New Beginnings: Life Changes
Ch. 32
Unsettled
Approaching the place he was directed to go, Ethan notices how unkempt the area is. The house has broken window panes covered by stained brown butcher paper, a set of front steps missing two steps and a front door peeling paint. The small garden patch is so overrun with weeds nothing could grow.
Carefully navigating the steps, Ethan feels the front porch dip under his feet. Hoping it doesn't give way, he knocks on the door.
"Hello? Mrs. Palmer? It's Ethan Cord, Sheriff of Paradise."
From inside he hears a young voice reply "Go away! We don't want you here!"
Before he can answer, Ethan hears a woman scold "Andrew! Be respectful. He is the law!" before the door opens.
"Hello, may I speak to you without the children around?" Ethan asks the bedraggled woman in the doorway.
"Andy, you and Gracie go catch some fish for dinner." Seeing the anxious look on her son's face, she adds "I will be alright with him. Go on, do as I say."
"Maaaa! You really need me to be here to protect you!" The boy named Andy insists.
"I will protect your Ma, children. As I said, I am the sheriff. No need to worry."
"She has a gun just so you know. She can shoot you!" Andy informs Ethan, all too knowing eyes boring into his.
"Thank you for the warning,. She will not need her gun, I promise. Now, If you look carefully on the ground under bushes and fallen branches, there are white grubs. These small things are fish favorites according to my sons. You may know Ben and George. They swear by this bait. Use these to catch a good mess of fish."
"Please, Andy. Go do as I tell you." The children's mother says.
With a nod, Andy leads his six year old sister outside.
"Ma'am? Is someone threatening or hurting you? Is that why Andy is worried I may harm you? I understood his meaning."
"My older children are fearful of men around me because of their father. They saw him attack me more than once. He is dead now. Did you come here to talk of my safety?"
"No Ma'am but if you need help, send for me. I am here to discuss Frank. I am the head of the school board as well as sheriff. Frank has been causing disruption in school from his first day. Mr. Davis has disciplined him by assigning extra work, keeping him inside during break and has tried to talk with him only to receive no improvement. He reported the situation to me after catching Frank at his latest misbehavior. Earlier today he caught Frank inside the classroom setting fire to a bag filled with manure. Besides the obvious smell, the fire on a wooden floor is dangerous. The school could have caught fire and spread to other buildings in town. Are you aware of Frank's behavior? Mr. Davis says he has sent notes but none were returned."
"I have not seen any notes. I am not home but an hour after the boys return from school. I work afternoons and nights. I admit I am not able to control Frank."
"Mrs. Palmer, there was a robbery a few nights ago in Mr. Axelrod's Mercantile. Some canning was taken along with money. The person set up a burning bag of manure. Is Frank near? I need to speak to him. His school behavior plus the same burning of manure at Axelrod's has me concerned. Someone needs to take this boy in hand."
"Frank disappears often. I do not know where as he refuses to say when asked. I brought the children here from Pennsylvania to have a chance. Also to get him away from the rough boys he was with. Frank was out of control there. He was in trouble with police nearly every week. I didn't know what else to do. I answered an advertisement for a job. I moved the children to start over. I have no skills so I entertain men at the Palace for a living. You may as well know, if you do not already. It pays well enough to rent this cabin and get some things for the children. Have I shocked you? Frank is at the age to be mortified by what I do. I am very ashamed but I do it for him and his brother and sister."
"Ma'am, I have seen many shocking things as a bounty hunter turned lawman. Your work is not one of them. I know of the Purple Palace but never frequent it. May I have permission to take Frank in hand? I am asking for permission to apply my hand or another object to his behind if I feel it is necessary. I will try other methods of discipline as well. He will not be abused, Ma'am. I have four sons and a daughter. My son Joseph is in Frank's class and my two youngest are in Andy's class. Not once have I ever left bruises after a well deserved punishment."
"I give my permission although I know you have the right as sheriff to discipline him without it. Frank needs a man to reign him in."
"I will talk to him today if I can locate him or after school tomorrow. I will check in with you to let you know what is happening. Some work in the jail would be a good place to start for Frank. Would Saturday be a day he could be away from home for the morning? Is he needed after school to stay with the younger children?
"As long as he can be home by dark, I have no problem. Andy can watch Gracie until Frank is home. She just turned six and is not in school yet."
