I really didn't want to get Mr. Axelrod wet, Pa."
Planting his arms one on either side of the boy, Ethan asks "Did you fill balloons with water?"
Unable to move on the rail or look away from his Pa's stern eyes, Ben whispers "Yessir."
"Did you see a person walking up the path to the boarding house?"
"Yessir, but I didn't know who it was."
"What did you believe would happen when you dropped a water filled balloon on someone from the balcony?"
At the boy's squirming and dropped head, Ethan commands "Eyes up! Answer me!"
"I thought it might not break. I didn't know. I apologized to Mr. Axelrod."
"Did you tell your Mama, you did not know what the balloon would do?"
"Yes Sir." Ben replies hanging his head once more not to meet those eyes of steel staring at him.
Placing his hands under Ben's arms and lifting him off the railing Ethan replies "Come, we will discuss this more in the barn."
Settling himself and Ben on a hay bale, Ethan continues. "You knew what would happen as you have used water filled pig bladders. I also remember the time in Colorado Springs just last year, when you used a paper bag filled with water to drop from the hotel balcony! Do not try to tell me you did not know what would happen! You lied to your Mama and were disrespectful not only to her but to Mr. Blackstock and to Mr. Axelrod. Assaulting customers of the boarding house could cause Mr. Blackstock to lose business. Dropping a water filled object on people entering the business could cause people not to come. Now young man, what happens when you lie or deliberately harm someone? This behavior breaks our long standing rules."
"I get a whipping."
"That whale swimming in your stomach you spoke of is guilt. It will be gone when this is over. Come with me into the tack room."
"Paapaa, nooo. Please? I am sorry. I did apologize to Mr. Axelrod, remember? I told you I did. It was Jackson not me! He thought it up!"
"Yes, apologizing is a good start. It does not erase your behavior or you wouldn't be feeling this guilt. It makes no difference whose idea it was, Benjamin. You are in control of your actions. You decided to go along with this activity and then proceeded to lie about it. No more whining. Walk!"
Ten minutes later, Ben sorrowfully apologizes to his Mama before being sent to his room.
"Ethan? I seem to have more bad news. While you were out, George told me the stallion is missing. The one the boys named Goldie."
"When did you find him missing, George?"
"Ben noticed right before you rode up. He told me he wanted us to track him."
"I will be the one doing the tracking. You stay here and mind your mother. Delphie? I need a bag of sandwiches and a jug of drink. I have no idea how long I will be hunting the horse. I will be getting Sam ready as Lightning is worn out."
Coming back inside later, Ethan says "Sam is gone. That leads me to believe our missing fourteen year old is involved. I will ride David instead. I may not be back until tonight as it is already one o'clock. Don't look so worried, Delphie. I will find him."
"How do you know where to look?"
"I have already found the direction so I just follow the clues I find."
"Pa is an expert tracker, Mama." George reassures.
After his Pa has left, George quickly checks on his brother.
"He whipped you didn't he? I am sorry, Ben but you know the penalty for lying. Was it awful?"
"Not too awful, only a few whacks with his folded belt over my pants. It really stung though. He said he didn't give me more because I did tell him about it. If I had made him come to me, he said it would have been more. I am glad I put on my thick dungarees this morning!"
"How long until you can leave the room? Are you under other punishment?"
"When it is suppertime and no more punishment. That belt was enough! He sure can make it attack without leaving us sore for long. Some boys at school can't sit without hurting even into the next day after a whipping. Mark told me his Pa lashes him with the full belt standing back away from him. That would be horrible. I told him my Pa more just spanks us with his belt not beats us. Did you tell Pa about Goldie?"
"Mama did. He just left to track him. Pa thinks Joseph is involved. You may not be the only one in trouble today. I think Joseph took Goldie. I also have an idea where he is taking him, do you?" George asks, now using the mental communication he and Ben share.
"Yeah, the canyon. He talked about how Goldie didn't want to be an Army horse. He is taking him to be free. Pa is really going to get mad too."
"I know." George answers aloud. "I have to go see about Mama. She was upset about all of this. Maybe I can come back to see you after."
Three hours of following broken limbs, tracks and horse droppings leads Ethan through a grove of trees. Stopping at the clearing to rest the horse and let him drink from the shallow pool, Ethan takes time to get a drink of lemonade. Feeling somewhat refreshed from the slightly cool drink, he checks the ground for more clues. Finding signs of the horses he has been following having been there recently, he presses on.
