New Beginnings: Life Changes
ch. 22
New Discoveries
Finding himself once again doing the majority of the outside chores, Joseph complains to Beauty "You are having to be groomed by me again aren't you, girl? I know you wish Rob would be the one brushing you but he has left us again. Here we are a week tomorrow since he came home and I see him leaving after breakfast. Pa seems to not notice or maybe he does, I just don't know. I wish someone would tell my older brother he has to do his part of these chores. I can't do the whole list alone. Pa thinks we are deciding who does what and yet Rob is off somewhere. I am not covering for him anymore. I will do half the list and he can do the rest!"
By noon, Joseph has cleaned his section of the barn, groomed and put the horses out to pasture, plus supervised Ben and George during their cleaning of the barn. After washing his arms, hands and face at the outside washbasin his Mama put out, he enters the house.
"Mama?" Joseph calls not having seen her or any sign of lunch.
"We are up here, dear!" Delphie calls down from the top of the narrow stairs.
Climbing up to his sister's room, he finds the narrow bed covered in clothes. Claire is wearing a fitted waist length button up jacket with a long skirt to match while his Mama bustles around her pinning the fabric.
"Alright Claire, I have it pinned. You can step out of the skirt now. I can easily take in the waist and hem it. Just a couple of darts in the shoulders of the jacket and I believe it will fit perfectly."
Remembering the boy behind her, Delphie turns and asks "What do you think of your sister's newest outfit, Joseph? Doesn't she look at least twenty with her hair styled up this way?"
"It looks nice, Mama. You look pretty, Claire. Is this a new outfit from the dressmaker?"
"Thank you, Joseph. No, this is a set Mama is altering from her own wardrobe. Don't you recognize it? She wore it to our Founder's Day celebration year before last."
"I don't remember it. Mama? When is lunchtime? Where are Ben and George? I haven't seen them in a couple of hours."
"The boys went fishing and took lunch with them. There is fresh bread and butter down in the kitchen. I made three loaves of bread this morning. There is cheese and more in the pulley pantry. You go ahead and fix yourself a sandwich. You can join the boys at the fishing spot if you wish. Claire and I will eat later as we have more altering to do."
"Is there no hot lunch today? I didn't find anything on the stove. I am very hungry, Mama."
"Not today. You can help yourself to the meat in the pantry as well. You know how to cook, Joseph."
Leaving the women to fuss over the clothes, Joseph goes to the kitchen. Finding the basket of fresh eggs plus the bread, he decides to make four fried egg sandwiches. Having eaten those, he picks up a jug of swizzle from the pulley pantry. Writing a note, he leaves it on the table before heading out the door.
In town, Rob is shadowing Cecily as she leaves the Paradise Boarding House. Following from a distance as he has for four days, he watches her slip inside the back door of the saloon. Debating with himself whether or not he should risk following her inside, Rob sees her come back out.
As the frowning young woman walks directly to him, his feet seem to have forgotten how to move.
"Tell me something Robert Cord! Why have you been following me? Yes, I saw you! We talked before you ran off to play with cowhands. I told you not to go. You insisted. We are no longer even friends! I met someone who is not just happy to play with smelly animals. He has ambition!"
"Are you done? May I talk now or do you wish to continue your tirade?"
"Say your piece."
"I have followed you to see if I could get a glimpse of your new fella. Claire informed me you had someone. I made her tell me because she was against me talking to you. I explained we had decided to stop courting each other. I only want you to be well taken care of Cess."
"Do not call me that ridiculous pet name! I certainly do not need your help! I found someone who has money and will look after me. We will have a grand home in Denver once he finishes the lineman job. He will be part of the management soon. Go play with your smelly cows and leave us be!"
"As you wish, Cecily." Rob replies before walking away towards Mitch's home.
Approaching the two boys sitting on the bank of the pond, Joseph greets them from behind.
"Hi, mind if I come sit with you? I brought a jug of swizzle and some bread with butter and sugar. Are you catching any?"
