Author's Note: Apologies that this chapter took so long to get posted up, but returning to full time hours after my long time off sick took a lot out of me and so it was pretty much work, sleep, work and repeat, leaving little time to write anything! Anyway a few days off to rest and recuperate has given me time to catch up a little. Merry Christmas, Seasons Greetings, Happy Holidays to all readers for whatever you all celebrate at this time of year. I hope that this chapter closes off the story OK for you all.

Whilst Hoss and Adam Cartwright were still on their way to town, the other boys fathers started to arrive at the jail house to collect their sons.

"Thomas Edward Sanderson jnr! You had better have yourself a good explanation for me getting dragged down to this jail house yet again!" Bellowed the boy's father when he entered the front office.

Thomas jnr. currently residing in the cells in the back off the jail house, groaned and raised his head up at hearing his father's angry voice. "Oh no, I'm dead!" he whispered to his friends

"Evening, Clem." said Mr. Sanderson gruffly.

Clem stood up and rounded his desk to shake hands with the other man. "Evening, Tom. Sorry to have to get you to come down here again. I know it's the last place you'd rather be after a long hard day in the fields, but I can't just let this go."

"It ain't your fault, Sheriff." he held up the folded note, "this didn't say all that much, what's he being charged with this time?"

"Well for starters trespassing, then there's the damage of property and seeing as it's not the first time I've had your boy here lately, I reckon I should also charge him with wasting my valuable time," Clem looked at the door to the back room were sounds of sobbing were still evident and he softened, " but I reckon I can let that go," he pointed a firm finger at the man, " but this had better be the last time I see him here until he is grown!"

"Oh don't you fret, Sheriff, it will be. By the time I'm done with him, the next time you'll see him in town without me will be when he is ready to leave school!" promised the boy's father.

"Ok then." Clem picked up a piece of paper from his desk, "that'll be 2 dollars fine for trespassing, plus 4 dollars for the rule breaking. And then there's the share of the damages that I don't have to hand right now."

Mr. Sanderson pulled out his wallet and he extracted the money for the current fines and handed it over along with 5 extra dollars, "if that ain't enough, you get word to me what the difference is and I'll make it right. He'll have a big pile of extra chores to keep him busy and to pay me back."

Clem took the money from Mr. Sanderson and made a note on the note to act as a receipt and also in his office ledger that recorded all fines issued.

"Can I go get my boy now, Sheriff?"

"Yes of course, in fact it's not locked back there today due to their ages. Thomas Sanderson!" Clem yelled into the back. "You get your behind out here, your Pa's come for ya!"

"Man, your Pa sounds pretty pissed, Tom," whispered Paul as the older boy started to shuffle off the cot and made to stand up.

"You ain't heard nothing yet. Darn gone it, why don't I think of the worst that can happen before I do something?" Tom grumbled under his breath.

"THOMAS! you were just called! Now get out here before I come and haul you out and embarrass ya by tanning ya hide in front of those so called friends of yours!" yelled his father.

Gulping and worried suddenly that his father might just follow through with the threat, the bravado he had shown from earlier disappeared completely and Thomas rushed to do as he was told. As soon as he was through the door to the main office, his upper arm was grabbed and he was marched smartly over to stand in front of the Sheriff's desk.

"Apologise for all the trouble you've caused!" his father ordered.

Head down and eyes on the edge of the large solid wood desk, the boy complied with the order. "I'm sorry for all the trouble I've been, Sheriff."

"Eyes up, boy!" was the barked command and Thomas complied immediately standing ramrod straight.

Clem rested his hands on his desk and he lent forwards to address the chastened boy. "I'm warning you, young man, any further appearances in my jail house before you are grown and you can consider yourself staying for more than an overnight stay. Then on top of that I will tan your hide good before handing you over to your Pa. Do you understand what I'm saying, son? I wasn't put in this job just to run around town dealing with the high jinks of youngsters!" Clem scolded firmly.

