Author's note: Hello everyone I hope that you are all enjoying whatever this time of year means to you. I'm sorry for the delay in posting this chapter but as you can imagine there is a lot to do for those of us with lots of nieces and nephews! You'll be glad to know that i have already written large parts of the next few chapters though so hopefully the length between posting them will not be as long.

Happy New Year to you all. Enjoy...and please review so that i know if you like it or not.

Knock, knock. Ben rapped on Adam's door. Moments later the door was opened by a very harassed looking Emma.

"Ben! It's a surprise to see you out here today. Come in, please." Emma stepped back to allow her father-in-law to step into the house.

"Good afternoon, Emma," Ben said kissing her lightly on the cheek as he passed.

"Are you OK, you look a little harassed?"

Emma sighed, "No…" she started to explain.

"Grandpa!" came a shout from a five year old girl as she ran across the room and threw herself at Ben's legs.

"Hello, Annabel."

"Oh no you don't young lady, you march yourself back over into that corner!" Emma yelled as she tried to pull her daughter away from Ben's leg.

"No! Grandpa, Mama's being mean, don't let her make me go stand in the corner."

Ben gently pried the small child away from his leg and then bent down beside her, "Annabel, if your Mama told you to go march back into the corner then you had better do so, right now, young lady."

"But, Grandpa…" Annabel started to say before she found herself turned to the side and Ben gave her bottom a tap. "No but's, young lady, do as you were told." He then pushed her off towards the corner Emma was indicating.

Annabel looked sadly over her shoulder and with her bottom lip quivering she made her way back to the corner she was in when Ben had entered the house. Both adults watched her go, before Ben stood up.

"Rough morning?"

"Yes, Ben." Emma sighed.

Ben looked around the room and spotted the two boys each in their own corner and he raised an eyebrow. All three of them, oh dear.

"Do you want to talk about it, Emma?"

"No, not particularly Ben. How about some coffee?"

"I'd love some, thank you." Ben replied.

He followed Emma to the kitchen where Emma filled a pot with coffee grounds and water and stuck it on the stove.

Although Emma's back was to Ben he saw her shoulders shake and the distinct sound of sobbing.

Ben turned his daughter-in-law towards him so that he could see into her eyes. When Emma refused to raise her head, Ben gently used his hand to lift her chin and said gently, "Emma, please tell me how I can help?"

"Oh, Ben, I don't know what to do. The children have been at each other all morning and I'm at my wits end. I've tried scolding them but when I let them play again they just start on each other again."

Ben opened his arms and Emma quickly stepped forwards and was embraced by him.

"That's why they are in the corner?" he asked.

"Yes."

"How long have they been there?"

"Almost an hour. I know it's too long, Ben but it's the only way I can keep them apart."

Ben hugged the crying woman as she sobbed whilst he stroked her hair and whispered that he understood. When the tears and sobbing slowed he pulled back a little to look down at Emma's face.

"Feeling better?"

Sob, "Yes, a little. I'm sorry Ben; you must think me a very bad mother."

"No. I know that you are a very good mother, you're just tired. Everyone reaches a point where it gets too much for them. Adam told me about your disturbed night, I take it that you didn't get much sleep when you returned to bed either."

Emma wiped at her eyes with her hand until Ben handed her his handkerchief.

"Thank you," she said and she dried her eyes.

"I've been up since just after I heard Adam leave, Ben and the children were up not long after that. I don't know how they do it. I'm used to a long day but…."

"Emma, I know that you have been dealing with a lot of emotional situations lately with my granddaughter and it's clear that it's taken more of a toll on you than you perhaps realise."

Just then the coffee pot whistled and so Emma pushed away from Ben and grabbing a cloth she removed it from the stove and onto a trivet on the kitchen table. Emma sniffed as she poured both herself and Ben a cup of coffee.

Handing the coffee to Ben she realised that she hadn't seen her father-in-law looking so tired before either.