"That is the plan, then. I will speak with you soon." Ethan replies, mounting his horse.
While Ethan is meeting with Mrs. Palmer, Ben, George and most of their classmates are visiting the train station.
"We use this blackboard to write each day's train schedule. You see we have morning and evening times. The trains come through Paradise every other day. Most of the time they are on schedule. Our town is the last stop on the trip before Colorado Springs and then Denver. People traveling south from those bigger cities would come through here as well." The stationmaster explains to the children.
"Children, copy this schedule of days and times on to your tablet. Over on the far wall there is a list of towns and cities plus the miles to get there. I want each of you to choose four cities and copy them down as well. We will use this to create a project."
Becoming bored with listening to the station master, Ben nudges Aaron and motions toward the door. Seeing the two leaving, Caleb follows while Miss. Donaldson is busy helping one of the younger children.
"Hey Ben! Wait for me!" Caleb calls quietly to the boys he sees just ahead of him.
"Let's go walk the track! We might find change from someone's pocket." Caleb whispers once he has caught up.
"We can't. You know our Pa's have forbidden playing on the tracks."
"We aren't going to play on them, Aaron. Just walk along them. You don't have to go. You can go back inside." Caleb sneers.
"No, I'm coming too. If we find money, let's get an ice cream soda and share it! We can go over to the Mercantile after we leave school today."
"Good plan, Aaron. Come on let's go look." Ben tells his friend.
Walking along, looking down, the boys examine the wooden slats looking for any coins passengers might have dropped.
"Anyone find anything?" Caleb calls to the two further up the tracks.
"No, did you?" Aaron calls back.
"No, not yet. I will keep looking."
A shout from behind them minutes later has all three boys turning to look.
"You children get yourselves off the track! Come here right now!"
Walking back to where Caleb is standing, Aaron and Ben join him in a slow walk to the platform by the station.
"Are you supposed to play on the railroad track?" The stationmaster asks.
"We weren't playing! We can walk along the track if we want! There's no train coming!" Caleb answers beligerantly.
"You keep a civil tongue young man!" Mr. McKnight replies."You were told to stay with your teacher. Come with me."
Walking ahead of the man, the boys are escorted to Miss. Donaldson.
"These three miscreants were out playing on the track! Matthew Carroll's young one had the audacity to answer back when I scolded them. I will take these disobedient children to their fathers."
"Thank you Mr. McKnight but I will handle this incident. Let's return to school now, children. Gather your tablets and pencils."
Remembering a hidden creek nearby, Ethan heads Lightning towards it. Dismounting back in the trees, he leaves the horse grazing on grass while quietly approaching the creek bank. Climbing a sturdy tree, Ethan surveys the area for any sign of a child. Spotting a slumping boy further down the bank, he climbs down. Using his skills learned while under John Taylor's tutorage, he walks softly to just behind the boy. Clearing his throat to not startle him, he then moves to sit beside Frank.
"Hello again, Frank. We met at Joseph's birthday celebration. May I join you?"
"I don't own the woods or creek. Why are you here instead of being the big bad bossy lawman in town?"
Ignoring the tone and rude words, Ethan answers "I came to speak to your mother and to you. I spoke to your mother, now it is your turn. Let's talk about your school behavior. I understand you have been causing trouble. Your latest prank with the burning bag was dangerous and it cost your class to miss lessons! That stops today. You are no longer going to disrupt lessons and pull pranks."
"I do not have to listen to YOU! You are not my father! I have nothing else to say! Just go play big bossy sheriff somewhere else and LEAVE ME ALONE!"
"You do not raise your voice to me young man. You show respect to adults! Whether or not you have anything to say, you WILL SHOW RESPECT and listen to me. I am here as both the sheriff and the head of the school board to discuss your recent behavior. Our school is a place to learn not play disruptive pranks. Planting a burning bag in a wooden building is destruction of property. You broke a law. As sheriff, you will answer to me for that. You will report to me at the Sheriff's office immediately after school tomorrow. We will go over your chore list for the week. Each day including Saturday, you are going to complete chores as a penalty for lawbreaking. In this community, people do not set fire to manure bags inside buildings. You risked burning the school building which could have spread to the rest of the buildings in town. Fire is not something to play with! The Mercantile could have caught fire as well when you pulled the same prank there!"
