New Beginnings: Life Changes
Ch. 19
Days of Friends and Fun
Texas:
Walking back to his shared room with Case who was passed out asleep when he left for breakfast, Rob pauses at the door. Hearing raised voices he stops to listen before going to his friend's aid.
"I am sixteen years old and old enough! I just helped you drive a herd of cattle all the way from Colorado! I deserve to celebrate too!""
"I am your father. I know your age which is why I am here. You are very aware of my rules Cason. Both as my son and as a member of my drive. I have no doubt you remembered this but chose to go drinking in the saloon anyway. Waiting until I leave town, sneaking in the rear of the establishment, sitting in the back, all points to a boy hiding his behavior. I made myself clear on the age limit. Sixteen is three years below it. As punishment, you are now restricted to the ranch for a month. You will be completing a list of extra chores during that month."
"A month is too long! School begins in three weeks! I was planning to fish, swim, ride the grounds with my friends, Pa! I have been away a long time and haven't had the freedom to be with friends!"
"You wanted this job of cowhand, do not complain you lost time with friends. The punishment stands. No more talk. You will abide by what I tell you!"
"Well, you may not want to talk but I DO! You are very mistaken if you think I will work for free instead of enjoying being with fr... Pa? What Are You...? NO, you can't! I am too old!"
The unmistakable sound of a belt buckle being unfastened wakes Rob from his stupor. Walking quickly down the hall he heads downstairs. Deciding to leave the hotel completely, he walks down the boardwalk.
Stopping in the General Store, Rob greets the man behind the counter.
"Hello, sir. Do you have any toys for sale?"
"Table to your left and shelf behind it. Must keep them in sight as they disappear on me. Boy or girl?"
"I beg your pardon?" Rob asks looking up from the table.
"Are you looking for your son or your daughter?"
"I am not married, sir. I have no children. I am buying for my youngest brothers. They are ten and eleven. I need something I can carry in my saddlebags or knapsack."
"Ten and eleven you said? Would they like a ball? I just had a crate come in from back east. This crate has two rubber balls. Let me get it."
"This is them. You can see they would be very easy to fit in saddlebags. There was a paper on one stating it was to be blown up at a blacksmith shop. It comes with a tool to use. This small funnel thingamajig. Will you take one off my hands for twenty five cents?"
"I will pay five cents" Rob counters, deliberately going low on price. The price asked being triple the normal price.
"I need money for my family. I cannot sell a nice rubber ball for five cents."
"If you let me have both balls, I will pay thirty cents. I will also buy my other purchases here and not in the Trading Post up the street."
"More purchases?" The worn faced man asks, trying not to sound too hopeful.
"I need something for ladies and a man as well. I have parents and a sister I want gifts for."
"Deal. You can have both the red and the blue balls for thirty cents. Would you be interested in a pretty hat pin or brooch? I have several. Perhaps a nice new hat for your Papa?"
Wrapping the brooches and the new belt buckle, the proprietor asks "Where do you hail from? Most cowpokes I see are much wilder and less well heeled. Someone raised you right young sir. Here are your purchases, two balls, two brooches, one belt buckle. That will be a dollar and thirty cents."
"Thank you. I will tell my Pa your compliment. He has worked hard to enforce good manners. I am from Colorado. Here are two dollar coins. Keep the change. Hello there little one." Rob says greeting the small girl in a faded and torn dress coming out from behind a long curtain.
"Lottie? I thought you were with Betsy. Where is she?"
"Bwtsy sweeping. Her twired fwom pwaying dollies wfth mwe. Her telled mwe to sweep. I's not sweepy! I is reawey hungwy.. Buwer bwead pwease Papa?"
Rob chuckles at this long pronouncement. "How old are you, Lottie?" He asks crouching to sit on the backs of his thighs facing the tyke.
"Me is fwee! I havs bwfrday yesserdway!"
"Her birthday was last week but she says yesterday. She has a sister who is ten that should be watching her better. I bid you good day and thank you for your purchases. Come with Papa sweet one. We will get sissy up and feed you. We don't have butter but we do have a little bread left."
"Goodbye Lottie." Rob waves back as the girl waves over her Pa's shoulder calling out "Bwye man."
Paradise, Colorado
"Ethan? What are you planning to have Joseph, Theo, and the Anderson boys do today?" Delphie asks as she twists her recently finished braid up on the back of her head, pinning it in place.
"I was thinking of putting them to work in the jail cells. They could scrub the floors and restuff the mattresses with fresh hay."