"Oh Ben, I'm sorry I never noticed before that you look just as tired as I feel. Please go and sit down in the main room. Have you eaten, because I was just going to put out some lunch?"

"No I've not eaten yet, Emma."

"Well then would you like to join us for soup and sandwiches?"

"I'd love to, thank you. I'll go and get the table set, Emma whilst you sort yourself out shall I?"

Emma nodded and headed to the water pump to wash her face.

"Abraham, Zachariah and Annabel, front and centre!" Ben ordered.

The three children quickly came to stand in front of their grandfather.

"Well, what do you have to say for yourself?" Ben asked sternly.

Abraham gulped, "I…I…I'm sorry g…Grandpa."

"For what are you sorry for Abraham?"

"I…I…..I guess….I'm sorry for teasing Zach and Annabel when Mama told me to stop." The boy answered then he looked down at his feet.

"Zachariah?"

"Me too, Grandpa. Only I'm sorry for hitting Abe."

"You hit your brother?" Ben asked.

Zach lowered his eyes and nodded.

"Zach, please look at me when you are talking to me."

Zach looked up at his grandfather. "Yes, sir. I hit Abe because he was teasing me."

"And what about you Annabel, what have you been up to?"

"Nothing Grandpa. The boys have been fighting but I wasn't."

"So you are saying that you haven't been doing anything you shouldn't today?" Ben asked trying to clarify things.

Annabel slowly shook her head and worried her bottom lip with her teeth.

"Well, what did you do?"

"She back talked Mama, Grandpa," said Abraham.

"Tell-tale!" Annabel snapped at her brother.

Ben immediately turned Annabel to the side and planted a single firm swat to her small backside.

"Abraham is not a tell-tale and you will not shout at your brother." Ben turned to the older boy. "Abraham, continue please. What did Annabel do?"

Abraham looked at his now sobbing little sister and although he felt sorry for her as he knew Ben had a hard hand, he was more worried about his own backside right now.

"Annabel is right, Grandpa, Zach and I were arguing earlier and he hit me then when Mama came in to separate us. She, Annabel that is well….she was rude to Mama."

"Oh, really?" Ben voice raised an octave.

"Alright, we'll discuss this further with your Mama after lunch. Abe, please set the table. Zach, Annabel go and clean up and be back here in 5 minutes."

The children quickly left to do as they were told. Ben sighed, he so did not want to have to have this type of discussion with his grandchildren, regretting his decision to visit momentarily he rubbed at his tired eyes. I only wanted to check that everyone was now getting along and to bring them all some candy.

The table was set and the two younger children returned to the table in the allotted time. Ben pointed for them to take their seats before he told Abraham to go and quickly clean up himself.

Meanwhile Emma had washed her own tears away and had finished making the sandwiches before filling a tureen with soup. She had heard Ben scolding the children whilst she did so and it made her realise where Adam learnt all of his skill in dealing with the children.

Taking a tray of sandwiches and the tureen of soup into the main room, Emma noted that the three children and her father-in-law were already sitting quietly at the table.

Emma placed the tray down in the middle of the table and then took her own seat.

"Would you like to say the blessing, Ben," she asked as the children clasped their hands and bowed their heads.

"I'd love to." Said Ben and he recited a quick prayer thanking the lord almighty for the food they were about to eat.

Blessing finished, Emma began ladling the soup into bowls for her children before leaving Ben to serve himself.

"So, Ben, what brings you out here today?" Emma asked trying to keep her voice light.

"Oh, I was just passing by and I thought that I might drop in and give my grandchildren some candy that I purchased in town this morning." Ben said looking around the table.

None of the children was able to look at their grandfather, all remained looking at their bowl of soup or their sandwiches.

"Well I'm sorry that you found us the way that you did, Ben it's not how I wanted the day to pan out."

"I'm sure that you didn't, Emma. The truth is that Adam mentioned something this morning and well I was kind of wondering as I rode out of town if his theory, well if his idea is true."

"Yes, what theory is that?"

