New Beginnings: Life Changes

chapter 73

New Discoveries on the Drive

"Mama? Amelia and I were talking last night, and we have a proposition for you."

"What might this 'proposition' be, Claire? You wish to move home and become Amy's head nurse, perhaps?" Delphie replies.

"Well, I have to finish school before I feel able to do that but eventually that is the plan. That's not what we were talking about though. We would like to stay here with the children while you and Pa take a trip. You could go to Denver, there's more to do there every day. If you remember, it's not as much of a rough cattle town with just a few nicer places. It's becoming a nice city with very good restaurants, dress shops, millineries, and even two moving picture theaters. It would be fun for you to pick out a new hat or dress for after the newest baby comes. Alex told me one of his friends from back East has opened a top-notch restaurant. He named it The Blue Ox. He serves steak but also some specialty food."

"I don't understand the phrase 'top-notch'. What do notches on a belt have to do with eating?"

"That's an expression that means the same as excellent, best quality or as you say in Irish, 'Quare'." Claire answers smiling at her befuddled mother.

"We would be happy to care for George, Ben, and little Emerson. The boys are well behaved, and Emmy is a joy." Amelia speaks up having stood listening.

"Ethan might disagree with you on Ben being well behaved seeing as how he found quite a bit of trouble recently. I'll see what Ethan thinks of your idea. I would love to have a few days away before I get too heavy with baby to enjoy it. This baby is more active than Emmy was which seems to cause me to be more tired." Delphie answers massaging her stomach.

"According to what I remember women saying, carrying low that way is a sign of a boy. Boys must be more active from the start than girls." Amelia tells her.

"I've heard that prediction myself. I've also heard from the church ladies that we should do the ring test to see if it's a boy or a girl." Delphie replies.

"Oh, yes! I've heard of that one as well. You put a ring on a piece of thread and hold it over your tummy. If it swings back and forth the baby is a boy but if it moves in a circle, then the baby is a girl. Let's do that! You can use my wedding ring!" Amelia says excitedly.

"Claire, my sewing basket is beside our bed. Would you mind cutting some thread for us?"

"Of course not, Mama. I'll be right back."

Fifteen minutes later the three women stare expectantly at the ring hanging from Amelia's hand.

"It's not moving at all. This is our fourth attempt, and it hasn't moved on any of them." Delphie acknowledges somewhat sadly.

"It's just an old wives tale, Mama. No one can really predict if an unborn baby is going to be a girl or a boy. That's part of the miracle of having a baby, getting the surprise at birth. As long as you and baby are healthy that's all that matters. I wish I could be here for my newest brother or sister's entrance into the world. When you have the next baby, I'll be the one to deliver him or her!" Claire reassures her mother.

"What next baby? We haven't even had this one yet." The women hear from the front door.

"Oh Pa! You know you want a houseful of children. Raising all five of us was so fun so you want to keep going." Claire teases.

"I'm not finished raising the last three plus the newest two yet. Joseph, Ben and George are not grown yet although Joseph would disagree." Ethan returns with a smile.

"Joseph is more grown up than you give him credit for, Ethan. He's matured so much in the last year. You must think so too, or you wouldn't have allowed him to accompany Rob on his cattle drive. I do hope the boys are alright and eating enough." Delphie replies to his statement.

"First you say Joseph is grown then in the next breath you call him a boy and start mothering. He can't be grown and be a boy needing a mother at the same time, Delphie."

"To a mother, children are always worried over and thought of, you do the same you know. Worry over whether they are safe and not encountering any trouble. You said so yourself just yesterday." Delphie tells her smiling husband.

"You win. I surrender to you as almighty mother. Now, where is our youngest? Did she crawl off into mischief somewhere?"

"Emmy is napping, Pa. I put her in her crib to sleep about a half hour ago. She was beginning to get cranky" George answers.

"Ethan, the girls have volunteered to stay with the children while we go for a few days of togetherness, just us. Doesn't that seem lovely? Just you and I before we have another little one who needs supervision? Claire thinks Denver would be a good trip for us. What do you think?"

"Well now, that sounds interesting. If you'd like to go, I can arrange a few days off. Are you thinking of tonight or would tomorrow afternoon be soon enough?"

