New Beginnings: Life Changes

ch. 60

Family Affairs

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"Claire? I've been thinking. With us living quite a way from town, I feel I need to know some basic nursing skills. Could you teach me, please?" Amelia asks one evening as the couples relax by the fireplace.

"I would be happy to teach you and that's a very good idea. Do you know any first aid skills? Bandaging, disinfecting wounds or some such?"

"I know how to wrap and tie a cloth bandage but not much more."

"We'll work on some basic things you need to know starting Saturday. I don't have to be at the clinic until the afternoon. I'm going to head up to bed and read. Goodnight everyone."

"Goodnight Claire." Amelia and Rob chorus.

"I'll be up to join you as soon as I beat this man at checkers! He's three games ahead of me and I must win!" Alex tells his wife.

"Good luck, Alex. Rob is a clever checker player and is hard to beat."

"Rob, I think I'll go on up to bed as well. I'll see you when Alex wins." Amelia tells the men.

"Hey Now! You should support your own husband!"

"I support you both. Goodnight Alex."

"Goodnight Amelia." Alex returns.

"She's not as shy as she was when we first moved in. I guess living together has made her used to having us around. We appreciate having the opportunity to spend time with both you and Claire. I have enjoyed having time with my best friend again. I couldn't see us living with Mitch or your parents. It would just be too awkward."

"My Pa would most likely have made you two sleep in separate rooms even if you are married! He's not ready to accept we have all grown up now. He thinks we're all children much of the time. Now that the girls are in bed, let's take a walk outside. I could use a good smoke. I only smoke when Amelia is not around. She doesn't like the pipe smoke."

"Does your Pa know you are smoking now?"

"No, he would definitely have words about that but I'm not a child, Alex. I'm old enough to make my own choices."

"Something tells me Ethan would feel differently. Wasn't it just a couple of months back that he gave you a hiding? You told me about your encounter with the freight man who brought the roof."

"It was closer to six months ago now, it wasn't pleasant. I stupidly pulled a gun on the man and let my temper get me a thrashing. I will forever remember that final whipping, I tell you. But, I'm married now and do not live under his roof! I don't need to abide by his rules any longer!" Rob replies, taking a long inhale on the pipe before blowing it out.

"I would advise you not to state your case to your Pa in quite those words or tone of voice. You make some situations go from bad to worse for yourself by how you choose to speak. I remember a few times of being with you when Ethan addressed a concern and your responses pushed him into punishing you. Just watch yourself even if you do consider yourself too old for his rules, alright?"

"Do you have to obey your father's rules or does he consider you a grown man?"

"My father knows I respect his rules while I live in his home. He and I haven't had one of those types of father-son chats that you and Ethan have since I returned to live with him. Considering the fact, that he was confined to bed for six months also is a factor. I haven't been corrected by an adult since Mitch took me to task for your wonderful idea of skipping school and going to a saloon wearing disguises. I will respect Ethan or Mitch's rules if I am in their home as well."

"Yes, well, neither of us is in any father's home at the moment so would you like a pull on the pipe?" Rob asks

"No, thank you. tobacco does not agree with my stomach."

"Mama? I'm leaving for town. I finished everything I was assigned for chores now."

"Joseph, you haven't even eaten lunch. Can't you at least wait to leave until you've eaten? Surely you are able to take time to eat." Delphie replies setting out bowls of soup.

"No Ma'am, I don't have time. It's noon now and David wants me to open the Ice Cream Parlor at noon. I'm late already! I'm working alone today so I need to be there to open. Friday is a busy day, what with the stage coming through. We need to be ready to serve. I have to chip up more of the ice today."

"Doesn't your Pa want you to address him as Mr. Abbott, not by his first name? Didn't he remind you of that just last night?"

"David says to call him by his first name, Mama. I'll watch what I say around Pa since he does not approve. May I go now, please?"

"Here, take these sandwiches and eat on the way. I just put cheese and ham no pickles or mustard just the way you prefer. We'll see you at five o'clock, don't be late getting home, Joseph. You lucked out yesterday as Ethan wasn't home as early as usual. Your Pa has been a little on edge and won't bend on his rule."

