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Down the street, a home was filled with yelling and screaming. Linda shouted down the hall, "Get to bed NOW! And stay there!" Doors were slamming. Peggy cried out. "Mama, Donna won't quit bugging me. Can I get a glass of water?" Peggy hoped to stay up longer than her sister. Dad stomped down the hall, counting, "One, two, three!" It was the same old thing every night in that house until one of them exploded, and anger reached the breaking point. Dad removed his belt once more, and the mother grabbed a new wooden spoon from the drawer.
However, this time, they forgot that the neighbors were watching and listening as the police officers approached the door. The officer opened the door and saw three frightened children crying and little Danny screaming over a father's knee with his belt raised. The children were crying, and the mother gasped as she dropped her spoon at the sight of the officer coming through the door. Linda saw the flashing lights outside the window, and the officer was waiting for an answer from the parents in the room.
Two more officers removed the children and took them to the police car with blankets around them. They were taken to the hospital to Doctor Hatfield to be checked out, and they would find temporary homes for them in the morning while the officer wrote the parents a citation.
The night nurse called Doctor Hatfield in as the children arrived at the hospital with their grandmother in tow, madder than a wet hen, telling Doc. "Hurry up, Doc, let's go, let's go!"
When they arrived at the hospital, Grandma tried to comfort her grandchildren the best she could while Doc looked at them. She sat and stewed, thinking about what they had done to them now. "Well, don't just stand there, you old goat. Tell me, do we have a leg to stand on?" She asked.
"Settle down, Betty, settle down," having the nurse watch the children for a minute. "Danny has a fractured wrist and some heavy bruises on his back and bottom and around his legs; the girls have mild bruising and scratches. So yes, we have a case and a leg to stand on. I'll see the Judge in the morning, but you, dear, best hurry because the Downings is planning to leave today for Arizona for the rest of the week, and they won't be back until Friday, and you are in no shape of taking care of all three by yourself. In fact, if I were you, I'd wake the Judge right now and get those custody papers done before they left the State," Doc replies.
"Thanks, Doc," Grandma said in a sad, apologetic voice. Grandma loaded the kids into the car and returned to New Downing. First, she drove over to Wayne's cottage and knocked on the door several times until someone answered. Mary opened the door and saw Betty and the three children wrapped in blankets with tears streaking down their eyes and Danny with a sling around his left arm and wrist bandaged. She immediately opened the door and yelled for Lizzy to get Wayne.
Wayne rushed to the door, seeing Danny's Grandma and the girls. Anger boiling, he saw his wrist and arm hold Danny against him so Danny could cry and let it all out. After he was done and tired, he gently put Danny to bed on his bed and tucked him in for the night. Lizzy and Mary took the girls and put them to bed so Grandma could talk to Wayne alone. "Wayne, I'm up against a wall here, as you can tell," she said, looking back at the house and down toward EJ's home. "I can't handle three together, maybe two with the aunts and Richard's help," she said.
"What do you suggest?" Wayne asked as they walked to Judge Parker's place near the courthouse.
"Leave Richard here and Mary and take Lizzy to go up with the group instead of waiting an extra day. Do your shopping when you return. In fact, we will drive you to the airport in the morning and take Danny with you since I'm putting him in your care for a while since I'm taking the girls. That is if you want him?" Grandma replied as her face turned towards the ground to hide her tears and anger.
"Grandma, you don't have to say another word. He can stay with us as long as he wants, but what about his parents?" Wayne replies.
"Oh, they asked for it!" Grandma said, looking down the road. Puffing air out her mouth, she said. "I'm steaming mad, so let's go wake up a Judge," as they climbed his steps.
Grandma knocked on the door until someone answered. "What in tarnation grace alive? It's one o'clock in the morning, Betty," he said.
"Sorry, Brad, but this is important," Betty and Wayne reply, watching the Judge eye them up and down. "Brad, they did it to the children again just a few hours ago. Doc Hatfield is at the hospital, has already looked them over, has documentation, and told me to give it to you; this will prove it. There was even a citation given this time," showing him a copy of it for his records. "Brad, normally we'd wait till morning when you are working,' but this couldn't wait," Grandma explained the problem of why they couldn't wait to see him. "That's why we needed custody before they leave the State," Betty replies.