"Where would the boys find hay in town?"
"My wagon. I plan to have Joseph put a bale on before we leave this morning." Seeing his wife's frown, he asks "Did you have need of the wagon today? I thought you were taking the pony cart to town."
"We are. I was hoping Joseph and his friends would be able to help with the parade today. Some of the children need someone to pull their wagons. Remember, I mentioned some have smaller wagons but no one to pull them."
"The boys will be there to help, Delphie. The starting point is the livery at eleven?"
"Yes, thank you. How many more days will the boys be on your work crew? Joseph is looking worn down. He nearly fell asleep at supper last night. He is doing all of his ranch chores on top of the extra work in town. Hasn't he received enough punishment, now? You lit a fire in his behind before he even began the work in town. I think it is enough."
"The four boys committed a crime as well as disobeyed the rules of our town. I am impressing on them the consequences of extremely bad decisions. Going beyond the boundary out in that section of land is dangerous as it is wild country. There are wild animals and other dangers that far from town. I know the families have set the same rule. Then there is their participation in taking the stallion." As Delphie begins "Their hearts were in the right place, they..." Ethan raises his hand in his gesture for silence.
"I too understand WHY they did what they did but it was still a crime. Now to answer your original question, I plan to have my crew as you call them, work tomorrow and then stop. Five days is not so terrible now is it? The Army suggested two weeks."
"I suppose not. thank you for lending them to me."
Later that morning when the four boys arrive at the livery stable, they see an excited bunch of characters chasing each other. Busy helping the little girls with their outfits Delphie simultaneously tries to calm the boys. Calling "Children! Calm down please and stop running. We want to look presentable for the parade." does not slow them at all.
"May I try something to get them still, Ma'am?" Jason Anderson asks.
"As long as it doesn't involve hurting them, yes."
"I won't hurt them." Jason answers stepping out more to the road closer to the race the boys seem to be having. Putting his index fingers in his mouth, he releases a sharp piercing whistle. The young boys instantly stop, turn and look.
"Come over here." As the younger boys gather around he gives them all a look before continuing "Mrs. Cord has told you to stop running and calm down. I heard her as did Theo, Jeff and Joseph. Now you obey or all of us will be going to get your Papas! I am pretty sure they would not be happy to hear you were being disobedient and disrespectful. Am I right boys?"
"Don't go tell, Jason! We promise to be good, alright? My Pa would make sure sitting down would be uncomfortable the rest of the day." Caleb speaks up as the rest nod in agreement.
"Then don't give any more problems and we won't be going for your Pa. Go to Mrs. Cord."
Finished dressing and giving instructions, Delphie lines up the children side by side. "Now when I say your name, tell me who you are and your piece about your character. We present our parts at the gazebo after we parade down to it. Ready then, George?
"I am George Washington. As a general, I led my troops in the battle for our country. I was in battle when the Declaration of Independence was signed. I was our first President but I never lived in the White House. I lived in Pennsylvania." George is dressed in dark blue pants, short-waisted jacket with double rows of gold buttons with gold brocade down the front. His blonde hair is covered by a tri-cornered hat to match his uniform.
Nodding, Delphie motions him back in line. "Alyssa?"
The little girl is wearing a white dress, blue shawl with a red cross sewn on it along with a smaller version of a nursing cap.
"I am Clara Barton, a nurse who helped soldiers during the War Between the States. I began the American Red Cross and also taught women to be nurses."
"Thank you, Alyssa. Now, Aaron, you will be next."
The young boy dressed in a long black coat, black trousers, white shirt, and wearing a tall stovepipe hat comes out of the line.
"Hello friends, let me tell you about myself. My name is Abraham Lincoln. I liked to win wrestling competitions. I worked as a lawyer and this tall hat was where I put important papers. I became your sixteenth president back in 1860 and won again in 1864.
Ben steps forward next causing the children to smile as he sticks out his unusually large stomach. The two feather pillows tied around his waist help his blue waistcoat stick out.
"I am Benjamin Franklin." Ben says before adjusting the wire circular spectacles on his nose. I had many talents. I used a kite with a key on its string to teach about electricity. I liked to invent things like bifocal spectacles. I was one of the writers of the United States Constitution.
Smiling at Ben's exaggerated stomach out walk, Delphie says "Caleb, you are our final speaker. Are you ready to practice?"
