New Beginnings: Life Changes

ch. 25

Adventures

Having all three younger boys with her, Delphie is searching for ready made clothes. Stopping first at Axelrod's mercantile, Ben and George immediately gravitate to the two toy shelves.

"Mama look! Here is a set of wooden trees, animals, fences and houses. We could make a town for our train track to go through!" George exclaims. Before his Mama can respond, Ben thrusts a box of building logs into her hands. "Look Mama! We could build cabins with these. Over there is a box with train tracks. We could add to our track we have. Please can we get something new to play with?"

"Not today, Ben. We are shopping for school today. You two can put your wishes on your Christmas list though. Let's go over by Joseph and check the clothes. I see some boy's shirts."

Having heard her conversation with the younger boys, Mr. Axelrod approaches the group. "Good afternoon Cord family. What may I show you today?"

Before Delphie can answer, Ben asks "Did you get any new toys recently?"

"Ben, we are not buying toys. We came for school things." Joseph tells his annoying brother.

"Yes, Mr. Axelrod, as Joseph said, we are school shopping. The boys need shirts and pants plus school items. What do you have in ready made clothes? With getting Claire ready, I failed to assess the state of the boy's school clothes in time to make new. They have all grown out of several items."

"Everything you see here plus a few more shirts in the storeroom. I am stocking more than I used to now. What sizes do we need?"

"I honestly do not know. Do the clothes come in children's small? These seem much too large." Delphie asks as she holds up a shirt large enough for Rob.

"Look on this side, Mama. Here are smaller ones." George calls from the other side of the table of folded shirts and pants.

"Do you see something you like, boys?"

"I found a light blue shirt with white buttons. It fits me, Mama." George answers as Ben shakes his head.

"I found some trousers that look the right size but no shirts." Joseph tells her.

"We'll check the General Store then. Before we leave, go ahead and pick up your school items. You need Red Chief lined writing tablets three for you, Joseph, one each for the boys, pencils, a gum eraser each, slate chalk and a supply box. We'll get your uncle Matt to get cigar boxes to use for your supply boxes. I know he has a few slightly used boxes we can make much nicer. We won't need to purchase schoolbooks as we have the ones you all need.

"Mama? Ben left the store." George speaks up after she finishes talking.

"Perhaps he needed the necessary, George. Joseph? Would you plesae check on him?"

"Yes Ma'am. I'll bring him back here."

Having checked the outhouses on both ends of town plus the school and not finding his brother, Joseph decides to check Ben's newest favorite place, the Firebarn.

"Hello Joseph. What might I help you with? You don't need the fire wagon do you?"

"No sir. I'm looking for Ben. Have you seen him today?"

"I've been inside so if he came by, I didn't notice. Today was the day to organize the furniture in my new loft space. Would you like to come inside to see my new living space? Your brother Rob helped me with the walls and floor."

"Thank you sir, I will have to return another day. I need to keep ..." Joseph is interrupted by a loud sneeze coming from under the tarp covering the fire wagon.

Walking over, Joseph pulls the tarp up enough to confirm his suspicions.

"Get down from there! You had me looking everywhere! You know you are to stay in the store not just disappear! Let's go!"

"I don't want to shop anymore! Let Me Go!" Ben yells trying to pull his arm loose from Joseph's tight grip.

Leaning down to talk in his younger brother's ear, Joseph whispers "You either come with me without acting like a four year old or I will wallop you right here and then tell Pa!"

"Umphh, you can't. You aren't allowed! I. am. not. going!" Ben declares giving Joseph his best glare.

"Suit yourself, Ben." Joseph answers before walking away.

Debating whether to go to the Sheriff's office to tell his Pa or go back to the store, he decides the store would be best.

Finding his mother and George waiting for him outside the store, Joseph hurries to meet them.

"I apologize for taking so long, Mama. Ben wasn't where you thought he was. I have been looking for him since I left you."

"Did you not find him? He could be hurt or in danger."

