New Beginnings: Life Changes

Ch. 18

Finding Time

Enjoying their alone time before settling down to sleep, Ethan and Delphie are interrupted by a knock.

Rolling back to her side of the bed, Delphie straightens her nightgown as Ethan asks "Who's there?"

"It's me, Papa, May I come in?"

Sharing a smile with Delphie, Ethan asks "Who is me?"

"Paapaa! It's Ben!"

"Just a second, Ben." Ethan says crossing the room to unlatch the door.

Looking down at the young boy in his nightshirt he thinks how much younger the boy seems dressed this way.

"What may I do for you, young man? You are to be asleep. Bedtime was two hours ago!"

"Yes sir, I know. I can't sleep. My stomach hurts."

"Come here, love." Delphie says motioning for Ethan to move aside to let the boy in. Ignoring the sigh from her husband, Delphie focuses her attention on the forlorn figure snuggled in her arms.

"Did you eat to much of the apple brown betty this afternoon? It is quite sweet and the cider in the dish could cause your stomach to ache. We'll try some baking soda in water. That might help."

"You can also swallow some cod liver oil. Your aunt Amy gave us a new bottle just last week." Ethan adds from his side of the bed. Watching the boy's mouth grimace at the mention of that treatment, he sees Delphie shake her head at him.

"Unh uhh! That stuff tastes horrid! My stomach has started feeling much, much better now." Ben tells them as he heads for the door.

"FREEZE" Ethan commands causing the child to instantly stop moving.

"Come here to me." Ethan insists waiting for Ben to reach him. "Alright, what is on your mind? You have that look again. Tell us the truth, son."

"The wwwhales are bback, Pppa." Ben stutters wiping at his tearing eyes.

"Calm down, Ben. Just breathe in, deep breath, breathe out slowly. One more, deep breath, let it out slowly. Alright, now what is it son? You will feel better when you tell me."

"Not if you spank me, I won't." Ben answers quietly, earning a reproachful look from Ethan.

"I promise not to spank you tonight. Now out with it as it is getting bedtime for me."

Knowing he has reached the end of his Pa's patience, Ben says "I spent more money than the ten cent piece. I found a terrific gift for Aaron. I bought it. I owe Mr. Axelrod the rest."

Seeing the look that crosses his Pa's face he reminds Ethan "You promised not to spank me, remember?"

"How much did you charge to our account? You know you children are forbidden to put charges on the account without permission."

"I didn't."

"Ben! Lying will earn you a trip to the barn! You just said you owe money!" Ethan scolds, causing the boy to step backward before having his hands caught and held, keeping him in place.

"I did charge the fifteen cents but not to your account. Mr. Axelrod made a one time charge page for me. He said I can pay him back and have two weeks to do so. I can use more of my extra chore money to pay. I really wanted Aaron to have the rolling hoop he likes. I just wanted to tell you, not hide it. Don't be mad Pa."

"Ethan, Ben has come to us, not waited until we discovered for ourselves." Delphie says quietly.

"Yes he has. Ben, I am not upset. I was, before you explained how you solved your problem. Instead of defying the rules you came up with a way to get your best friend a gift. I am proud of you for thinking of a way to solve your problem and for coming to tell us. You will need to pay your bill after breakfast and come straight home. In the morning, you let your Mama or I take the money from your bank. I do not give you permission to charge anything else. This is a one time occurance, understand? This is a gift for a friend."

"I understand. Those whales are gone. I can sleep now. Goodnight Mama and Papa."

"Goodnight dear one."

"Goodnight scamp. Now scoot! Out of our room to your own bed and go to sleep." Ethan answers making shooing motions as he would to chickens.

After Ben has left, Delphie asks "When did he start stuttering? Also how did you know his stomach trouble was guilt? I couldn't tell."

"I don't really know when he started. When he came to me at nearly seven, he stammered often. He has progressed to having trouble only occasionally. Usually when he is worried or extremely tired. I knew it was guilt because he gets this certain look. It is hard to describe though. Let's talk more tomorrow. I am ready to get some sleep."

Walking into the hotel room, Case remarks "Where were you all afternoon, Cord? I have great news!"

