Later that evening, after dinner was over, Ben sent the girls up to get ready for bed with a promise of reading to them. Kate passed him on his way up the stairs having just gotten Samuel down for the night. She took her usual place at the end of the settee near Ben's leather chair and picked up some mending. Jamie and Joe were playing a game of checkers. With a smack of his king and a smug smirk, Jamie declared himself the victor and then conveniently headed up to bed before Joe wrangled him into another game. A disgruntled Joe was left to clean up the board and place it on the shelf.

He poked at the fired and complained to Kate. "Guess it wasn't my night."

"Jamie is no slouch at checkers."

"No, he's learned a lot since he first started playing Hoss and me a couple of years ago." Joe pulled a face. "Too smart for his britches sometimes."

Kate laughed. "Hmmm. I'd be willing to bet that Adam and Hoss said that about you on occasions."

"Who me?" Joe gave his step-mother a sly grin.

Kate eyed him with suspicion and then returned her focus to her mending. Joe moved to sit in his father's chair and stared at the flickering flames in the hearth. Leaning over to rest his elbows on his knees, he brought his chin to the fingers of his clasped hands. He remained in that position without speaking for some time prompting Kate to eventually interrupt his thoughts.

"Sometimes it helps to talk."

"Huh? Oh? Sorry?" Joe shifted his position and faced her. "I'm not being very good company, am I?"

"It can be difficult if one's mind is elsewhere."

"Yeah, that's for sure. Probably why Jamie beat me at checkers."

"Well, I wouldn't go that far." Kate's green eyes sparkled with her tease.

"You know, I was thinking today that Pa spent quite a bit getting your ranch up and running, didn't he."

"Yes he did. Does that bother you?"

"No, not at all. That's not what I'm driving at, 'cause it was money well spent. Your ranch is operating at a profit and that's great."

"Yes, that pleases me very much. I guess I'm not sure where you're going with all of this."

"Well, I've been considering buying the Sellers' place so that Tori can stop worrying about what's going to happen to her."

"I see. And have you talked this over with her?"

"No, it just came to me as I was driving home today. I mean, what's she supposed to do without a family to take care of her?"

"She has no family?"

"Yes, but not nearby and things are - complicated."

"Complicated?"

Well, maybe strained is a better way to say it, and they live in northern California. Tori is afraid to make that trip this time of year especially in her condition, and there are some other issues."

"That does make things difficult. But even if she could stay on her place, she is going to need help."

"Yeah, that's for sure. She's barely getting by right now, but she puts on a good face and works really hard."

There was no mistaking the empathy in Joe's voice and on his face when he spoke of Tori Sellers.

"Joe, forgive me if you consider this out of line, but do you have feelings for Tori?"

"That's just it. I'm not sure. She's really sweet and pretty, but that's not what's important to me. I just can't stand to see her hurting and not able to take care of herself and the baby."

"There's a difference between wanting to help someone and having a relationship. Do you care enough to want to marry her, especially since you would also get a ready-made family?"

"There again, I'm not sure. I worry about that - not so much on my part, but because I don't how much time she needs after losing her husband. I mean, it wasn't real long for you, but a lot longer than a few weeks."

"That's true. I had been on my own for several months."

"Would you be willing to talk to her? Maybe if you told her about you and Pa - that you can kind of understand what she's going through - maybe that would help."

"I would be happy to help in any way I can. but, Joe, that doesn't change the fact that you need to be upfront with Tori about how you feel and that you are thinking about buying her place."

"Guess you're right about that. I just want to help her so much. I'll go and talk to the bank manager tomorrow and get all the information, then I'll go have a talk with Tori."

"Sounds like a good plan. Just let your father know how things turn out."

"Yeah, I know I'm driving Pa crazy."

"It's only because he cares. He just wants you to make the right decision for the right reasons." Kate put down her mending and reached over to grasp Joe's hand. "But only you and Tori can know that for sure."

Joe nodded and dropped his head. Kate leaned back. Her face took on a thoughtful expression.

"When I met your father, we were both at low spots in our lives. And even though we were attracted to each other almost from the start, I struggled with the thought of marrying again. I had a sense that I was abandoning John, abandoning our love. I would consider myself among the blessed few women of this world to have found love twice."

