New Beginnings: Life Changes
ch. 57
The Double Surprise
As the family settles back into their evening routines, Ben, George, and Joseph take turns telling their parents of the weekend adventures.
"Mama, Pa, we went to a candy store! A whole store just to sell candy! There were so many different kinds of candy to choose from. We were even able to help make some! All of us made some candy called taffy. We brought some home for you to try." George shares before going to get the candy from his room.
"George, Joseph, let's show them how we pulled taffy," Ben tells his brothers. Demonstrating the taffy pulling as they explain gives their parents an idea of what it was like.
"My goodness, I would think pulling taffy such as you describe would be difficult for you boys. I think I would have dropped the entire armful of candy if I tried." Delphie exclaims as she keeps the rocking chair moving to soothe the baby.
"Once we stretched it the second time, it was easier to keep hold of Mama," Ben answers before beginning to leave the room.
"BEN" Ethan's stern voice stops the boy in his tracks.
"Sir?" Ben asks as he turns from the entrance to the hall.
"Where are you going?"
"I need the W.C., Pa," Ben answers, confused at why his Pa is being stern.
"YOU DO NOT GO ANYWHERE WITHOUT ASKING AND WITHOUT SUPERVISION, REMEMBER? YOU HAVE TO BE WATCHED UNTIL YOU PROVE YOU CAN BE TRUSTED. George, walk with your brother and stand outside the room until he is finished. Walk with him back here. Go, now."
"Yessir" George replies jumping up from the hearth to obey.
As the two boys move down the hall, Delphie turns to ask "Must you be so harsh, Ethan? Ben is our son not a prisoner in your jail. Must you treat him this way?"
"Delphie, I told you what went on while they were with Rob. Ben must learn to behave as a law-abiding and obedient person. I've lectured him enough over the years and apparently, none of it has made my point. I'm now going to SHOW the boy what happens when you are not trustworthy. Work with me, not against me, please. Ben is to ask before moving out of our sight and he will have someone supervising him at all times. Joseph, will you help your mother in shadowing your brother?"
"Yes sir. I remember when you used this punishment on me! Ben enjoyed guarding me and reporting on me for non-existent rule-breaking. I will guard him well."
"Thank you, just do not do as he did and become a tattler, please," Ethan replies just before the two boys return.
"Mama? We have some things for Emmy. Can we give them to her now?" George asks.
"Why how nice of you to use your money for your baby sister! By all means, give her your gifts. You didn't buy a puzzle for her as well, did you?" Delphie teases the boy.
"No, that would be silly. She can't even sit up yet so she can't do a puzzle." George answers returning Delphie's smile before going to his room for the gifts.
"Boys, these are special gifts. She can play with this for a long time. A soft rag doll is just perfect. The rattle for her to hold and shake is just what she likes. See how she is smiling when it makes noise?" Delphie comments.
"She can chew on it and maybe that will stop her mouth from hurting." George answers.
"How did you... " Ethan begins before realizing how George knew. "So, now we know why our little one has been so irritable these past few days."
"Oh my! I didn't even think she was old enough to begin to have teeth poking through yet. Poor baby! Mama will fix a special cloth soother for you tonight."
"What will you use to make it, Mama?"
"We'll use some long licorice root, George. I'll cut some into sticks and let her gnaw on it. I've some in the root cellar I've saved for licorice tea. The licorice root is soothing to her sore mouth."
"Emmy is lucky to have a Mama who knows how to help her stop hurting. I didn't know licorice candy was good medicine. Maybe we should buy a whole bag of it at the Mercantile to keep for sickness. Sometimes, my teeth hurt too." Ben adds his thoughts to the conversation.
"As nice as that sounds, Ben, the licorice candy doesn't have the same medicinal properties as the bare root. The candy has a little of the root, uh, juice, I suppose we shall call it, extracted and used in the candy. I learned this when I studied the use of licorice root." his Mama replies.
"Time for chores, boys. The outside chores are calling you three." Ethan comments.
"Yes, Pa." The three boys reply.
"Mama? What are you cooking for supper tonight?" Joseph asks coming from changing from his good clothes to older clothes.
"We ate three hours ago. Are you hungry already?" Delphie asks.
"Yes, especially for whatever you have cooking! The scents are making my mouth water."
"I have a roast simmering. We'll have American Irish stew with Irish soda bread."