"Well I had a bit of a disturbed night too, Emma. I woke up at around two and wasn't able to get back to sleep and I couldn't understand why. And Adam mentioned that it was the around the same time that Annabel woke up with a nightmare and he thought that perhaps I might have heard Annabel's' screams. It's ridiculous of course as I couldn't have heard them 10 miles away, but perhaps just perhaps it might be because I have a very unique connection with my mischievous granddaughter and can feel her discomfort." Ben smiled.

Emma rolled her eyes, "Well Ben it's true that Annabel does think that you are the most wonderful person in her life outside of her Papa of course, so perhaps Adam does have a point."

Ben looked sideways at his daughter-in-law wondering if she was teasing him and he saw her smirk. And now I see that it's not just Adam that Annabel takes after.

"This soup is really good Emma."

"Thank you. Mei Ling gave me the idea to add some herbs and it certainly enhances the flavour. The children like vegetable soup so I make it often for lunch."

"Hmm, I noticed when I tied up Buck that you are also growing a few different vegetables is that Mei Ling's idea too?"

"Yes it is."

The table fell quiet then as Ben and Emma concentrated on eating.

When the sandwiches and soup were finished, Emma collected up the plates and started for the kitchen.

"Zach, go and help your Mama will you please." Ben said.

Zach collected up the rest of the plate's and cutlery and followed his mother quietly into the kitchen.

"Abraham, Annabel, go and plant yourselves on the sofa and no talking."

Abraham and Annabel did as they were told whilst Ben poured himself another coffee.

10 minutes later Emma and Zach came out of the kitchen.

"Zach, please join you brother and sister on the sofa," Ben ordered.

Ben waited for Zach to do as he was told.

"Emma, the children have told me what they were doing this morning with exception of Annabel's back talking. I think that you have punished them enough with the time they spent in the corner but it's up to you to decide if you are going to punish them further."

"I don't want to punish them at all, Ben but I don't think I can put up with an afternoon just like this morning. I'm so tired and I don't want to have to tell Adam about their naughtiness as soon as he comes in, so that he thinks he has to punish them."

"Would you like me to talk to them before I leave?"

Emma nodded her head. "Yes, please Ben I'm sure that you will have more success at getting through to them to behave."

"Alright, I'll talk to them Emma but I want them to see you when I do and I want you to remember that even when you are tired you have to be firm and consistent with them. Adam has told me that you have an aversion to spanking most of the time and whilst I think that you should reconsider; I do admire your way of keeping the children in line most of the time when Adam is away."

"Thank you, Ben. I know that you get results as does Adam with spanking, I just don't think it's for me."

"I respect that Emma, really I do, but as I expect Adam already explained to you, no parent ever wants to spank their child. It breaks your heart to be the one to cause your child pain. However there are times when a short sharp physical shock to their system is far more effective than anything else. And I'd rather they learn from that than they learn the hard way when they get hurt or they don't learn to behave and get taken to task in another more serious way. Anyway I don't want to have a discussion on parenting right now, so let us go and speak to the children OK?"

"OK."

Ben led Emma round to the front of the sofa and stood in front of the three young miscreants.

"Right, now" Ben began. "I think that you three owe your Mama an apology don't you?"

The three children slowly nodded their heads, "Sorry Ma. Sorry Mama. Sorry Mama." Chorused the children.

Emma nodded her head and Ben gave her hand a quick squeeze before he addressed the children again.

"Alright, now that that is over I want you three to listen very carefully. I know that you have all had a disturbed night's sleep and it's probably made you all a little cranky, but your mother is also tired so I want you all to promise me that you are going to behave this afternoon, or I can promise you that not only will she tell your Papa so that he will punish you, but that when I hear about it I will come back here and spank you myself. Do you understand?"

Three young heads snapped up at that.

"Well, are you going to promise me that you will behave?"

Three heads nodded quickly.

"Excellent, see to it that you do. Emma, do you have anything you want to add?"