"Hi, we have four. I got three and Ben caught one. Would you hold my pole while I get a snack?" George asks.
"Sure, George. Ben, do you want a piece of sugar bread too? I can hold both poles."
"No, I am moving to that big rock. I bet there are fish near the cattail plants. I want to catch something big this time. Last time we went fishing, we caught small ones."
Putting the cork back in the jug, George asks "Did you bring your fishing string? Are you going to make a pole? Why didn't you bring your fishing pole?"
"I couldn't carry the wrapped bread, the jug and a pole. As you noticed, the jug is heavy. That òne is the large pottery jug. I just picked up the first one I saw. I don't have any weighted string with me. I'll just watch today."
"I will share my pole with you. You go ahead and keep it awhile. Look! The cork! It went under! Oh, it's back up. There! It went under again! Pull it up, Joseph!"
"Calm yourself before you fall in the water. I taught YOU to fish so I do know how, George."
"Ooooohhhh, look at that one. He is twice as long as my hand. Look, Ben! Joseph caught a big one!"
"Good for Joseph." Ben answers grumpily.
"He is in a snit because I caught the first fish and the second too. He caught the third one but I caught the next. He doesn't like it if he isn't getting more than me."
"So, I noticed. Just ignore him. He can be mad all he likes"
Passing the swimming hole as they walk home, Ben asks "Joseph, could we just swim a little while? Please? We haven't been swimming in weeks. Everyone is too busy to supervise us. You are allowed to so will you?"
"I will but only if you promise two things. One, do what I say without arguing and two stay away from the deep part. Do you agree boys?"
Hearing "I promise" from both brothers, Joseph says "Let's tie your strings of fish to this branch. I will wedge it behind a rock so it won't move. We can keep the fish fresher if we put them in water. Also no animal will steal them."
Two hours later the three damp but happy boys arrive home. Heading to the table beside the barn used for cleaning fish, they are stopped by Ethan at the barn doors.
"Where were you? Why are your clothes wet?" He asks, frowning at the group.
Exchanging side looks of puzzlement, the younger boys leave the explaning to Joseph.
Holding up the strings of fish, Joseph answers "We were fishing, Pa. Mama gave permission."
"Did you catch a whale and it pulled the three of you into the pond, George? Is that why your hair and clothes are wet?" Ethan asks, the sternness now giving way to mild teasing.
"Umm, no sir." George answers not sure what to say.
"We stopped at the swimming hole and played some, Pa. We stayed close to the bank far away from the deep water. We had a splash war. I lost. It was getting late so we didn't take time to let our underwear dry before dressing. We haven't been to the swimming hole in over a month. You did say I could supervise the boys as long as we didn't go to the deep part."
"Yes, I did. You all need baths and to wash your hair. Leave the fish on the table Ben, George, then go take a bath. Go on, now. Joseph and I will prepare them for cooking."
While scraping his fourth headless fish, Joseph asks "Am I in trouble?" The silence from his Pa getting to him.
"Should you be?"
"Not that I can think of, sir. Unless you are upset about us playing in the water. We didn't go in further than waist high on me."
"That is good to know. Anything else you wish to say?"
"Mama gave me permission to join the boys in fishing."
"So you have said. What of finishing the chores before fun? Isn't that one of the rules? I came home to find several chores not even begun. There are many stalls dirty, the kitchen floor has not been scrubbed, the bridles I asked to be cleaned haven't been touched. Did you not see those on the list I left today?"
"Pa, I milked the cows, strained the milk, set up the churn for Mama, cleaned my part of the stalls and put clean hay down. I supervised Ben and George on their barn and outside chores. I groomed all of the horses except Lightning and took them to pasture. This was all done before lunch. I left the other chores for Rob to do when he came home. I thought he was to still do chores too. Does he no longer have chores? I have been doing all of the list each day even though there are twice as many chores as before Rob came back home."
"If I hear you right, you are saying Rob has been leaving you to complete the chores. This has been going on nearly a week. Correct?"
"Yes sir."