Furious now at being lectured, found out, and disciplined, Frank leaps to his feet, fists clinched.
"YOU CAN NOT MAKE ME WORK! I WON'T COME! YOU CAN JUST GO TO HELL!"
"I see we need to go about this differently. Your mother gave permission so we will go that route now. I told you not to raise your voice and to show respect to adults. You simply did not get the message. Perhaps this will get it through to you." Ethan remarks as he easily grabs the child around the waist bending him over. Holding him firmly against his hip, Ethan applies six heavy handed swats to the trouser clad bottom. Each smack no doubt leaving a small fire before he applies the next one, if the boy's yelps are any indication.
"A few things you should know about me. I do not tolerate disrespect from anyone. I mean what I say and I keep my promises. Having said that, now I make you a promise. I will apply my hand or another object to your backside anytime I feel you need it. Your mother gave permission for me to discipline you as I see fit. Keep that in mind while you decide whether or not to obey my directive to come to my office." Ethan remarks before letting the boy loose.
"I will be waiting at 3:30 tomorrow. Do not make me come find you. The outcome of me doing that would be extremely unpleasant for you." Ethan says before leaving the boy glaring at the water.
Waiting until the rest of the children have left, Miss. Donaldson gathers Caleb, Aaron and Ben behind the school building away from view of the road.
"You three boys made some bad decisions this afternoon. What were our two rules we set before going to the station today?"
Finding it difficult to meet his teacher's firm gaze, Aaron looks away.
"None of that, Aaron! All eyes on me! Caleb? What did we discuss concerning you children's visit to the station?"
"We discussed staying together."
"Why were you to stay together, Aaron?"
"To keep us safe and to learn."
"Ben, what were you children expected to do when the station master was talking?"
"Listen and learn." Ben replies, busy twisting one foot behind the other.
"Tell me something boys, is leaving the station and playing on the tracks staying safe with your schoolmates?"
"No, ma'am." The boys answer.
"Were you able to listan to the station master's lesson while out on the tracks?"
"No ma'am." She hears once more. All three have dropped their eyes again. The ground seems fascinating to them.
"Well boys what are we going to do about our problem? Do you know?"
"I suppose you have to take us to our Pa's now." Aaron answers fighting the tears that want to come into his eyes. Just the thought of how Chris hasn't spanked him in forever but probably would has him upset.
"You could send a note home to be signed." Ben suggests, thinking he could get his Mama to sign. She would be much less likely to punish him than his Pa.
Caleb remains quiet, just waiting for what is to come.
"Those are options, yes. I think I have an idea we will use. For at least the rest of this school week, you will not be out of my sight unless it is for using the privy. Since you can not be trusted to remember safety rules, you three need to be monitored at all times. I can't have you harming yourselves. When you show you are trustworthy, you will be able to be out of my sight. I hope one week will be enough but I can watch you as long as it is necessary. You will also come with me to give Mr. McKnight your best apologies for misbehaving. Let's go see him now for a sincere apology."
Meeting George who waited for him half way home, Ben answers his brother.
"No, she didn't send a note or say she was going to tell our parents. The three of us had to go back to apologize to Mr. McKnight. Miss. Donaldson is making us play where she can see us all week."
"Wow! You sure are lucky, Ben. If Pa heard you had been playing around the train station and tracks, he'd probably wallop you! I have our assignment written so you can just copy it from my tablet. We are to choose two trains from the schedule and either create six word math problems with the times or write a story using the train schedule and cities."
"Is it due tomorrow? I can't think up stuff that fast."
"We have until Friday to do it."
"Good! We can have a long time to visit with John Taylor!" Ben exclaims happily.
"Don't forget we have sentences to rewrite to diagram the parts and our lists of spelling words to practice. We have math problems too. So it isn't as if we are homework free."
"This new diagramming sentence parts is dumb! Who cares about subject, predkit, if some word is a verb, noun, pronoun, patifipple or what!" Ben declares as they turn into the ranch yard.
"That would be participle, not 'patifipple'! Patifipple is funny, Ben!" George says in between giggles.
"Do you think John Taylor will tell us stories tonight?" Ben asks wanting to change the subject from schoolwork.