"Because it looks like I am leaving in a few hours for Arizona," Wayne said, giving Grandma a quick nod. "So I need to have custody of Danny before I leave, or the State would think I stole him," Wayne said, trying to laugh to lighten the mood.
"What about the girls?" Judge Parker asked.
"They are staying with me, Judge, and Richard for a while, with one of their aunts here in town," Grandma said.
"I see," he shakes his head and sighs. "What a mess, that's for sure. Alright, give me a few minutes to change, and we will go to the courthouse and get it done again."
With the court papers in hand, they walked back to the cottage. The aunts had the girls down sleeping on the mattresses, and they started breakfast for everyone by the time Grandma and Wayne got back to the house.
When things finally settled down enough, they sent Wayne back to bed for a couple more hours of sleep. The three sisters, going over the details of what needed to be done and watching the two girls sleeping, decided it would be best if they all stayed right here together—Grandma, Aunt Mary, and Richard while they were away. But Grandma insisted that Mary go with Lizzy to make sure all that homework got done, which was piled high on the counter.
Grandma paced and looked out the window. "Richard and I will be fine for three days; after all, these two girls will be in school some of the time, and Granny can help me as well," she said. Betty puts her foot down, not backing down, as she sets the homework in the suitcase for the girls to take. "Go, I'll be fine," her sisters gave her a cautious look, but Betty was not budging. She sends them back to the cottage to pack their things. "Now scoot," as she kicked them out the door, whispering not to wake the children, and closed the door.
Grandma sets the table humming and watches her two grandchildren sleeping like little lambs, reminding herself that they only look that way when they are asleep. When they wake, that's when their horns come out.
The sun rises over the mountain as Mr. Rooster crows times two out by the window, "Cock a doodle do," as the boys and men yawn at that glorious sound of their alarm clock. Grandma goes in and wakes the boys. "Boys, breakfast will be ready soon. Bathe quickly," she said, pulling out each of their suitcases for each of the boys and setting them on their beds. Robert is the first one done, sees the suitcase on the bed, went in to ask why she is there and about the suitcases.
Robert stops in his tracks and gasps, seeing Danny and his sisters at the table, Danny wearing a sling around his arm and bandaged wrist. Grandma nods to him. "All will be explained; just have a seat at the table, please," she said. Will comes out next with EJ. Grandma nodded, placing EJ as far away as possible next to Danny and away from his sisters at the table. "All will be explained in a minute," she said as he looked at Danny with tears still in his eyes. Aunts arrive back with their suitcases packed and ready with Granny in tow as Richard and Pa come down the hall to the kitchen, followed by the Whitmore boys. Aunts and Grandma finish setting breakfast on the table.
Everyone gathered around the table as Pa stood, clicked the orange juice glass, and cleared his throat. He looks around the table at this strange group, shaking his head and sighs. "There have been some changes in our plan, boys, some minor bumps as it seems," he said, rubbing Danny's hair. "It seems that this little guy wants to come with us," he said as he tried to laugh. "Not only that, boys, but we are also leaving today with the Whitmores and the group to the cotton field."
Now that got everyone's attention. "What about Mr. Rivers and Mr. Grams, Pa? We promised them we'd work for them today," asked Robert.
Mr. Whitmore stands. "I took care of that yesterday, boys when I did some shopping; that's why it took me so long to get back," he said as he winked at Wayne and Grandma.
Then Grandma stood. "And the girls are staying with me, with Richard and Granny, while Danny goes with you and the aunts to make sure you get all that homework done," she replied as the boys groaned, just thinking about the homework. "So hurry up and finish your breakfast so you boys can pack," she said.
The boys packed quickly, not asking any further questions. EJ and Pa, furious about what they did to Danny, nearly slam their suitcases in the car. They were so mad they had to go for a walk while the others finished packing the cars to let out a little steam. Pa looks back at the cottage where Danny sits with his grandmother, Richard, and the boys. "How could they, Pa?" EJ asked, nearly in tears, as he put his arm around him. "Wasn't it bad enough just me, now him?" EJ replies. With a tear in his eye, Pa couldn't answer why but looked down at his son.