"You should have told me, Joseph. Why didn't you say something days ago?"
"I suppose because he isn't hurting himself, someone else or a thing. Those are what you taught us to tell someone about."
"Well son, you are someone and this is hurting you. I have noticed how tired you have been at night but did not realize why. Leave the rest of these fish to me. I'll have them frying by the time you are bathed. I will also discuss this with Rob. You are only responsible for half of the list, Joseph. Nothing has changed in how we divide the work. Tomorrow, If you like, you may leave after breakfast. You are free to go spend the day how you wish with your friends. Rob will handle the chores."
"Thanks Pa!"
"You're welcome smelly one. Go bathe or your Mama will not let you eat at the table!"
As the daylight fades to shadows and darkness, the boys feel their Pa's mood do the same. His long stretches of silence between answers to questions plus the darkening of his brown eyes are signs they know well.
At the sound of boots on the porch, Ethan says "Ben, George, go with Joseph to his room. You may listen to one or two more chapters of his new book before bedtime."
Delphie signals to Claire to follow her as she leaves as well.
In Joseph's room, Ben whispers "Why is Pa mad? Something about Rob, right?"
"Hush! Let's listen. Be completely still and quiet. If we are caught listening at the door we will sleep on our stomachs tonight. Got me?" Joseph whispers pulling the boys close to him to speak.
Sitting together beside the door, the three hear the front door open and their Pa say "You are late again tonight. I spoke to you last night about this, Rob. Where have you been?"
"In town. Going to bed."
"Hold up just a minute, I want to discuss some things before you do."
"I'm beat and I'm going to bed! Have your discussion with someone else!" The boys hear Rob reply as he moves near.
The three eavesdroppers cringe and Joseph feels George grab his hand as they hear their Pa's footsteps moving closer. His voice is deep and firm as they hear "Robert! You will follow me, now! Do not cause me to tell you again!"
"Gosh, Rob is brave to talk that way to Pa." Ben whispers as the three snuggle on Joseph's bed with the book.
"Mmmhmm, maybe so. Let's read about Ichabod Crane." Joseph murmurs while thinking "brave" is not the word he would choose.
Now standing in the lantern lit barn, Rob is thinking of what to say and how to phrase it. His eyes settle on his father as the man moves toward a familiar post.
"Now Pa, calm down a little. I am seventeen near to eighteen! I'm far too old for you to do that! You can't be serious!"
"I asked you in the house and again here to explain yourself. When I ask where you have been, why you are home so late, I get backtalk or no answers. My question of why you have been dumping all of the chores on Joseph received no answer. If you can not remember how to be respectful then perhaps this razor strop will jar your memory. I am aware of your age and I am also aware you are to abide by my rules until you're the legal age of twenty one! Have you completely forgotten the expectations in this family? You joined the family at the age of fourteen. If you recall, we had many conversations about expectations and behavior. I doubt you forgot everything in your time on the cattle drive. You are my son and will do as I say."
"I do remember that time and your reinforcement of the expectations. I also remember you helping peel strips of anger and fear off when you caught up with me after Uncle Vernon was killed a few months later. I was a hurt, hotheaded kid angry at the world. I am not angry now but I am hurting some just as I was back then. If you will, please allow me to talk now, I will explain. I just needed time to think of what to say. I apologize for how I have been acting, sir. I've been trying to deal with a problem and today, I finished. Please don't use that strap."
"I am listening. What is the problem?"
Finishing the explanation with "Even though she told me before, I had to make sure. I needed to find out if she was going to reconsider. She has another fella. He looks like a nice enough guy. Mitch said he was good to her and a good worker. I tried talking to Cecily today. She didn't want me around. It is over between us. We are no longer betrothed. I am both hurt and somewhat glad at the same time. I am just mixed up, I suppose.""
"Well Rob, it is better to find out she does not share your goals now than to marry and be unhappy. Marriage is a serious commitment between two people. Honestly, I never thought the two of you were compatible for a lifelong commitment. If you recall, I tried to stop you from getting too involved. I suggest you talk with Delphie. She is better at understanding this type of problem than I ever will be."
