The next day dawned clean and clear. Josiah and Chris let the boys take their horses to school with instructions to stay together and to come right home. Nathan promised to watch out for Vin and Ezra. JD wasn't happy about the arrangement because Vin took 'his' pony. When the tantrum escalated, Chris stopped being diplomatic.

"JD. You will change that attitude right now or I will spank you and send you to your room for the day. Do you understand?"

JD nodded as tears ran down his cheeks. Chris picked JD up and held him close. "Why don't we go finish our chores JD?"

JD again just nodded. Chris put him down and they went out to work in the barn.

The morning at school went a lot smoother. Vin almost got into a scuffle with Jake Peterson when Peterson took Vin's dessert at lunchtime. Although Vin was upset, it gave him an idea for the perfect revenge.

"Ezra. Remember last year when JD was so sick cause he couldn't poop?"

"Vin, I'm trying to eat." Ezra said.

"Sorry. Well, the Doc gave him something to make it easier to go. Why couldn't we get some of that stuff and mix it in some of Nettie's brownies."

"Why in God's name would you want to do such a thing?"

"Not in all of um Ez. Just in the one that Peterson steals from me regularly. He would eat the brownie and then he would have to spend days in the outhouse. No way to trace it back to us."

"Us? You mean 'you' don't you?"

"Come on Ez. It's a sure thing. 'Sides you could take bets of how long it takes fer it to take effect or how many times he'll need the outhouse on Friday."

"Assuming he comes on Friday?" Ezra's mind was working on all the different angles.

"Well, if he don't show up, that's even better. I's won't have ta bother with him all day."

"Okay. How do we get some of that dreadful medicine?"

"I think Miss Nettie still has some left over from when JD was sick. I could look. Then I know I could get Miss Nettie to let me help make some brownies. She always makes a smaller pan of the ones I mix up."

"That's because you keep licking your fingers and no one wants to eat brownies that have so many germs in them."

"I eat um and so does Chris."

"Yeah but have you ever noticed that he drinks a lot more milk with such a small brownie."

"So?"

"He doesn't like milk." Ezra said matter of factly.

"Really? He just eats it cause I made it?"

"Yes little brother. He loves you enough to risk a belly ache."

"Cool. I'll check with Miss Nettie tonight and see if I can find that stuff."

"Okay. I think I will hold a guessing contest to see how many times young Peterson needs the outhouse."

"For a small fee no doubt."

Ezra smiled. "Yes, for a small fee. Winner takes 50%."

Ezra and Vin spent the rest of the lunch break working out the details. By the time they arrived home, all of their plans were thought out.

"JD! JD!" Chris had turned around for a few minutes and misplaced JD. He walked out of the barn and saw the top of JD's head over on the other side of the watering trough. "JD!"

"Yeah, Chris?" JD looked up and saw Chris walking toward him. He stood up and wiped the mud that was on his hands, onto his pants. Chris saw the mud and scowled.

"JD. How did you manage to get so dirty in the past few minutes? I thought you were helping me in the barn."

"I's done in da barn. I though I would help Miz Nettie pick food for dinner." JD bent over and proudly presented Chris with three very muddy carrots. "See. I's gonna wash um."

"I see I'm going to have to build a fence around Nettie's garden so that naughty little boys won't go digging in the vegetables. JD you know your not allowed in the garden without Nettie. Now you pulled up three very tiny carrots and have managed to get yourself covered in mud."

JD looked down at his pants and hands. He couldn't understand why adults always worried about his hands so he dunked them in the trough and wiped them on his shirt.

"JD!" Chris hollered as he grabbed JD's hands from making the shirt worse. "Don't use your shirt. Come on. I'll get you cleaned up and then you can explain to Nettie why you were in her garden when you know better. Then we are gonna have a little talk."

JD started to cry. He knew he was in trouble when Chris started talking about 'little talks'. Chris ignored the tears and washed JD's hands and face as best he could. Then they went to talk to Miss Nettie.

Nettie made a fuss about 'naughty little boys' and then forgave JD. They both had lunch and then Chris took JD upstairs for a 'talk' and a nap. After the spanking, Chris rocked JD until he fell asleep. Chris tucked him into bed and went to get something done before JD woke up.

After school, Nathan, Ezra and Vin headed home. When they entered the yard, they saw Chris finishing a small fence around the garden. Chris explained that the fence was to keep children and horses out. Ezra understood the reference to a horse and nodded.