"You're teasing, you know I can't just up and leave tonight. Tomorrow or the next day would be soon enough. I have lists to write and chores to do to prepare the children for being without us." Delphie replies.

"Delphie, the children don't need you to prepare them. They're capable boys and can take care of their needs without written instructions. Besides, Amelia and Claire know all about how to care for children."

"Ethan, I meant lists of Emerson's schedule, likes, dislikes. The boys need clean clothes as we haven't had wash day yet."

"Oh, of course, the Mother Lists. I remember those from our last trip away." Ethan replies with a grin for his wife.

Back at the campground, Rob gathers the group as the cattle are settled for the night. Having discussed his idea with Case and Alex, now addresses the boys.

"It's been some time since we've all had a good meal, a bath or just time away from the herd. We're close enough to a town that we can take some free time tomorrow. We'll go in pairs starting with Case and Alex, then Joseph and Timothy, and I'll be last. The ones who are not in town will watch the herd. I'll give you each your first wages, so you'll have money. Now listen, Joseph and Timothy, the rules I set for this job are still in place. You are underage and are not to gamble, drink, or cause any trouble with townspeople. My crew is well behaved and will show respect. There will be no rowdiness or troublemaking. Those are the promises you made when I hired you as part of this drive, remember?"

"Yes, I remember, Rob." Joseph agrees as Timothy replies "I remember as well, sir."

The boy's pandering by adding "sir" causes Joseph to look away in disgust.

"You also promised to follow directions from any of your elders at all times. I'm holding you to those promises. Alright, everyone may go ahead and turn in for the night. I'll take night watch tonight. We'll start the trips to town right after breakfast and will return after three hours."

Later in the evening, Alex approaches Rob as he is checking the herd as nightwatchman.

"It's me, Rob." Alex calls as he moves within hearing range.

"I thought you were asleep."

"I was waiting until the boys were asleep to come out. Did you watch Timothy today?"

"I did and he is doing exactly what you described. He was letting Joseph do everything. I did put a stop to that as I confronted him privately. I told that boy he'd best start pulling his share of the job or he'd be sent home! I don't allow a paid cowhand to not pull his weight, I told him. He has one chance to show me he's here to work and abide by my rules or he's fired."

"How did he take your admonishment?" Alex asks.

"Oh, he tried to convince me I was wrong, and he had been doing his share. I didn't believe him. I saw what you saw, and the boy is a manipulator. He's used to getting by without consequences as he truly believes he has me fooled. I have enough experience with young manipulators as I was one myself. I can practically smell the tricks!"

"How did you overcome your manipulative ways?" Alex asks with a knowing look.

"A certain former gunfighter now sheriff also adoptive father of said young manipulator used his own methods of persuasion to stop me."

"Would those methods happen to be a few visits to the woodshed, perhaps?"

"Yep, I'm sure you remember me telling you of a few of those times. It was that and the long lectures as well. Those are mighty persuasive methods, I tell you. I got to a point where I thought about my actions before doing them. That didn't always mean, as you definitely know from being with me, that I stayed out of trouble. I did learn to think of the consequences first, most of the time."

"So, the deterrent was a sore backside? I know from the few times my own father used that method, it worked for me."

"More the disappointed father than a sore backside. His lectures were worse than the punishment. He has the God given ability to make me go from outraged at being lectured to feeling like a lowly worm in no time."

"It's a shame Timothy's father didn't seem to have that ability. That boy acts as if no one has ever bothered to teach him responsibility for following through with jobs assigned. Case ought to speak to his own father about this boy as someone needs to set him straight. It should have happened long before he reached the age of sixteen as that's practically grown! Some boys are married by sixteen or out on their own!"

"I agree, Alex. I believe it's up to us to steer him in the right direction with consequences." Rob answers.

The next day, during his turn to visit the town, Joseph asks "Timothy, would you like to go to the boarding house for a meal? I've just seen they serve meals with dessert and a drink for twenty five cents."

"No, I have a need for something other than some old woman's cooking. I'm going to the saloon! I don't suppose you will come too, will you?"

"No, I won't break the promise I made to Rob. You shouldn't either. He will find out. He always does."