"How is what you make American Irish stew? I don't understand. I like the flat soda bread so I'm glad we have some."
"Traditional Irish stew is not beef as you see in America. In Ireland, the meat we used was mutton. Go join your brothers before your Pa comes looking for you, son."
"Yes, Ma'am" Joseph replies hurrying out the door.
By Friday after school, Ben has had more than enough of never having privacy. Every move he makes is followed by someone. Having to ask permission to leave a room, have an escort and as he has come to think of it a "jailer" every day all day, has gone on long enough.
"Where are you going, Ben?" Delphie asks as she sees the boy leaving the house.
"Outside, Mama," Ben answers as he rolls his eyes when she isn't able to see.
"Joseph, go with your brother, please. George is watching Emerson for me."
"Yes, Mama. After you, Ben. I go where you go." Joseph replies.
"I DON'T WANT YOU TO COME!"
"Too bad, Ben. Pa said you were to be watched so watched you are. Now, do we go outside or not? I do have things to do besides babysitting YOU."
"THEN GO DO IT! I DO NOT NEED A BABYSITTER!"
"Ben! Behave and do lower your voice. Emerson is trying to go to sleep." Delphie scolds the scowling child.
Following his running brother to the barn, Joseph tells him, "You might as well accept that you are going to be watched for another nine days. Pa said two weeks. Now, just get used to that idea and quit being such a brat. You have no one to blame but yourself for your problem. You chose to misbehave in Denver."
"GO SOAK YOUR HEAD AND LEAVE ME BE! I DO NOT NEED YOUR LECTURE!" Ben shouts as he climbs to the top loft.
"BEN! COME DOWN FROM THERE! You are not allowed up that high!" Joseph scolds as he climbs after the reckless child.
"NYAH! Can't get me now!" the boy calls as he opens the top loft door, grabs the rope used to load hay bales, and swings out.
"BEN! BE CAREFUL!" Joseph calls as he begins to climb back down the ladder. Reaching the bottom, he rushes outside to the back of the barn. Finding Ben sprawled on his back on the ground, Joseph calls to him. "BEN! Answer me! Are you hurt?" Not getting any response, he runs for his mother.
"Mama, Hurry! Ben swang out of the high loft on a rope. He's on the ground and not answering me!"
"George, stay with the baby!" Delphie instructs the younger boy as he comes from the bedroom.
Finding Ben still as he left him, Joseph asks "Should I go for Dr. Amy and Pa?"
"Not yet, Joseph. Let me check him and see if I can get him to answer. "Ben? Wake up, Ben. It's Mama. Talk to me." Delphie says as she pats his cheek and strokes his hair.
"Did you see him fall?"
"No, I saw him swing from the top loft on the pulley rope and I had to descend the ladder before coming out here. I didn't hear him fall either." Joseph answers
"I don't feel anything broken in legs or arms. He seems to just be knocked unconscious. Please help me carry him to his room. I'll look him over more inside."
Waking to find himself in bed and George sitting beside him, Ben asks "Why am I in bed?"
"You got knocked out by falling to the ground, I think. Don't you remember swinging from the top loft? You aren't to get up without help." George adds as Ben begins to sit up on the side of the bed.
"No I don't remember, go get Pa or somebody. I need to go."
"PA! MAMA! He's awake! He says he needs the W.C. but you said he had to stay in bed." George calls as he rushes to the sitting room.
"I'll go," Ethan says rising from his chair as Delphie begins to put down the knitting she has in her lap.
After keeping Ben in bed until the following afternoon, Delphie allows him to come to the kitchen table.
"Why couldn't I get up until now? Are you and Pa punishing me?" Ben asks as he enjoys a slice of buttered toast.
"No one is punishing you, Ben. Remember we told you how you fell and were knocked unconscious? We were being very careful to make sure you were not hurt badly. A fall can cause many injuries we can't see. Do you know why you were in the very top loft?"
"No Mama, I don't remember. I remember we came home from school and you had gingerbread just from the oven. George and I had milk and gingerbread for our afternoon snack."
"That was Thursday, son. The accident happened on Friday afternoon."
"I don't remember anything on Friday then. Where are Joseph and George?"
"They're at Rob's working on a special project. Would you like something else to eat?"
"Yes! Can I have some of that cake on the sideboard?"
"After you have a bowl of soup, yes you may," Delphie tells him.