"Oh, he is not either one, not yet. He will be when Pa finds out though. I found him at the Firebarn. Mr. Kenny is someone Ben enjoys visiting. I told him to come back with me, he refused, I came back to help you finish shopping. Are we going to the General Store now?"

"Yes, let's finish the shopping. We haven't found shirts for you or Ben. We need trousers for George. I found a pair I believe willl fit Ben. How about drawers and undershiirts? Do we need those?" Delphie asks.

Feeling his face get warm, Joseph looks around to see if anyone is nearby. Luckily no one is. Turning to look directly at Delphie, he informs her "Mama! We don't mention unmentionables in hearing distance of people."

Enjoying the chance to tease her often too stiff for his age son, Delphie says loudly "So, are you saying YOU DON'T NEED NEW UNDERWEAR, JOSEPH?"

"Please Mama, stop! You are embarrassing me!" Joseph pleads as George giggles beside them.

"Come boys, let us go finish shopping. We'll get a treat when we finish. George, you think of something delicious we might have."

"I already know, Mama. Let's get hot chocolate and apple cinnamon doughnuts from the hotel restaurant. Will Ben get any?"

"If he joins us in time, he will." Delphie answers as the three walk up the boardwalk to the store.

Finished with their must do chores, Delphie takes the boys for the promised treat before heading home. Stopping at the Firebarn, Delphie greets the elderly man who cares for the wagon and horses.

"Yes Ma'am, young Ben was here. He left to go home not long ago. Come in and take a gander at my new living space boys."

Looking around the completely open space, George says "I like it Mr. Kenny. I see the table and the dishes. Where is your bed? I don't see one."

"You are sitting on my bed. I sleep on that covered bench. It opens into a wider and longer piece."

"Thank you for the tour, sir. We need to get home. We have chores waiting. Come, George." Joseph instructs his young brother.

"May I slide down the pole? Please?" George implores both his brother and the caretaker.

"You go right ahead. Hold on well." At the man's words, George rushes to slide down the shiny pole before Joseph can command him to stop.

Peering over the opening, Joseph checks to see that the boy lands safely. "Thank you for the visit and for entertaining my brothers. I will use the stairs rather than the pole."

Arriving home, Delphie finds Ben working to finish his evening chores. Seeing the boy picking up kindling and split logs to fill the kitchen woodbin she waits inside.

"Well! Hello there Ben. You just disappeared on me today. That was not a behavior I expect from well behaved young boys. I remember telling you boys to stay with me. Did that instruction disappear out of your mind? What of the rule where you must ask permission before visiting friends or going anywhere?"

"I am sorry Mama. I needed to go outside"

"How many more chores do you need to finsh?"

"This is all I had left, filling the kitchen woodbox."

"Very well, you are confined to your room until your Pa comes home. Use the w.c. and go to your room."

Mouth hanging open in shock, Ben doesn't move.

"Do I need to add defiance to your list of wrongdoing today? Your Pa will speak to to you when he gets home so until then you wait in your room."

Having walked in at the beginning of this showdown, Rob sees Ben shake his head 'no' and glare at his mother.

Making his decision, Rob walks away from the sink where he had filled a cup with water, towards his stubborn young brother.

"You heard her, do as she tells you!"

"You can't boss me, Rob! Go away!"

Lifting the boy, he tells him, "Your mother gave you instructions. You are going to obey what she tells you and wait in your room! You are being very disrespectful, Ben." When he sees the child raise his foot, he adds "I strongly advise you not to do that. If you kick me, I will use a wooden spoon on your backside!"

Three hours later, Ben appears in the front room with his Pa behind him. Walking to the new rocking chair where Delphie is sewing, he waits until she looks up.

"I have something to tell you." He begins, stopping to wipe his eyes.

"I am ready to listen."

"I am sorry I left the store and didn't do what you said. I am to take what other punishment you want to give me."

"What punishment did you already receive?"

"Pa walloped me real good. I am really sorry I disobeyed you, Mama."

"Thank you, Ben. I forgive you. I believe an earlier bedtime tonight will be enough punishment. You may go to your room an hour early tonight. Next time, ask before just disappearing on me. You worried me when I could not find you. I want to know you are safe."