"Yes, Ma'am. I wish he'd be more reasonable. We don't close the shop until six thirty! David is having to find someone to work the last hour and a half since Pa wants me home at five! Thank you for the sandwiches. Tell the boys, I'll go fishing with them tomorrow as I'm not working then." Joseph answers as he jumps the steps to dash down the road.

"Well, Pepper, I suppose he enjoys working and that is good for him to do. I feel a storm coming in, you do as well don't you?" Delphie tells the dog lounging on the porch.

After eating with the younger boys and feeding Emerson, Delphie notices it is raining outside which explains the glum faces at the table.

"Boys, how about we do some cooking together this afternoon? Would you like to learn to make buttermilk doughnuts? It's the perfect day for doughnut making."

"Yes! That sounds fun!" George replies as he takes his bowl to the sink to wash.

"Do we get to eat some dough nuts after we make them? Are dough nuts cookies made to look like acorns or walnuts?" Ben asks.

"Ben, you just had lunch! Surely the two sandwiches and two bowlfuls of soup filled you up!"

"Yes, Mama but warm fresh baked cookies are so good! Especially if you sprinkle sugar on top." Ben answers, grinning.

"These are not going to be nut shaped cookies. We're going to make doughnuts, one word not two. Have you boys never eaten doughnuts?"

"No Ma'am, not that we remember." George answers having come back to get the rest of the dishes to wash.

"Ben, help George. You are to be working together not having him do it all. Well, you two are in for a treat if you've never tasted doughnuts. I'll be gathering our ingredients while you finish washing the few bowls and cups.

"What does the recipe book say to do now, George?" Ben asks as he finishes using the flour sifter. "I'm so glad Claire brought this to Mama from Boston. It has good desserts in it"

"Yes, it is full of good recipes to try. We put the flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl and stir it together." George answers before turning to find his mother.

"Mama? Will you be the egg separator, please? I'm not good at it and the book says we have to have three separate egg yolks and one whole egg."

"I will be happy to help. I've prepared this end of the table for rolling the dough. The flour will keep the dough from sticking. We'll use these tin cups as cutters. Doesn't the recipe call for buttermilk?"

"Yes Mama, one cup of it. We need a half cup of cream too. Do we have cream separated already?" Ben asks, thinking of the morning milking with the cream rising to the top of the bucket.

"Yes, I've been removing the cream from the milk for quite some time, son. Have you not noticed your Pa and I using cream in our coffee? How about the small bowl of cream put out at breakfast for dipping toast into? Joseph enjoys dipping toast in cream. I skimmed the cream from the milk pails just this morning so it's fresh to use. There is a large jar of buttermilk in the root cellar as well. One of you can go get the cream and buttermilk. We have eggs in the pulley pantry."

"Ben, the next step is to mix the one cup of sugar with the one tablespoon of butter. Once we have that mixed, we add the eggs, vanilla, and buttermilk. We are to cream all this together. I'll go get the things from below if you want to start whisking the mixture of butter and sugar." George tells his brother.

"We have all the wet ingredients creamed into the sugar now Mama. The book says to mix both mixtures together, the flour and the sugar mixes."

"Alright, then pour just some of the flour mixture into the other and blend it in. You two take turns with the spoon to mix. One pours and the other mixes. It needs to be blended where you can not see any white flour." Delphie answers."

"Let me take the final mixes boys while you rest your arms. Let's let the dough sit while we get out our pan ready to fry the doughnuts. To test the lard to see if it is hot enough, I'll brown a cube of bread. If it browns in one minute, we have it hot enough. We'll do this after we cut out the doughnuts."

"Where are we going to put the cooked doughnuts?" George asks. "Won't they be too hot to put in a basket?"

"We lay them out on a piece of cloth and let them cool before storing. Good thinking, Son."

"Why are you cutting a hole in the middle, Mama?" Ben asks as Delphie removes the center from his cut circle of dough.

"This is how we make doughnuts, Ben. We cut the center out and put it back into the bowl of dough to use."

As the boys finish cutting out the last of the dough, Delphie sets up the pan to fry them.

