New Beginnings: Life Changes ch. 68
Mysterious
The evening following Joseph and Night Hawk's trek to the forbidden territory, Ethan goes to Joseph's room.
"Joseph, we need to talk. I know you aren't asleep, so sit up and be courteous enough to hear me out." Ethan says to the boy huddled under blankets faking sleep.
"I imagine you are feeling annoyed and undeserving of the punishment you received, am I correct?"
Surprised to hear his father actually state the exact feelings he has been having the entire evening, Joseph replies "I don't understand why you punished me in that way or at all. I was only trying to help John Taylor as he wanted. He told me to go get the Larkspur. You've taught me to obey my elders and I did. You've taught me to help others and put others before myself and I did that as well. I'm not a little boy to be treated as if I have no common sense. I'm nearly sixteen and too old to have that punishment."
"We've discussed this before, the time with going to find John Taylor, the stallion escapade, the running away to join Rob on the trail drive, several other times as well. Joseph, it is never acceptable to put yourself in danger the way you did. You can not keep being impulsive and not discussing these situations before you rush off into danger. There's no excuse for not coming to me or your mother first. No one knew where the two of you went. If you had run into trouble such as I warned you about, the other tribes having hunting parties near and being enemies of the Pueblo, you could have been injured, captured, or KILLED. I told you the reason for my requiring you to remain in the compound, did I not?"
"Yes sir but I had to find that plant for John Taylor and it only grew away from the compound."
Closing his eyes and taking several breaths to keep calm, Ethan replies "NO, you DID NOT 'have to find that plant'. It's a good thing you were unsuccessful, as one or both of you boys could have a serious illness from trying to handle the deadly plant! You've been taught better than to haphazardly rush off into danger and then put yourself and someone else's life in danger even further! As I just said, and have said many times over the years, COME TALK TO ME FIRST. If not me, then another adult you trust. You can not keep doing this as one day you won't just be facing a sore backside but some serious or even deadly consequences. I'm trying my best to talk sense into you, listen to me! I know what impetuous actions lead to, I've been in those situations."
"I needed to help John Taylor. He wanted that plant as he told me he was ready to end his suffering. I was HELPING someone as you tell us to do."' Joseph replies in an annoyed tone of voice.
Feeling irritation and anger rising at the boy's complete refusal to be rational, Ethan has to calm himself with deep breaths to refrain from shouting or landing some heavy swats on the boy's backside.
"It is not the decision of a couple of boys when someone is ready to end their life. I told you John Taylor often talked out of his head. That was what he was doing. Joseph, if you had come, and talked this over with me, I would have told you the tribe's medicine man and Will, who knows healing, have been helping John Taylor with his needs. If they felt he truly needed to end his life with Larkspur, then they would have given it to him. You must stop jumping to conclusions and think about your actions before doing something! As I said earlier, this impulsive behavior has led you to be in danger and then to major consequences many times. You tell me you are not a little boy and yet you continue to do these impulsive foolish actions. When you do behave this way, I treat you as the child you behaved as not the young man you believe yourself to be."
"I'm too OLD to be walloped that way! I'll be sixteen in October, that's only three months. Fifteen nearly sixteen is too old to get your butt busted by your Pa that way. That's for little kids like Ben and even Night Hawk. I'm too old to be treated like that, Pa."
"I'm not surprised to hear you say this. I've heard it before. I've heard it from you and from Rob as well. I suggest you talk to Rob about being too old for a belt to be applied when needed. Now, as we've talked this out, it's time for both of us to get some sleep. We're going to leave tomorrow and be home. I hope you think about what I've said tonight and realize why your actions were so wrong."
Back in Paradise, Alex and Rob have taken the boys to town to the Mercantile. As promised, he is allowing them to pick something to make up for his mistake with their being punished without facts.
"Okay, we're going to leave you to look around. It shouldn't be more than fifteen minutes at the bank and we'll be back. Stay inside until we are back, please." Rob tells his young brothers.