"Yes, Ma'am. Now I have to go say 'sorry' to Rob and Joseph for not listening to them."

"They are upstairs in Rob's room. Go apologize nicely, son. Come back to help with supper preparations as it is your turn tonight." Ethan tells the boy.

Finding his brothers in Rob's room playing checkers, he says "Rob? Joseph? I came to say I am sorry for not listening good with you today."

"Papa spanked you didn't he? My bottom was tingling just a little earlier." George asks, looking up from the game he's playing with Joseph.

"Yeah, he made me bare my bottom. That hard hand he has really stings too! I just went to see a friend!"

"Ben, you disobeyed Mama. She told us to stay together. You ran off without asking and no one knew where you were. You have known better than to act like that since you were five years old." Joseph explains.

"You worried Mama and ladies having babies do not need to be worried, Claire says so!" George pipes up after jumping two of Joseph's black checkers.

"You also refused to do what you were told when Mama told you to go to your room. That was even more disobedience. Pa was right to spank your bare backside. I would have too!" Rob adds to the conversation.

"None of you like me anymore! I'm leaving! I hope you lose!" Ben grumps at them before leaving the bedroom.

Later that evening, after the younger boys are in bed, Ethan has Claire and Rob join their parents at the kitchen table.

"We have worked out your travel arrangements. You will leave Saturday morning for Denver. You will stay overnight at the Denver Hotel and catch the train to Boston the following afternoon. Everyone in the church has donated money for your trip. This allowed us to purchase tickets for a pullman car on the trip to Boston. You will ride in seats and then sleep in beds mounted on a wall. Allowing for stops to replinish the water for the steam engine, I say the trip will take nearly a week. You should arrive in Boston by next Saturday." Ethan explains solemnly.

His lack of enthusiasm has Delphie scolding "Be happy for them. You act as if they are going to prison not having adventure."

"I am happy, Delphie but it is a dangerous trip. These are my children."

"No Ethan, these are OUR young adults. They are no longer children. They are both capable of making this journey without a chaperone."

"Pa? I don't have to go if you would rather I stayed here. Mama and Dr. Amy can continue to teach me." Claire replies quietly.

Feeling the small tap on his shin, Ethan ses Delphie narrow her eyes at him.

"Claire, if I could I would keep all five of you here forever. I missed out on most of your childhood for you and Rob. As difficult as this is for me, I have to let you pursue your dreams. You will visit, we will write and now we even have the town telephone. We can arrange times to call you in Boston. I will always want you to stay but at the same time let you go. Promise me you will write and come home when you can."

"I will. When should we tell the boys? Tomorrow is Friday. We will need to be packing. They will notice. I wish we could contact John Taylor. He helped me prepare for this schooling as well. It would be nice to let him know what was happening." Claire tells him.

"We willl talk with the boys about what is happening ,at breakfast. If I knew how to find John Taylor, I would. I have not seen him since a few months after Joseph's last birthday. Perhaps we will see him again soon. Rob? You are quiet. Are you ready for this?"

"Yes sir, I am ready. We will be safe. I will get us there and take care of Claire. It will be nice to see Alex again. Two months is a long separation. Mitch gave me a letter for Alex. He misses him doesn't he?"

"He does. Alex became the son he would like to have. We will all be ready to see Alex when he comes home. Claire, don't get so attached to big city life that you and Alex forget us small town people." Ethan answers.

"We would never forget home, Pa."

Saturday afternoon, on the way to Denver

"Are you thinking about Ben and George again? They will be alright, you know that."

"Rob, I didn't expect leaving would be this hard. Maybe I should have prepared them better. You saw George, he was nearly inconsolable. It was so hard seeing him clinging to me sobbing that way. Pa had to physically pull him off and hold him. Ben and I are close but George is much closer. I practically raised him from babyhood. Remember, he was only five when our mother died. She was ill a long time before then. Thinking back, I remember her having coughing attacks from when George was two years old. We didn't know she had tuberculosis though."

