Chapter Seventy-Six. ONE MONTH later

JT and Chip lounged around James David's dormitory room.

"Are you really not going home for your sixteenth birthday?" JT asked.

"Nope. I told them I wasn't and I am not." James David petulantly said. He munched on an apple, cleaning it to the core.

Chip added, "Don't blame you one bit. My Pa, all high and mighty. Lecturing us. And then he and your Ma was—"

"Shut up," James David jumped up and towered over Chip.

Chip didn't back down and JT moved between them.

"Stop it both of you. Ever since we found out, we have been tearing each other's heads off. Remember, we are the only ones we can trust. No sense killing each other."

"We left that house and we ain't been back one time. Liars and hypocrites."

"Sorry Chip."

"Sorry James David. You are right."

"Did you finish that research paper?"

"Nope. Didn't have the time"

"Time?"

"Nope. I need my rest for the Underground."

They all laughed. They had been spending every night and weekend there and in San Francisco.

JT said, "Yeah, I got a disciplinary report for tardies."

Chip grumbled, "I got two on ya,"

James David smarted off, "Raise ya an unexcused absence violation. Five of them!"

"Dog you got us beat."

JT asked another question, "What about when the babies are born? I got a new sister or brother in a month or so. You two got one in two months. It ain't the baby's fault. I was there when Benjamin was born. He held onto my finger not being four hours old."

James David and Chip mellowed a bit. They pulled a flask from the floorboard and took a swig. JT joined them.

"Not me. Once they get their own kid, us boys are out of luck." Chip said childishly.

" I know guys. My Pappy lied to our faces too. But Elisabeth has been real good to me. And Maris. They don't deserve to be punished like our fathers."

The boys looked like they were considering it for a few minutes. James David looked over at the broken frame with the fish picture.

"Nope," he whispered, "Anyway, I thought all three of us were headed to Sonora when term ends. I have been squirreling away money from old Timothy. My father will take care of us when we get there. Hell, we may never come back."

Chip took another swig, "Sounds good brother."

JT added his mouth to the bottle, "Sounds good"

"Let's go back to the bar from the other day. They didn't care a lick that we was fifteen."

"Heck yes. Let's go."

—&—

Jarrod opened a letter from PineCrest Academy in his study. A hand had brought the mail. He sighed and opened the envelope.

Inside was a personal note from the new Headmaster along with carbon copies of JT's tardies and midterm grades. Several room check violations of missing curfew and slovenly rooms along with dress code infractions.

Jarrod, I know we have talked twice but it seems to be getting worse. JT's behavior is worse and so is his cousin and his stepbrother. The school owes you a debt of gratitude for not allowing our Headmaster's crimes to see a court or heaven forbid a newspaper. I have corresponded with your brother and he has said to wait it out. But I am just not sure….

He put the letter down on his desk. He heard Elisabeth calling for Amelia and William to help Frances who was watching Benjamin.

"Where is that boy?" he grumbled to himself, "I won't indulge him the way I did, JT. He needs a firm hand."

And he stormed out of the study.

Benjamin ran smack into him being chased by Frances in frustration.

He grabbed his son and pulled him tight, "Do not run from your sister. Do you hear me?" he bellowed at the three-year-old.

All four of the older children stopped in their tracks. Benjamin began to cry. No one had ever heard Pappy yell so loudly in the house.

He took a deep breath and calmed himself. He swatted Benjamin on the bottom and told him in a soft voice, "Do not run from Frances. Or your mother."

"Yes sir," he said with a childish voice.

Frances picked him up on her hip, "I have him Pappy. We will be in the nursery."

She bit her lip not to cry at Pappy's tone with her simpering brother on her hip.

Elisabeth waited until all the five children were upstairs.

"We need to talk."

He sighed in resignation, "I know this is all my fault."

"No, it isn't all your fault. But go get JT and drag the boys home by the hair of their heads to make this right. Maris is grieving, Nick is foaming at the mouth and your Mother is broken-hearted."

"You were right, Elisabeth. I just never saw this as an affront to the boys. It was between adults."

She took a deep breath and remembered her promise to herself not to say "I told you so."

"Jarrod? How did you and Nick feel when Heath came to the ranch? It is not the same thing at all except in one common way, dishonoring a lady. Your Father taught you to protect ladies and your brothers have all done that. You can't tell me that you didn't see him as a hypocrite."

"I see that—-now."

"Go get our son."

"Thank you Elisabeth. I love you."

"And I love you, Jarrod. And get home soon, your next child isn't going to wait much longer."

—-&—-

Jarrod and Nick were on the midnight train to San Francisco. Nick had come to the same conclusion when he opened the letter about Chip and James David.

The brothers were very quiet on the train.

They washed up in the lavatory of the private car and put on their jackets. Their shirts were rumpled from the ride and quick decision to travel.

Heath had asked to come with them, "Heath, need you here. With both ladies just a couple of months away from childbed and the brood of mine, I need your firm hand. Please feel free to put a rod on Benjamin. I have made some mistakes that I need to correct."

"I will take care of them big brother, and without a rod fer sure. I am just as guilty as you with that mite."

—&—

Maris lumbered down the stairs on Rosita's arm. She was swollen and felt like she had gained double the weight she had with James David. Nick told her daily how beautiful she was but the strain of the situation with the boys was weighing her heart down as well.

Nick had told her he was going to bring all three boys home with Jarrod. It was a relief to her heart but she knew she wouldn't rest well until they all returned.

"Mother Victoria?" She tapped on the door.

"Come in my dearest. Is something wrong?"

She looked down for a moment and asked with a sharp intake of air, "May I sleep on the trundle? I don't want to be alone."

"I would be honored but there is plenty of room in this big old bed."

Rosita took off Maris's slippers and hung up the robe. She helped her settle.

"I will be right down the hall."

"Thank you, Rosita."

Victoria fluffed Maris's pillow and trimmed the light. She pulled the blanket over them.

"My mother made this quilt for me and my sister Jane. I have repaired it over and over again."

"Thank you for sharing it with me tonight."

"May I?" as she patted Maris's swollen stomach.

"Of course," she smiled.

The baby kicked in response to the touch. The ladies sighed in contentment. Victoria regretfully pulled her hand away as the baby settled.

"Good night Maris."

"Good night Mother."

And Maris laid her head next to Victoria. They said a prayer for safety and reconciliation. Maris drifted off first and Victoria kissed her forehead.

"Good night my Maris"

—-&—-

"Mr Barkleys, I didn't know you were coming. I was just going to telegram you. The boys did not come home last night."