Thirty minutes later, he tops a small hill he remembers as one of the last two before the terrain begins to flatten out leading to a canyon. As he begins his decent, he sees four riders heading down the upcoming hill. Deciding to wait at the top, he turns his mount to ride back up.
Topping the hill and riding forward, the four boys come face to face with Ethan who has just ridden out from behind a large boulder.
"Hello boys, out for a ride are you? You four are quite a ways from town and past the safety boundaries. What brings you out this way?"
Watching the four exchange quick glances, Ethan waits for an answer.
Having decided to take the lead, Joseph replies "Yes sir."
"Yes sir covers only one of my questions. My second question is 'What brings you out this way?' Jeff? How about you tell me since my son seems to be thick tongued at this time."
"Ahhh, well, uhh, well you see uhh, we, err, came along to help, err sir." Jeff stammers out an answer having trouble making sense with the dark snapping eyes boring into his. The long look he receives has him squirming in the saddle. Suddenly he feels as if he's twelve again having just had his backside smacked by the sheriff for swimming naked in a pond.
"Jason? How about you help your brother finish his explanation? You are here to help do what exactly?"
Sending Joseph a quick apologetic look, Jason replies "We came to help bring a horse out to join a herd, sir."
"What horse did you bring Theodore?" Ethan asks having turned his stern gaze on the one trying to duck behind his mount's head.
"Alright! I will tell you everything. Just stop interrogating my friends!" Joseph commands loudly.
Now being the center of attention, Joseph swallows and begins. "I brought Goldie, the yellow stallion out here. I wanted him to be free. He deserves to be free not made to work as the Army wants. My friends came along to help me. There, you have your answers! Are you satisfied now?"
Hearing his friends gasp or inhale sharply at his rudeness, Joseph says "He has no right to treat us this way. We aren't his prisoners!"
Ignoring his wayward child for now, Ethan speaks to the other three. "Boys, what you have done is against the law. You have helped remove property that does not belong to you. Some could say you are horse thieves. You are accessories to a crime. I want all three of you to go home, explain to your fathers exactly what went on here today. I will be talking to them myself as well. Tomorrow at two o'clock all of you are to report to the jail."
"Are we to be arrested sir?" Theo asks not being able to keep his voice from wobbling.
Remaining quiet just long enough to have the four swap worried looks, Ethan answers "We will have a long discussion on obeying the law and then you will learn the consequences for today. You are dismissed. Joseph will see you tomorrow."
After the boys ride off out of hearing distance, Ethan settles his gaze on the slumping boy left behind.
"Joseph, ground tie Sam and follow me!" he orders as he leads the way behind the large boulder.
"Explain yourself! You know better than to steal! That is exactly what you have done by taking a horse that does not belong to you!"
"You never minded when I took Sam before so what is your problem now? I couldn't exactly ask your permission since you were gone off chasing bank robbers or something! I don't even know what you were doing or where you were! You just left in the night!"
"Watch how you speak to me. I do not have to explain my actions to you. I despise the tone of voice you are using so I strongly suggest you change it. Also, you are aware I am referring to the Army stallion, not Sam. What gives you the impression it is permissable to take another person's property? I want an answer! A reasonable answer, young man!"
"I just did!"
"You just did! What kind of an answer is that?!"
"The only answer I have right now! BESIDES, I TOLD YOU ONCE ALREADY! THAT IS ENOUGH!" Joseph replies, voice rising in irritation.
Nodding in agreement, Ethan remarks "Yes, it certainly is enough. Face the boulder and drop your pants."
"Do what?!" Joseph squawks in astonishment.
"If you make me say it once more, you will lose your undershorts as well!"
Facing the boulder Joseph hears "You have overstepped many boundaries with this behavior, Joseph. Being rude, defiant, disrespectful on top of committing a crime leads you into the situation you are in now. We will talk more when you regain some control of your temper. Put your hands on the boulder."
"Pa, please! I apologize for yelling. I can talk now, you don't have to whip me. I am too old for this! I know my behavior was wrong. I am sorry. Pa?"
The only answer he recieves is a strong sting when his Pa's belt connects to his backside with a whap.
Three hours later, lying across the bed stomach down, Joseph reads what he just finished writing.