"We will, Rob," George replies as Ben has already wandered off to look.
"Rob? How much can we spend?" George asks before his brothers leave.
"Whatever you want, you can get. No limits on price today." Rob answers as he opens the door to leave.
"Ben, Rob says we don't have a budget today. We can pick out anything we want."
"I wish we'd had no budget when we were in Denver! That toy store had some amazing things. Remember the pedal car?"
"Yes, and I remember how badly behaved you were in that store, as well. Come on, let's look. We don't have a toy store but we have some good things here. What about new shoes? Mine are getting tight in the toes."
"Rob is letting us buy anything, and you want SHOES? What's wrong with you? TOYS! FUN THINGS! That's what you should think of, not shoes. Pa and Mama are able to buy us shoes. Look, here's the air rifles! We could each get..."
"NO. Just NO. We are not going to buy that. Pa would not allow it and you know this! Pick something else!"
"George, sometimes you are very annoying!"
"My being annoying has saved your backside many times including this one. Choose something else, Ben. I'm going back to the book barrels. I want something new to read as we've read our five books so many times. A new book to share would be great."
"You do that, I'm going to look for something else for the two of us to share," Ben replies.
Lost in the book he found about a magical White Rabbit and a young girl, George jumps in surprise at the voice. "Hello there, young George. Did you find a great book?"
Looking up from his spot on the floor, George smiles as he answers "Hello. I did! This one is exciting!"
"Let me see what you found. Ah, yes. Alice's Adventures In Wonderland, I've heard that is an excellent book. Is your Pa or Ma here as well?"
"No sir. Rob is letting us pick anything we want today. He's gone to the bank but will come back in a few minutes. Ben is ..."
Before he can finish his sentence, there's a loud sound of glass breaking. Bounding to the front of the store, George and Mr. Axelrod see a figure fleeing the store.
"Come back here!" Cyrus calls sternly, trying to stop the child. His shout has no effect on the child at all.
"What happened, Ben?"
"I didn't do it! HONEST! It wasn't me!" Ben declares as he stares at the broken front window.
"Just tell me what happened, son." Mr. Axelrod requests, keeping his voice calm.
"I was standing here looking at the pocketknives and this boy came in. He has dark hair that was long in the back and sides and green eyes. He was wearing dirty overalls and one strap was undone or broken. He went over to the air rifles, loaded one, and pointed it at the window. It went off and he ran."
"Do you know this boy? Did he speak to you?"
"No, sir. I've not seen him before."
"You boys stay away from this glass. I'm going to get Chris or Mitch to come to look at this."
"Yessir" Ben and George answer.
Rob and Alex appear just as Mr. Axelrod returns with Chris.
"What's going on? Did either of you have anything to do with this?" Rob asks his brothers as Chris is questioning Mr. Axelrod.
"No sir, we didn't." George answers surprising himself with his use of 'sir' for his brother.
"Rob? Mr. Axelrod reports the window was broken by a young boy but not Ben or George." Chris says as he hears the elder brother start to question the boys.
"Ben? Can you tell me what the boy looked like?" Chris asks.
"He has longish black hair, it covers his ears and touches his shirt in the back. He's wearing overalls that are really old looking and one side strap was hanging. Ummm, he didn't have on a shirt or shoes. He came in, went straight to the air rifles, loaded one, and shot out the window. Then he ran off. I don't think it was an accident either. He aimed at the window."
"Ben, you make an excellent witness. Most people wouldn't notice all of those details you just told me. Your Pa has taught you to remember details, hasn't he?" Chris asks.
"Yes sir. We practice with games to see who can remember the most details about something Pa shows us. He says it helps us train our memory and we'll do better in school."
"It works too. I was able to memorize a really long poem to recite last school term because of the Memory Game Pa has taught us." George adds to the conversation.
"Thank you, boys. I'll be on the lookout for this child. If you happen to see him again, come tell me right then."
"Yes, sir."
"Well, we're ready to go over to the Ice Cream Parlor. Did you find something you wish to have?" Rob asks.