"You make it sound as if he's your father. I thought he was your brother."

"He's my brother but he's also my boss right now. I do what he says. He's been in charge of me and my brothers several times and I can tell you from experience, you won't like what happens if you cross him. Just a warning, take my advice or don't."

"I don't, I'm off to be a real man not some scared little boy like you. Go play with your hoop and stick little boy. I'm sure there's other little kids to play chase a rolling hoop with here in this dinky place." Timothy sneers before walking into the saloon.

Entering the saloon, the boy saunters up to the long wooden bar and slaps money down demanding "whiskey, straight up" to the barkeep.

"Whiskey you say? Aren't you a bit young to be drinking whiskey?"

"NO, now pour me some! I've got money here can't you see or are you blind as well as an idiot?"

"Now, watch your mouth, no need to be rude and testy. I have rules to follow, and one is no one under the age of eighteen is allowed to drink any alcohol in this establishment. You are welcome to water or a sarsaparilla.

"Look, mister idiot. My father is a former gunslinger now rancher/sheriff, name is Ethan Cord. Now, if I want whiskey, you, the barkeep, give me whiskey. I say I am eighteen and you agree. If not, then there will be trouble for you. I will show you if you do not do as I say. Last time I tell you this, pour me whiskey, NOW!"

Meanwhile, Joseph has found just what he was looking for, a kind woman who is a good cook.

"Mrs. Schnieder, this is the best food I've had in weeks. Not since I was home, have I tasted something so divine. My Mama is a good cook, and your stew is almost better. What is the meat? It's too tender to be venison."

"Such flattery! Ach! You make an old woman proud. You're a well brought up young man, I can see. That'd be pork and rabbit as I had to use different meat than I should. Would you like another bowl of pichelsteiner and more bread?"

"With stew this good, I'll happily pay another twenty five cents for more. Yes, Ma'am, I'll have more, please."

"No, young one, the twenty five covers all you want to eat. My late husband Michel's favorite meal was pichelsteiner. He and I started this Boarding House together and we never turned a person out hungry. I don't have many boarders now, but many men stop to eat. None has well heeled as you, however. Most are not as freshly groomed either." She replies as she places a steaming bowl of stew in front of Joseph.

"What is this bread? What is pichelsteiner meat? I've not seen this before and the taste is unusual. It's good, I don't mean to say it is not good, I'm curious. Sometimes my family gets exasperated with me for my curiosity."

"Bread is named Berliner knuppel and is one of traditional breads in my home country, Germany. The usual meat would be pork, beef and mutton. Would you like to try a different bread from my country? It is called schusterjunge."

"Yes ma'am, I'd be happy to try it."

"You like this bread, yes?"

"Yes ma'am, I will have to get your recipe for the breads and the stew. My Ma is Irish so she likes to bake bread and make stew. What is that different taste in this shutterjug bread?" Joseph asks after tasting the roll.

"Excellent try at speaking German. The name sounds more as if you are saying 'shoo ster jin jun. The taste could be the beer or the caraway seeds, it is a unique flavor. Have you tasted rye before?"

"No ma'am. Did you say the bread has beer in it?" Joseph questions.

"Yes, why are you asking in this way? Why so worried?"

"I'm sixteen, well, almost. In two months, I'll be sixteen and I'm not to drink any alcohol until I reach twenty one. I didn't know the bread had any alcohol in it."

"Ahh, your father, he will be displeased?"

"Yes, extremely displeased! I'm not with my Pa however, I'm with my older brother. He will be displeased, as you say, as well if he learns of my having beer."

"Junge, lad, the beer is baked in the bread for a flavor. You did not disobey and drink, now. True?"

"Yes ma'am, that is true. Will I smell of beer for tasting the bread?"

"No young one, it is not noticeable. You will not be taken to task for having beer in a bread. Would you like dessert? I have tarts prepared with blackberries for filling."

"No ma'am, thank you. I wish to go to the general store before I have to return to camp. I thank you for the excellent meal and conversation. I will tell my Ma how to make shooster jin jun bread."

"You are welcome. Come by again someday."

As Joseph is leaving the boarding house, Case moves out of the alley where he has been listening. Having learned what he wanted; he returns to the camp.