"I know you were their young mama, Claire but they have another mama now. Delphie can take up where you left off. You get to be a young person not a parent now. You have to let go of that responsibility. Let them be your brothers not your children. You will have your own babies someday."

"Yes, you are right but this trip reminds me of when we all came to Paradise the first time. Uncle Ethan was unsure how to handle the boys. It was hard for him. He knew nothing about how to manage children. Would you like to hear about our first trip as a family?"

"Yes, tell me. I can't picture Pa not knowing what to do. He always knows how to handle whatever comes up."

"We were taken in by a couple who knew the manager of our parents acting troupe. We stayed with them two months while the local sheriff tried to find Uncle Ethan. We didn't know he was a gunfighter. Mama thought he was a lawman from a picture he once sent. He was standing in front of a sheriff's office. When he got the telegram, he also had a letter waiting for him from Mama. She wrote him months before she died to tell him she was dying and he was our guardian. During that time, he had been on a mission to find criminals and wasn't in Paradise to get the news. As soon as he did, he came to St. Louis to get us."

"Remind me how old all of you were then." Rob breaks in to her story.

"I was thirteen, Joseph was eleven, Ben six and George five. The boys had a birthday soon after we arrived."

"So, what was your trip like? I sense a good story."

"None of us had been out of St. Louis much less out of Missouri. It was our first trip on a train as well. Joseph tried not to show it as he wanted to act older but he was just as excited as the boys to be on a train. Joseph was always in charge of Ben and I looked after George. We kept to that pattern during this trip. At first everyone was enjoying looking out the windows but soon the boys got restless. Ben didn't want to sit on the seat, he wanted to stand on it. He wanted to look over the seat back at the people behind. Uncle Ethan would tell him to sit down and he would but it wouldn't last. He was too excited to sit still."

"Ben still can't sit and not move. Going to church is plain out torture for him. He nearly always gets a count of one and many times he reaches two before he can settle down. Last time you played the organ, he and Pa missed it because Pa had reached three and removed Ben for a seat warming session out by the wagon."

"I know. Ben is full energy until he sleeps. He was beginning to calm down and not be so active before his illness. With being regressed after having scarlet fever, he is back to full energy."

"How did Pa react to Ben not obeying him during that first trip? Did he spank him?"

"No, he was very patient with the little boys. He would put Ben on his lap and show him things out the train window. He only got a little stern one time. The boys had begged to go to the end of the car for a dipper of water. Joseph took them. They both ran from Joseph. They were running up the train aisle. Joseph was chasing them. Pa stood and did that pose he dies when aggravated, you know the hands on his hips one?" At Rob's nod, Claire continues. "He stared at them with the steel look he can give. All three scrambled up on the seats and were still."

"He didn't scold them? Usually when you see the hands on the hips and the glare, you are in for an ear scorching lecture at the very least."

"Not right then, he let them sit a while then he said something like ' Well behaved boys walk inside a train or building. Your mother taught you to be well behaved didn't she?"

"Ahhh the shaming approach. Yes, he used that on me as well. Him saying 'Vern raised you better than to act this way' or ' I believed my oldest son to know better' made me feel lower than a bug in the grass. I would behave better for weeks."

"I feel the train stopping, Rob. Do you suppose there is trouble?"

Looking out the window across the aisle, Rob answers "I think we are stopping for water for the engine. This is a watering station. I hope it is a place with a necessary as well as cold drink. I could use a stretch break. How about you?"

"Definitely. Do you think we are allowed off though?"

"I'll ask." Rob tells her before walking back to the conducter.

"Excuse me, sir. My traveling companion is in need of a trip to the facilities. Are we able to leave the train at this time?"

"We will be stopped twenty minutes. Take your companion over to behind the building. There are no facilities as you called it but you'll find two outhouses. Go now before the line gets too long."

"Thank you, sir."

Walking back to Claire, Rob helps her get her skirts out of the seat space before leading the way to the exit.

"The conductor said to go behind this building for the necessary, there may be a line though."