Thomas swallowed and nodded. A firm squeeze of his bicep and a low growl from his father made him speak up. "Yes Sir, Sheriff. I understand and I won't be back."

"You had better make sure you ain't." Clem stood to his full height, "Alright, Tom, you can take him away. I trust you will see to it that he keeps that promise?"

"Oh I reckon you can be sure of that, Sheriff. Boy, when you and I get home, we are gonna have us a long, long discussion in our barn!" he marched Thomas by the arm out of the door, almost colliding with another clearly angry father.

Clem had barely gotten himself a cup of coffee poured from the pot on the back stove, when he was called from behind.

"Sheriff Foster?"

"Yep, that me," Clem turned around to see a tall thin man standing in the doorway.

The man was dressed in a red and black checked shirt and black pants that were dusty and the cowboy boots he wore were spur less and worn soled.

"Sheriff, my name is Fowler. I received this note," the man pulled the envelope from his shirt pocket and walked forwards with it.

"Ah yes, Paul's father, I presume?" asked Clem and he wordlessly offered the man a cup of coffee by lifting the coffee pot.

"No, thank you."

Clem walked back to his desk carrying his own cup of the thick black liquid and he gestured for the other man to sit down on the other side which he did. "I know the note was but a short one, Sir, but I had quite a few, 10 actually to write send out. So I had time to only write some brief details."

"It's okay I understand, Sheriff. So what happens now? Is Paul gonna have to see the judge?"

"Oh, no not this time, Mr. Fowler. You will need to pay some fines, and of course make good on Paul's share of the damages to Mr. Jenkins' property. But, if you do that, Paul is yours to discipline as you see fit this time," explained Clem.

Mr. Fowler sighed, "I'll pay what I can now, Sheriff but I haven't got money to spare right about now. Will you allow me to pay the rest off over the next couple of months? I'll be good for it, Sheriff. You see since my wife's been ill I've had to cut down my hours out on the farm and money's real tight. It takes all we have to pay the doctors' fees and feed the children. There ain't much left over."

"Oh I'm sure we can come to some arrangement, Mr. Fowler. Provided of course you can assure me that Paul will not come across my path again anytime soon?"

Mr. Fowler nodded, "Yes Sir, of that you can be certain. My Paul knows that money is tight and he'll not have any time for tom foolery with his friends for the next few months. He can work off the money that I'm going to have to find to pay you. In fact he won't be seeing them friends of his or this town outside of school, for the foreseeable future!" the man promised.

Clem and Mr. Fowler exchanged a knowing look and Clem read out the charges and the fines. Mr. Fowler winced but he drew out 6 dollars. "When you find out Paul's share of the damages to the property, I'd be obliged if you let me know and I will find a way to pay you every week what I can until it's cleared."

Clem took the money offered and filled in his ledger and crossed off the amount from the list in front of him as well as making a notation on the man's note as a receipt of what had been paid.

"Thank you, Mr. Fowler." he stood up. "I'll bring the boy out for you." Clem went to the door to the back room. "Paul! Out you come!" he called crooking a finger at the sullen looking boy who had of course heard the entire conversation between the two men and he was embarrassed at how disappointed his father sounded.

He had been kind of expecting it, but he hadn't known how much his share of the fines and damages money would cause his family such extra hardship.

Paul slowly made his way to the door, tearing up as he walked. Clem put a reassuring hand on the upset lad's shoulder and he led him to his father.

Mr. Fowler stood up and opened his arms when he saw the sobbing youth and Paul ran to him. He wrapped his arms around his father's waist and buried his face in his shirt.

"I'm sorry, Pa. So sorry. It was just supposed"...sniff. "To..." sniff." Be ...a...dare... Just some...fun...you know...we..." sniff..."didn't...mean .to...I...mean. We...d...didn't... Go ...to...cc... Cause ...any...damage... Not.." sniff..."really."