"Go ahead and mix some sugar and cinnamon together, Ben. We'll use that for the tops of the doughnuts." Delphie tells the boy.

"Be very careful when you place anything in hot water or lard if you are frying something. It can burn you. Carefully place the doughnut in the pan like this, we wait just a few minutes and flip it to cook the other side. We'll see how long with this first one, either two or three minutes on each side. We want it brown but not dark."

After a few tries, both boys were experts at frying doughnuts. Hearing a wail from Emerson's new bedroom, Delphie leaves to get the baby.

"This is fun, isn't it. I think I like this more than making cookies. Doughnuts cook much faster which means we get to eat them faster!" Ben declares as he flips the last four doughnuts.

"I like cooking them, I just hope they taste good. So far, I don't know if they will." George replies.

Hearing her youngest son's remark, Delphie smiles to herself. Placing Emerson down on the blanket on the sitting room floor, she walks back to join the boys.

"That's the last batch so let's pour the fat back into the jar. Now, each of you pick one of the warm doughnuts, spread a little butter on the top, turn it over like this into the cinnamon and sugar mixture. When you're done, taste it."

Watching for a reaction, she isn't surprised to see the two boys' faces look amazed and both smile in enjoyment.

"I LIKE DOUGHNUTS!" Ben exclaims licking the cinnamon sugar off his fingers.

"I like them too. Could we have one more, Mama?" George asks.

"Yes, sit down and I'll get you some cold milk to enjoy with your treat. You two are good cooks. These doughnuts are very tasty!"

While enjoying his second doughnut, George glances over to where his baby sister is laying only to find her on her back.

"Mama? Did you put Emmy down on her back at the edge of the blanket?" George asks.

"No, I laid her on her tummy in the center as always, why do you ask?"

"Look at her now."

"My goodness! I do believe she's learned to roll. Let's watch and see if she does it again." Delphie answers.

"Mama?"

"Yes, George?"

"Emmy just said she has been rolling in her bed and likes getting to roll here. She says she wants to go back in the middle now."

"When you get these messages, are they actually words you hear? Is she using the word middle?" Delphie asks after positioning the baby back in the center of the blanket.

"I hear words but I don't know if she is making words or I just hear them. I can't answer you, Mama. I just seem to KNOW."

"It's alright, George. Calm yourself. No need to be upset because you don't know. It's a great gift, enjoy it."

"Mama! Look at Emerson!" Ben whispers as the baby begins to roll towards the edge again.

"Well boys, your sister is now going to keep us busy. She isn't just going to stay in one spot anymore. She's enjoying this, look at her smile."

"Abbba bbbbubb ABB!" Emerson announces to her audience, very pleased with herself.

"I think that means, 'I like rolling!" Ben translates. "It's fun to hear her babble now. She can talk out loud instead of just screech."

"Yes, she's getting to be quite the talker. She likes to sit up too. I'll prop her up for you two to play with her while I strip her bed. We're going to try her in the crib tonight instead of the cradle. She's done well for napping in the crib during the day. You boys did an excellent job helping your Pa make the new bed."

"Mama? Can Emmy have a doughnut?" George asks when his mama comes back into the room.

"Well, I suppose we can let her gnaw on one. She'll just get it mushy so it won't hurt if she swallows some. Go ahead and give her one."

"Hmmmppff! George, you just wasted a doughnut giving it to Emmy! All she's done is drool all over it and smear it all over her face. I don't think any of it even went in her mouth to taste." Ben exclaims in disgust.

"It's alright, Ben. We made two dozen. There is plenty enough to give your sister a doughnut even if she isn't eating it. Smearing it is how she learns. She'll learn to taste food soon enough."

Finishing up his task of filling the steel drum with ice to keep the ice cream container cold, Joseph checks his pocket watch. Reading four forty-five as the time, he seals the rest of the chipped ice in the second container before closing it as well.

"David?" Joseph calls into the store from the connecting door of the ice cream parlor.

"Yes?"

"It's nearly five and I'm to be home by five. I need to leave now or I'll have to run the entire way to try to make it on time. Do you want me to close up or is someone going to come in to serve?"