"Only that I was hoping that we could have all gone for a walk this afternoon with a picnic and that because the three of you were naughty this morning that is not going to happen. Now you are going to be helping me clean out the chicken coop and then we are weeding the garden this afternoon and I do not want any more fighting OK?"

Ben looked at the children and saw the three of them nod their heads and offer promises that they would be good. Oh my god it's like seeing my three when they were young with the exception that Annabel is portraying Joseph!

"OK then, well I must be getting back to the ranch. Emma, I'll leave the candy bags with you. If you feel that the children have earned them by the end of the afternoon then they may have them. I got a penny mixture for you all. Make sure that you earn the candy and not two tannings OK?"

"Yes Grandpa!" chorused three small voices.

Ben smiled and turned to Emma, "Mama, is it alright if I release the prisoners for a hug before I go?"

Emma grinned, "Yes of course."

Ben opened his arms, "Well!"

Seconds later three children swarmed around their grandfather and Ben pulled them all into a group hug before planting a kiss onto each head. "Be good for your Mama."

"I will Grandpa." Replied Annabel.

"Yes, Grandpa," replied Zach.

"Yes sir, I will," replied Abraham.

"Alright children, go and get started on the chicken coop. Abe, watch you brother and sister for a moment will you please?" Emma asked.

"Yes Ma," replied Abraham leading his brother and sister out to the barn to collect their work gloves and a rake.

Ben and Emma followed them out the door and Ben drew Emma into a quick hug and he kissed her cheek. "Good luck."

"Thank you. It was nice of you to drop by Ben; I hope that you get a better night's sleep tonight."

"So do I, Emma, so do I." Ben stifled a yawn. "Sorry about that, goodbye Emma."

"Goodbye Ben. Children say goodbye to your Grandpa."

"Bye, Grandpa!"

Ben mounted up on Buck and waved before riding away at a quick trot.

"Is that you Joseph?" Ben called out when he heard footsteps and the front door opening.

"Yeah, Pa it's only me."

Little Joe unbuckled his gun-belt, wrapped it around itself and put it on the credenza before hanging his hat and jacket on the pegs behind the door.

"Pa, where are you?"

"Sitting at my desk, son. Come and join me will you please."

Little Joe rounded the corner to Ben's study area. "Hey Pa, you look bushed. What have you been up to?"

Ben put down his pencil and rubbed at his face with both eyes, "Nothing much, it's just been a long day, Joseph."

"So I see. Don't you think you should go and rest for a bit?"

"I'm going to retire shortly after supper, son. How is the fence line? Did you find any other damage?"

Little Joe stood in front of his father's desk. "It's OK, Pa. The recent repairs on the north pasture are holding but there's another set of top rails down in the south pasture. I tied the rails up with some rope as a temporary measure and have already spoken to Carl about getting a team to head out there tomorrow."

"That's good son, sit down in the chair will you please, we need to talk."

Little Joe slowly obeyed, "Have I done something wrong, Pa?" he asked, racking his brain for anything he might have forgotten about.

Ben sat back in his chair and swept his right hand slowly backwards through his hair. "No, Joseph, you've done nothing wrong that I'm aware of." Ben paused, "Whilst I was in town earlier I collected some telegrams sent from Jake. I'd like you to read this." Ben took the telegram from his pocket and reached across the desk with it before sinking back to wait for his son to read it.

Little Joe opened the telegram hesitantly, not sure whether or not he was praying for news that he was going to be a father or not. He slowly read each line and then paled when he saw the phrase that meant that Amelia was with child.

"Oh, God! …Pa…I ….oh God!" Little Joe placed the telegram back on the desk fully opened and then stood up and started pacing about muttering to himself whilst rubbing his now sweaty hands on his britches.

I'm gonna be a father! I don't know anything about taking care of babies or children! What am I going to do? Amelia I'm so sorry. Shit!

When Little Joe went to turn for the 10th time, he bumped straight into his father. "Joseph, stop pacing, you'll wear a hole in the rug."