Joe smiled warmly knowing that his father had contributed to her happiness. He sensed that Kate had more to say and let her continue.

"A lot more time had passed for your father since losing your mother. It may be difficult for you to understand how a man with four sons can be lonely. For him, I believe it was more the fear of loving and losing again that made him hesitant to remarry."

"Been feeling a little of that loneliness myself lately. Sometimes even in a house full of people you can feel lonely."

Kate's head tilted to the side in understanding. "Yes, loneliness is difficult, but a sour marriage can be worse. Thankfully, I've never had to deal with that personally, but I've seen them and it's not pretty. And they seem to come about when people feel trapped, like they have no choice." Her gaze was intense causing Joe to look away. Her eyes softened when he turned back. "Tori's grief is likely fresh and raw at this point. It's difficult to make decisions when you are in that state of mind. I wish I had the perfect answer for you, Joe, but I don't. All I can say is don't do anything without talking to her about it first."

Joe's head tipped to the right as he pondered Kate's words. He nodded in agreement and then took her hand. "Thanks." He rose and leaned in to kiss her cheek. "Goodnight."

Pulling him into an embrace, she bid him goodnight. "Hope you rest well."

Joe moved to the stairs and brushed past Ben on the landing, offering him a quick goodnight.

Ben's head jerked around, "Night, son." Continuing down the stairs, Ben gave Kate a questioning look. "Everything alright?" He sat down in his chair and reached for his pipe.

"He's got a lot on his mind, as you might expect. Patience, my love. Patience. It's the lack thereof that the two of you seem to have in common."

Ben arched a dark brow. "Excuse me?"

"Just an observation, dear. Just an observation", she offered with a glint in her eye.

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The following morning while Benji and Elizabeth were outside taking care of Meshach and doing their daily chores, a peddler's wagon pulled into the yard. Pots and pans and various other kitchen items clanked and banged against the side walls of the rig when the man in the seat pulled the mules to a stop.

"Good morning to you, children. Is your mother around?" The man wearing a brightly colored vest and a bowler hat shouted over Meshach's barking.

Benji looked the man over with great care. "Elizabeth!" He hissed. "Run and get Mama. And hurry!" Then he turned to his dog, "Meshach! Meshach! Come here." The dog refused to come when called; so Benji walked up closer to the wagon than he wanted and picked Meshach up. Backing away, the boy looked up at the man warily, "Mama will be out in a minute."

Adam had warned his children about peddlers, and Benji knew his father had left the homestead early that morning to go into his office in Carson City. Taking his father's warnings to heart, the stoic boy stood between the house and the wagon. Meshach continued to bark which made Benji more unsettled.

Cecille appeared in the doorway having just tied her apron around her waist. She slipped her right hand into her pocket and felt the derringer. "Good morning, sir. How can I help you?" Elizabeth was clinging to her mother's skirt as Cecille moved up behind her son and whispered into his ear.

"Actually I'm here to help you." The peddler stepped down from the wagon and started to walk toward Cecille.

Benji put Meshach down and took Elizabeth by the hand. The two of them ran to the barn.

Cecille held up her left hand for the man to stop while Meshach barked and lunged at the him. "That's really not necessary. I don't need anything at the moment." She shouted over the din.

The peddler reached into his pocket and pulled out something indiscernible and threw it at Meshach. The dog jumped, sniffed, and gobbled up a piece of cracker.

"There. See Meshach, I'm not such a bad man, am I?" The peddler tossed another piece of cracker to the pup. Then the man turned back to his wagon and pulled out a canvas bag from under the seat. "I've got some high quality silverware to show you." He raised the bag up giving Cecille an eager smile that showed his grimy teeth.

"Sir, as I said, I'm not in need of any of your wares and I wouldn't want to keep you from your other stops."

The peddler waved back at the road. "There will be plenty of time for other customers. Let's step inside where I can lay things out on your table so that you can have a better look at these high quality items that I've got." The persistent man continued to move forward toward Cecille.

"Stop. Don't come any closer!" The fear was rising in Cecille's voice.

With no more food coming his way, Meshach started barking again and ran up and grabbed the peddler by the pant leg.

The man kicked at the pup. "Hey! Get away from me you annoying little beast!"

The sound of a rifle being cocked stopped the peddler's movement.