"This is going to work, isn't it?" George asks doubtfully as he watches Joseph and Rob attempt to fasten wheels to the seat.
"It WILL work, I command it too!" Joseph answers.
"You had a good idea, Joseph. Attaching wagon wheels to the seat of a rocking chair is a good plan. The attachment part is giving us trouble." Rob says.
"After several tries, Rob says "Mr. Anderson has a hand crank drill we could borrow. We could drill a hole in the side of the seat and through the hub of the wheels. Having sealed the opening where the wheels attach to the wagon, we caused a problem. We might be able to fasten the wheels on by using long wooden pegs." Rob informs his brothers after the fourth attempt to attach the wheels fails.
Two hours later, the three brothers are proudly showing Amelia and Claire their creation.
"Surprise!" George calls as his sisters come out of the house. "We built a rolling chair for John Taylor, Claire!"
"This is perfect! We can now have him at the wedding! He can sit in a wheeled chair. Now I just have to convince his stubborn prideful self to do it." Claire exclaims.
"Are you going to tell Pa and Mama about your wedding, Claire?" George asks.
"Mama knows already. We've told her and asked for her help. She's not going to tell Pa as we want it to be a surprise for him. He'll find out two weeks from Saturday. Thank you for keeping our plan a secret. Now after such hard work designing and building this chair, come inside for a drink of water or lemonade. Amelia and I have cookies ready for tasting. We tried Mrs. Johnson's recipe for lemon snaps. Come taste and tell us if you like them."
"We really should be heading home, as it's later than I realized, George," Joseph tells his younger brother who is eagerly bounding up the porch steps.
"Oh come on, Joseph! We've worked hard, we deserve a treat and the girls need tasters!"
"Fine, but you best only taste two, and then we leave."
Fifteen minutes later, Joseph is regretting his choice to give in to George's pleading eyes as he hears his Pa at the front door. Rob, having answered the knock, is surprised to find his father on the porch.
"Hello Rob, I'm looking for two wayward boys. Have you happened to have seen Joseph or George recently?"
The "two wayward boys" exchange worried looks before quickly thanking Claire and Amelia, moving to join their Pa.
"Hi, Pa. We were just about to leave." Joseph greets his father.
"Get in the wagon, both of you," Ethan replies sternly.
Coming to the door, Claire asks "How is Ben? Joseph told me he was knocked unconscious. Is he feeling better?"
"Yes, he seems better. Your Ma has kept him still and close by. She's monitoring him but he seems to be fine. Well, I need to get the boys home for supper, you enjoy your evening."
Unable to bear the silence on the way home, Joseph says "Pa? Mama said we could go to Rob's. We had permission."
"You had permission to stay two hours. You left at one o'clock and it is now five o'clock! Your Mother was frightened something had happened to you both. She couldn't leave Ben to go for me or take him on a bumping ride. She had to wait until I was home to tell me you were missing! You know how to tell time both by the sun and from a clock. I'm aware Rob has a clock in his home, does he not? Was the sun shining today?" His tone of voice, leaving no doubt to Joseph, how displeased he is with their actions.
"Yes, sir" Joseph answers. "I am sorry, Pa. We were making a wheeled chair for John Taylor to use. It took us a long time to figure out how to attach the wagon wheels to the seat. Time went by much faster than I realized. We'd just finished a few minutes before you came and were going to leave after a drink."
"You boys know the rules. You are to be home at the time set and by supper. You ignored the boundaries as leaving Rob's now to walk home you would not have arrived in time for supper. We must know where you are and trust you to follow the boundaries set, for your safety. If something happens and we don't know where you are at the time, we can't help you. You both will go to bed directly after supper tonight. I suggest you think about how to remember the rules. You will not appreciate the consequences if this happens again. Do you both understand me?"
"Yes Sir, I understand," Joseph replies while groaning inwardly at the extremely early bedtime.
"Come on, Pa! It's not like we meant to stay too late! You're fussing at us for something we didn't mean to do. Besides we were fine! You're being mean! We were with Rob and the girls not wandering off in the forest!" George speaks up surprising Joseph with the saucy tone to his voice.
Halting the horses, Ethan ties the reins to the brake lever, steps over the side, and lifts a startled child from the wagon bed.