"I found this book. I'd like to have it. The book is bound with gold-tipped pages and a beautiful cover." George replies, showing his brother the hardback book.
"That's a good pick, how about you, Ben?"
"I didn't find anything I'm allowed to have. I wanted a new air rifle but Pa wouldn't approve."
"I won't buy that so you'll have to find something else. I know Pa's rules on guns." Rob answers.
"Can we go to the General Store before we have our ice cream?" Ben asks, hopefully.
"We can. Come on, Alex is waiting for us. Here, George, this bill will cover the book." Rob says as he hands the boy a two dollar bill.
"Why do I need to cover the book with money? That's wasting your paper money. I could cover it with brown paper instead." George answers looking puzzled.
Chuckling to himself, Rob explains "What I meant was, this money will pay for your book. It will cover the cost. There's no need to wrap anything around the book as it's wonderful to see the bright illustrations on the cover. Go on, go pay for it so we can leave."
"Here Mr. Axelrod. Rob says this will "cover" which means pay for, this book." George eagerly explains as he hands the man his two dollar bill.
"Thank you, it certainly will as the price of this book is $1.00. Here's the change. You boys enjoy the rest of your day." Mr. Axelrod answers.
Having found just what he was looking for in the General Store, Ben proudly shows his new pocketknife to Alex. "Look, Alex, it even has a smaller blade. Two blades on this knife! Don't you like the blue color with the white end tips on the handle?"
"I do like it, Ben. You made a good choice." Alex replies, smiling at the happy child.
"George, what do you have there?" Alex asks as George walks up holding a cloth bag.
"It's some animals that are smooth wood. There's a horse, a chicken, a cow, a pig, a cat, a dog, and even a sheep. Rob said I could buy them for Emerson to play with."
"Let's go pay for them and get that treat we've been waiting for as my mouth is really ready for ice cream," Rob tells the group.
Walking back to the front of the store, Rob glances at the front window. Seeing the boy, Ben described running towards the glass with his arm drawn back and a large rock in his hand. Rob commands "DROP! NOW!" causing both boys to immediately fall to the floor. Jerking Alex by the arm, Rob puts his and Alex's back to the window forming a protective barrier in front of the boys.
The sound of glass breaking behind him occurs seconds later. Turning around, Rob sees the entire large front window gone and the child dashing away.
"STAY HERE!" Rob commands as his brothers stand.
Running full stride, Rob catches the boy quickly. Grabbing his arm, he demands "STOP! What is your name?"
"Puddin Tame. Ask me again and I'll tell you the same." the boy answers glaring back and trying to jerk out of the firm hold.
"That's not an answer. Answer me! Who are you and why are you breaking windows?"
"Puddin Tame. Ask me again and I'll tell you the same." the child responds with a smirk.
"Where do you live? Who is your Pa?" Rob tries.
Not getting a reply, he then says "Well, young Mr. Tame, you just earned yourself a trip. Come with me. Jerk away or try kicking me as I see you are planning to do and I'll wallop your behind so hard you won't sit the rest of the day!" Rob adds the last as he sees the child pull his foot back preparing to kick.
"Mitch, Chris, I just saw this boy deliberately throw a rock through the front glass of the General Store. This is the same one who broke the front glass at Mr. Axelrod's according to Ben. I got no information on his name or parents. I tried but was rebuffed by a smart-aleck answer. He calls himself 'Puddin Tame'"
"Thank you, Rob. We'll take it from here. This youngster can just cool off in a cell for now." Mitch says nodding to Chris to take the boy back to the cells.
Enjoying their bowls of ice cream, Ben sees Alex wince as he leans back against the wooden chair.
"Are you hurt, Alex?"
"My back is stinging just a bit, other than that I'm fine." Alex replies causing Rob to say "Lean forward, let me look."
"Rob, really, it's fine."
"Do what I said, Alex," Rob commands causing the two boys to swap a grin.
"Bossy, isn't he?" Alex shares the enjoyment with the boys who know better than to agree with that pronouncement.