"Hannah will take over. Let me just go get her. She's in the storeroom. Can you just wait until she's there?"

"Yes if she hurries," Joseph answers knowing he needs to leave but not wanting to cause his friend hardship.

"Alright, I'm here. You be careful going home. It's very muddy and wet out there as it's rained for hours. That's probably why we've not had many customers come in this afternoon." Hannah cautions as Joseph hangs up his work apron and hat.

"I'll be careful. Bye Hannah, BYE DAVID! See you Monday."

"We'll see you in church, Joseph." Hannah reminds the boy.

"Yes, that's true. Okay, see you then. I need to get going." Joseph replies as he leaves.

Making his way down the dirt road is difficult with the mud, deep ruts filled with water, and horse droppings. The dried manure is now not dry any longer.

After turning towards the ranch, Joseph hears a call from the woods.

"Help Me! Someone? Please! I need help!"

"Hello? Is someone in there?" Joseph calls back.

"OH! Thank you! I need some help with my wagon! The wheel is stuck or some such!" A woman's voice answers.

"Are you alone Ma'am?" Joseph asks before entering the woods. His Pa has taught him never to approach a situation without knowing the facts.

"Yes, just me and my team. PLEASE, sir, help me."

At being addressed as "sir", Joseph smiles and walks toward the voice. Stopping before he is seen, he checks the area to see if it's safe to enter. Another of his Pa's teachings is put to use.

"What can I help you with?" He asks the young woman who looks about his age.

"The wheel seems to be stuck. I came out into the woods for gathering some branches and the wet ground just sucked my wheel right down. Oh, I'm Melanie Hanson."

"Joseph Cord, nice to make your acquaintance, Mrs. Hanson."

"I'm not married nor engaged. You can call me Melanie. I'm obliged to you for your help."

"We'll need to use some of those dried branches you have in the wagon. I'll place them behind the wheel and we'll see if the team will back the wagon out"

"Okay! Stand clear while I see if I can get the team to back out." Joseph calls to her much later having unsuccessfully tried digging the wagon wheel out.

"Hup, boys! Back up, now. Easy!" He says to the skittish horses not familiar with his voice.

"This is not working because your team doesn't recognize my voice. Could you come up with me and command them to move? I'll do the steering if you can get them to do the task."

"Well, it took some work but we got your wagon free. I need to get going. You take care of yourself and don't drive into the woods next time. Just take your gatherings TO the wagon." Joseph teases.

"You take care as well and thank you for the help. You look as if you rolled in a pig sty so no going courting for you tonight" Melanie teases back.

"I am not courting anyone so that isn't a problem. If you need assistance for any reason, come to The Circle Five ranch just up the road or go to the sheriff's office in Paradise, the town closest to here."

"Thank you I will," Melanie answers the kind young man before he suddenly turns and dashes down the road.

"Well, he's certainly in a hurry." She remarks to her team.

Knowing not to enter the house covered in mud, Joseph stops at the barn to wash at the outside pump. washing his face and hands, he tries to wash the muck from his boots and clothes. Already wet through, a little more water won't make much difference, he decides. Successfully, washing the mud off his hands and face, he checks his clothes.

MMM, not good. Mama won't be liking the look of my clothes. Can't be helped, however. Time to go face the family. Joseph thinks.

Opening the door and closing it behind him, Joseph is met by a scowling father.

"WHERE have you been? You are over an hour late!" Ethan confronts the boy.

"Pa, I'm sorry. I need to change, I'm wet through." Joseph answers attempting to pass his father.

"HOLD UP! You break curfew and now just think "Sorry" is enough? Not acceptable, young man. Now answer me, where have you been, and why are you so late?" Ethan asks having stepped in front of the boy, blocking his escape.

"I was only trying to get changed first! Don't be so unreasonable! Move so I can pass!"

"You are out of line, young man. You do not speak to adults in that way and you do NOT use that tone with me! You have not needed a whipping in some time but it seems you are asking for one tonight. Go to your room and wait for me!"