"You, young man, do not speak to me in that tone of voice. You were in the wrong today and instead of accepting it, you chose to argue and be disrespectful. Let this be a reminder of what will happen if you act defiantly and are disrespectful. Ethan tells him before bending him over by his hip and applying his hand to the protruding backside for ten firm swats.
Later that night, Ben and George speak silently after Ben has come in to go to bed.
"So Pa walloped you today didn't he? You rarely get spanked, what did you do?" Ben asks finally getting time to talk about the tingling he'd felt that afternoon.
"He was mad we stayed too late at Rob's. He was scolding us and I answered back. I got whacked for it. Joseph was respectful but I wasn't and he punished me. You're lucky you got knocked out from the fall or YOU would've gotten whacked too! I heard Pa talking to Mama the other night. He was going to punish you for being up in that loft but she told him NO, it wasn't safe to do with you having a head injury. Pa's not in a good mood lately so speak and act carefully before you wind up with a burning bottom too. He can really set you on fire with just his hand."
"Yeah, I've known about his iron hand a long time now, George. He lectured me on what he called "foolish stunts" yesterday. He told me if I ever did something so reckless to endanger my life like that again, he'd see to it I regretted it every time I sat for quite some time. I'm also housebound for the next two weeks for 'risking my life."
Two weeks later, the community is gathered at the town gazebo. The white wooden structure is decorated with bouquets of cut flowers tied to the railings, the bushes planted around the sides are blooming pink, red, yellow, and white roses. The walkway leading to the steps is bordered by wildflowers also in bloom.
Glancing around, Ben sees nearly every wooden bench the men brought out is filled. Wondering where Rob and Amelia are, he asks Joseph sitting beside George.
"They're just down the road at Chris' house getting ready. They'll be here soon. Oh, I see Rob now. He's talking to Mitch."
"Will Rob and Amelia go away on a trip after they get married the way Pa and Mama did?" George asks Joseph.
"I don't know that George. No one has talked about it with me. You both need to calm down. All this wriggling is making the bench rock."
"Where's Pa? He's going to miss everything! Isn't he coming?" Ben asks as he ignores his brother's admonition to calm down.
"He's gone to get John Taylor. They won't start without him, Ben. Don't worry." Joseph answers, silently wishing his Pa or Mama were here to help answer all the questions.
"I see Claire and Amelia standing with Mama and Savannah. Their dresses turned out pretty. I didn't know if their idea to die the white dresses would work but it did." George tells his brothers.
"Claire has used tea to die material before, George. She knew it would work. The color is called ecru, it reminds me of a combination of white and brown eggshells mixed together. A very light tan I guess I should call it." Joseph remarks.
"One of the women said wedding dresses should be white if she was a new bride. I heard her talking earlier. Is that true, Joseph?" George asks.
"Well, not all new brides wear white. Mama didn't and Claire is choosing not to as well. She and Amelia decided they could get more use out of dresses that were not white so they died them this ecru color. Don't you agree it's a beautiful color?"
"Yes, Joseph and I don't agree with those women. Claire and Amelia are pretty in everything they wear. Here comes Pa pushing John Taylor's new chair. I also see Reverend Davis making his way towards the gazebo. Maybe we are getting the wedding started."
"Hello boys, you found a good bench. We're ready to begin the ceremony so please keep John Taylor company while we do." Ethan tells his sons as he parks the chair beside the bench.
"Hi, John Taylor! I'm happy you could come out today." Ben tells the silent man sitting in the wheeled chair.
"EVERYONE? MAY I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION, PLEASE?" Reverend Davis' sermon voice booms out quieting the crowd. As soon as everyone has settled except the wedding party, he begins.
"We are gathered today to celebrate joining young people in holy matrimony. Thank you ladies of the community for your outstanding job of decorating and pruning to get our beautiful town square gazebo ready for today. The young people have chosen to have Mrs. Savannah Johnston sing for us, Savannah when you are ready."
Taking the center of the platform, Savannah begins to sing Beautiful Dreamer.
Beautiful Dreamer, wake unto me,
Starlight and dewdrops are waiting for thee;
Sounds of the rude world heard in the day,
Lull'd by the moonlight have all passed away!
Beautiful dreamer, queen of my song,
List while I woo thee with soft melody;
Gone are the cares of life's busy throng
Beautiful dreamer, awake unto me!
Beautiful dreamer, awake unto me!
