Sarah Disobeyed Once Again!

 Sarah made her way carefully through the timber in the dark. Even though the moon was big it was still difficult to see where she was. She was trying to be as quiet as she could. She had been told not to leave the trails without telling someone where she was going. She also had been told that she would not be having a leisurely bath on the trail or in the stream because the water was too cold. A bath in a tub would have to wait until they got to their new home. She was used to being the only little girl and for the most part having her own way. Suddenly she heard a scream! The screaming seemed like a woman crying. Was it her mother? Was she hurt? Then she heard other voices. Her little brothers had followed her! She could hear their giggles and talking, but who was screaming? 

She turned following the screaming sound and there was a bob cat. She just knew he was going to attack her. But no, he was looking towards the twins. She had to do something quick. Sarah backed up slowly and deliberately. She said, "Boys there is a bob cat up here. You do not run whatever you do. Just back up and go back to the wagon and get pa as quickly as you can. Make sure you don't fall down or run. I will be right behind you, but if you get to the wagon first tell pa 'bob cat'. Sarah needs help."

Sarah needn't have worried. Sarah's mother had turned in her sleep and discovered the boys and Sarah were gone. She immediately woke her husband and they woke the big boys and the search was on. Pa was the first to hear the bob cat. "He said, "Stay here. There's a bob cat out there. I think he has spotted the little ones. I'll get my rifle."

Bob cats don't like noise and Pa knew that. He walked into the woods with his rifle. He could see the outlines of the children. He aimed his gun in the air, kaboom! The bob cat ran and so did the children. Just exactly what they weren't supposed to do. However they were safe. Pa shook his head, gathered all three of the children to him and said, "We need to have a serious talk. If we ever are going to make it home, you just have to do as I say." Pa was a religious man and did not resort to violence, rather to talking logic and kindness to the children, but he felt this was an exception to his own rule. They were told to go back to sleep under the wagon, but the next morning they were to find a willow switch for him to use for their punishment.

The next morning no one ate much for breakfast. Everyone was thinking about the spanking that was going to happen soon. Sarah told her pa it was her fault so please don't use a switch on the twins. He said, "Eat your breakfast, Sarah. I'm the pa. I make the decisions."

Sarah's mother looked down at her plate and didn't say a word. They were in complete agreement on this decision.

After breakfast she quickly did her share of chores and helped with dishes and putting them away. Then she knew it was time. As she walked through the woods she realized she didn't know what a willow tree looked like. She found one with pretty flowers on it and thought, "Maybe this one won't hurt too much."

After her punishment was over the oxen were ready to head towards their new home. Everything had been packed while Pa and Sarah had gone for their walk. Pa figured they had about three more weeks before they got to his homestead maybe sooner depending on the weather and barring no accidental breakdown of the wagons.

Pa worried about his new daughter, because there may be times when she had to obey him without question. The native Indians sometimes would invite themselves into the settlers homes and take what they wanted. Some wildlife might not be scared away and full streams could be dangerous as well in the early spring. This new land was alive with unknown dangers not only to the children, but to him as well. He was determined to prepare Sarah to  make choices that could affect not only her life, but the lives of her family members in the future. She had learned a good lesson in her future as a young woman of the untamed territory of Iowa.