Chapter 1

"You don't know them Marvin, they all hate me here."

Ragan shook her head as if to dispel those very thoughts.

"Now come on," Marvin put down the box he was carrying and wrapped her in a fond embrace.

"That ain't true, now who wouldn't love you. Look, if anyone gives you trouble in this town they'll have me to deal with."

"You do love me don't you Marvin?" She asked giving that rosy lipped pout that drove him wild.

"You know I do sugar. You know I would never have brought you back here if you hadn't inherited your fathers house, we couldn't pass that up. That no good sister of yours at least did that much right."

"Please Marvin, don't speak of Emilia like that."

"I'm sorry, it just makes me so darn mad the way she treated you, her own flesh and blood, I just can't fathom it."

"Let's not talk about it any more Marvin, we've got a lot of work to do before tomorrow." Ragan told him, starting to feel uncomfortable with the trend of this conversation.

~o~

Janet Cartwright Nash stood impatiently waiting for her friend Pippa. Beside her standing patiently was the fawn coloured pony Adam had given her for her fifteenth birthday. Janet was feeling really proud. She wore a long riding skirt and this year she was allowed to wear her honey blond hair up in a single ribbon much like her stepmother Samantha. She sincerely hoped Roy Peters would notice. Janet smiled to herself at that thought. Gone were the tight braids and prim, closed up face. Janet had been with the Cartwright's six years now and good food and a happy life had softened her features rendering her extremely pretty.

~o~

Pippa finally came into view, ambling along as if there was all the time in the world.

"Will you come on for God sakes," she yelled out to her.

Janet hadn't seen the buggy emerge from her drive until it was too late.

Samantha frowned down at her disapprovingly.

"Janet, what a noise to make." She chastised "And using the Lords name in vein too, for shame."

"Sorry mama." She mumbled.

Janet lowered her head in respectful shame. But as the buggy passed through the arch she caught the teasing gleam in her fathers eye.

"It's not good enough Janet," Adam told her as he pulled the team out into the dirt track. They both knew he said far worse out in the barn.

"You get in trouble?" Pippa asked as she pulled up, her pony looking tired already.

"Yes I did, and it wouldn't have happened if you had hurried up."

Janet was very much the dominant person in their friendship.

"Sorry," Pippa frowned. Her round face suddenly broke into a smile. "Here, you want a lime?"

She fished a paper bag from the pocket of her apron.

"No thanks, how can you eat those things this hour of the morning," Janet asked, wincing at the idea.

"We're going to school aren't we?" Pippa shook her head.

"I need something to sweeten my mood."

Janet grinned as she mounted her pony.

"Come on, we'll be late, and we don't have Scary Mary anymore, who knows who we will have this year."

Pippa grimaced. "How could your uncle Hoss marry Scary Mary, he must have nightmares every night lying beside her."

"She's actually ok when she's not being a teacher, she's nice in fact. Anyway never mind that, Pippa! which of the boys would you like to send you a love note."

"The boy's don't send me any love notes."

"Oh for God sakes, they're not sending me love notes either but if..."

"If...hmm let me think."

~o~

The two girls invented love affairs and secret rendezvous and intrigue until Virginia City finally came into view.

Both Janet and Pippa walked slowly into the classroom gazing at the beautiful young woman standing at the front desk. She wore a plain grey dress but her neatly pinned hair was a golden blond and her bow lips were rosy and full. She didn't look like any teacher they had ever seen before.

"Girls, take your places," she told them sounding a tad uncertain.

"Yes ma'am," they chimed as they scrambled for seats at the very back.

She stood with her hands clasped gazing at the expectant faces in front of her.

"Girls, my name is Mrs Ragan Blunt. You may call me Mrs Blunt. Now will you each stand in turn and tell me your names."

Pippa was first to oblige and Mrs Blunt nodded with a curt smile and told her she could sit. Janet stood then. As Janet rattled off her name Mrs Blunt's eyes narrowed slightly.

"Janet Cartwright... You don't look like any of them. Who is your father." She asked directly.

Janet's face coloured. "Adam is my father but I was adopted when I was nine." She mumbled.

"Speak up," Mrs Blunt told her.

"Adam Cartwright is my father, he adopted me when I was nine."

Mrs Blunt smiled.

"That didn't answer my question though did it, who is your father." She asked.

"Desmond Nash," Janet answered, her hands beginning to fidget in front of her.

"And where is he?" She asked.

"He died,"

"Oh I'm sorry, you're an orphan then are you?" Mrs Blunt went on.

The other girls were staring back at Janet and her face was colouring even more.

"My mother is in Europe."

"Oh my," Mrs Blunt put a hand to her chest. "Is she alone in Europe?"

"No..." Janet answered.

Mrs Blunt waited.

"She has a new friend," Janet went on, cutting through the extended silence.

"I see," Mrs Blunt smiled primly. "Well it was very nice of Adam and his wife to take you in. I'm sure you are ever thankful."

"Yes ma'am," Janet choked out feeling tears sting the back of her eyes. "Very thankful."

Mrs Blunt finally moved on to the next child. Janet didn't hear anyone else's testimony as mortification closed in around her.

~o~

At recess all talk turned to their merry, pretty young teacher and what a pleasant change she was from the last one. Pippa was relieved that they were not having Miss Marshal the dragon this year and others nodded their agreement. Janet was somewhat silent on the matter. She made up her mind to be more careful in future and just tell people that the Cartwright's were her family and leave it at that. Her real father owed half of Virginia city money before he died and as for her mother...Janet left her sandwich untouched and went to sit by herself.