Little Joe looked up into his father's tired eyes and his own eyes filled with tears and he bit the inside of his lip before saying, "Pa….I'm scared?"

"Of being a father?" Ben asked as he wrapped his arms around his son.

Joe accepted the hug gratefully. "Yes!"

"I remember feeling exactly the same when Adam's mother first told me she was expecting."

Little Joe leant back so that he could look up at Ben, "Really, you were scared?" Little Joe's voice betrayed his utter surprise that his strong confident father would have been scared of anything.

Ben smiled half-heartedly, "Yes Joseph, I was scared. I didn't think I was really ready to be a father. Oh I'd been married for a while and the idea of having children sounded good, but when Elizabeth actually confirmed that the doctor had told her that she was with child…..well son, then the reality hit home. I was only just 23 then, even younger than you are now."

"So it's OK to be scared?" Little Joe asked.

Ben ruffled the brown curls on his son's head gently, "Yes, Joseph it's normal to feel a little apprehensive at first. But you will adapt, just as I did. By the time Adam was ready to be born, I was ready to accept the responsibility of being a father even though I still had a lot to learn. You will too, son, give it time."

"Yes, sir." Little Joe took a slow breath, "Pa, I've always wanted to find someone to settle down and have a family with and Amelia is certainly the one I want, but I wish that we had waited until we were married for it to happen. I'm so sorry for any embarrassment I've caused, Pa."

Ben released his son after patting him on the back, "It's happened, Joseph," Ben sighed, "there's no reason to keep beating yourself up, son. You made a mistake and now you will have to live with it. Amelia too, she has to take responsibility for her part in all this as you didn't force her into doing anything."

Little Joe nodded his head. "Pa? Do you think Amelia will hate me for not being mature enough to stop myself? I mean I'm older and supposedly more worldly wise."

Ben laughed softly at his son's choice of words, "Joseph, Amelia loves you just as much as you love her, so I don't think she could ever hate you. In fact anyone who has seen you two together would never doubt that. But, I expect that she is probably very upset and anxious about the whole thing and she may express that as anger.

Just remember that it is not really at you but at the situation she finds herself in. It is unusual for a woman to get with child from only one encounter but as you have found it is not impossible.

Why don't we go get some coffee son and sit somewhere more comfortable and then we can carry on talking. Mei Ling! More coffee, if you please."

The young female housekeeper appeared at the open doorway to the kitchen, "It not good you drink coffee all day, Mr. Cartlight," she scolded.

Ben yawned, "I know, Mei Ling, but it's the only thing keeping me awake right now. Please could you make another pot and I promise no more after supper," he replied.

The housekeeper grumbled something in Chinese but disappeared into the kitchen to make the coffee.

Ben sat down in his favourite red armchair and Little Joe sat down on the sofa.

"Joseph, as I was saying…..Amelia will most likely be very emotional for a while, she will probably be very upset when she returns from San Francisco, blaming herself, you, God, possibly everyone, for being put in this position. Most of that will be from fear; she doesn't have her mother to confide in about this, and I doubt she would want to speak to her father about it. Although I expect that both Emma and Caroline will help her come to term with her feelings eventually.

What you need to do is be strong for her and yourself. What I mean by that son is that you need to stop being immature and start being responsible. You can't go off gambling and drinking anymore and getting into fights at the saloon is totally out."

"You mean I can't do anything to relax after a hard days' work?" complained Little Joe.

"Of course you can, Joseph but you just have to be more aware of your actions. There is nothing wrong with visiting the saloon for a cold beer after a hard day, but you have to show Amelia and her father that you are the type of man that knows when to stop themselves from indulging in things that may take you away from being a good husband and father."

"But…"

"No, no but's son. When you are married you will have to provide for Amelia's every need including the costs of the doctor and her clothing as well as the baby's needs, which will be varied. Although your brother's and I will always be here to help advise and support you, Amelia will be expecting for you to take on that responsibility alone and only using what you earn. Therefore you cannot go risking a month's pay on the turn of a card like you do now!" Ben fixed his son with a firm stare waiting for him to dispute that fact.