"You have some cuts from the glass. We'll stop at the Clinic and let Claire look at you. It's not four o'clock so she's there."
"Yes, boss, whatever you say. May I lean back now?"
"If you wish," Rob replies.
As the three brothers depart the clinic, leaving Alex in the hands of his wife, the train whistle sounds.
"Let's go meet the train. Pa, Mama, and Joseph might be on it. Pa's telegram said they could be arriving today. They didn't come on the morning train, so maybe this one." Rob says.
"I wish we had a few more days at your house. You and Alex are fun to be with." Ben answers.
Rob replies "Thank you, you two have been good help both at my place and your own and well behaved. Pa will be proud."
"I see Mama!" George exclaims looking up at Rob for permission to go.
"Go ahead, go greet them." Rob smiles down at the boy.
"MAMA!" George calls rushing but not running to get to her.
"George! How nice of you to come to greet us. I've missed you!" Delphie says grabbing the boy in a big hug.
"I missed you too, Mama. Ben and Rob are coming behind me."
"Hello, there son! I've missed your smile." Ethan says as he and Joseph walk up with the two carpetbags of clothes.
"Hi, Pa! Hi Joseph! I missed you too." George answers accepting a hair rub from Joseph as the rest of the group arrives. As Ethan and Rob talk, Ben looks at Joseph after being greeted by his parents.
"Oh, Hi, Joseph, I didn't miss you," he says giving his older brother a cocky grin.
"Hello to you too, squirt. I didn't miss you either!" Joseph returns with a soft punch to the boy's arm.
"We have the buckboard here if you'd like to come to our house. The girls have enjoyed having Mothering practice with Emerson. She's done pretty well. She did cry the first night but afterwards settled in fine. I believe Amelia is going to have dinner ready if you'd like to stay and eat."
"Yes, thank you, Rob, a hot meal sounds excellent. How is our home? Still standing I hope."
"Everything is fine, Pa. We've been there every day twice a day. Pepper and the rest of the animals are all fine. Pepper is a good guard dog. He's looked after the ranch very well." Rob answers as he starts the horses with "Hup".
"Welcome home! I have beef stew and fresh bread all ready for everyone. We have three desserts made. Claire will be home anytime now as she said her shift ends at four o'clock and that's just thirty minutes from now." Amelia greets her in-laws.
"Thank you, dear. We're looking forward to a hot meal. Where's my little one?" Delphie asks.
"She's napping upstairs. Rob has fixed a special bed just for her in our room. She seemed to want to stay with us more than with Claire."
"Emerson knows you and Rob and is just learning to accept Claire and Alex so I'm not at all surprised she wouldn't sleep with Claire."
"Let's go get her, Mama. She's awake now and getting ready to cry." George announces having sensed the baby's emotions.
As the group, Delphie, Amelia, Ethan, and the boys go get the baby, Joseph asks "Rob, can I talk to you, privately?"
"Sure, let's go outside to the barn."
After hearing his brother's long-winded story of how terribly he's been treated by Ethan during the trip, Rob hears "So, my question would be isn't it true that fifteen nearly sixteen is way too old to be punished like that? Won't you tell him you agree with me that I'm too old to get a whipping? He was wrong to do that to me."
"Joseph, I sympathize with you but I can't agree with you and no I won't talk to Pa on your behalf. You've long known the punishment for putting your life in danger and direct disobedience, you did both. NO! Don't get angry and stomp off, LISTEN. I've been in your shoes. I, too, tried to tell Pa I was too old for that punishment at the exact age you are now. Don't you remember when I took a gun and went after Mr. Kincaid who was tormenting you? We spoke of it again not long ago. I was your age then. I can also say he believes in this punishment even when you are eighteen."
"Pa whipped you at eighteen? Truthfully?"
"Right before Amelia and I were married. I let my temper control me again and threatened the delivery person who brought the house parts. He was refusing to accept my word as to who I was to allow me my order and I lost control. I drew on him and threatened to shoot him if he didn't give me my property. Pa..."
