Over the next week and a half, Maisy played almost every older boy in school – the exception being Benny and her cousin Nate. Thanks to Maisy's flawless playing and Luke's managerial skills, the pair were able to profit $6.25 together, which – with her sixty percent cut – wasn't anywhere near the amount she needed for Adam's saddlebag. That is until another opportunity presented itself one afternoon at lunch recess.

Wiley Grant had yet to recant his claim that Maisy's marble-playing skills were only luck. He, in fact, kept running his mouth saying if he had another chance to play against Maisy he would beat her for sure.

"What's stopping you from playing then, Wiley?" Luke asked him when the boys were all gathered together, away from the schoolhouse.

"Nothin', Cartwright! I'm too old to be playin' marbles. I play poker now, like my pa. Poker's a man's game. Ain't no way some stupid girl can lick me at a man's game," he boasted.

Approaching the group, Maisy overheard Wiley's last comment and a sinister expression slinked on to her face. "Fine by me, Wiley," she grinned.

"What's fine?" spat Wiley.

"We'll have a game of poker; Friday after school. You in, or are ya afraid some stupid girl is gonna beat ya?"

"I don't play for quarters when I play, girlie," he leered.

"That makes two of us. So, just how much are you prepared to lose?" she quipped.

"A hundred bucks, winner takes all, or is that too much for a high and mighty Cartwright?" laughed Wiley.

Maisy thought for a few seconds then spit on her hand, reached it out to Wiley and growled, "Deal!"

Wiley followed suit and the bet was made, much to the spectators' amazement. When the crowd dispersed, Maisy was left standing with two shocked older brothers by her side, and like usual, Luke was the first to react.

"Are you outta your damn mind?!" Luke barked, spinning her around to face him. "Where the hell are you gonna get a hundred dollars?!"

"Maisy, Wiley's pa is Palmer Grant, the best poker player in Virginia City and the richest. He's probably taught Wiley everything he knows," Benny informed her in a concerned tone.

"You didn't answer me, Maisy," Luke cut in. "Where ya gonna get the money?"

"I have a plan," Maisy replied nonchalantly.

Benny sighed, rolled his eyes then turned to leave, but was stopped by his twin's grasp around the arm.

"Where d'ya think you're going?" Luke asked gruffly.

Benny jerked his arm free. "She has a plan to get a hundred dollars to gamble away and you're wondering where I'm going? Well, let me tell you, brother, I am going as far away from the pair of you as I can possibly get. I happen to like my hide and plan on keeping it, thank you very much!" And with that, Benny stomped away leaving Maisy and Luke to fend for themselves.

Luke rolled his eyes. "Typical Benny, always the first to run," he remarked then looked at his sister. "For the third time, Maisy, how're you gonna get the money?"

"Don'tcha mean how are WE gonna get the money? You are my business manager with forty percent of the take, Luke," she reminded him, "you ain't backing out now."

Luke mumbled some obscenities under his breath. "Fine," he conceded, "how are WE gonna get a hold of a hundred dollars? What's the plan?"

"We borrow it, from the safe box in Pa's office," she told him plainly.

"Have you gone completely MAD?!" he exclaimed. "There is no way we are stealing a hundred dollars from Pa just to lose it to the likes of Wiley Grant!"

"I'm not gonna lose, Luke, and besides we ain't stealing if we put it back the next morning. He'll never know it's gone."

"No, Maisy, it's too risky. We're not doing it!" he stated with as much authority as he could muster.

"Fine," shrugged Maisy, "you wanna lose forty bucks, no skin off my nose; more money for me."

Luke thought for a moment. If she could actually pull it off, he would have the most money he's ever had in his life. He could finally buy that new saddle he has been saving over a year for. Luke's want for his dream saddle trumped the risk and he reluctantly agreed to the idea. "OK, little sister, count me in. So, how's this plan of yours gonna go?"

"Have a seat, brother, and I'll explain everything."

There was nervousness in the air when Luke and Maisy approached their father Thursday evening, after supper. Adam was sitting at his desk in the office alcove, casually going over some paperwork when he felt a couple sets of eyes upon him. "Is something the matter?" he enquired without looking up from his work.

"No, nothing's wrong," Luke answered quickly.

Maisy gave Luke a little nudge and a dirty look as if to say shut up and let me do the talking. "Just wanted to ask you something, Pa," she said.

Adam ceased his paperwork and looked up at the children. "Oh, and what would that be, Maisy?" he smiled.

"Well, me and Luke..."

"Luke and I," Adam corrected.

"Yeah, Luke and I need to stay after school tomorrow."

"Is that so, and why would you need to stay after school?" Adam asked in a now serious tone.

Noticing the change in her father's voice, Maisy worked quickly to put his mind at ease. "We ain't in trouble with Miss Miller or anything, Pa. Bobby Ritchie and a few of the other fellas are having a marble tournament and me and Luke wanna stay and watch," she fibbed.

"So you don't need to stay, Maisy, you would like to stay. Is that right?" Adam enquired, correcting his daughter again.

"Yes, sir, we would like to stay."

"Are the extra chores you were both assigned completed?"

"Yes, sir," they answered together.

"Even the patch of new wiring on the chicken coop?"

"Yes, sir," replied Luke, "finished it when I got home from school yesterday."

"Then you have my permission to stay an hour longer after school, but only an hour. When it's four o'clock I want both of you to start for home, understand?"

"Yes, sir," grinned Maisy and Luke then thanked Adam and headed upstairs.

Exiting the kitchen and catching the end of the conversation, Evelyn approached her husband's desk. "What are those two up to?" she asked Adam.

"I'm hoping just a marble game, Evvy, but something's telling me it's a bit more than that."