Little Joe sighed; he knew Ben was right but he didn't want to admit it, since he usually won the pot when he bet that much. Joe was a very accomplished poker player who was very good at reading others bluffs and therefore he won more than he lost, with exception of one time where he completely misread a player from outside of town who had taken Little Joe to the cleaners. Later Joe had found out that the visitor was a card shark who palmed cards and had met his match in Carson City a month later where he was shot dead by another card shark.

"Coffee, Mr. Cartlight, Masser Joe," Mei Ling called as she brought the tray out and put it on the coffee table.

"Thank you, Mei Ling." Ben said.

Mei Ling nodded and walked away muttering again about Ben's indulgence in coffee today, causing Little Joe to start giggling.

Ben frowned at him, "She's worse than Hop Sing, sometimes, anyone would think that she was married to me and in charge of this house."

"I thought she was, Pa," giggled Joe.

Ben frowned.

"In charge of the house I mean." Little Joe corrected quickly with a smirk.

Ben shook his head, he was too tired to argue and sighing, he slowly poured two cups of coffee and handed one to Joe to add the milk and sugar for himself. Ben as usual, took his black without sugar.

Ben settled back in his armchair and sipped at the hot black coffee, "Ah, that's better…. Oh Joe, I almost forgot. Whilst I was on my way back from town, I thought I would go and see Henry and let him know that Amelia got to San Francisco OK. I also thought I might have a word with him on your behalf. To make things easier for your own discussions with him about getting married. "

"Oh? What did you say?" Little Joe asked as he sipped his coffee.

"Oh, nothing much," Ben drank down half a cup of coffee before continuing. "Joe, there's something you need to know…..Henry has told me why he wanted Amelia to wait until she was 21 to marry."

Ben then relayed the conversation between Henry and himself whilst Little Joe sat quietly sipping his coffee.

"Oh, well I suppose that explains it," he said when Ben finished.

"Do you think we have any chance of changing Mr. Henderson's mind, Pa?"

Ben nodded, "I think maybe there is a chance, Joe, but it'll take some fine talking between us and you may have to settle for waiting."

"But Pa, I don't mind waiting but won't Amelia be showing signs of being pregnant by then?"

"Yes, I expect that she will if she is anything like your mother. Amelia is such a small women anyway that there's little chance of disguising it from someone who knows her well. But maybe it can be disguised a little by her wedding gown by lots of petticoats but until then she'd need to stay out of town." Ben finished his coffee and returned the cup to the tray.

"Joseph, I'm not really comfortable keeping secrets from Henry. I think that you and Amelia should consider telling him about the baby."

"He'll shoot me with his shotgun!"

"I doubt he'll do that, son. Henry is a good man behind all that bluster and he loves Amelia very much. I suspect that he will be angry just as I was, but if Amelia stands beside you when you tell him I can't see him doing anything that will hurt her feelings."

Little Joe swallowed hard, "You think….I….I…should go and tell….him? Everything?"

"No. I think that both you and Amelia should tell him and yes, I think that you should be honest from the very start. Without too many details of course. You made a mistake, Joe and admitting that you did so out of love for each other might make Henry see you in a better light."

"Yeah and then you can plan my funeral," grumbled Little Joe.

"Joseph, I am not going to make you do any of this. You are a man now and you have to make the right decision for you and Amelia too, but starting out on a lie will only lay an unseen wall between you and what if Henry somehow found out? How do you think he would react if he found out that you concealed something so important from him, hmm? Do you think he would ever trust you again?"

Sigh, "No, I guess not, Pa. You're right of course; you have raised me to always tell the truth no matter what the consequences."

Ben smiled and leant forwards and patted his younger son's knee, "I remember it took quite a while for you to learn that lesson son, but learn it you did, even when you gained a tanning for doing so. Joseph, know this, I will be here to support you through all of this but you are going to have to grow up fast now and prove to everyone what I already see, that you are a fine young man."

