The following Monday, Karen sat down and started composing telegrams to the various schools in Stockton that she would be considering for the continuation of her education. She also composed a telegram to her school back east to explain why she was considering switching to a school closer to home and that it was not a poor reflection on the administration of that school.

Quite the contrary, she actually had nothing but praise for the school and its administration. It was not their fault that Anabelle had just been that good at deceiving people.

It took a very short time to receive responses from the schools in Stockton. All three seemed to be quite glad to have her considering their school.

She had almost fully decided on a school when Adam and Hoss went to the school back east to collect the rest of her things.

Violet Prentiss had been at the front door waiting on the two men when they arrived. "Thank you for coming for Karen's things. I am sorry that she is not returning to us this year. But I do understand her desire to remain closer to home after her ordeal. I would also like to apologize for believing that woman when she presented a letter that looked a great deal like Ben Cartwright's handwriting asking that Karen be released to her custody for a trip home."

"Anabelle Dastrovsky was good at fooling people. She fooled a lot of people back home about twenty years ago," Adam said.

"May I ask if the woman has been caught and punished for what she put poor Karen through?"

"Some renegade Indians caught her. They killed her and dumped her on our property. Unfortunately, Karen was one of the two that found her body. Our sister was heavily traumatized by the experience."

"Poor Karen!" Mrs. Prentiss exclaimed. She couldn't imagine what poor Karen had felt upon seeing the woman's body, laying there exposed.

"Karen was very upset over the whole thing. She is recovering from it though."

"She does plan on continuing her education then?"

"She does. She's just decided to stay a little bit closer to home for the remainder of it."

"Where is she considering? If I may be so bold as to ask."

"Stockton, California. There is a family there that our family is good friends with. They have offered her a place in their home for weekends. They also offer to watch over her at the school with visits of their own while she's there. They have a daughter who is a little older than Karen but the two are quite similar in personalities. They get along quite well."

"I'm so glad to hear that she is continuing her education. And that she has such good friends that will help watch out for her."

"Thank you, ma'am. We'll be sure to convey your best wishes to Karen when we return home."

"I appreciate that. Thank you. I'll show you to the room Karen was in. We took the liberty of placing several boxes in the room so that it would be easier to pack her things up. And if you like we can have a few people to help with the packing to make it quicker for you."

"That would be fine. Thank you. We would appreciate the help," Adam said. He wasn't kidding either. Both he and Hoss were more than eager to get this done and get back home to see if Karen had made a decision yet. Besides which they already missed their little sister.

Two weeks later, Adam and Hoss arrived back home with all of Karen's belongings from the school and cards from most of her schoolmates.

Karen and Ben were standing on the porch waiting for them when they arrived. Karen broke into a smile and ran to greet them.

Smiling, Adam rode toward her and slowed down just enough for her to grab his hand and swing up behind him. She wrapped her arms around her brother and hugged him tight. Hoss just smiled as he watched the two of them.

Karen had always been closest to Adam of all of her brothers. She loved them all but she and Adam seemed to share a special bond. Hoss never understood it but he accepted it. Little Joe did too and he understood it even less than Hoss did.

The two men pulled their horses up in front of the house and dismounted, Adam helping Karen down.

"Welcome home, boys," Ben said as his sons approached the porch.

"It's good to be home, Pa," Hoss said. Adam nodded his agreement.

"We missed all of you. We're glad that trip is over and we made it back home."

"Were there any problems?" Ben asked.

"None unless you want to count how many of the students asked us to tell Karen that they would miss her. We have cards from several of them who made them for you themselves." Adam smiled at his little sister. "You apparently had a number of friends at the school. Several of them were worried that you had been hurt."

"It was kinda hard to convince them that you were okay. Just wanted to stay a little closer to home," Hoss added with a nod.

"Well, I was hurt. But being around my family has made it all worth it. And I wouldn't change that for the world." She smiled. "You know, at first, so many of the girls thought that I was crazy to be glad that you all taught me so much about survival. But that was all made worth it when Anabelle took me. I mean, without those skills, I would have been unable to escape her and you would have had to bury me next to my birth parents."

"I for one am glad that we decided to teach you something about survival. As you said, it saved you when Anabelle took you." Adam's voice backed her up and she could see that both Hoss and Little Joe felt the same way as Adam did. She couldn't have been happier that her brothers actually agreed on this.

Now, she just had to make her decision as to which school she was going to attend and prepare to go.

AN: That is the end of this one. I am thinking about a sequel but it will take a little time to get it put together. Bear with me and I hope I can make it worth the wait.