"Pa won't let you get out of homework. Don't try. You will just get in trouble. If we take our spelling lists into the barn, we can quiz each other during chores. You do my list for me and I'll do yours for you. We could get that over early."
"That sounds good George but you know I may not know some of your words."
"I can read it for you if you don't know it. Mine are not that hard, Joseph has the really hard ones! He had to spell 'abominable' last week! Mr. Davis makes them write out the meaning of each word as well as spell them. I don't want to have to do that do you?"
"Gosh no! It is hard enough to learn the spelling of words! Mr. Davis is a harder teacher than ours. Our's more fun too."
"Yes, she is, and nicer too. Mr. Davis would have told Pa if you got in trouble at school. He did with Joseph back the first day this school term"
"Yeah. Now talk of something else. Mama might hear and ask questions." Ben answers as the boys approach the front porch steps.
After the evening meal, Ethan tells the family "We have a letter from Rob and Claire to share. Once the clean up is finished, I will read it."
"OH good! Can't we clean up after we hear what Claire tells us?" George pleads.
"No, son. Chores first. It does not take long for you and Ben to wash a few dishes, sweep the floor and wipe the stove and table. The letter will be here when you finish. I promise I won't let it walk away." Ethan tells his youngest, eyes twinkling.
"I'll help the children with cleaning. I wish to hear the letter as well." John Taylor remarks, standing to gather his and Delphie's plate and forks.
"John Taylor, you are our guest. We do not ask guests to do chores."
"Thank you, Ma'am. I insist I help, besides, you did not ask, I volunteered.. Let's see now... which one of you is the best at washing and who is best at drying? I am very good at drying and washing how about you boys?" John Taylor asks the dawdling children.
"I usually wash half and Ben dries then we switch places. Mama is right, you are a guest. Ben and I can do the chores." George replies.
"That settles the discussion. The boys will do the clean up. It is part of their chore list. Joseph does many outside jobs and the boys help Delphie. Let us go to the front room to relax."
The younger boys sit on the floor one on each side of their Pa's feet.
"Remember to save questions until after I finish reading. Everyone else wants to hear ths news as well. We won't be able to find out what they wrote with constant interruption. Agreed?" Ethan asks the two at his feet.
At their nods, he begins to read aloud.
September, 1901
Dear family,
We are well. Rob and I had a successful trip and arrived in Boston two days ago. I have much to tell you that we did not have time for over the telephone call. First, let me describe some about the train.
There was a very kind porter in charge of our car. He insisted we call him Jeremiah. Rob and I attached Mister to his name. He was very amused but pleased. Because he is a negro, many travelers were impolite. He was ordered, not asked to do things. You raised us to do for ourselves and not to tell others to do for us, Pa. I was shocked at how some travelers spoke to these men. Not everyone but many ignored them until they needed something. Then they ordered them to do something as simple as get a basin of fresh water.
We had meals in a dining car. The tables were bolted to the walls and floor. The plates were real china during dinner hours. We had friends we met on the train to dine with. The food was prepared on coal and wood stoves. One side had a coal burning bin in the stove and one on the opposite wall had a wood bin. The stoves were in a separate car. The cooks made the food and waiters brought it out. Just like in a big city restaurant. They wore black waistcoats over white shirts and black trousers. Rob wants to tell of the sleeper car.
Hello everyone! Train travel is fabulous! Someday the family needs to go in a sleeper car! Boys, the car we rode in was called a "Pullman". It had seats that unfolded into a bed and another bed folded down out of the wall. It hung by chains attached to the ceiling! The bedding was a blanket and top sheet sewn together on the end and one side put over a fitted cover for the bed. These beds were called bunks. We had fluffy pillows stuffed with something that was not feathers.I had the top bunk and Claire, the bottom. She didn't trust the chains would hold up the bunk. They did. One side was made to the wall. Yes Mama, we were safe and warm. We were in warm bedcovers and we locked our chamber each night. Here's Claire again.
(Ethan stops to turn the paper over and give Delphie a wink.)