"Why wouldn't he let you have the order?" Joseph interrupts.
"He said he was required to have someone twenty-one or older accept the order and knew I wasn't of age. Pa was brought to the scene and signed for the order. He then took me to the woodshed so to speak. I had to choose between punishment by the sheriff, which meant jail, or the punishment as my Pa. I chose his punishment as my Pa. He took a hickory switch to my backside for pointing a loaded gun at the man. He reminded me I was still underage and therefore still answered to him. As I said, I sympathize with you, Joseph, but there is nothing I can say. Until you are twenty-one, by law, we both have to answer to our parents. How is John Taylor, you haven't said."
"He is gone, Rob. When we went to breakfast this morning, we were told he joined the Great Spirit during the night. My trek to find the plant he wanted must have been just to get me away from him. He would know he was going to die. He told me he was ready to go on to the next life. Someday, I hope to see him again. I'm going to miss him."
"I'm very sorry, Joseph. I know how close you both were. Let's go inside and have something to eat before Ben eats everything. Our younger brother is becoming a bottomless pit at meals."
Walking in the door, Rob is immediately accosted by his Mama.
"ROBERT JORDAN CORD! HOW DARE YOU!" Delphie declares as she waves her hands in front of the young man.
"Mama? What's wrong? What did I do?" Rob asks backing away from the angry woman.
"HOW DARE YOU PUT MY BABY IN A CHICKEN PEN! She's a BABY, not a CHICKEN!"
"Oh, that. Well, you see, I had to do something to keep her safe. I don't have a baby bed for her or time to make one."
"CHICKEN WIRE? YOU USED CHICKEN WIRE?" Delphie asks at loud volume.
"Delphie, calm down. I didn't hurt Emerson. She's fine. She's right behind you in Pa's arms. See?"
"He's right, Delphie. Our little one is just fine. Please don't hurt our eldest son, dear. He meant well and there's a reason he needed the wire. You haven't seen the reason yet. Turn around and call your daughter." Ethan says as he puts Emerson on the floor.
"Emerson?" Delphie says looking from Ethan to the baby. To her surprise, the baby moves one leg and one arm at a time to crawl to her.
"She's crawling? My goodness, this little girl keeps doing things very early. She's determined to catch up to her big brothers. Not quite seven months old and already mastered crawling! Oh, Rob. I'm so sorry. I understand now. You didn't want her crawling off in the night!"
"Thank you, I accept your apology. Could we all eat now? I've been looking forward to this stew all day. We've been in town for a few hours and I'm ready to eat." Rob replies just as Claire and Alex arrive.
After the meal and hearing some of their adventures while with the Indian tribe, Alex asks "Pa? Would you walk with me? I have something to discuss."
Leaning on Rob's pasture fence, Ethan faces the quiet but obviously distraught young man.
"Well, what's on your mind? Usually, when my boys request a walk, they have something to confess. I doubt you do, though." Ethan jokes.
"I'm a terrible brother and going to be a terrible parent. I punished the boys for something they didn't do and didn't wait for any explanations first. I feel so terrible! They disappeared on me and I found them at the fishing pond alone. I can't get over my fear of children drowning when unsupervised because of what happened to my little sister. I walloped them both and took them back here. Then I found out Amelia had given permission. I felt so bad. Rob and I took them to town today for ice cream and let them pick something to buy. Rob rewarded them for their behavior and help while with us. He's a much better temporary Pa than I am!"
"Alex, look at me, son."
"No one is a perfect parent or person. Everyone makes mistakes. This was just a mistake, don't agonize over it. The boys are fine. You are young and have not been as you called it a 'temporary Pa' before. When in many years, you become a Pa, you will develop instincts to help you. I still make mistakes with the boys and I've been their guardian or Pa for nearly six years now. Ease up on yourself, son. Your fear is not something you can stop. You can learn to manage it in time. Let's go back in for some of those desserts waiting to be enjoyed."