"I'll try, sir."

"I know you will. Oh Joseph, one more thing, I want you to go over and see Henry tonight after supper."

"Tonight!" squeaked Little Joe. No I'm not ready for that!

"Yes, tonight, if you please. Henry is worried that perhaps you and Amelia have snuck off to San Francisco to get married. I assured him that you hadn't and was in fact working on the Ponderosa today as I had asked you too, but he wasn't fully convinced I think and I'd like you to go over and reassure him, you needn't do anything other than that."

"Aw, Pa, I'm pretty beat after being in the saddle all day and had planned on a bath and a friendly game of poker in the bunkhouse tonight."

"I'm sorry son. I just want Henry to be reassured that I was telling the truth as he is worried about Amelia. I think that she has perhaps been avoiding him through covering up her feelings of guilt about what happened and Henry has naturally been suspicious." Ben paused, "Joe, like I said, I'm not going to make you face Henry, if you don't want to go then don't."

Little Joe, sighed, Looks like I don't have much of a choice. If I don't go over Mr. Henderson will find another reason to not like me very much. I wonder why he is like that with me? I'm always careful to be respectful around him and surely he can see how well I look after Amelia and how much I love her. "Alright, Pa I'll go and see him after supper then I'll come back for my bath."

"Thank you, son, I'm sure that Henry will appreciate that." Ben replied.

"Supper ready, 5 minutes, everybody get washed up!" Called Mei Ling from the kitchen doorway.

Ben and Little Joe stood up and headed out to the pump to wash up, returning a few minutes later to sit down at the table, just as Mei Ling was bringing out the food.

After supper Ben bade Little Joe goodnight and headed up to his bed, whilst Little Joe headed out to the barn to re-saddle Cochise.

"I'm sorry, boy, but we've gotta go back out for a while," Little Joe said as he strapped the saddle onto the paint pony. Finishing cinching the straps he patted the pony on the flank and led him from the barn, mounted up and headed out of the yard at a fast trot.

Ben had only just settled down in bed with a book hoping to read for a short while, when there was a knock on his door.

Putting the book on the bedside table he threw back the covers, got up and pulled on his housecoat and strode over to open the door.

"Mr. Cartlight, I bring you some special recipe hot milk. It will help you sleep," said Mei Ling indicating the tray with a large cup of hot milk, with the distinct smell of cinnamon coming from it.

Ben yawned, "Thank you Mei Ling. What's in it?"

"Just hot milk and cinnamon and a few Chinese herbs. It made from Uncle Hop Sing's recipe. He made notes in book that family sometimes need sleeping toddy, so I make. You drink all of cup, Mr. Cartlight, get good night sleep."

Bern took the tray from the young housekeeper. "Alright, Mei Ling I'll drink it. Thank you for bringing it up."

Mei Ling nodded, "Goodnight, Mr. Cartlight."

"Goodnight, Mei Ling."

Mei Ling turned to go down that stairs and Ben closed his bedroom door and took the small tray to put it on the bedside table. Undoing his housecoat he quickly slipped back into bed, propped himself up with a few pillows and he reached for the hot milk.

Mmm, this is very good, but she's added something extra, I wonder what it is? I can't quite place it.

Ben finished the hot milk and yawned, he put the cup back on the tray and noticed that his eyelids felt heavy and his head started nodding forwards. Oh well it looks like I won't need to read after all.

Ben turned down the lamp and after rearranging the pillows, he snuggled down under the covers and within minutes he was fast asleep.

"Mr. Joseph, how nice to see, you, do come in," said Mr. Henderson's housekeeper.

"Thanks," Little Joe took off his hat and stepped through the doorway forwards enough for the door to be closed behind him.

"I'll tell Mr. Henderson you are here, Mr. Joseph." The housekeeper turned to go to the living area and Joe followed him.

"Mr. Joseph Cartwright to see you, sir."

"Thank you, Wade. Can I offer you a drink, Joseph?"

"No thank you, Mr. Henderson."