Vin finished his chores and set out to ask Miss Nettie about some brownies. She said she would love help making them. While Miss Nettie looked for the ingredients, Vin looked for the medicine. When he couldn't find it, he decided to ask Miss Nettie.

"Miz Nettie?"

"Yeah Vin?"

"Can I ask ya a private question?"

"Sure sweety. What's wrong?"

"Well. I...I's wondering if you had any special tea or medicine to help me go to the outhouse."

It took Nettie a minute to understand what he was talking about. "Are you having trouble going Vin?"

"Well, not really trouble. I's just wondering." Vin didn't want to lie. That could prove fatal, but he could dance around the facts for a while.

Nettie assumed Vin was just uncomfortable asking for help so she decided to help. "I have some medicine that we used for JD when he couldn't go." She went and returned from the pantry with a small brown bottle. "There's not much here but it may help. If it doesn't get better, you need to let Chris or Josiah know. Maybe the doc could help."

"Okay." Nettie got a cup and poured a little medicine into it. She then went to the pantry to get milk to mix the medicine in. As she turned, Vin poured the medicine into the brownie batter he was mixing. He quickly wiped the cup out and added vanilla to the cup. The vanilla looked like the medicine and with a little sugar, it wouldn't taste bad either. Nettie turned back to Vin and poured the milk into the cup.

"Miz Nettie? Could I have some sugar to help with the taste?"

"Sure honey." Nettie added the sugar and watched Vin drink the entire cup of milk, vanilla, and sugar.

"Thanks Miz Nettie."

"You're welcome dear. Finish mixing your brownies and then I'll serve Supper. You let someone know if that medicine doesn't work, okay."

"Yes ma'am."

Vin finished his brownies and let Miss Nettie put them in the oven. Vin got washed up for Supper and let Ezra know that everything was working as planned.

After Supper, Chris took Vin down to the corral to look at the horses. Vin immediately fell in love with a black that had a white blaze on his face. Chris told Vin that they would break that horse first so that Vin could train him. Chris stressed that Vin needed the horse broke first before he was to get anywhere near the horse.

They both returned to the house and Miss Nettie handed Chris one of Vin's brownies.

"Vin made this one Chris." Nettie said as she handed him a big glass of milk.

Vin began to panic. He went over to Chris and took 'his' brownie off Chris' plate and the glass of milk. He quickly, without a word, headed for the kitchen. He returned with a cup of coffee and a good brownie; one Miss Nettie made. Chris looked confused. He always ate one of Vin's even if it was horrible.

"I know you don't like my cooking Chris. I also know you don't like milk so you can eat one of Nettie's." Vin walked back into the kitchen to let Nettie know that he would take his brownies to school.

Back in the dining room Chris was glaring at everyone around the table.

"Alright. Who snitched?" Everyone looked down at their plates and no one fessed up. "I can't believe one of you would tell Vin I didn't like his brownies. Now I want the truth or ALL of you can go to bed early."

Ezra didn't want everyone to get into trouble so he decided to admit to telling Vin. "I did." It was very soft but Chris heard it.

"Why?"

"It just slipped out. We were talking about brownies and I let it slip. I'm sorry, but he didn't seem upset about it. He actually was surprised that you would eat something you didn't like to honor his baking skills."

"He didn't look happy a minute ago." Chris got up to find Vin. Ezra knew why Vin looked unhappy. It would have been disastrous if Chris had eaten that brownie. No one was suppose to trace this little prank back to them.

Chris found Vin and he assured Chris that he wasn't upset and that Ezra didn't mean to do it. Because no one seemed upset about the whole thing, Chris let it go. The family spent a quiet evening playing checkers or reading. One at a time Chris and Josiah sent boys to bed, until it was just them checking one last time before bed.

Thursday went well for Ezra and Vin. Jake took Vin's brownie just like he always did. Ezra spent the better part of the day setting up the bets. Bets were put down and numbers were picked. Then they would watch Peterson on Friday from the beginning of school until after the picnic was over at 2:30PM. In the event that Jake didn't make it to school on Friday, all bets would be returned. Upon returning home, Ezra even got some of the men in the bunkhouse to put down bets.

Chris woke early on Friday. He was excited to have the entire morning free from kids for the first time since their pa died. Before Linc died, Chris wouldn't have cared who was watching the boys because he was too grieved to see anything else but his own lost family. His father's death had sobered him quickly. It helped to have people to care for.