"PA, NO! YOU ARE BEING UNREASONABLE,"

"Joseph Adam Cord, I suggest you do as you are told. RIGHT NOW!"

The commanding tone and snapping eyes are enough to send Joseph scurrying for the stairs and his younger brothers sinking into the floor from the bench seat nearby.

Rising from her chair in the sitting room, Delphie gives the younger two boys a pat on the head as she walks to her husband.

"Now, Ethan, you need to calm down. Joseph is obviously tired and that's why he spoke the way he did. Give him time to change and calm down before you talk with him. I'm sure there is a reason behind his behavior. Listen to him before you go off half-cocked the way you just did, please. For my sake, listen first."

Later that evening as they prepare for bed, Delphie asks "Did you do as I requested and listen to Joseph?"

"I did."

"Is he sleeping on his stomach with a burning backside?"

"Not unless he sat on something that burned him, no."

"So you listened and decided he had a reasonable reason for being late and didn't punish him?"

"Yes."

"Ethan! You are being unreasonable again. Tell me what went on up there! I'm his mother, I need to know if he's alright!"

"I wasn't aware you were asking me for details, just answering what you asked, Delphinium."

"Do not call me Delphinium, I detest that name and you're avoiding me. What happened?"

"You are so easy to rile, I hope Little Miss isn't that way. Where is she by the way?"

"Emmy is tucked into her brand new crib and asleep for now. TALK or GO SLEEP ELSEWHERE!" Delphie commands, teasing her husband.

"Yes, Ma'am! We talked about why he was late and I did as you asked and listened. The boy stopped to help a damsel in distress right outside of town. He said there was a young woman who had driven into the woods and her wagon wheel was stuck in the mud. He and she worked together to put pine boughs behind the wheel and back the wagon over them. Considering the shape of his clothes, I'd say the mud was pretty thick. He has caked mud all on his trousers and boots. I'm to tell you he said he will scrub the pants and boots so you won't need to worry."

"You see, Ethan, Joseph's a kind young man. You've raised him to be considerate and obedient. He tries to please you the best he can. You are quite rigid in your expectations at times which causes friction between the two of you. Think about loosening those restrictions some as he's fifteen now. He's not a young boy still learning right from wrong."

"I just want him to have a better youth than I did. I want all of my children to be successful, well brought up, and educated as I didn't have that. I had to learn after I was an adult with the education part. I don't consider myself to be well brought up as I was a gunfighter. I made a promise to Lucy, I would raise my niece and nephews to have those traits and I will fulfill that promise. I want to look my sister in the face and have her be proud of what I accomplished when we meet in the heavens. I make you the same promise for our other children. They will be educated, well brought up, and successful young adults no matter what I have to do to get them there."

"I know this and I'm proud to be by your side while we do it together, Ethan. You aren't alone any longer, remember? We're going to raise the future adults together." Just then a loud wail from the other room causes Ethan to say "The youngest of our future adults is making her nighttime announcement. Let me go take care of her, you rest."

Not being able to resist, Delphie follows her husband a few minutes later to listen outside the baby's new room. The wailing has now subsided to soft whimpers. Delphie is able to hear the conversation.

"Now then Miss. Emerson Rose, what's all this racket you are making? Didn't we discuss this crying loudly just the other night? Didn't I tell you this was unacceptable behavior?"

Delphie has to smother a giggle at that last statement.

"BBBBabbbbab bbbbboobbbb"

"Your brothers are upstairs trying to sleep and your Mama is resting. What do you need Little One?"

"Abbbb bbbbboooo bbbbaa bbbaabbb"

"I see, you need a dry diaper and a new woolen diaper cover, you say. Yes, this one isn't as pretty as the yellow one, I agree. I'll fix that for you."

"bbbb aaabbbb ab?"

"Oh yes, I wouldn't forget. The bottle is needed, I agree. I'll be right back with a warm one. We'll sit together while you eat and you can tell me all about your day. Here, talk to your lamb while you wait. Papa will be right back, don't worry."

Delphie quickly moves back into their room to stifle her laughter with a pillow. Yes, "Papa" was really going to be tough on his "Little One", she could see that from the start.