Mr. Parker hugged his son and rubbed his back gently up and down. "Sssh, shh... It's alright, son. It's gonna be alright. Your Pa was a young'un once too and he got into some trouble all of his own." He dropped a light kiss on the top on the small head and rubbed his son's back until the sound of tears eased a little.

When he was sure that Paul was ready to hear him, he leaned back and looked down at his boy.

"You know you're getting a spanking for this when we get home don't you? And I'm gonna need you to work off this debt I've got to pay off for the damages you boys caused?"

Paul nodded and sniffed, "Yes, Sir. I understand." he wiped the tears away from his face with a swipe of his right arm sleeve and turned his head to face Clem. "I'm real sorry, for what I done, Sheriff..." Sniff... "I'll never cause trouble that will get me put in jail ever again. I promise."

Clem graced the boy with a small smile, "I believe you, son." He nodded towards the door, "Alright, you can go home with your Pa now, go on."

"Yes Sir." Paul looked up at his father and receiving a ruffle to his head the man and boy switched to a position where the father's arms was around the boy's shoulders and they walked out of the jail together.

Father after father turned up to get their son, each as angry as the one before at being put in the position to have to come and get their son from jail and pay out for a fine they could well do without having to find money for.

Jamie and Jeffery's father was the second last to arrive and he was not long after Adam and Hoss had taken Abraham off home.

"I'm sorry I've taken a while to get here, Sheriff. I've not long arrived back in town with a delivery for the mercantile and it was only when I got home that my wife gave me this here note." he waved the piece of paper in the air as he walked further into the office.

Clem stood to shake hands with the man. "Its fine, Mr. Barton. The boys are safe here and maybe the time in my cell has scared the bejesus outta the pair of them, so that they won't be keen on returning. I gotta say that the youngest has been real upset, but I've checked on him regularly and his brother's been keeping a good eye on him."

"Yeah he's good like that, Jeffery, but he doesn't seem to get his brain to kick into gear before he gets them both involved in some mischief or another." Mr. Barton sighed and he took his hat off and carded his hand through his hair. "How much is the fines gonna cost me, Sheriff?"

"Well it's would have been 2 dollars fine each for trespassing, plus 4 dollars for the rule breaking. And then there would have been the share of the damages that I was waiting for the owner of the orchard to cost up. However, Mr. Adam Cartwright has just taken care of everything to do with the fines, so those that have paid already will get their money back."

Mr Barton gave out a sigh of relief at not having to find money he needed for other things. "Well that's mighty good of Mr. Cartwright. I'll be sure to thank him on Sunday at church. Do you think the owner of the orchard would be willing to have my boys work off their share of the damages in lieu of payment?"

Clem nodded, "I reckon that would be acceptable. He's a might mad though, he's gonna expect the boys to have been punished. He wanted me to let him give them a switching."

"Well you and he won't have to worry about that. I'll see that both those boys will be getting a licking that they won't forget in a hurry and they will be getting themselves restricted to school, home and working to repay their part in the damages they caused." he shook his head, "You know Sheriff, I got up to a fair bit a mischief when I was a boy with my friends, but my eldest seems to find it much easier than I did and I don't like it that he drags his younger brother into it, because Jamie looks up to him."

"Yep, well you ain't the first or last father to complain to me about that, Mr. Barton. Seems these young'un's think that everything is a game. They forget that schooling is a privilege that many never got the chance to get and that their parents have to pay for that privilege for them in their towns taxes." Clem replied. "I'll go and get your boys for ya." he walked to the door separating the cells from his office. "Jeffery, Jamie, come on, your Pa's come to take you home."

Both boys rose from the cot and walked out with the older one's arm around the younger brother's shoulders. The younger boy was weeping hard.

"Jamie, come here, son," Mr. Barton opened his arms and the younger boy ran to his father. He put his arms around his father's legs and buried his face against his father's belly.

