ADAY WITH SOPHIA AND VIN – CHAPTER 6

Casey and Sophia went into Casey's room. Sophia stood at the bed. She hadn't brought any night clothes with her. She didn't know what to do, so she just stood there. "What's the matter?" asked Casey.

I didn't bring anything to sleep in," admitted Sophia, twirling her long hair.

Casey opened her dresser and tossed Sophia a night dress, "Here, it might be a little long, but it will do for tonight."

"Thanks," said Sophia gratefully as she started to pull her clothes off. She pulled the night dress over her head and shook out her hair. "Casey, do you mind reading me a story?" asked Sophia hopefully.

Casey looked at Sophia. "Told ya I would," Casey responded.

"Yeah, but you didn't sound like you really wanted to. I don't want to make trouble. I can't sleep at night, but when I get a story I think about the story instead of other stuff." Sophia said sitting on the bed and kicking her foot in the air.

"What other stuff?" asked Casey.

"Um, well I've been having these dreams about my mama dying and the Missus dropping me off at the orphanage. It was scary. I don't know why. I haven't had those dreams in almost a whole year."

Casey suddenly felt sorry for this poor kid. She'd at least had Aunt Nettie when her parents died from the influenza. She was always with someone who cared about her. "Do you want to talk about it?" asked Casey.

"No, Aileen always told me to quit thinking about the past and focus on what's ahead because you can't change what already happened."

"Who's Aileen?"

"Oh, she's my best friend, she's lots older. She's 15 or 16, I don't remember."

Casey had to laugh at that, she was almost 16. "Do you want a story?"

Sophia nodded.

"Have you ever read "Heidi"? Aunt Nettie got it for me for Christmas. I think you will really like it."

"No, I'm not a very good reader yet. Ezra says if I practice, I'll get better. It's probably too hard to read by myself."

"Well, let's read "Heidi", then." Casey said as she took a seat next to Sophia on the bed. Casey only had to read 2 chapters before Sophia fell asleep. Casey tucked her in and blew the lamp out. She got in bed herself and fell asleep pretty quickly. Casey was startled out her sleep by the sounds of Sophia screaming, "Mama, mama, don't go away, pleaeeesssssssseeeeee."

Casey jumped out of bed and ran over to Sophia. She was shaking her. "Sophia, Sophia, wake up. You're dreaming. Come on, wake up."

Sophia finally woke up wide-eyed and terrified. She looked around frantically. "Where am I?"

Casey looked at her strangely, "You're at Aunt Nettie's house. Vin brought you for a visit. Don't you remember?"

Sophia nodded her head, "Oh yeah, I remember. You won't tell on me, will you?" asked Sophia frantically grabbing Casey's hand.

Casey looked at her seriously, "Why would I tell on you for having a bad dream? You didn't do anything bad. Besides you can't help when you have dreams."

Sophia shook her head, "I used to get punished when I had a bad dream."

"You got a spanking for having a bad dream?" Casey asked incredulously.

"Uh uh, I got put in the closet until the next day," Sophia whispered.

Oh my gosh, thought Casey. This poor kid. No wonder everyone wants to baby her a little. Right then and there Casey resolved to be like a big sister to Sophia and protect her the same way the boys protected her. If anyone ever thought of putting Sophia in a closet again, she'd wallop them. Just then, Nettie came in. "Everything ok in here? I thought I heard shouting."

Casey was sitting on the bed with her arms wrapped around Sophia, "Everything's fine Aunt Nettie. Sophia just had a bad dream. But she's ok, now. Right Sophia?"

Sophia nodded, snuggling into Casey a bit more.

"Ok. If you're sure everything's alright. You girls go back to sleep now," Nettie said closing the door.

Casey held Sophia for a few more minutes. "You ok?"

Sophia nodded, "Casey?"

"Yeah?"

"Sometimes Aileen used to let me sleep with her after a dream," Sophia confided.

Casey smiled. "You want to come sleep with me?"

Sophia nodded. "Well come on, you know morning…"

"..comes early around here," Sophia finished for her giggling.

Sophia got in bed with Casey and Casey held her all night chasing away all the bad dreams.

Vin woke up at the crack of dawn. He had slept out in the barn, so he hadn't known about Sophia's bad dreams. He was trying to get the hay stacked before they left. He wanted to leave by 7 am, so he could get Sophia back for her lessons with Ezra at 9. He was not about to get on Chris' bad side for coming back too late.