"I've been doing some shopping. It has been nice to be among townspeople again. Especially after seeing the back ends of cows so often. I found a treat for us and a book for my brother, Joseph. I bought us each a bag of chocolate pieces. Tomorrow, I have to get more gifts for the family."

"You are spending your pay on candy and gifts? What about something for yourself? I know just the thing too!"

"I bought myself new clothes. After riding for weeks in the same clothes, I bought new. I don't believe my clothes can ever be free of the dirt from that three day duststorm we rode through! I have new dungarees and shirt all clean. I bought some others as well. Now if you will excuse me, I can finish my bath while the water is hot. The tub will be here an hour. I paid extra. You can bathe as well."

"Don't you want to hear my news?" Case asks, eyes sparkling with excitement.

"Fine. What is your news, Cason?" Rob asks in the patient voice he often uses with his pesky little brothers.

"Tonight we are boss free! My Pa has gone to the next town up. It is a two hour ride. He always takes the pay from the cattle drive to that bank. They have a better bank safe than here. Anyway we are going to The Buffalo tonight!"

"We? Me and you? Have you forgotten your own Pa's rule? I quote the boss 'In this outfit you will not drink while on the trail. If you are unhappy with my decree you are free to leave. Those of you over nineteen will be free to pursue those tastes in a saloon at the end of the drive. Anyone disregarding my words will be submitted to unpleasant consequences.' We are shy of being over nineteen by near to two years, Case."

"Come now, Rob. Did you not say you are the son of a former gunslinger now sheriff?"

Eyeing the sly grin on his friend's face, Rob replies "Yes."

"Being both of those jobs requires much courage to continue, yes?"

"I would say so, yes. Why?" Rob asks.

"You, as the son would also have much courage I would think. You want to be as your Pa to make him proud. You do, do you not? I have not seen any sign of you being yellow. Therefore you will be meeting me in the saloon at six which is forty minutes from now. Back table by the wall. Do enjoy the bath. I had mine already." Case replies before leaving the room.

"Just for your information Case Campbell, I will not be giving you any of my chocolate. Setting me up to have to go along with your scheme! You won't remember I have any candy after your saloon visit anyway. Why do I go along with these things?" Rob asks the mirror as he wet combs his hair after his soak in the tub. Giving himself a few more minutes to try to come up with a plan, Rob reluctantly leaves to meet his friend.

"Good morning, dear. Did you enjoy sleeping in this morning? Would you like coffee with oatmeal, toast, eggs and bacon? I saved you some of the last of the blackberry jam. We need to make more sometime soon. Maybe today if we have the time. With you working so often, we can't seem to make time as we used to. Last summer you and I were learning how to put up fruit and jam together."

"Good morning, Mama. I will have coffee but just bacon, eggs and toast, please. I remember we made a mess of the kitchen with our exploding jars! Pa made the boys stay in town until he was positive no more of our jars would blow their lids!" Claire replies giggling. "Where are they? It seems too quiet for them to be outside."

"Joseph is in town doing punishment chores and the other boys went fishing. They claimed they would get enough fish for our supper. I told them to be home by two. That gives us girls several hours to catch up. I feel we rarely see each other except breakfast. Are you enjoying learning about nursing, Claire? Amy has been singing your praises."

"I love it! I have been studying the textbooks you both kept. I am memorizing known diseases and symptoms."

"That is impressive. I heard you had memorized all of the bones already. Are you finding your training in using herbs and your Pa's teachings helpful as well? I heard you learned from him and the Indian healer John Taylor."

"Pa learned from John Taylor. I learned from my first Mama and then when we moved here, I learned from Pa too." Claire replies helping cook.

Later that morning:

"I want to ask you something. Ethan mentioned that Ben used to stammer often when he was younger. He had some trouble last night with stammering. I had not noticed him doing this before. Do you recall when that began? Was it evident in his babyhood?"

"We haven't talked much of our days with our other father since you joined us, have we? Has Pa told you about him?" Claire asks as the two walk towards the berry patch.

"I'm aware he abandoned your mother and you children several years before Ethan came for you. I know your Father was a gambler and was killed."

