Unsure as to what compelled her to trust Joe Cartwright, Katherine nevertheless found herself proceeding to blurt out the mangled mess she felt to be her soul. Between hiccups and sobs, she told him everything; the traumatic night when her family had perished in the house fire, the days she spent wandering the streets of Boston until found by a stranger, the first days when adjusting to living with a gruff though kind seaman, the thrill of going to girls' boarding school, the challenge and trials of then entering into the upscale ladies' college but she couldn't continue speaking after that.

Patient to wait for her to gain composure, Joe tightened his arms around her and, without warning, she laid her head down on his shoulder. He smiled, listening as her story took another turn. The smile soon fell as he felt a knot forming in his throat, hearing of the past year filled with loneliness and worry for her guardian. The pain in her soft voice brought compassion to his eyes although slight amusement followed when he heard of the lifelong infatuation with Adam and even that fateful night she had flung herself at the older man. Under normal circumstances, he would have either felt jealous, irritated or let a chortle slip but not this time. He didn't see a young woman who was fickle but one that had a wealth of intelligence and capacity to love in that pretty head of hers. It was obvious to him that she had been desperate for a very long time and hadn't had anyone who realized that.

After Katherine finished her entire confession, she had never felt so relieved to have her nightmares and memories off her mind for a few minutes but she also felt utterly empty and only wanted to sleep. Numbed to the world, she drifted off with her head slipping down to rest in the crook of Joe's elbow. She breathed a long, genuine sigh and relaxed into his body. He smiled again, reaching up to brush the hair from her face before standing and pulled her up into his embrace. Again cradling her head against his chest, he carried her up the stairs and to her room. Pulling the covers down on the bed, he laid her down and tucked them tight about her thin body. Then he pulled a chair over to the bedside and sat down to start his vigil. Not trusting Katherine to not harm herself and unwilling to leave her side, he sank down, his closed fist holding up his drooping head. He wasn't sleepy though, his green eyes watching her intently as she slept on. Her face free from worry as she drifted in oblivion, she was unknowing of the protecting presence of the young man who remained for the rest of the night. He caught a bit of sleep off and on but always he would startle awake to peer at the girl's delicate features and always was he relieved that she continued in peaceful slumber.

Morning came soon, too soon for those who were finding rest in the house. Rubbing his face to loosen the muscles, Joe heard his family beginning to stir in the hallway and the smells of breakfast wafted up through the floorboards. With a sigh, he straightened in his chair and renewed his observation of Katherine as she began to stir under the sheets. With a coo, she raised a hand to rub her eyes vigorously before laying still and apparently waiting for her body to follow her mind into consciousness. He waited silently, a smirk twisting his lips until her eyes opened and a look of surprise crossed her face.

"Oh, you haven't been here all night, have you?" she asked self-consciously, pushing herself up to rest against the headboard.

"And what if I have?" Joe replied, his gaze steady and true.

Katherine blushed deeply, averting her eyes and toyed with a stray thread on the quilt at her waist. "Joe, I...I'm so sorry. I should never have told you all of those things last night. To be honest, I wish you hadn't interfered. It wasn't any of your business."

Joe shrugged, uncaring and also quite smug. "I don't think you understand the gravity of the mess that we are dealing with. I am just as involved in this as you are. You tried to kill yourself."

"And without your colorful presence, I daresay! Leave me alone, you shouldn't even be in here! It's not proper!"

"You are quite the brat, aren't you, Katherine? So full of yourself that you can't see what you are doing to the ones that love you. The things that you've been put through were just terrible and horrible. I couldn't imagine losing my entire family, let alone being so young when it happened but during the rest of the entire story, I heard three constants."

"OH, yes, and what were those?" Katherine tossed her head, crossing her arms defiantly.

Joe scowled, rising to his feet with hands on hips and matching her icy stare. "First, your own strength. Think of it, you wandered on your own for days with no food and no water, until the captain found you. Speaking of whom, your grandfather is the second constant that I heard of during your lifetime."

"He is not my grandfather, only my guardian."

"Stop it! Does it matter? Guardian, grandfather, aren't they practically the same thing? He doesn't say it enough but he loves you, I've saw it in his face when you went to bed last night during dinner. He was disappointed and worried too."

Katherine glanced up at him warily. "But when I came around to kiss him goodnight, he said nothing and ignored me. Why would he then be that caring of me all the time, as you say?"

Joe sighed with frustration, combing his fingers through his hair. "From what Adam has said, the captain has never been one to be long on feelings or emotions. After living with him all these years, I would think that you would know that and have accepted it."

Her eyes filling with tears, Katherine lowered her head again. "I do love him, it's just...I have been so very alone and in need of something but what...I haven't been sure," she shuddered visibly and met his green gaze, "What was the third constant you spoke of?"

Joe's face softened, a queer smile peaking out from his cheeks. "My brother, Adam...he means a great deal, doesn't he?"

"I don't want to talk about him."

"Why not?"

"I just don't," Katherine narrowed her eyes, willing her body to stop trembling. She knew she was cornered but refused to acknowledge it. "Why must you push so? Go away and leave me in peace. Please!"