Chris got up and dressed. He went and woke everyone up to get ready for school. Since it was the last day and the teacher used the morning for clean up and fun and games, the boys were all up with no arguments. When Chris checked on JD, he found the boy sitting, half-dressed, in his rocker, playing with a toy. JD looked a little afraid. Chris guessed that JD was nervous about going to school.

"Hey Sprout. You going to school half nekkid?"

"Hey Chris. No." JD slid from the rocker and finished dressing. When he pulled his last boot on he turned to Chris, who was now sitting in the rocker.

"Chris?"

"Yeah Sprout?"

"I's scared."

"Come here JD." JD sat on Chris' lap and they rocked for a few minutes. "There's nothing to be afraid of JD. Ezra, Nathan, and Vin will be with you the entire time. It will be fine. Besides, Josiah, Buck and myself will be coming out for the picnic. It's only one day."

"Is Miss Nettie comin' too?"

"Yep." JD snuggled deeper into Chris arms and put his thumb in his mouth. Chris held on a little tighter. "What else is bothering you JD?"

"You're gonna miss me." Chris smiled.

"I think I will be okay JD. I'm a big boy." Chris paused. "You gonna miss me?"

JD nodded. "It will be okay JD. It's only a few hours and if anything happens all of your big brothers will take care of you." Chris decided to try a different angle. "Hey Sprout. You can do me a favor."

JD looked at Chris and asked, "What?"

"I think big brother Buck may have a hard time letting you go to school because he will miss you. Could you be a brave boy and show him that everything will be okay?"

"Sure Chris. I can do that." JD scrambled off Chris' lap and hollered to Buck. Chris laughed out loud as he headed for the stairs.

JD surprised everyone when he didn't make a fuss at the schoolhouse. Chris told him that they would be back for lunch and to enjoy the day.

The morning went quickly for everyone but poor Jake Peterson, who had a stomachache. Ezra was keeping track of how many times Jake excused himself to use the outhouse. Some of the younger kids giggled every time he went out, which made Miss Jones just a little suspicious. By lunchtime, Ezra was well on his way to making a nice profit.

"How we doin' Ez?"

"Pretty good Vin."

"What are you two up to?" Nathan asked as he startled the boys.

"Jeesh, Nathan. Warn a guy." Vin exclaimed.

"You two have been acting funny all week. What is it?"

"Nothing. How could we be up to something?" Ezra asked.

"I haven't figured that out yet, but I will."

"Lighten up Nate. We are not doing anything but enjoying our last day of school for the summer." Ezra walked away from his brothers to see if he could get a card game going with some of the older boys; secretly of course."

Nathan observed Jake moving toward the outhouse again and turned in time to see Ezra record something into a small notebook. //I'll bet he's gambin' about something//

Nathan turned again when JD screamed Bucks name. Buck swung JD into his arms and tickled him as he, Josiah and Chris approached. Chris ruffled Vin's hair.

"Where's Ezra?" Josiah asked.

"Off conning some poor kid out of his hard earned allowance probably." Nathan sneered.

"He knows better than to con anyone, especially in school." Josiah said.

"Well, I don't know then. Vin and him have been actin' weird all morning."

"Weird? Like how?" Chris asked Nate as he looked at Vin.

"We ain't actin' any different, then any other kid who's done school fer the summer. Nate's jest 'maginin' things." Vin defended.

"Well, I hope for your sake, you're right, because I won't be happy if you are planning mischief on the last day of school."

"I promise ya Chris, I ain't done no mischief today." Vin said.

Chris looked at his brother for a minute and got the same feeling that everything wasn't as it seemed, but until he found out what it was, he was going to keep his eyes open.

"Well, let's go eat." Chris said.

"I'll be right behind you as soon as I find Ezra." Josiah said as he headed for the schoolhouse.

"Okay Josiah. We'll meet you over where the food tables have been set up."

Chris, Buck, JD, Vin and Nathan went to eat while Josiah went to find his lost little brother.

"Boys. This game has been fun and profitable, but I must conclude it and find my brothers for our noon repast before I am missed." All of the other boys with Ezra looked confused. When their confusion turned to fear, Ezra felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up.

"You are already missed young man." Josiah boomed. Ezra spun around and saw Josiah with his hands on his hips. He tried to smile but it wasn't successful. Josiah turned to the other boys and said, "Go eat boys. My brother and I are going to have a long and hard 'talk'."

Ezra visibly paled. "Josiah, It's not what you think."