"Yes, Ma'am. I know my piece." the boy answers before beginning his recitation. "I am Thomas Jefferson and I am the man who wrote the Declaration of Independence. I, along with my friends, Mr. Franklin and General Washington established our country. My fellow patriots here with me today wish to thank you for your attendance.
Having arrived just as Alyssa finished her part, Claire exclaims "All of you did so well. Your costumes look perfect too. The seamstress did an amazing job."
"I agree, Claire. Children, your parents will be so impressed when you say your parts. Now it is time to get this parade started. Joseph? You and your friends pull the pony cart, the box wagons and the wheelbarrow. We walk slowly boys so no one falls out."
"We will. Mama, I think we should line them up by the height of the contraptions they have to ride in. The box wagons seem the smallest so they should be first."
"Good thinking, Joseph. Now, we'll let the little girls ride in the small wagons. Amalee and Lauren, you are our two parade hostesses." Delphie tells the youngest girls.
"Your mother did a fine job sewing your blue dresses. The white stars on the dress and your red hair ribbons are perfect. Theo, you and Jason pull their wagons. Then the boys who are walking follow in a straight line. Jeff, you are in charge of pulling the wheelbarrow for our Miss. Barton. Then the final entry will be George Washington with Joseph pulling the pony cart. When we get to the gazebo, line up as we just practiced. Everyone ready?"
"Yes, Ma'am!" The children answer having moved into their directed positions.
"Claire and I will go join the spectators now. Theo, count to 100 and then to walk slowly as we want people to see their costumes and the decorated wagons. The cloth streamers and stars need to be seen." Delphie reminds the group before walking away.
Joining Ethan, Chris and Mitch on the boardwalk in front of the sheriff's office, Claire and Delphie wait.
"Is everyone ready?" Chris asks.
"We have them lined up. They are moving in just a moment."
"HERE THEY COME!" the group hears someone call from up the street.
"How precious!"
"It's Benjamin Franklin and there is Honest Abe!"
Another more childish voice calls "I like your mules you use to pull those... OW! MA, THAT'S MY EAR YOU PINCHED!"
This comment causes a mostly suppressed wave of laughter from the townspeople gathered in front of businesses to watch the children.
As the children pass by, Ethan says "You organize a very good parade, Delphie. They all did well."
"Thank you. Will you announce to join us at the town square now. The children have speaking parts."
"I have already told everyone which is why they are moving in that direction, dear. Shall we join them?"
As Ethan, Delphie and the others walk, Delphie sees a flustered woman trying to hold on to a boy who looks to be Joseph's age. As they get near, the group hears "Don't call me that name! I am not Francis, I am Frank! Let me go! I don't care about making an impression. No one here knows us! We just moved to this dingy hole in the wall!"
"That boy needs a firm hand from his father," Mitch tells Chris.
"You are right on the money. He needs that hand on his backside!" Chris agrees.
As soon as Caleb finishes his recitation about Thomas Jefferson, Delphie walks up the steps of the gazebo joining the children.
"We thank all of you for your attendance to our belated Independence Day celebration. We had planned to have the children participate in this parade and program last month in July but illness and unexpected events kept us from it. Have a pleasant day."
Leading the children off the platform, Delphie thanks them all for an excellent performance. "You children make me very proud. Now, go home, change and come out to the ranch for the birthday celebration. We will see you soon."
Looking at her own two boys, she says "Let's go home, boys. We have a party to get ready. I need two helpers to dust the teacakes with sugar. Would you two like to have that job?"
"Mama? Are you serving tea at the party? Are you having the tiny sandwiches the way you and Claire did last month? Remember, George? All those fancy tiny things those ladies ate?"
"I remember, Ben. Mama, the other kids won't want to eat tiny sandwiches or drink hot tea from your china cups."
"Don't look so concerned Ben and George. Mama and I have Aaron and Alyssa's party planned and your friends will like it. No china will be used." Claire reassures her brothers.
Texas
Flipping the yellow fabric by two ends, Rob spreads it out on the ground by the pond.
"Come sit by me, please. This fabric is just a tad short but it will do for a table. I hope you don't mind cold well water. I couldn't find any lemons to make lemonade. The General Store did have two tin cups so we won't need to drink from the jug."
"That is very thoughtful of you Mr. Cord. Where did you find baked bread? It is not sold in our General Store. Anyone wishing to have bread makes it themselves."