"I'm sorry to say my young cousin is defying the boundaries you set. He is currently in the saloon at the poker table. I saw him with a drink and heard him place bets. Joseph had a meal at the town boarding house and then went to the general store. I last saw him enter the store. Rob, Timothy is not used to following rules. He only has his Ma now as his Papa fell ill five years ago and died. My Pa moved his sister and her children to live on our ranch. He's been helping her with money but has not done much with raising the three boys. Timothy is a great actor and has Pa convinced he's a reliable cowhand. He gets by with not working because the other men don't want to speak ill of the Boss's relation."

"Well, I don't have the same qualms about speaking my piece. Your cousin has already heard my speech about pulling his weight. Timothy has been having Joseph do all the tasks. I spoke to him about that. Now he has once again chosen to ignore me and break the conditions of this job. I'm not having that behavior."

"What do you have in mind? You can't physically punish him although that's what he has needed for some time." Case replies.

"I will decide after I speak with the boy and the townspeople as well. It might be some extra work on the drive plus a cut of his pay."

After the two younger boys return from town, Rob takes his turn for a quick trip to town leaving the rest to handle the herd.

Stopping first at the saloon, he greets the man behind the bar.

"Hi there, Rob. Good to see you again. How's that cattle drive going now? Care for some sarsaparilla again?"

"Hello Mack, I'll take that drink. The cattle drive is fine, but the cowhands aren't. Did you happen to have a young man here today named Timothy? He is blonde haired and about sixteen."

"Hmm, well I didn't catch his first name but he said his name was Cord. He told me his Pa was a sheriff and gunslinger so if I didn't give him whiskey I would have trouble."

"He threatened you? What did this boy look like? Eye color, hair color, clothes?"

"The kid did threaten, in that offhand way. I believed the former gunslinger mention was to make me uneasy. He was blonde, had green eyes and was wearing clean dungarees and shirt. He looked very well kept as if he doesn't do much outside. The boy gambled away all his cash and angrily toppled the table before bolting out of the door. The other gamblers didn't seem to care that he upended that table, luckily. He could've started a melee. I suppose it was a good thing the game was over as it wouldn't have been good if he'd pulled that stunt in the middle of a game with all the cards being played on the table."

"Yes, I can understand how men would be quite upset if the table was flipped during a game. Cards, money, poker chips flying, and no one knew whose cards, winnings, were whose. Were there any damages? I'll cover them if there were."

"No damages except to the boy's pride. He took himself to be a mighty gambler. Not to be the case though." The bartender answers chuckling.

"Is there anything else you can tell me about this boy?" Rob asks.

"The marshal was in here right before you and was asking about a blonde young man. He heard of the trouble and wanted to see if the youth was here. He mentioned some trouble at the Smith Trading Post with a boy as well."

"Thank you for the honesty. I apologize for my cowhand. It won't happen again." Rob assures him before paying for the drink and leaving. Deciding to go to the marshal's office next, he heads in that direction. Thirty minutes later having heard the report, he goes to the boarding house.

"'Hello? Are you Mrs. Schnieder of the sign out front?" Rob greets the woman answering his ring at the front desk.

"Yes, I am Mrs. Schneider. Would you like a room and a meal?"

"No, thank you, just a few answers, please. My name is Rob Cord and I believe one of my cowhands came to visit tonight. Did a young boy come by?"

"Oh my, yes. What a delight that visit was. Oh, you aren't angry about the beer are you? Your cowhand is such a kind boy, really a young man, not a boy. He had some schusterjunge bread with his meal and it is made with beer. He was very upset at learning I had served him beer. I was told his brother would be displeased. Are you his brother and are you displeased?"

"I may be his brother but do not fret. I'm not displeased, ma'am, you can relax. What did the boy, young man, look like? Was he light or dark haired? Was he wearing clean clothes?"

"His shirt was fresh and clean but his trousers were muddy on the hems. I noticed his hair was brown and thick, nice curls in back. I didn't let him know about his curls. My husband Michel despised curls in his hair. I could talk all night about our visit, such a pleasant boy. He spoke of his mother being Irish, liking stew and took my stew recipe for her. He put it in his front pants pocket, so I noticed he wore brown tweed not dungarees as most wear here."