"Why do I have problems with women? First Emily Anderson now Cecily. I could count Claire as well. We talked of becoming betrothed before I joined the family."
"Rob, you are being too tough on yourself. As I said, talk to Delphie. She can help you understand women. You will be completing all of your and Joseph's chores tomorrow. This will give you time to talk to her. Right now, I need to check on your brothers. It is past time for bed for them and for you as well. You will remain at the ranch plus have an hour early bedtime for the rest of the week for skipping chores and missing curfew. I want you in by nightfall no matter your age."
"Yessir."
Debating with himself whether or not to chance making his Pa angry again, Rob decides to get it over with.
"Pa? Before we go in, I have something else to tell you. There is a tradition on cattle drives for the men to celebrate the end of the drive. The men gather in a saloon to have this celebration."
"A celebration which most likely involves drinking, gambling and perhaps women? Correct?" Not waiting for Rob to answer, Ethan continues. "Robert Jordan Cord, are you about to tell me you participated in this celebration in a saloon?"
The use of his full name has Rob regretting his decision to bring this up.
"Mr. Campbell forbade anyone under nineteen from participating. His son Cason went anyway. I went to try to get him to leave as he is sixteen. I stayed maybe ten minutes if not less and left when Case wouldn't listen. I had nothing to drink and did no gambling. I wanted you to hear this from me."
"Tell me, does Mr. Campbell know of the trip by you boys?"
Mentally groaning at being called a boy, Rob answers "He does. I told him what I told you. I left after a few minutes. Case stayed on."
"Were you boys disciplined for this action?"
"Case was but I wasn't. Mr. Campbell treated him to the punishment you would use on one of us. He realized I only went to get his son. Are you angry? I know you do not wish me to enter saloons but I felt it necessary. I felt I had to try to make Case see reason."
"No son, I am not angry. I appreciate your honesty. Mr. Campbell told me of your trying to help Cason during the drive. I can see you felt responsible for him that evening. Do not think however, that this gives you permission to visit saloons. It does not!"
"Yessir, I hear you."
As he finishes scrubbing the kitchen floor, Rob hears Delphie say "You deserve a break from chores. Come rest and talk with me while the floor dries. You have been working all morning."
Grateful to rest, Rob sips the cold water she hands him.
"Are you feeling alright? You look tired." Rob asks before thinking better of the question.
"I apologize. I didn't mean you looked bad."
"I never thought you did, Rob. Why are you nervous with me? I have been around you several months yet you seem jittery. I'd like to know why. Is it the coming baby?"
"No Ma'am. I am happy for you and Pa. I get a baby brother or sister to spoil. I never knew the others as babies. I suppose I get nervous in a way because I don't know how to have a mother."
"Ethan has told me some of your life before you lived with your Uncle Vern. I would like to hear how you came to be Ethan's son. I am pleased you did as now I have the chance to claim you as mine as well."
"When my Uncle Vern found out my Pop left me his findings in the gold mines, he asked Pa to be my other guardian. Vern and Pa were friends and I spent a lot of time with the family. Vern was shot and killed in a bank holdup a few months after I inherited the money. I felt it was my fault as I insisted we go to the bank that day. I was behaving badly because I thought being wealthy meant I had no limits. With Vern's death, I ran off to Colorado Springs. I was living wild. Drinking, playing poker and other ways of gambling. I had tripled the money I took out the day of the shooting. Everything was fine or so I thought. I didn't use my real name and said I was nineteen when I was not quite fifteen. One night about about six weeks after I got there, I got in a fight. This group came in to the saloon challenging men to play cards for big money. I took on the challenge and was winning each game. They did not approve. During the third card game one of the men accused me of cheating. I swung at him with a chair which started a brawl. Somewhere in the brawl I was pulled out by a U.S. Marshal. He was undercover investigating the gang of men who I found out later were cardsharps wanted for robbery."
"It sounds as if he saved you from being hurt. From what I know saloons are dangerous."