Casey woke up fairly early and scooted around Sophia to get out of bed. She needed to get the cow milked and collect the eggs. She wasn't sure what time Vin planned on leaving. She caught up with him in the barn, he was stacking the hay.

"Morning," she said cheerfully.

"Morning. How'd last night go?" asked Vin as he moved a bale of hay to the back of the barn.

"Um, not what I expected," admitted Casey.

A puzzled expression crossed Vin's face, "What's that mean?"

"Sophia had a bad dream."

"Oh, she all right?"

"Yeah."

"Kids have bad dreams," Vin observed. He'd sure had his fair share when he was little.

"Yeah, but I think it's more than that."

Vin's eyebrows when up, "What'd ya mean?"

"Vin she had a dream about her mama dying. She was terrified."

"Yeah, I could see how that would be scary for her."

Casey shook her head, "It's more than that. Do you know those people at the orphanage would punish her for having a bad dream?"

"You mean they gave her a whipping for a bad dream? That don't make no sense." Vin said shaking is head angrily.

Casey shook her head again, "No, not a whipping."

Vin looked at Casey questioning.

"What does Buck do when he punishes her? Or any of the others?" Casey asked.

Vin shrugged his shoulders. "Far as I know, the only time she got in trouble was when we were leaving Rock Creek Station and she ran off to see her friend Aileen without telling anyone. Buck swatted her good, but I don't think there's been another time. At least not that I know of. Why?"

Casey took a deep breath, "She told me those people at the orphanage locked her in a closet for the whole day and night."

"What?" Vin bellowed, clenching his fists at his side.

"Yeah, she asked me not to tell on her. I think she thought she was going to get put in a closet again," Casey said shuddering.

"Well that ain't never going to happen again. Leastways not if I have anything to say about it. I'd like to shoot those bastards!" Vin spat angrily.

Casey laughed. "You better not let Aunt Nettie hear you talk like that. She'll come after you with soap and a rag. Trust me, I know."

Vin grinned, "I ain't stupid."

"You ain't stupid about what?" asked Nettie coming in the barn.

"Nothing," said Vin holding his hands up in surrender.

"Um, hmm. When did you plan on leaving?" asked Nettie.

Vin looked up, daylight was coming full on, it must be getting close to 6 am. "I was going to leave by 7, so I can get Sophia back for lessons."

"Ok, let me get Sophia up and rustle up a quick breakfast so you can get going." Nettie said to Vin and then she turned toward Casey, "finish up the milking and the eggs, so Vin can get going."

"Yes ma'am," said Casey grabbing the pail and stool to milk Bertha, their milk cow.

Nettie went back into the house to find Sophia up and dressed. "Well, aren't you the early bird."

"Yes ma'am. Do you have chores for me?" asked Sophia as she finished lacing up her shoes.

"You can help me with breakfast and then you and Vin are headed back."

"Lessons," grumbled Sophia. "It's Thursday, math day. I hate math."

"Well, no sense complaining as you don't have any choice. By the way, here's that dress that you tried on yesterday. I worked on it last night so it will fit."

"Oh, thank you," Sophia breathed taking he dress. "Can I wear it?'

Nettie shook her head, "You're riding back today. I expect that white dress will be covered with dust. You wait until you get back."

"Yes ma'am," Sophia said wistfully.

Before she knew it, breakfast was finished and it was time to head back. Nettie and Casey hugged Sophia and Vin good bye. "You mind Vin, on the way home," Nettie said giving her one last hug.

"Yes ma'am."

"I'll save "Heidi" for when you come back," said Casey giving her a hug.

"Really Casey? You're like a big sister I never had. Thank you."

Vin picked Sophia and put her on Achora. "Let's go," he said.

As they rode off. Casey told Nettie about Sophia's dream and how she used to get punished. "I can't imagine something so awful Aunt Nettie. Some folks are just purely mean."

Nettie nodded, "They surely are."

As Vin and Sophia got closer to town, Sophia got more and more quiet. She was usually quite a chatterbox. Vin couldn't imagine what was on her mind. Vin called to her several times, Sophia didn't respond. He finally slowed down and grabbed Achora's reins. Achora tried to bite him. "You ornery cuss," Vin spit out.