"What is this calling me Mister? We are friends so call me Rob. I will call you Amelia. I bought our picnic from a lady traveler staying at the Trading Post Inn. She was selling her cooking to anyone interested. I bought a loaf of bread, several pieces of smoked pork, a jar of boiled white potatoes, a tin can of warm baked beans, and two slices of cake. I looked for green beans or peas to bring as I know vegetables are important. No one had any for sale."
"You brought us a feast. I was able to bring cheese and a few pats of butter. With all of this food, we have enough for two more people! Tell me about yourself, Rob. You seem much different than the usual cowhands I see traveling through here. What is your mother like?"
"What makes you ask about my mother?"
"Someone taught you kindness, gentleness, and how to treat women with respect. I assumed it was your mother who taught you to be a gentleman."
"My mother died when I was eight. I lived with my uncle until he died when I was fifteen. A good friend of my uncle took me into his family and made me part of it. He adopted me. He does that, adopt kids. My brothers and sister are his nephews and niece who were adopted before me. He is the person who drilled those traits you admire into my hide. I was not always a gentleman. Pa would be quick to tell this fact."
"What about his wife though? She must have had some part in your training. She must have been amazed at suddenly having five more children. How many children does she have altogether?"
"My Pa wasn't married until last year. He raised the children by himself for four years. George was not quite six, Ben almost seven, Joseph was ten, and Claire twelve when he brought them to Paradise. I arrived a few years later. Delphie, his wife, is now more of a friend but somewhat my mother too, I suppose. The younger boys think of her as their mother."
"That is just lovely. I would like to meet a man who cares so much for children who are not his own." Amelia says looking out over the water.
That is a brief introduction to my life. Now, tell me about you. What dreams do you have for your future? Do you wish to have a store?"
"My story is not as nice as yours. I told you I came west with my Mother as a little girl. By the time I was twelve, I was in a boarding school back east. Mama wanted me to get away from here. She said a cowtown was no place for a girl. I did spend time with her here in the summers. You wanted to know my dreams. I dream of finding a home. A place where everyone is caring and children are safe. I would rather be a homemaker than a storekeeper. I might work as a schoolteacher or maybe in a nice mercantile if I had the chance. We don't have a school or a nice store in this community. There are not enough families."
Paradise
Finding herself into a circle of laughing children, Delphie calls out "What am I to do? I have been captured!"
"We're playing a game, Mama. We will let you loose soon." George reassures her.
"We need one more person to play. Will you play, Mama? We are playing 'The Farmer In The Dell." Ben tells her as he holds her hand on the opposite side from George.
"Teach me this game and I will play my dear ones. What shall I do?"
"Just dance with us and you will learn." George answers as the children join hands and skip in a circle around Aaron who has been chosen to be in the middle.
After the first time through the game, Delphie is singing with the children. As they come to the part with "The child takes a nurse", Alyssa chooses Delphie. As the children skip in the circle singing "The nurse takes a cow." Delphie chooses Caleb saying "Here is my cow named Caleb." Caleb does his best "moooo" causing many giggles.
Caleb chooses Jackson to the children's chorus of "The cow takes a dog." A few minutes later, Aaron, Ben, Amalee, Alyssa, Delphie, Caleb, Jackson and George are all standing together leaving only Lauren and Timothy left. George, as the cat, sings "The cat takes the rat." along with everyone else as he walks over to pull Lauren by the hand to the group.
"That makes you the stinky cheese, Timothy! Phewwwy! " Ben teases his friend as the game ends with "The cheese stands alone."
"Thank you, children, for the fun game. Now it is time to wash. Girls come inside to wash at the sink, boys wash at the pump. Wash well so we can all have our birthday treats. Come inside when you are ready." Delphie says. Her announcement sending the group of boys running for the pump by the barn.
"Boys are very uncouth, Aunt Delphie," Alyssa says shaking her head.
"They can be, yes." Delphie agrees while suppressing a laugh at the child's word choice.
Later, after all the party guests have gone home, Ethan and Chris arrive.
"Did your friends enjoy the party?" Chris asks as he greets his children.
"Aunt Delphie had fluffy white cake squares with powdered sugar on them. We had raspberry swizzle to drink. She even had jam sandwiches for us. We had games too, Papa! We played The Farmer In The Dell and did races. We did a wheelbarrow race with uncle Ethan's stopwatch. We raced walking with a tin cup on our heads. The cup had water in it. Jackson had his cup slide off and wet all down his shirt."
"My! That sounds cold, Alyssa. Did you get wet Aaron?" Chris asks the quiet boy on his other side.