Mr. Barton hugged the boy hard, "It's alright, son." he looked up at the older one, "come here, you," he called and when the other boy neared he pulled him into a hug too. "You boys have gotten yourself into a right situation this time, haven't ya?"

Jeffery nodded against his father's side. "It was just a bit of fun, Pa. We never hurt anyone."

"I'm..." sob,"s...sorry, Pa...papa." sobbed a small voice muffled a bit by the man's shirt.

Mr Barton gently lifted the younger boy's head back and he looked down at him. "I'm sure you both are sorry, but a bit of fun that causes damage to a man's crop isn't funny to him. You both know that times are hard and not just for us. Why'd you think I have to drive the team clear across state to get some extra money, huh? You think I want to be away from you boys and your Ma so much?"

"No, Pa." said Jeffery.

Sniff..."No, s...Sir," added Jamie.

"No I don't, but its seems that when I am, that you boys always make me have to come back to punish you for something or other. Well I'm tired of doing that, so you had better quit it, ya hear me? Or maybe I'll teach your Ma how to use that big old wooden hairbrush of hers to get you to behave!"

"No, Papa, No don't." sniff, "I'll be good, I'll be good!" pleaded the younger boy whilst the older one went white at the thought of his normally gentle mother wielding her heavy wooden hairbrush on his behind. It had a slightly longer handle than the boy's one they shared and it looked like it would have a wicked sting, whoever wielded it.

Mr. Barton nodded, "I hope you are, meanwhile I'd better get you both home, before your mother thinks I've told the Sheriff to keep you here all night." He put a hand on each boy's shoulder and turned them to face Clem, "Apologise to the Sheriff for causing him a load of trouble," he ordered.

"Sorry for all the trouble, Sheriff," said Jamie softly.

"Sorry for all the trouble we've been, Sheriff," added Jeffery whilst staring at the man's shoes.

"Eyes, up!" his father prompted and he gave the shoulder a little shake. "When you talk to someone your elder or better, you look at them when you are talking."

"Yes, Sir. Sorry for everything, Sheriff."

Clem stifled the smile he was trying so hard to control. "Apologies accepted. You're free to go, boys, but don't let me see you in my jail again, you hear?"

"Yes Sir," replied Jeffery quickly.

"Yes, Sir, Sheriff," added Jaime softly.

"Well Sheriff, I'd best be getting these on home for their supper and our little talks. Sorry for all the trouble my boys put you to."

"Ah that's alright, Mr Barton, its all part of the job. Goodnight, boys, I sure am glad I'm not in your shoes, right now."

Boy boys gulped at that and a firm squeeze of the hand on their shoulders reminded them of just how strong their father's arm was. Mr. Barton nodded to Clem, "Goodnight, Sheriff, come boys, time to get you on home." and with that he led them outside.

Clem watched the wagon pull away through the window and knowing there was only one boy left, who was most likely scared to death now he was on his own, he went to the door between the cells and the office.

"William, come sit out here with me, no need to be in there all alone."

The young boy stood up and slowly he walked to the door. Clem put a hand on his shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze, "Something must be keeping your Pa, eh? You want a drink? I can get ya some water?"

"Well I am a little thirsty; May I have some water, please?"

"Of course, go on and sit down other side of my desk and I'll get it for ya." Willy went to do as he had been told. Clem poured himself another cup of coffee and a glass of water for the boy. He carried both back to the desk.

"There you go, son. There's more if you need it. No need to go thirsty."

"Thank you." whispered Willy shyly and he drank some water down.

Clem sat down and he took out a pack of cards from his desk drawer. "You know to play 21, William?"

"Uh, yes Sir."

"Good." Clem dealt the cards out and slapped the pack on the desk. "I like to have someone to play cards against. Your turn, son. Stick or twist?" he asked picking up his cards.

Willy looked nervously at the Sheriff opposite.

"Well come on, son, pick up your cards. I can't very well play on my own, can I?" prompted Clem lightly.