"He was also a drinker of whiskey. He came from the stage shows straight to any place where he could get drunk. I remember our Mama pleading with him not to come home drunk, to sleep somewhere else or not drink. He would curse her and shove her. His answer was always 'This is MY home. I will do as I please woman!' Mama tried to keep us children away but he insisted we be where he could see us."

"You don't need to tell me more if you do not wish too. This must be difficult to discuss."

"It was very hard to talk about at first. Joseph and I didn't tell Pa about our early years for months after we moved in with him. I can tell you. You asked about the stuttering. Ben began talking early. He could name many things at eight months. He spoke in full sentences by the time he turned one just before George arrived. I remember the first time he saw George. He was playing in our room. All three of us children shared a room. Mama asked me to bring Ben to her so he could meet the new baby. Ben took a long look and said 'That is my new brother. Thank you for getting him for me, Mama.' They have been close from then on. I will answer your question about Ben's stammering but it is not a happy story. I just want you to know if you want me to stop."

"I need to hear it, Claire. I should know your stories."

"Ben began stammering at the age of four. Our father was home, drunk, shouting, ordering us to get things for him. Ben would get scared when Papa shouted. This night he wet himself before he could get to the chamber pot. Papa whipped him with a belt leaving welts. It wasn't the first time he hurt one of us. Joseph had the same thing happen several times. I know whippings are common punishment for children but our father was very harsh. It wasn't but a few days later that Papa left. We never saw him again. I was eleven, Joseph was nine, Ben was almost five and George was nearly four. George doesn't remember Papa. Ben remembers or did before he had scarlet fever. Now, I hope he doesn't remember that time in his life. Let him remember Uncle Ethan as his only Papa. He has been much more of a real father than our other ever tried to be."

"This is when you and Joseph became second parents to the boys isn't it?"

"In a way, we were that when the boys were babies. Joseph and I were left to take care of them even when we were only seven and five. We were left in a costume room off stage during rehearsals and again during the performance nights. Mama sometimes asked a stage hand to help or maybe another actress. Most of the time it was just Joseph and me."

"Ethan has told me of how you and Joseph were better with the boys than he was when he became your guardian. He admits he made many mistakes and needed your help. Sometime you will have to tell me those stories."

"I will. Mama? I need to talk of something else. I have a question. What would you do if someone you knew was doing something that would make someone else sad? I saw someone doing something. I don't know if I should talk to her or pretend I don't know."

"I can't answer until I know what you saw, dear." Delphie replies as she fills her berry basket.

"Two days now, I have walked up on Cecily and that young telephone lines man. You remember him, he came through here a few weeks ago. Now he is back at the boarding house. He and she are very chatty and he even kissed her on her cheek! I suspect she is going around with him. I saw them having a soda at the new fountain in the General Store just yesterday. Mama, she is engaged to Rob! Shouldn't she be staying away from other guys?"

"That is how I feel as well, however this is between Rob and Cecily. We will stay out of their business. Let them work out their relationship unless he asks for advice."

"It will be good to have Rob home. He is still coming home next week right? You haven't heard differently have you?"

"As far as I know, that is the plan. Speaking of plans, are you available to help with the children's parade tomorrow? The plan is to have them line up at the Livery and go down Main street. Your Pa said he will put barriers up at each end so no one can bring wagons or horses down during our time. It won't inconvenience people long." Delphie replies as she puts a handful of blueberries in her basket.

"I'll be happy to help. How many children will there be?"

"I have costumes for eight but more may join in. We are starting right around eleven thirty so everyone is to meet by eleven. Ben and George are decorating the pony cart. I have a very old sheet and fabric pieces they are planning to use."

"It's going to be a busy day for you tomorrow. Hosting the twins' birthday here is so nice of you."

"Thank you, dear. I know how much they enjoy coming here. When Chris asked me if I would help him, I suggested they come here. Their birthday gift from him is in the barn now. He and Ethan put it together and it is hidden under a tarp."

"You can't stop there, Mama! What is it? I may not be able to come to the party."

"One of those bicycles. Those contraptions look so difficult to stay on!"