"Really? I think you disobeyed me, again, and were playing poker for money with your classmates in school."

"Okay, it is what you think. I just can't help myself. It's mother's fault."

"You really should come up with a better excuse than Maude. She hasn't been the perfect mother, but you haven't been with her for a long time. Pa taught you better and I thought I had finally gotten through to you also, but now I can see that I haven't made a lasting impression on you." Josiah took Ezra by the upper arm and led him into the empty schoolhouse. When the door closed behind them, Josiah released Ezra and removed his belt.

"Please Josiah. I'll try harder not to disobey you, just don't spank me here."

"Nope. Come here Ezra."

"Please Josiah." Ezra begged. Josiah took Ezra by the arm and delivered a severe tanning. Ezra had tried to stay still and quiet through the tanning, but after the fifth stroke, he couldn't help but move around. Josiah only held on tighter and continued until Ezra was sobbing uncontrollably.

When Josiah figured Ezra got the point, he released him and put his belt back on. He then gathered Ezra into his arms and held him until the sobbing slowed.

"I... I... I'm s..s...sorry, Jo.s..s..iah."

"I'm sorry I had to do that too Ezra, but you are too young to be gambling and I need you to understand that and obey my wishes. Understood?"

"Yes Sir." Ezra wiped his eyes and tried to get his breathing controlled.

"Let's go wash up and then go eat. Chris is probably looking all over for us."

Chris had set out looking for Josiah and Ezra and was approaching the schoolhouse when he heard Ezra's pleas and the unmistakable sound of a belt crack. Having found his brothers, Chris returned to the picnic area to eat.

"Did ya find Josiah and Ez?" Buck asked.

"Yep. They'll be along shortly."

Buck decided not to ask and returned to helping JD get the food into his mouth and not on his shirt. Fifteen minutes later Josiah and Ezra joined them. Buck immediately understood what happened when he saw Ezra's red eyes and how carefully he sat on the ground. Josiah got some food for them both and handed a plate to Ezra.

"Eat." Josiah said.

"Yes sir." Ezra said and started his lunch.

"'Siah?" JD asked.

"Yeah pup?"

"I was tellin' Buck about how I learned all about school."

"That's great JD."

JD finished eating and went off to play with Vin, with Nathan keeping watch. Ezra wanted to join them, but was afraid Josiah wouldn't let him. He needed to find out if Peterson used the outhouse while he was gone.

"Josiah?" Ezra asked quietly.

"Yes?"

"Could I go play too, please?"

Josiah thought about it. "You gonna stay out of trouble?"

"I'll try."

"Okay, but just remember to stay out of trouble or we will talk again. Understood?"

"Yes sir." Ezra stood carefully and headed over to Vin and JD. When he was out of earshot, Chris asked, "What was it this time?"

"Poker game behind the schoolhouse. How'd you know? Or was it that obvious?"

"Not real obvious. I went looking for you both and heard what happened in the schoolroom. You think it will do any good?"

"God I hope so. I hate doing that but it scares me to death to think he could turn out like Maude."

"He's good at it though and that will make it hard to break the gambling habit."

"Well something has to break."

"The habit or Ezra's backside?"

"Maybe both." Both brothers smiled and watched the younguns from their spot under a tree.

"You okay Ez?" Vin asked.

"I'm fine. Just a bit sore." Ezra absently rubbed his backside.

"What happened this time?" Nathan sneered.

"None of your business." Ezra walked away from them to be followed by Vin.

"Don't let him bother ya Ez. He's always like that, a real goody, goody. He never gets in trouble."

"Let's just drop it. Did you see whether Peterson used the outhouse during my absence?"

"No I didn't see im." Vin knew Ezra was trying to change the subject. "What happened Ez?"

Ezra could tell Vin wasn't going to let it go. "Josiah caught me playing poker behind the schoolhouse."

"Whew!"

"Why?" Ezra said with his hands on his hips.

"I's jest worried that Josiah found out about that other thing."

"No. How could he? There's no way Peterson would assume it was us anyway. This was one of our better scams."

"True. Let's go play kick ball. We can watch the outhouse better from that side anyway."

"Lead the way." Ezra and Vin played kickball and recorded it every time the outhouse was used. By the time 2:30PM rolled around, the final tally mark was made. With the marks counted, Ezra and Vin were pleased. They gave half of the money to the winner and split the rest. When it was time to head home, Ezra and Vin were $5.00 each richer.