Beautiful dreamer, beam on my heart,
E'en as the morn on the stream let and sea;
Then will all clouds of sorrow depart,
Beautiful dreamer, awake unto me!
Beautiful dreamer, awake unto me!
(Written by Stephen Foster 1846)
Listening to the final words fade, Joseph hears Ben say to John Taylor "That was our first Mama's favorite song to sing. Claire chose it for today so Mama could be with us."
"Ben, be quiet." Joseph leans over George to quietly scold.
"Look at Rob and Alex," George whispers to his brothers.
Looking the direction George shows, the brothers see Delphie being escorted by Rob on one side of her and Alex on the other. The two young men are dressed in a black coat with tails, white shirts, black pants and are wearing string ties.
"Here you are Mama, a good seat to view the ceremony," Rob tells her as they stop at the boy's bench.
The two young men then join Reverend Davis as they wait for Ethan escorting Claire, and Mitch escorting Amelia to reach them.
As the two men go to their seats, Reverend Davis speaks. "Friends, we are gathered here today to witness the joining of not one but two couples in holy matrimony. Miss. Amelia Sawyer and Miss. Claire Cord have chosen to have a double ceremony. This is the first time I have performed such a ceremony, the first time I've had two members of the same family wed in the same ceremony. Let us begin."
Sitting beside her husband, Delphie glances over at Ethan to see how he is reacting to this surprise announcement. As she suspected, there is no emotion showing. The sheriff is maintaining his usual composure in public.
After a brief talk of the tradition of marriage, a reading of scripture, Reverend Davis asks the question "Who giveth this woman, Miss. Amelia Louise Sawyer to be wed?"
Mitch stands and replies "I will, Reverend Davis."
"Given in marriage, Amelia Louise Sawyer do you accept Robert Jordan Cord as your lawfully wedded husband? To honor, to cherish, to love, and to care for the rest of your days?"
"I do," Amelia answers as Rob takes her hand.
"Mr. Robert Jordan Cord, do you in front of God and these witnesses, accept Miss. Amelia Louise Sawyer as your lawfully wedded wife? Do you promise to love, cherish, provide and care for her as long as you both shall live?"
"I do. To seal my love and the promises I just made to you Amelia, I give you this ring." Rob says as he slides a ring with a ruby stone on her finger.
"I now with the powers of the holy trinity invested in me, pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride, Rob. It's allowed now." Reverend Davis adds the last causing chuckles to pass through the audience.
Standing to the right of Rob, Alex moves to stand beside Claire as Rob and Amelia move to the side.
"Who giveth this woman, Claire Lucille Cord in marriage today?" Reverend Davis asks looking directly at Ethan.
Hearing "This woman", Ethan's mind flashes back to seeing a young twelve-year-old girl in long braids and boys pants telling the town women, she "Can and will wear boys pants! You can't clean stalls in a dress!" Feeling an elbow to his side, Ethan glances at his wife. She nods toward the waiting Reverend.
Standing, Ethan looks at the young woman who was once his feisty little twelve-year-old and sighs quietly before answering "Her mothers Lucy, Delphie, and I give Claire to be wed."
Nodding his thanks, Reverend Davis continues "Claire Lucille Cord do you accept Mr. Alexander Patrick Hale in holy matrimony? Do you promise to love, cherish, and care for him as long as you both shall live?"
"I do."
"Mr. Alexander Patrick Hale, do you, in front of God and these witnesses promise to love, cherish, provide and care for Claire as long as you both shall live?"
"I do. I have loved Claire since we first met when we were fifteen. She and I are meant to be together. Claire, with this ring, I pledge to keep all of my promises and to be the best husband I can." Alex says as he slides a silver ring with a small opal onto her finger.
"Alexander and Claire, I now pronounce you husband and wife! Alex, you have permission to now kiss your bride as well!"
"Ladies and Gentleman, I present to you our newly wedded couples, Mr. and Mrs. Rob Cord and Mr. and Mrs. Alex Hale! God be with you. Congratulations!"
Leaning over again to speak to John Taylor, Ben tells him "Claire really wanted you here today to see her marry Alex. She and Alex decided to marry now instead of waiting until she finished Nursing School back East. She wanted you and the townspeople to be with her at her wedding. Are you sad or happy?"
"Both" came the whispered answer as the man in the chair slowly lifted his arm to wipe away the tears forming in his eyes.