Both children were getting restless. They had just turned fourteen and were starting to strain against their leashes. Ben was well used to it, having gone through it twice before, but the twins were more adventuresome than either of their brothers. Joe grew more combative and Scamp more difficult.
"Little Joe, this has got to stop," Ben said after the third fight in a week. "I will not have my son acting like a ruffian."
Joe was sporting a black eye and a cut lip. "But he was pushing someone about."
"Who?"
"One of the other kids."
"And you stuck up for him?"
"Her."
"This Morgan fella was hurting one of the girls?"
"Yes, sir."
"Well, you were right to defend her. But the other two fights could have been avoided, couldn't they?"
"Yes, sir, I guess so."
"Do you want Miss Jones to expel you?" Joe could think of nothing better but he knew what his father wanted him to say. He saw the baleful look in Ben's eyes. "Well, it wouldn't be Miss Jones, of course, it would be the School Board. But she would have her say and so far this year you've not been giving her much of a reason to keep you on, have you?"
"I guess not."
"And if you think for one moment that you'd not have to go to school any more, you can think again. There are other schools and believe me, we'd have to find one that'd take you. Besides, you owe Miss Jones a bit better than this. She's taught all of you kids and I'll be hanged if I'll let you make her life a misery."
"But, Pa, I keep telling you, I don't even want to be there. You let Hoss leave - "
"Hoss was fifteen. Besides, you're not Hoss. I don't think you're mature enough to work on the ranch yet. You can't follow orders - "
"Yes, I can!"
"This proves you can't. I need to be able to trust you, and to be honest, I don't. You're quite likely to do the exact opposite to what you're told and go off half-cocked whenever you get a bee in your bonnet. I can't have that, Joseph. If you want to be treated like a man you've got to act like one and at the moment you're going on like a little boy."
"So, what, you're keeping me at school because I don't jump at your every command?"
"Don't you dare talk to me like that."
Joe lowered his eyes. "Sorry, Pa."
"No, but you have to earn respect and you still have a lot of earning to do. Besides, you're not stupid, you just don't apply yourself. And if you did have to go further afield to school you might have to live in."
Joe was appalled. "What? Leave the Ponderosa?"
"I'd hate it but what choice do I have?"
"You couldn'tsend me away!"
"No-one's sending you away but you are not leaving school yet, however much you want to, and if you can't go in Virginia City, you will have to go to another. Or have Adam teach you here."
"Adam?! He's not going to be my teacher!"
"Believe me, I don't want that, and he certainly wouldn't. So you'd better make sure you're not expelled, then, hadn't you?" Ben asked imperturbably. "Because if you are, the prospect for you is grim. You'll either go to another school miles from here or Adam'll teach you. I won't punish you for this fight because you were sticking up for someone but I expect you to change your ways, young man." Joe muttered something and turned away. "Joseph?"
"Yes, sir?"
"Any more notes and I'll take the skin off you. That wooden spoon has got more than one use, you know."