"Well Cord, what is your pleasure? Whiskey or beer? I plan to have some of both. Will you look at what just came downstairs? Look at the one in that red ... whatever you call that. It is not covering much." Cason comments while Rob looks on.

"I call that a costume, Case. She needs a coat to cover herself. You do need to stop staring at her chest, you know."

"I can't help myself when she has them about to pop out the top over that small bit of lace. She's coming over!" Case replies, sputtering the last sentence.

"Hello men. May I sit? We can get to know each other. You look like you could use some companionship too. I'm called Delilah Delight. Who might you be?"

"This is Cason and he will be happy to speak with you. I have another place to be. Nice meeting you Miss." Rob answers standing and hurrying out of the saloon.

Walking to the far end of the dusty dirt road, Rob stops at the shop where he purchased his trousers and shirt. Noticing a light coming from the back of the shop, he walks behind the building. Seeing a door and window, he knocks.

"Hello, Miss. Amelia. I apologise if I startled you. I saw the light and hoped you were here."

"Hello yourself. Are you here to have me pin and alter your shirts?"

"If I let you pin them, will you take a walk with me? There is a bright full moon out tonight so there is much light to see by. Would you walk with me? I only wish to walk and talk. No harm will come to you."

"Yes, I would like a walk. Thank you for asking me. Let me get your shirts. You'll need to come try them on so I may fit the collar and cuffs."

After many long minutes of standing with his arms stretched straight out to the side, Rob asks "Are you nearly finished? My arms would like to be able to lower back to their normal position. I do believe the left one just whispered it was leaving me if it couldn't go down. I would like to keep both arms."

"Ummhmm" Amelia says smiling around the pins between her lips. Placing the pins back in her box, she declares "Finished, you may carefully take the shirt off behind the dressing screen. If the collar or cuff comes apart, we'll have to begin again."

"Noooooo, not more torture. I will be very gentle in removing the shirt. I have been through this before wiith both my sister and my Ma."

"You are a brave cowhand. You can take repinning it if it comes to be" Amelia teases back.

Walking along the storefronts, Rob asks "Did you live here as a child? I think it would be a dismal place to grow up."

"My mother and I moved here when I was eleven. My father was killed in a buggy accident in Boston when I was ten. The buggy went off the trail and over the side of a hill at night. He and the driver were killed. My mother answered an advertisement for marriage age women to travel west. She packed what few things we had left after the bank sold the rest. My father left many debts she had to pay. She was selected as a bride for the man you saw earlier today, Harold. He convinced Mama to send me East to a boarding school. I returned here two years ago when I was sixteen. Mama contracted pneumonia and died a year ago last monrh. I work for Harold now for some pay plus the room in back of the shop."

Realizing how much she has revealed, Amelia apologizes. "I am sorry. You must think I am very forward to tell my life story to a stranger this way. Something about you makes it seem we have known each other a long time."

"No, I don't think you are being forward. I did ask. I feel the same with you. I don't feel we just met earlier today. It is time I took you home though. Would you be able to find time for a small picnic tomorrow? I only have two days as we pull out for home early Monday morning. I will pick up my shirts at noon. If you want to, I will come back at five bringing my basket of treats. If you can come, we'll have supper at the pond. Your shop doesn't open after five does it? Maybe we can do another picnic Sunday. You don't work Sundays do you?"

"I will close at five. Nothing but the church and the saloon opens on Sunday. I would enjoy a trip to the pond."

Gathered around the table that night, George tells the family of his and Ben's adventure.

"We were doing well catching fish. I had five and Ben had three. He caught one that I think was as long as my hand to my elbow. We heard something coming through the bushes and thought someone else was coming to fish. Both of us were being quiet and watching." Stopping there and taking several bites of fried fish with potato, he waits for Ben to continue the story. Ben is busy eating as well so doesn't say anything.

Tired from the busy day of washing store windows, sweeping out stores or parts of the boardwalk in front of stores, Joseph has very little patience.

"Well? Are you going to finish or is that all of this story? You both went fishing and heard noise?" He snaps irritably.

"Joseph, mind your manners please." Delphie reminds him before Ethan can scold the boy for his tone of voice.