Willy bent forwards and picked up his cards. He held the jack of diamonds and a 2 of spades. "Uhm, twist please, Sir."

Clem picked up a card from the top of the pack and tossed it face down to him with a grin.

Willy picked up the card, a 9 of hearts and he mentally tallied the numbers up. "Uhm, I think I'll stick now, thank you."

"Alrighty," Clem said. "And I'll twist." he held a 7 of hearts and 5 of clubs in his hand. The card he picked up was an Ace of spades. "And I think I'll twist again." he picked up another card, a two of hearts. "Hmm, stick or twist one last time..." he mused aloud and he stared at Willy as if he was trying to see through the cards what he was holding. After almost a minute he announced. "Hmm, I think I'll twist again." and he prayed for a 6 or lower.

Clem drew a 5 of diamonds and he mentally sighed, at least he hadn't bust. He put the cards down, "20, beat that, son!"

Willy put down his own cards, "Uhm, I have 21, Sir."

Clem stared. "Well you win, then. Well done, William." He gathered up the cards to shuffle them and Willy relaxed a little.

They played several more games and Willy won more than his fair share of times and he was laughing and talking with Clem over the games when his father finally arrived.

"Well that's the last thing I thought you would be doing in here, William Michael Hughes!"

Willy jumped up and covered his behind with his hands. "Uh h...hi, Pa. Th...the s...Sheriff asked me to play honest."

Clem stood up from his desk. "Hello Mr. Hughes. It's okay, I asked William to sit out here and play cards with me. I don't like having minors in my jail much and certainly not alone, so it's easier to have him out here where I can see him."

"I see. Well I must apologise for the delay in getting to town. My horse got lame with a stone in the hoof, so I've had to walk most of the way and take him to the livery. He's got a badly bruised hoof now, so I've gotta leave him here a few days as he shouldn't be walking on it. Anyway back to the reason I'm here." Mr Hughes withdrew the note from his shirt pocket. "It says here that William was involved in damaging trees and apples in Jenkins Orchard with 9 others."

"That's correct, Mr. Hughes. There was a 2 dollar fine for trespassing, plus 4 dollars for the rule breaking. And then there would have been the share of the damages that I was waiting for the owner of the orchard to cost up. However, Mr. Adam Cartwright has just taken care of everything to do with the fines, so those that have paid already will get their money back and you don't have to pay anything right now."

"Well that's right nice of Mr. Cartwright, but we can pay our own way in this town."

"Then you take that up with, Mr. Cartwright, Mr. Hughes because my fines have all been paid." replied Clem.

"I will do that thank you. May I take William home now? We have a long walk ahead of us."

"Yes of course, you may, Mr. Hughes, but seeing as you're taking my last prisoner, why don't I go and borrow my deputy's horse and ride back with you? It's no trouble and I'd like to do that. William has been a model 'prisoner' if you will. And I can see already how tired he is. It doesn't seem right to punish the boy by making him walk home all that way, on top of whatever punishment you have in mind."

"Oh I think we all know he's getting a tanning for this, he knows better than to damage someone's property, don't you, son?"

Willy bit his lip but replied softly. "Yes, Papa."

"Well, Mr. Hughes am I going to get my deputies horse?" prompted Clem.

Mr. Hughes nodded, "Yes Sheriff, thank you, I reckon we'll take you up on your kind offer."

"Fine. Help yourself to a cup of coffee from the stove. I'll be right back." Clem left the jail, leaving father and son alone.

Mr. Hughes went to get himself a cup of coffee and he sipped the hot thick black liquid, grateful to parch his thirst.

"Why, Willy? Why'd you do such a thing? Didn't I only tan you over breaking a window a while ago because you were doing something stupid?"

"Yes, Sir. But we were just having some fun, Papa. It was a competition and we didn't think we were doing any harm really."

"Let me, guess it that Thomas Sanderson's idea again wasn't it?"

Willy nodded silently.

"Answer me with words, boy, I can't hear nod ya head."