"OK, nothing for me either Wade. You may go."

"Yes sir," replied Wade Douglas an elderly man who had worked for the Henderson for years. Wade return to his haven which was the kitchen.

Mr. Henderson rose from his chair and shook hands with Little Joe. "Good of you to come after what I'm sure is a long hard day, Joseph. But I told your pa when he left that it wasn't necessary, he made a good case for you, you know."

Little Joe unconsciously rubbed his neck with his left hand whilst holding his hat in his right, "Uhm, well….Pa said that he thought you'd be more reassured if I came over, sir. He said that you thought Amelia and I had eloped and that when he arrived with the telegram that you thought he was going to tell you that we had already gotten married."

"Well, I admit I did think that at first. Amelia has been kind of quiet lately and it's not like her, it's like she's hiding something. She used to do that when she was a little girl you know, hide away from me so that she didn't have to tell me that she had done something she shouldn't."

Little Joe's mouth went dry at Mr Henderson's words and he fiddled with his hat not knowing what to say.

Mr. Henderson noticed Little Joe's nervousness. "Are you OK, Joseph?" he said pointing at Joe's hands.

Little Joe forced his hands to stop moving and he looked up at his future father-in-law. "Uhm, yes, sir. Kind of tired though. Uhm, I understand that you and Pa talked out why you wanted Amelia to wait until she was 21 to get married."

"Yes, yes we did. It was her mother's wish that Amelia wait until she was of age. I know that it's rare out here in Nevada but her mother came from the City and its common there."

"Yes, well….. if you don't mind sir, I'm kind of tired and could do with a bath and a bit of time to relax. I hope that you are happier seeing that Amelia is not with me and that we haven't eloped or anything."

"Yes, thank you for taking the time to come over, Joseph. I do appreciate it. I'm also sorry if you've gotten the impression that I don't think that you are good enough for my daughter. Your father made me realise that perhaps I have been a little harsh with you – reacting to your reputation rather than what I have seen with my own eyes."

Mr. Henderson finished his glass of bourbon and then coughed as it burned his throat which was a little sore. "Joseph, I can see that you love Amelia and you have always behaved responsibly around me, but you have to realise that Amelia is my little princess, she is all I have left from my wife now and I'm going to be wary of anyone who wants to take her away from me.

I've heard many rumours about you son, I've no idea if they're true but I have to tell you that some of them made me very concerned that Amelia was making a bad choice. I hope that she hasn't. You understand what I am saying, son?"

Oh, yeah! You are warning me just as my as Pa is that I'm being watched from now on and that I need to behave more responsibly if I'm hoping to be your son-in-law.

"Joseph?"

Little Joe, shook his head as if to shake away the dust from his thoughts, "Uh, yes sir, I understand. Please excuse me for being a little distracted; it's probably because I'm tired." Explained Little Joe, hoping that the excuse would be accepted.

"I understand son, you go on home and get your bath. Any idea when Amelia might be coming home?"

"No sir not really, although I'm kind of hoping that they'll be back by Monday at the latest. Jake, that's the man Pa sent with the women. Well he said that he would telegram when just before they get on the stage and then it's around two days journey on the stagecoach."

"You'll send word when you get the telegram?"

"Absolutely, sir."

"Thank you; you don't know just how anxious a father can get when their child is so far away." Mr. Henderson stood up to shake hands with Little Joe, "Thank you once again for coming over Joseph and please thank your Pa for asking you too, will you?"

"I will, sir. I promise. Goodnight Mr. Henderson."

"Goodnight, Joseph."

Mr. Henderson followed Little Joe to the door and closed it when the younger man mounted his pony and waved before riding away. Perhaps I have misjudged the boy more than I thought. Hmm, a marriage between the Henderson's and the Cartwright's…..well it's not a bad match I suppose and Ben and I get on reasonably well. Well we'll see, if Amelia is insistent about still marrying the boy then I suppose I don't have as much of an objection but I would like her to wait until she is 21.