"EJ, there are two types of people in this world, one that deserves children and wants them and others that think they are a curse or a disease because they don't get what they want. We are the kind that wants children of all kinds," as he puts his arm around him. "And I guess your parents are the other kind."
Pa told him that they now have temporary custody of Danny for the next six months, according to the Judge, while the court orders the parents to seek medical help unless they want to spend some time in jail. EJ whispered silently. "It took them long enough," as tears rolled down his face. Pa and EJ headed back to the cottage, feeling a little better, and helped finish loading up the cars.
Aunty M. had sent a bus to New Downing to pick up the group and take them to the airport, and everyone in town gave them a big send-off as the band started to play Arizona Pride.
"Rolling hills and sagebrush where the cotton blows in the wind. We will be havin' jackrabbit for supper and rattlesnake for breakfast, dear. For we are the Arizonan's pride."
The townspeople wave their hats as the bus leaves for the airport with the Whitmores. With one aunt and a schoolbook in her hand, they wasted no time studying; why wait? She figured she would hand each a set of cards and quiz them on their lessons. "Well, Richard," Wayne said, watching the group leave. "I guess we better head out ourselves," Pa said. Grandma put the girls with her in the front seat and Robert, Will, and Mary with her schoolbooks and cards in the back. Richard was driving his car with EJ and Wayne in the front and three boys, Danny, Sam, and Ted, in the back; they were off to Salt Lake City Airport.
Wayne also handed EJ a schoolbook to read, a pencil to write with, and some coloring books for the boys in the back, along with toys to play with and blankets to curl up in if they wanted to nap. Since it was a long trip for them as they followed the bus to the airport, it was a long possession as the Whitmore boys waved back to them and Downing's in their cars. In between the traffic, they glided along until they reached the airport.
Grandma didn't leave things to chance as before; she had Doc send off a telegram telling Aunty M. they were coming to make room.
Margaret. For your eyes only. Stop.
Wayne and the boys are coming. Stop.
They are arriving with the group. Stop.
Don't tell Renee or Martha. Stop.
Doc Hatfield. Stop― End of telegram.
"Telegram, telegram," the boy on his bike yells as he comes to the door of the cotton ranch. Telegram for Margaret Cotwellar, telegram," he knocks on the door. Aunty M. opens the door as the boy hands it to her. "Are you Mrs. Margaret Cotwellar?" He replied.
"Yes," she said.
"Please sign here; it says for your eyes only on the slip," as she signs, she gives him a tip and thanks him with a smile.
Margaret. For you are eyes only. Stop.
Wayne and the boys are coming. Stop.
They are arriving with the group. Stop.
Don't tell Renee or Martha. Stop.
Doc Hatfield. Stop―end of telegram.
Aunty M. quickly folds the telegram and puts it into her purse, putting her hand in her mouth to control the laughter. "Well, I will be hogtied with nowhere to run," she said, peeking inside the house with the biggest grin and a twinkle in her eye.
"Who was that, Aunty M?" Martha asked.
"Oh, telegram just a telling me that the boys have left New Downing and are going to the airport, dear. They should be here in a few hours. Have you seen Reggie, Martha?" Aunty M. asked.
"Last I saw him, he was by the plane and vans."
"Thanks, dear." Aunty M. walked out to the vans, seeing her son Reggie just doing the last check before heading out. "Everything ok, dear?" His mother asked.
"Just fine, Ma," he replied.
"I am glad," Margaret said, her eyes toward the house, then whispered. "You might need a couple more vans, dear." She showed him the telegram and nodded, putting her fingers to her lips and grinning.
"Yes, I'll get right on it," he replied as he ran into the house to make sure they all got on the plane without any problems. He had drivers waiting for them with two extra vans. Aunty M. takes the girls out to do more shopping while the kids are getting ready for tonight's ho-down in school. Because tonight will be a humdinger, she reckons, patting her purse with the telegram in it.