Sophia stopped short. "Achora, that's naughty. Say you're sorry." As if the horse could understand Sophia, she shook her head as if to say "no." "Sorry Vin, but why'd you do that?"

"I was trying to get your attention, but you wasn't paying me no mind."

"Oh, I'm sorry. I was thinking."

"Thinkin' 'bout what?"

"Uncle Chris."

"What about him?" asked Vin bewildered.

"About how angry he's going to be when I tell him about Peso."

Vin's nodded in recognition. He'd almost forgotten about his decree to her that she had to tell Chris that she didn't mind.

"You think he's going to be really mad?" she asked.

"Well, he ain't gonna be happy, that's for sure."

Sophia bit her lip. "Do you think he's going to give me a spanking?"

Vin shrugged his shoulders, "I don't rightly know. It's usually what me, JD or Ezra get if we don't mind."

Sophia started to tear. "I don't want a spanking," she said so quietly that Vin could barely hear her.

"No, I wouldn't think you would. Maybe, it'll make you think twice before you don't mind." Boy he couldn't believe those words actually came out of his mouth. How many times had Chris or Josiah told him the same thing?

By this time, they had arrived at the edge of Four Corners. Sophia felt the nails in her coffin being driven in with every step into town. As soon as they arrived at the livery stable, Vin dismounted and pulled Sophia off her horse. "You stand there until I'm done. I'm going to walk you over to Chris."

"But don't I have lessons? I have to go get my books," Sophia asked anxiously.

Vin snorted, she hated Thursdays. It was another math day. She must be desperate. "It'll keep. Come on." Vin said reaching for her hand.

Sophia reluctantly put her hand in Vin's and followed him over to the jail. Vin opened the door to see Chris sitting in his chair. "Heh Chris," Vin smiled.

"Heh boy, glad you're home. Ya'll have a good time?" Chris said standing up.

"Mostly," said Vin. Chris' eyebrows went up at that.

"Mostly?"

"Yeah. Sophia, you wait in here, I need to talk to Chris for a minute." Vin said jerking his head for Sophia to wait inside.

Puzzled, Chris followed Vin outside. "Something wrong?'

Vin shook his head, "Not exactly. Sophia got in a little trouble, but I told her she had to tell you."

Chris nodded. "And?"

"And before you do anything to punish her, I wanted to tell you how she got punished in the orphanage."

"She did something bad enough warrant punishment?" asked Chris.

Vin ran his hand through his hair, "Well, I told her if she didn't mind about this one thing, I was going to blister her bottom. But Nettie said I cain't cuz Buck didn't give me permission. Only you and Josiah can do it. She said I have to get Buck's permission first."

Chris nodded, "Yep, l agree with that."

"That's why I told her she had to tell you."

"Ok, but you said you wanted to tell me something first?"

"Yeah, seems like she had a bad dream last night and when Casey woke up, Sophia asked her not to tell because she used to get locked in a closet for a whole day for having bad dreams. Casey said she was terrified."

The outrage on Chris' face was unrivaled by anything Vin had seen in Chris. Chris calmed himself enough to ask, "This having anything to do with not minding?"

"No, not really. I just feel like you should know before you decided any kind of punishment."

"Ok, son. Thanks for letting me know. I'll be sure to let Buck and Josiah know," Chris said clapping Vin on the shoulder.

"Ok Chris, I'm gonna go finish cleaning up the horses. See ya later."

"Vin?"

"Yeah?"

"Go on and get a bath yourself."

"Yes sir," Vin said, but muttering 'bossy' under his breath.

Chris chuckled as he turned around to deal with Sophia. He hoped whatever it was, was nothing too serious. Chris walked into the jail and found Sophia twirling around in Chris' chair. Chris put a hand on the chair to stop the twirling. "Vin, said you have something to tell me."

Sophia nodded her head, swinging her legs in the air, while looking down on the floor.

Chris lifted Sophia out of the chair and took a seat. He put Sophia on the desk in front of him and lifted her chin. "Suppose you tell me what happened."

"It's nothing Uncle Chris, Vin's just jealous." Sophia said frustrated swinging her feet back and forth.

"Young lady, I wouldn't be getting sassy right about now. You're going to let me decide if it's nothing." Chris said leaning forward, his hands capturing her legs to keep them from swinging.

"Vin's just being mean," Sophia whined.