"If you know what's good for ya, you'll get your sorry backside off this property. Get into your rattletrap cart and don't bother ever coming back. Ya hear!" Ned Barker, Adam's hired hand, stood with his rifle leveled at the peddler.

"Sure! Sure! Meant no harm!" Feigning contrition, the man backed his way to his wagon. "Can't blame a man for tryin' to make a sale, now can ya?"

"Git! Before my finger starts to get itchy." Ned warned.

"Alright! Alright! I'm leaving. What an inhospitable lot you are. Have a nice day." Meshach nipped at the man's heel until he was up on the wagon seat.

Ned kept his rifle trained on the peddler as the noisy rig moved slowly out of the yard and onto the road that went to Carson City. Only then did Benji and Elizabeth run from where they had been peeking out of the barn. They buried their faces in their mother's skirt and hugged her tight.

Ceciile wrapped her arms around them in reassurance. She released a deep sigh of relief. "Thank you, Ned. We're grateful for your help."

"That's why I'm here, ma'am. Don't ever hesitate to call on me." Lowering his rifle, the stocky man squatted down. He called Meshach over and scratched the dog's ears. "You knew he was no good, didn't ya, boy, but he was a shyster. Knew your belly would win. Gotta watch those kind, Meshach."

Benji and Elizabeth ran to their pup. They hugged and praised Meshach.

"That's right, children, you treat him right, and he'll take good care of ya." A faint smile appeared on the hired man's rugged face.

"We will! Thank you, Ned!" Benji responded without hesitation.

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Meanwhile, Joe had gone to Virginia City to meet with the manager of the Bank of California. That meeting did not go at all the way Joe had hoped. William Sharon showed no interest in Joe's willingness to do anything short of buying the property outright and even questioned why the Cartwrights would want such a small piece of land that was not adjacent to the Ponderosa. The loan for the property had been in Jeb Sellers' name and with no will in place, the loan was no longer valid, and the property belonged to the bank. Sharon implied that he was being generous to the widow by allowing her to stay until the property was sold given that he already had an interested buyer. When Joe asked for the interested party's name, Sharon flatly refused, saying he was under no obligation to release that information. Joe left the meeting completely frustrated knowing that he had nothing but bad news to deliver to Tori.

After leaving the bank, Joe stopped and got the mail. He was mulling over what to say to Tori and a place for her to live long term. He went to the Silver Dollar and ordered a beer. He took a long draw and then walked over to an open table. He set the mug down and dropped into a chair feeling defeated. Deep in thought, he turned the mug around and around in his hands. He was about to lift it for a sip when he heard shouting and a man crashed through the swinging doors.

"The bank's been robbed! Here they come! They're ridin' out!" A cowboy shouted to the occupants of the saloon.

Joe jumped up and rushed out the doors. Three riders galloped down the street heading south toward Carson City. Stepping from the boardwalk, he drew and shot the trailing man who then slumped over, but still managed to stay in the saddle. Joe swung up on Cochise and took off in pursuit with several other men following behind him.

The makeshift posse followed the robbers just out of gun range. Minutes later, Joe was horrified to see the riders turn off into the Sellers' lane. He could only assume the man he shot was injured badly and that they would make a stand. He had a sinking feeling that Tori was at the house, for she had been there every day he had stopped and only at the boarding house in the evening and early morning.

As Joe had feared, Tori was home, She was pulling the last of some winter squash in her garden and saw the dust of riders coming toward the house. Sensing that it was a bad omen, she dropped her basket and hurried back to the house. She called Dellie and Bendy and shooed them into the root cellar. She lit the lantern and carried it to a stool in the far corner of the small room. She grabbed two carrots from a bin and pulled her dogs close hoping and praying that she could keep them quiet.

The dogs grew anxious when they heard horses near the house. Tori shoved the carrots under their noses.

"Hush now", she whispered. "We're just going to sit here and be as quiet as little mice."

Tori could hear doors slamming and heavy steps reverberated through the ceiling above her. She clamped down on her dogs' muzzles when they showed signs of barking.

She leaned her cheek on Dellie's head. "No. no. You mustn't this time, girl." Tori's ears strained at every sound. She was shaking with fear and trying her hardest not to break down into sobs.