We had many stops on the journey. They needed to refill the coal and water in the engine. Rob and I would get out and see the countryside if the stopover was long. We saw how flat the prairie lands are in Kansas. We went through Missouri but not go near St. Louis. Someday, I wish to see St. Louis again. One day we stopped in Pennsylvania. The farms are so big. There is so much lush grass and every barn was different. They were all colors, boys. I saw red, yellow, green, blue and white barns. Many of the barns had unique circle designs painted on them. Remember the water fountain we saw once with the picture design of small colored tiles? The designs reminded me of that. Some of the farms raise dairy cows. Others grow grain or other crops. The people were very friendly. We stayed overnight with a Dutch family. The woman served us pancakes the size of the plate. Rob was impressed with her skillet skills. We saw real wooden shoes, boys. Just as we have read about in books.
Alex says to send his hello to everyone. He asks for Pa to give the enclosed letter to Mitch. I will write again soon and tell of Boston and the school. I must close to get this in the post today. Yes Ben, they call it "the post" here in Boston.
Much love,
Claire and Rob
Folding the letter, Ethan places it back in the envelope before looking down at the boys.
Ben is unusually quiet and George is blinking furiously.
"Well that was a great letter! I am happy they enjoyed their trip. Ben, please take these envelopes and put them on the night table by our bed. I will deliver Alex's letter for him in the morning. Mitch will be able to enjoy a letter too." As his brother leaves the room, George is lifted up to sit on his Pa's lap.
"It will be alright, George. Your sister is enjoying herself. We miss her but she wants to experience new things. We would not want to stop her would we?"
"No sir, but I wish she could come home soon instead of a long time from now. She might not be home until after Christmas! She never misses Christmas."
"Did Claire tell you she would be home after Christmas?" Joseph asks the unsettled child, having listened to the conversation.
"No, but she said she would be away a long time. After Christmas IS a long time, Joseph! She should stay here."
"Come sit by me, George. You too, Ben. I have a story to tell." John Taylor says seeing Ben hovering in the doorway.
"Long ago there was a boy whose father would leave for long stretches of time. The boy begged him not to leave but he went every time, One year, the boy's older brother went along leaving the boy home. The boy was sad and lonely. He felt the father and brother did not love him. One day, he too got to go on the seasonal trip. He was thrilled. Then he saw what the trip was about. It was to prepare food for the tribe. It was a hunting mission. Father and brother joined others to hunt. Many men were wounded however. I learned to help doctor the wounds. It was my calling in life. I started to become a medicine man when I was fifteen. It would not have happened if my family kept me from traveling along with my brother and father. It is time for your brother and sister to learn of their future by traveling just as I once did."
"That is true, boys. We have to love Claire and Rob enough to let them go out in the world to find their calling. Now, it is time for you both to go to bed. Get your school things ready for in the morning. I will be in to say goodnight in ten minutes." Delphie instructs the younger boys.
Later that evening having gone up to Rob's room where he is now staying, Joseph pulls out his lined tablet. Keeping it under the mattress keeps it away from curious brothers.
Flipping to a fresh page, he sits at the window table to write by kerosene lantern light.
My Most Admired Person
By Joseph Cord
The person I admire the most is not a President, an author or inventor. He is a regular person but then again he is not at the same time. In some places his full name makes him famous. He has a fearful reputation but that is not why I admire Ethan Allen Cord, my Pa.
I admire him for what he did for my brothers, my sister and for me. He did not have to but he did. He had a completely different life, five years ago. Then he got a letter and he made a choice. He chose to rescue a group of scraggly, grieving, scared and lonely children that did not belong to him.
He came for us when he did not have to. Many men probably would have put their sister's young children in a foundlings home. He did not! He chose to come all the way to Missouri to get us. Four children ages, twelve, ten, almost seven and almost five. Let me tell you more of why I admire my Pa.
Deciding to stop there for now, Joseph closes and puts his tablet back under the mattress. Blowing out the lantern, he snuggles under the two warm quilts on the bed.
Downstairs, Ben has been rolling from side to side and stomach to back.
"Ben! What is your problem? Do you need the W.C? Just go already so I can sleep! Your bed rattles with all that moving around." George whispers in the dark.
"I can't stop thinking of the train station today. I worry about if Pa hears about it."
"Oh good grief! Go confess. You will get sleep then and so will I! He won't punish you tonight. Go on!"
"Maybe you're right. I will go talk." Ben whispers back climbing out of bed.
Making his way down the short hall to Joseph's real bedroom, he carefully opens the door.
"John Taylor, it's me Ben. Can I talk to you?"