Finding their way back to the front of the building, the pair find four women passing out sandwiches.

"Hello there, would either of you like a sandwich or some cold lemonade? I have cheese sandwiches and also smoked pork."

"Thank you. How much for two cheese sandwiches and two lemonades?"

"We are not charging. We would accept a donation for our church bell fund if you wish. The food and drink is available either way. The barrels of cold lemonade are by the back wall. Help yourself."

"Thank you Ma'am." Claire tells her as she takes the paper wrapped sandwiches. Following Rob to the drink barrels, they see the three large barrels each have a metal dipper hanging from the side. Looking around for a cup or something to pour the dipperful in, Claire finds none.

"Well, it seems this is a communal barrel. Everyone drinks from the same dipper. No, don't drink from the dipper Rob. It is unhealthy. Put it down."

"My throat is so dry. I need a drink." Rob replies.

"It is too risky. What if someone drank who was sick with a disease? You could catch it. Do you want a drink badly enough to risk getting very ill?"

"No. Let's give the ladies a donation and go outside. Perhaps there is a well or hand pump where we can drink."

Walking outside, they see a hand pump near the water tank. Leading the way, Rob reaches it first and begins pumping the handle until water flows from the spout. Continuing to pump until the reddish water turns clear, he uses his hands to drink.

"Here, Claire. This is fresh and cold. Try it."

"Hmmm, nice and cold. The next chance we get, I am buying two tin cups to travel with. We could use them instead of our hands."

"Good plan. Let's go sit in the grass. We can eat and then have more water. We should buy water bags too. The water bucket on the train is warm. If we had deerskin water bags we could have fresh water."

"We really should save money. I feel guilty spending money on food when Mama packed us a bag full of dried fruit and several sandwiches."

"We ate some from the bag and can save the rest for tonight. It won't go to waste. Think of it this way, we were able to give to the community church bell fund. That fifty cent piece we gave is a good contribution. I heard several prople giving nickels and dimes. They took up a nice collection today. When we get to Denver, I aim to withdraw from my account. We won't be without funds to pay during our trip."

"How did you get Pa to agree to this plan? Don't you have to get his signature? Please say you have it and didn't forge it."

"Claire, you should not think so low of me as to forge a signature."

"You have done it before, more than once, if I recall correctly. So, did he agree?"

"He signed the withdrawal form himself. Delphie helped me talk him around to my side. She is amazing with how she can destubborn him."

"Destubborn is not a real word."

"If you say so, Claire. Let's visit the necessary again and be ready to board. They should be nearly finished adding water to the train by now."

Having ridden in silence for some time, enjoying the scenery, Rob reaches a decision.

"Claire, I have something I need your advice on. First though, promise you will keep this between us for now. Don't tell Delphie or Pa."

"I promise. What is it?"

"I am not in any kind of trouble, don't look so worried. I need to tell you something though. I met a young woman in Texas. Her name is Amelia. I have not felt what I feel when I am with her with anyone else. She lives with her mother's husband. He pretends to run a clothing shop but Amelia is made to do it. We talked and spent time together often. I know she feels for me the same as I do for her. I promised to get her away from there so we can get even better acquainted. I want to court her properly before we marry."

"My! That is quite a lot to toss my way all at once. What could I possibly do to help? I will be in Massachusetts not Texas."

"Yes but you can help me find a way to bring her to Paradise. She needs a way to earn money and a place to stay."

"Why couldn't she just leave if she wants to? Is it money?"

"Partly money but mostly it is she is being controlled by him. He is possessive of her. I have a suspicion he is up to no good. He looks at her the way the cats look at a dish of fresh milk. Ready to devour it."

"We have a long journey ahead of us. We will come up with a plan. I need time to think on it."

"Thanks Claire. You didn't question my feelings at all. Most would since we had just met and only spent a few days together."

"I knew I wanted to be with Alex forever by our third meeting. We both just knew. I can barely wait to see him in person. Two months has been forever. I will want to meet Amelia sometime when we do get her to Paradise."

To be continued in 2020. 😁 Merry Christmas