"Sophia Claire, you have until the count of three before I spank you, then hear what you have to say and then maybe spank you again. So, if I was you, I'd start talking."

Sophia burst into tears before she could say a word. Chris sighed heavily. This was not the way he wanted this talk to go. He still didn't even know what the problem was. He picked her up and put her in his lap and waited for her to calm down. Finally, the tears started to dry up and her breathing became more even. "You ready to tell me now?" asked Chris gently.

Sophia shook her head, "Promise not to give me a spanking?"

Chris shook his head, "I can't promise that. I don't know what happened. But what I can promise is that I will listen to everything you have to say before I decide. That sound fair to you?"

Sophia nodded, playing with the buttons on his shirt, "I guess so," she said quietly.

"What happened?" prompted Chris.

Sophia took a deep breath, "Before we left for Oma's…."

"Oma?" interrupted Chris.

"Ms. Nettie, Oma is granny in German, she said I could call her that," supplied Sophia.

"Go on," Christ prompted again.

"Before we went to Oma's, I was at the livery. I was feeding Chaucer and Peso carrots. Vin got mad because he said that Peso only likes Vin and Chaucer only likes Ezra."

And?" Chris encouraged her.

"And I told him that wasn't true, that Peso and Chaucer like me because I have a way with horses."

Chris rolled his eyes. Getting a story out of children was nearly impossible. "Sophia finish this story up, I'm losing my patience." Chris growled.

"Anyway, Vin told me not to be with Peso or Chaucer unless he or Ezra was with me. He told me if he caught me with them, he was going to give me a spanking." Sophia said rushing all her words out in a breath.

"And did you?" asked Chris.

Sophia looked supremely confused, "Did I what?"

"Were you with Peso without Vin?" Chris asked pointedly.

"Not exactly," Sophia wheedled.

"Sophia Clair, one…." Chris threatened.

"I was in the barn with Oma and I was looking at Peso trying to decide whether or not to give him a carrot. Oma asked what I was thinking. I told her what Vin said and then told her I could show her that Peso does like me."

"I take it, Vin saw all of this?"

Sophia nodded, "He came in the barn just as I got to Peso's stall."

"So, you disobeyed him?"

Sophia knew she was signing her own death warrant, "Yes, but he's being unfair, Peso does like me." Sophia pouted.

"Pull in your lip before you trip over it. The point is you didn't mind, when your older brother told you what to do."

"But he's not a grown up. I don't have to listen to him," Sophia argued.

Chris shook his head. "You argue with me and you're going to get to two awful quick. I said I'd listen, but you need to not argue."

"Sorry, I'm not trying to argue." Sophia said contritely.

Chris nodded. "The point is that when you're with one of the boys, me, Josiah, or Nathan. You have to mind. We're just trying to keep you safe."

"That's what Vin said," Sophia admitted.

Chris nodded.

"Am I getting a spanking?" Sophia asked fearfully.

"Yep, that's what Vin told you to expect. That's what's going to happen."

Sophia started to tremble, "Please Uncle Chris. I promise to mind. I promise," she wailed.

Chris ignored the wailing. He picked her up and repositioned her over his knee and gave her 5 solid smacks. He turned her over and held her until she quit crying. "I was easy on you because this is your first time getting in trouble with me, but if I hear you not minding, I'm going to let whoever you didn't mind punish you and then I'll give you a spanking on top of that. You hear me?"

Sophia was rubbing her bottom, the tears were still running down her face. "I'm telling Papa," she said sulkily.

Chris laughed. "Your Papa gave me, Josiah and Nathan permission to do as we see fit when he's not around and sometimes even if he is around. This is a family Sophia. Every single one of us watch out over the others. The older boys watch out for the younger boys and now watch out for you. So, whoever you're with that's the oldest, they're in charge. Am I clear?"

Sophia nodded, "Yes sir."

Chris hugged her and swung her up on his hip. "Come on little miss, you need a bath."

Sophia's bottom was touching Chris' arm. "Ow, Uncle Chris, that hurts."

"Reminds you to mind next time, huh?" asked Chris giving her a kiss on her head.

Sophia nodded and put her head on Chris' shoulder. It had been a long trying morning.

Yeah, finally got this one finished. The story just kept writing and writing itself. I think next up will be Josiah, then Nathan, then Chris and then Papa will come home!