"Err, yes Sir, it was Thomas' idea."

"How long's this competition been going on for, just today?"

Knowing that with his father any omission of the facts meant that his pants and underwear would be removed and he was most likely already facing the belt, Willy decided to be upfront with his father. "Err yes Sir, but we have been going out there days before."

"Where's ya catapult?"

"The Sheriff confo...conrfo...uh the Sheriff took them away and he says we can't have them back... uhm, but our parents can ask for them, I think. The other boy's Pa's haven't asked for theirs back."

"Well you need yours for hunting and such, so I'll get yours back, but don't think you'll be seeing it for a month."

"Yes, Papa." Willy said resignedly.

A few minutes passed and Clem returned to the office. "Mr. Hughes, are you ready to go?"

"Yes, but Sheriff, may I ask for the boy's catapult back?"

"Oh, yes of course," Clem went to the safe and he removed the box of confiscated catapults. "William come and get yours please."

Willy walked forwards and he picked out his own catapult recognising from the scratches on the handle and took it back to his father who promptly pocketed it.

"Don't worry, Sheriff he's not getting it back for a month and he'll only be using it to help out at home after that or to stun things when we go hunting."

"That's fine," replied Clem making the notation that he had returned the catapult and then he locked the rest back in the safe. "Ready to go now?"

"Yes we're ready."

"OK, well I have your horse outside." They walked out together and Deputy Jacob handed over his reigns to Mr. Hughes.

"He's a gentle giant, should give you and the boy a safe ride."

"Appreciate the loan, Deputy. Mighty fine of you," said Mr. Hughes and he lifted Willy up onto the saddle before shaking Jacob's hand.

"Not at all, I agree with the Sheriff, that we can't expect you and the boy to walk all that way back and at night too. I understand that your horse is lame and in the livery for a few days, so why don't you keep Blackie for a few days? I can borrow a horse from the livery anytime Stan says and Blackie will be good to you if you take care of him."

"No, I couldn't do that; a man's horse is..."

Jacob held up a hand to interrupt. "It's no trouble, Mr. Hughes, believe me. Mr. Carter always says how reliable you are with helping him out with supplies for the mercantile, so I don't see why a good man like yourself should have to suffer when the horse mighten not have gotten lame if you hadn't had to come back to town." Jacob looked at Willy who sat in the saddle looking ashamed.

"If you are sure, Deputy? Then thank you. I'll take good care of Blackie here I promise, and when I bring him back, you must let me buy you a drink in the saloon?"

Jacob patted Blackie's neck affectionately. "I'll look forwards to it, Mr. Hughes." He rubbed the horse's nose. "Well old boy, I'll see you in a few days." Blackie snorted and raised his head. And Jacob stood back to allow Mr. Hughes to climb up behind his son. He wrapped his arms around Willy holding onto the reigns in front.

"Ready to go, Sheriff but if I'm keeping your deputy's horse there's actually no need for you to come back home with us."

"Yes,I agree. Well, Mr. Hughes, I'm going to get me some rest, its Jacob's watch now anyway. You and the boy have a safe ride back, and Willy? Thanks for the games of cards, you're a good lad at heart, make sure you put that brain to better use in the future."

"Yes Sir, Sheriff. I will."

Clem waved the Hughes' off then he turned to speak to his deputy. "You're a good man, Jacob. You know, I sure wouldn't want to be in any of those boys shoes, we brought in today. I bet every one of them is gonna have trouble sitting down on those hard wooden school benches tomorrow."

"Yep I reckon you're right, Clem. I wouldn't want to be one of them either."

"Well, I'll be back at 10 to take the night shift. Should hopefully be a quiet shift for you, there's no miners in town yet."

"Alright, Clem. I'll see you at 10. I hope you get a good few hours rest." The two men parted to go their separate ways. Clem to go home for a few hours' sleep and Jacob into the jail house to pick up where he left off in his latest dime novel.

All reviews gratefully received