Shaking his head, Joe sat on the edge of the bed and took her hands in his. She tensed but allowed the contact which encouraged him. The kindness and compassion came over his handsome face again and her heart skipped a beat. He spoke softly, reaching up a hand to cup one of her porcelain cheeks. When she didn't pull away, he said, "I push because I see great things in you. I mean, come on! You are beautiful, smart, strong and young. You could have any future you want and I would hate to see you fall into the mud before you even get started. Self-pity doesn't look good on you anyway. Personally, I would like to get to know you better and we could at least be friends. Don't ya think?"

Katherine couldn't help but smile back; the young man's grin was too contagious to resist. "I suppose. And what you said does make some sense. I was foolish, wasn't I? I am so stupid!"

"No, that is never what I mean. Stop thinking like that! You are special and deserve to hold your head high. Come on, show me."

Quite enraptured, Katherine raised her chin a fraction and when he frowned, she drew her head back until her slender neck was revealed in all its grace. Joe nodded in satisfaction. "That's more like it. I think you need a break from everything, don't you? Why not talking to the captain? I'm sure if you explain somewhat then he would be fine with you going somewhere. An adventure! Maybe even overseas."

"I don't know," she replied doubtfully, pulling her hands from his. "Do you really think I could do anything as bold as all that?"

Joe laughed, a hearty sound to ease the tension. "I wouldn't have said it if I didn't mean it. Sure, you could do it. You need something to look forward to. You need to find things to do that excite you and maybe one day you will find someone who will appreciate your spirit. I know I already do."

Katherine blushed as she grew self-conscious. "I do not know of that but if I could only feel peaceful at any one moment, I would be heartened."

"You will. Once you take charge of your own life and stop letting that little voice in your head tell you that Katherine is worthless. You are far from having no value. To me, to your grandfather and, of course, to Adam."

Katherine looked away and her face hardened. Rising from the bed, Joe smiled down at her until she turned to him again. Then he said, "I never claim my brother to be an angel but he's always been a pretty good listener. You need to talk with him, the real man and not this fantasy you've cooked up in that pretty head of yours."

Joe turned to leave and made it to the door before Katherine called after him. "And you won't mention any of this or last night to Grandfather or...or Adam then?"

Turning to regard her, Joe shook his head. "It isn't my place and you don't owe me anything but I will be watching you. And I want you to be checked out by the doc when he comes later. No more argument and funny business or I will rethink my promise. Understand?"

Though she didn't smile, Katherine nodded, choosing not to argue and the door closed behind him. She sat in silence, her eyes wide with new possibilities and untried notions. With a surge of energy, she jumped out of bed and ran to the window, looking out onto the clear morning and a small laugh came from her chest. She quickly dressed and tidied her hair. She hurried out of her room, down the back stairs and out the back door in the house. Running around to the stand of trees, she collected the abandoned box and then she ran to the rose garden. With a steady hand, she retrieved the knife and placed it in its cradle. She paused upon seeing the white rose wilting on the ground and she stooped to pick it up carefully. That too she slipped into the box and with as little noise as possible, she walked back around the house and went inside, soon finding herself in her room once more. The box was set deep in the dresser, under the neat stacks of pantelets and blouses, to be forgotten for the time being. Nodding firmly to herself, Katherine then straightened her back and left, intent on joining her family for breakfast for she heard happy voices below that suddenly she felt anxious to join.

When the table came into view, she hesitated, seeing Frank, Abel, Jody, Ben and Joe eating and talking without a care, it would seem. They didn't notice her at first and her resolve began to fail. But when Joe happened to look in her direction, his face lit up. He beckoned her over and held out the chair next to himself so she may sit. Unlike the night before when she had coldly refused his chivalry, she blushed and sat gingerly, giving him a smile. He handed her the dishes of breakfast food and traded stolen glances with her during the rest of the meal.

Observing two young people from behind his water glass, Ben smiled wryly as he observed the change in Katherine's sullen attitude. He knew that his youngest son's charms must be wearing off and he was glad to see her happier. Realizing how beautiful she really was when that lovely smile made her gray eyes twinkle and dimples appear on her cheeks, Ben was surprised. Yes, she was most becoming and Ben couldn't help but wonder if a spark was igniting that may burst into a flame between Joe and this blossoming flower. The father chuckled, spooning a biteful of scrambled eggs into his mouth to be chewed thoughtfully. All these thoughts of young love, including the impending marriage of his oldest son, made him feel as though he was twenty years young once more; when he had first laid eyes upon the beautiful Elizabeth Stoddard, a woman of grace and intelligence. He sighed, buried pain resurfacing along with the fond memories and Abel's presence hadn't helped the discomfort over the last few days.

However, the old sea captain was also entertaining company so Ben decided to put his father-in-law to good use, turning to ask for a few stories about the olden days of sailing on the high seas. A hopeful grin spreading from ear to ear, Jody added his pleas until, with a laugh, Abel complied. He didn't need much coaxing and was soon weaving suspenseful tales of seafaring life that had each person at the table spellbound, Jody especially was caught up in the moment. His food forgotten, the little boy listened with eyes wide and mouth slack upon hearing Abel's gruff voice recounting stories of pirates and raging storms at sea. Hoss came down the stairs in due course and helped himself both to a hearty plate of food and an earful of fascinating stories. Breakfast continued on in kind, all the diners eating and relaxing to enjoy the simplicity of the morning, sunshine shining from the window across the table. Family, good food and the past glories all rolled into one made for a marvelous time and one the Cartwrights richly deserved. Such a jolly meal was being had that the last two members of the family were nearly forgotten but not quite.