"We would all like to hear what happened next boys. What did you see, George?"

"Tell them, Ben. You said you wanted to tell that part."

"Well, we were sitting on the bank being very still watching the bushes and no one came. Guess what did come out!"

"Was it an elephant, Ben?" Claire teases, causing everyone to laugh.

"No, smaller."

"A rabbit, then. I see rabbits up that way often." Joseph remarks.

"No, bigger." George answers sharing a grin with Ben. "Papa, your turn to guess."

"Let me think, hmm, smaller than an elephant, bigger than a rabbit, I will guess it was Pepper. That dog can't ever walk quietly."

"Nope. Pepper was tied on his long rope run you and Rob made between the trees. He likes it when he can pull his leash rope back and forth along that long rope. We left him water, Claire." George assures his sister before she might ask.

"Your turn to guess, Mama." Ben tells Delphie as she sits two blueberry pies on the table.

"Not Pepper, a rabbit or an elephant sooooo it must have been a lost cow or maybe a horse"

"Not either of those. Does anybody else have another guess?" Ben asks.

"We are all out of guesses boys. You'll just have to tell us what you saw." Ethan says.

Swapping a look, both boys say together "It was a fawn."

"A fawn? Oh, that would be precious to see. Did you see the doe as well?"

"No Mama, just the baby. It came out just a few feet from us to drink. It even looked right at us and didn't run. Do you think it is someone's pet, Papa?"

"No Ben. Wild animals are not pets. I would think it was just young enough not to know people can be harmful to it. Now, if you wish to have a piece of this warm blueberry pie with cream on it, both of you eat the rutabagas on your plates."

Scowling at one of his most despised vegetables, George pushes the chunks around on the plate. Noticing his father looking at him, he spears one chunk bringing it to his mouth. Placing it back on the plate, he says "Mama, I really don't like rutabagas. I don't want to eat them."

"George, you know the rule. You must eat what you are served. Ben has finished, so can you. It is less than the size of your fist. Go on, finish." Ethan speaks before his wife.

"I Was Talking To Mama, Not You!" George answers before he can stop himself. Slapping both hands over his mouth he sees Joseph's eyebrows shoot up in astonishment.

"Come to me George." The now sniffling child hears minutes later as he stares at the offensive vegetable causing all of his trouble.

Standing and taking the smallest of steps possible, George finds himself beside his Pa's chair.

"Do you have something you would like to say?"

"Yes sir. I am sorry for how I spoke to you. I was very rude. I didn't mean to say it, Pa. Honest. It just came out. Please Papa, don't spank me. I really didn't mean to act that way."

"Thank you for the apology, George. I could see from your reaction you did not mean to speak rudely. Now, what are you going to do about following our plate rule?"

Biting his lower lip, George gives his best pleading look. "Couldn't we feed them to the chickens?"

"What will my answer to your question be?" Ethan asks in return.

With a deep sigh, George responds "You will tell me I have to eat the disgusting rutabagas that I despise completely and will make me sick."

Delphie has to smother her laugh at how overdramatic this answer sounds.

"Yes, my answer is you have to 'eat the disgusting rutabagas you despise completely'. Of course you can choose to disobey me. In that situation we take a walk to your room for a discussion between you, me and a hairbrush. Afterwards you will go straight to bed. What is your decision, George?"

"I will force them down." George tells him.

"Then return to your seat and do so. You may have dessert as soon as those vegetables are eaten."

After one bite of pie, having waited for George to get his piece, Ben asks Joseph "Will you help me and George decorate our pony cart in the morning? The Patriotic Parade is tomorrow."

"Say it correctly, Ben. It is 'George and I'. You put the other person first and use the word I when talking about yourself." Claire corrects.

"Please Joseph? Will you help George and I tomorrow morning?" Ben says trying not to show his annoyance at his sister correcting him.

"I can't Ben. I have more work to do in town tomorrow. I have to go with Pa in the morning."

"You said you would help us! We tried doing it ourselves but couldn't. We have to be ready before lunch!"

"Calm down Ben. Joseph can help you boys decorate the cart after we finish dessert. I will do the clean up chores in your place tonight." Ethan tells his overly emotional child.