Rob, I wish you were here right now so we could talk. I miss having you to help me make decisions. I made one today that caused me to be lying here on your bed stomach down. Yeah, I caught it big time. I mouthed off to Pa for one thing and the other? Well, I took Goldie out to join the wild horses at the canyon. Jeff, Jason and Theo went along. Now all four of us are in major trouble. He hasn't been quite this upset at me since we went up to the mine that time. You remember.
I think what I did today was right. If I have to suffer a sore behind and who knows what else, it was worth it to set Goldie free. He called it being a horse thief by the way. You would have helped me so I do wish you would come home soon.
Joseph
Hearing footsteps on the wooden stairs, Joseph flips the paper cover over the lined tablet and puts it on the small bedside table.
Topping the stairs, Ethan sees the forlorn boy sprawled on his brother's bed. Entering, he places the thick sandwich and glass of milk next to the tablet.
"I couldn't find you in your room so I decided to look up here. I brought you something from your Mama. She insists you eat every bite. I am to monitor you to see that you follow instructions. I have orders to stay until you do so let's talk while you eat. How is your backside? I went a bit harder on you than I meant to considering you had to ride home. Riding must have increased the ache. Do you need me to put some salve on for you?"
"No sir, I can handle it." the boy answers not making eye contact.
"Son, look at me." Ethan declares firmly, waiting to continue until Joseph obeys..
"I can see you are angry. Do you feel as if you were punished unfairly?"
"You whipped me! I am closer to fifteen than fourteen and not a little boy! I had to ride all the way back! My backside was already hurt before bouncing in a saddle. I am too old to get a whipping!"
"Let's talk about why you were punished that way. Did you knowingly take a horse that did not belong to you? Answer yes or no."
"Yes."
"Did you knowingly release this horse into a canyon hoping he would be accepted into the wild herd? Do you realize you put yourself, your friends and the stallion in danger? The herd could have attacked you!"
"Yes, to releasing him but..."
"Yes or no answers only, Joseph."
"Did you leave home without permission or leaving word where to find you in an emergency?"
"Yes."
"Did you obey the boundaries placed for your safety in this rough country?"
"No, sir."
"When confronted with your behavior did you become disrespectful? Did you answer back and become defiant?"
"Yes sir."
"Would you have put your disobedient, disrespectful son in jail for being a thief or set his backside on fire temporarily? You may answer in words besides yes or no."
"I guess I would have whipped him. I am sorry for causing worry and trouble. I do believe I did the right thing for Goldie. He was not accepting any of my gentling. He did not want to be anything but free. I needed to help him, Pa. Don't you understand?"
"I do. The problem with this is the stallion did not belong to you. It was not your property so in taking him to set free, you committed a crime. Taking anything that is not your property without permission is a crime. Taking horses is called being a horse thief. There are places in this country where men hang for being a horse thief. I believe having a sore backside is much better than giving up your life! Agreed?"
"Yes sir."
"Good, now eat while we talk more."
"Tomorrow morning, the scouts from the Army are to be here to collect the horses. You will explain what happened to one of their stallions. We will deduct the cost of the horse's training and care from the payment owed. You will then accept whatever punishment they see fit to assign."
"Will they want to put me in jail?"
"I don't know, Joseph. Are you through eating?" Ethan asks noticing the plate has only crusts from the bread left.
"I am through. Am I to be given chores around the ranch to pay off the cost of Goldie's training? Am I restricted to the ranch again?"
"We will discuss more on this topic tomorrow. Right now, come downstairs. We need to have a family meeting."
Having gathered all the children together in he and Delphie's own bedroom, Ethan begins.
"Children, your Mama and I asked all of you to join us here tonight for a family discussion." Looking over at Delphie and then scanning the expressions on the children, Ethan sees pleased to puzzled to just sleepy on George's part.
"Pa? Has something bad happened? Is it Rob? Have you heard from Alex? Is he alright?" Claire asks working up to panic.
"Calm down, Claire. Everyone is fine as far as I know. Now, we called you in here because we have something special to share. Your Mama and I are expecting!"
"Ohhh! Lovely! I should have figured this out! No wonder you have been feeling as you have!" Claire says looking at Delphie
Puzzled by all of this, Ben and George exchange glances before Ben asks "What are you and Mama expecting, Papa? A package? Are we getting a present?"
"You could call it that, son. Our family is going to have the gift of a baby sometime after Christmas, on into the new year. Your Mama is going to have a baby, boys. Just like your aunt Linnea."