"Yes'm he did, at least for then anyway. He put me in jail and kept me there until I told him who my guardian was. He wired Pa who came and took control of me. Pa was the one I needed saving from then!"
"Knowing Ethan, I imagine he had some things to say to you."
"Yes Ma'am. He and I had two long days where he did much talking. He talked with words and his belt too. I think he whipped me three times! I kept getting it as he discovered more of what I had done. I was not showing much respect either as I was angry for being found. I wanted to live wild as I had been doing and he was stopping me."
"I believe you were really running from your pain. Didn't Ethan know you were grieving for your uncle? I know you well enough to know you are not wild."
"Maybe so but I was very difficult and angry. I had to be under the Marshal's care for two weeks to work off the charges for the saloon damage. Pa left me in his charge with strict guidelines. Somehow, I didn't cause the man to punish me. After that I was put on the stage and sent here. I moved in with the family and Pa continues to see to it I gave up any wild behavior. I learned what it's like to be a member of a real family. Not long afterwards, he arranged to adopt me. Pa taught me how to work with horses and forced schooling on me too. That is the short version of the story."
"Ethan is such a horrible Pa to force schooling and deny you your wild behavior. Do you agree?" Delphie asks, smiling.
"Alright, don't tease. I know he's a good father even if he does punish me and can't help me with women. Now that you are my Ma, could you give me advice on dealing with women?"
"We will talk in detail about relationships another time. My advice for now would be not to refer to relationships as 'dealing with women', Rob. Women frown on being made to sound like ornery horses."
"Hmmm, well I need to get back to work. Pa will be displeased if my list is not finished. I don't want any more of his displeasure."
"Rob? Ethan didn't raise his hand to you last night did he? I told him to control his temper with you. I hope he listened. You are not a boy any longer. He needs to remember this fact."
"I had to do some fast explaining to keep from catching it. He restricted me to the ranch for a week with extra chores plus early bedtime. I hope he remembers your words. Keep telling him, alright?"
"I will do my best. Now you better get to work. I would say you have time to do something that is quick to finish. Your late lunch will be ready as soon as I can make the soup to accompany a sandwich."
As Rob is revisiting his past, his brothers are enjoying time with friends.
"George, come inside with me. I want to get my marbles before we go to Jackson's. I have three shooters so you can use one."
"Thanks, Caleb. I won't play for keeps the way Ben does." George says as the two walk up the front walk.
Opening the front door, the boys are greeted by "Thank goodness you're here! Mama fell in the kitchen and I can not get her up. Caleb, you run for Pa! She's bleeding!"
As Caleb leaves, George says "I'll go get Dr. Amy, Sarah! I'll be back."
Having run all the way to the clinic only to find his Aunt Amy away, George dashes for the Sheriff's office.
Bursting through the door calling "Papa, are you here? I need help!"
Coming from the back of the jail at the shouting, Ethan says "George, calm yourself! What is wrong?"
"Aunt Linnea hurt herself. Sarah says she fell. I ran for Dr. Amy and Claire but the away chalkboard is on the door! Caleb went for Uncle Matt."
"Wait here for me, George. I will go check on Linnea. You may draw on the backs of these old posters. Stay here until I come back."
"Yessir."
Engrossed in drawing, George is surprised to hear "Time to put that away. We need to go home, George. Caleb is waiting."
Feeling as if he missed part of the conversation, George asks "is Aunt Linnea alright? Is Caleb waiting to play?"
"We are going for your Mama. Caleb is going along. Let's move, son!"
"Arriving home, Ethan quickly informs Delphie of the situation. As she gathers her medical bag, Ethan has a quick talk with Rob in the barn."
"There is a possibility we may be gone all night. I need you to stay here and watch the boys. Caleb will stay until Matt comes to get him."
"I will take care of them. We'ĺl be fine, Pa."
"Be patient with Caleb, he is shaken up from seeing his Ma that way." Ethan tells him as Delphie calls from outside "I'm ready!"