"No, I walked slowly and no water spilled. Pa? The boys want to see the new pocketknife you gave me. Tomorrow, may I take it to church and show them?"
"We'll talk about it at home. For now, Ethan says Ben and George have gifts for you two. There might be another surprise as well. Let's go in and remember to thank Aunt Delphie for this party."
"I already did thank her!" Aaron replies before adding "Yes sir, I will." After receiving a firm look from Chris at his backtalk.
Entering the house behind the twins, Chris goes to Delphie. Wrapping his arms around her he lifts her off the floor in a hug.
"Thank you for making the first birthday I have had as their Pa so special. I heard all about it."
"You are quite welcome, Chris."
"Christopher, kindly unhand my wife. She is my lady, go find your own. I claim hugging rights." Ethan calls from across the room. His voice letting everyone know he is joking.
"Well, she could have been mine. She just decided you were in need of more help than me as I only had two children." Chris calls back with a wink for Delphie.
"Come you two, make your peace. We have some children nearly bursting to give out presents."
"He started it not me," Ethan whines just like a child. The children can't help but laugh at his copying them.
Settling on the stone hearth, Chris just nods in agreement.
"George, you chose the shorter broom straw so you get to give your presents first." Delphie announces before explaining "We had them pick a broom straw to choose turns."
Coming back into the front room, George hands Alyssa and then Aaron brown paper wrapped bundles.
"I hope you like it. Happy Birthday, Aaron. Happy Birthday, Alyssa."
Opening the gifts at the same time, Alyssa gasps as she sees a book.
"Look, Alyssa. It is a story about a girl with a paper doll head and legs that fold out of the book. When you read each page, the other page is a dress for her to be wearing. Then I got your favorite candy sticks too."
When the little girl sits staring at her gifts, George hears Chris quietly say "Alyssa".
Startled out of her thoughts, the girl grabs George around the neck. "Oh! THANK YOU, George. I love my gift!"
"Thank you for the new marbles and the candy sticks, George. Apple is one of my favorites. I won't choke you the way my sister did." Aaron tells his friend.
"My turn!" Ben calls rushing off to get his packages. "Happy eleventh birthday! Hurry up! Open them!" Ben says dropping a package for each of the twins.
"Ben, remember your manners." Delphie scolds as Ethan gives his son a mild swat on his bottom commanding "behave yourself!"
"Sorry," Ben says before explaining his gifts. "Alyssa, I picked hair ribbons and lemon drop candy for you. George helped me choose. Aaron, I got your favorite root beer candy sticks. That metal wand goes with this!" He finishes pulling a hoop that is as tall as his waist from behind Ethan's chair.
"Thank you, Ben," Alyssa says as her brother admires his hoop.
"Thanks so much, Ben! A rolling hoop will be fun to play with. Let's go try it out!"
"Yes, let's all go outside," Ethan says as Joseph is sent out first.
"Aaron, Alyssa, I have a surprise gift for you two," Chris announces before the children can dash off to play.
"Another gift, Papa? You gave me a doll with a cradle. Aaron has the new pocketknife. We don't need more."
"Hush Alyssa. If Pa wants to give us more, we should be polite and accepting." Aaron reminds his sister before asking "What else did you get us, Pa?"
After the adults stop chuckling over his admonition, Chris answers,
"Joseph is bringing it out right now. Look over there." as he points behind the children.
"A bicycle? For us? Only Jackson's family has one of those." Aaron gasps.
"Well, now the Johnston family has one as well. This is your first birthday as my son and daughter instead of nephew and niece. I wanted it to be really memorable. Aaron, you have been on Jackson's bicycle so come try this one. Alyssa will have a turn as well." Chris replies holding one side of the silver bicycle.
"Could I try next Uncle Chris?" Ben asks unable to resist asking.
"Benjamin, your friends just received this gift! They have not even been on it and here you are asking for a turn! You are to wait until it is offered not to ask for a turn! You were raised better than this. Perhaps you need a reminder of your manners as you seem to have forgotten them this afternoon. Do you need a session over my knee?" Ethan reprimands sternly.
"No sir, I remember. I apologize Uncle Chris." Ben answers while watching Aaron attempt to balance the bicycle.
"I could ride it! Pa is just being mean. They should let me do it so I can show them what to do!" Ben sends to George silently.
Thank you for the message Nappy51. Good luck with fixing your login issue.
Thanks to Guest who left the message they read the entire series and didn't want it to end. Your compliment about my writing was so nice!