"Thank you. Now I'd like some of the stew he had and the bread as well if you have any. I can't resist the delicious aroma I've been smelling while we spoke." Rob tells her as he gives her a dollar coin.

"You owe me only twenty five cents, sir. I'll get the change."

"No, ma'am. I'm paying for a bucket to take with me as well. Do you have a lunch pail I could use? I'd like to purchase three more helpings of your stew."

"No, I don't have anything such as that. I have several jars I could use; would that be suitable?"

"Yes, very suitable. I want to share this stew with my two other cowhands. After a few days, beans, salted pork, potatoes and sourdough biscuits get tiresome. One of my cowhands is a cook so he has been able to provide us with a few meals other than that but not often. We lack the ability to keep meat fresh so dried beef and salted pork are needed on the cattle drive."

"Let me just go fix those jars and I'll put in some fresh bread and cake as well. One dollar is a bit much for stew and nothing else. I know how men need to eat." Mrs. Schnieder tells him.

That evening, having fed the boys and men with the delicious meal he brought back to camp, Rob confronts Timothy with his knowledge.

"Timothy, when you were in town, what were you doing at the Trading Post?"

"Is there a rule against visiting a shop? I went to look, Joseph went as well."

Glancing over at Joseph, Rob sees a startled look cross his brother's face before he says "I never went to any Trading Post!"

Ignoring Joseph for the moment, Rob questions "When you were in the Trading Post, did you buy something?"

"No, just looked around at the items. Why?"

"Did you enjoy your time in the saloon today? The poker game didn't succeed as you hoped now did it?"

"What are you saying? I never went in any saloon. You told us no drinking allowed. I was eating at the boarding house. You can ask the barkeep at the saloon. Joseph went in there not me."

Jumping to his feet, Joseph balls his hands into fists before stating "YOU are lying! Why, I don't know but you are not truthful! I am the one who ate at the boarding house, you are the one who called me a little boy for not going to the saloon with you! I'm not going to, but I'd like to punch you in the mouth for slandering me!"

"Simmer down, Joseph. I know you are telling the truth. I spoke to Mrs. Schnieder, the bartender, the proprietors of the general store and the Trading Post so I know everything. Timothy, where is the pocket watch you stole from Smith Trading Post? We will be returning it."

"I saw Joseph with a pocket watch, he would be the one who took it. I don't steal, sir." Timothy replies.

"Evidence says otherwise. I know all about what went on today and your attempt to frame my brother by lying is not going to be tolerated. I told you earlier, you had one chance to follow the commitments and agreement you made when you began this journey. I reminded you of the rules of conduct for my cowhands before you went to town. You have broken all of those commitments, and the rules as well as broken the law. Case saw you in the saloon, drinking and gambling. The missing pocketwatch was found in your belongings plus the proprietors gave me a description of who caused trouble. It wasn't Joseph. Joseph has a pocketwatch much nicer than this one." Rob exclaims as he pulls the silver coated watch from his pocket.

"If you went to town, perhaps you stole the watch since you have it." The boy replies.

"Case, Alex, Joseph, tomorrow morning, we're going to be moving on from here. Before we do, we're going to take a side trip to town to say goodbye to Timothy here. He's going to catch the train to Cheyenne as he's expected there tomorrow afternoon. I sent Mr. Campbell a telegram tonight letting him know his nephew was fired and on the way home. I explained in detail of his lack of work, blaming others, lying, putting himself and others in danger, the saloon incident, and the stealing. I'm quite sure he will be there to meet the train."

"I'm being sent home? That's not going to be acceptable to Uncle Luke. He won't want to do business with you anymore!" Timothy says angrily to Rob.

"Your uncle and I have an agreement. He will keep his part of it. You are going to learn; you can't manipulate people to do as you please. Be prepared to leave in the morning." Rob answers calmly as the rest of the group listens. Joseph doing his best not to smile at this news. His brother believing in him and supporting him over the other boy has him feeling pretty happy.

A/ N :-) Hello all, I didn't intend to have such a long break between chapters. Life got busy and time went by quickly. I'll do my best to keep a two month schedule so look for a new installment in late January/early February. I wish you all a safe and joyful holiday season.