Chapter 14

'Hoss, Little Joe, you're back!' Missie's face beamed as she ran over to them, Hoss picking her up off her feet as he gave her a hug. She giggled. 'Hoss, put me down.'

'I swear every time I see you, you done get prettier.' He tweaked her nose and she giggled once more as he set her down on the ground again, 'You been behaving yourself Lil Miss?'

'Pa only has a couple extra grey hairs, not too many.' She turned to Little Joe. 'Do I get a hug too?'

He chuckled and obliged. 'I take it you missed us then.'

'I always miss you when you guys aren't here. How'd it go?'

'Found a few less stock then there should have been.'

She turned back to Hoss. 'Rustlers?'

'Not sure, I'll have a talk to Pa about it.'

'He's in the house. Why don't you two go in, wash up and get ready for dinner? I'll tend to your horses.'

'We can't let you do that-'

'Roast pork and sweet potatoes-' She smiled sweetly, Hoss's face lighting up. 'Go on, I'll take care of these guys.'

'Thanks Lil Miss.'

Little Joe handed her the reins of his horse and the pack horse as his brother headed inside. 'Thank you Missie. I'll be back out to give you a hand once I shake the trail dust off.'

Missie led the three horses into the barn after her brothers had disappeared inside the house, tying them up then offering them each a drink before she started untacking them. She was tired, she'd had a long day with helping her Pa and Adam take the horses into Virginia City. They'd gone there the day before but the Colonel had been delayed and they'd had to take them back in today.

'Need a hand with those horses Miss Cartwright?'

She smiled as the older ranch foreman joined her in the barn aisle. 'That would be much appreciated Mr. Matthews.'

'You can just call me Hosea Miss, Mr. Matthews makes me sound older than I am.'

She chuckled as the man started unloading the pack horse. 'Alright then, Hosea. I'd much appreciate a hand with these, I've still got my own chores to do yet.'

'I've been watching you the last few weeks, you're quite the worker I might add. You did a good job on that mare of yours too, I never expected she'd come as good as she had.'

'I can't take all the credit for that I'm afraid, Pa and the boys helped while I was laid up.'

'I was sorry to hear about that, glad to see you're doing better now.'

'Thank you. I'm still trying to take it easy but at least I'm out of the house again.' She pulled the saddle off Chubb and gave him a quick brush over before placing him in his stall. 'How long have you been working for Pa for?'

'Oh, probably close to fifteen years or so.' Hosea placed the supplies and pack saddle aside to tend to once the horses were taken care of. 'Your Pa saved my hide from an old grizzly bear that wanted to make dinner out of me.'

'Really? You were lucky then.'

'Right lucky. Your Pa took me in and gave me a job once I was well enough to work. I've been here ever since.'

'You haven't got a family?'

'Wife and daughter died of the fever bout twenty years back now.'

Missie turned to Cochise, the mare nuzzling her as she undid the cinch. 'I'm sorry to hear that.'

'It's alright Miss, happened a long time ago. You remind me a little of my Amelia, she was a spitfire if ever I saw one. I heard about what happened with Jimmy, I reckon he'll think twice in future.'

'I hope so, I don't wish to need to do it again.'

'Here, I'll take care of that.' He took the saddle off for her and carried it over to the other tack. 'I doubt you need to but if any of those young bucks go giving you any more trouble you come look me up.'

'Thank you Hosea.'

'I see you roped this old coot into helping you hey Missie.' Little Joe exclaimed with a grin, coming into the barn. 'You wouldn't be happening to be chatting up my sister would you?'

'Old coot, bah.' He grumbled good naturedly. 'And no. After the way she took care of Jimmy the other day I'll stand clear thank you very much.'

'What happened?'

'You hadn't heard? Your sister broke Jimmy Anderson's nose.'

'I hadn't heard-' He looked over at Missie. 'What'd he do?'

'Nothing for you to worry about big brother.' She replied sweetly. 'So don't go worrying about it.'

'Your sister packs a punch Little Joe, I wouldn't be getting into a fight with her if I were you.'

He chuckled. 'I'll keep that in mind. Pa sent me out to bring you to dinner.'

'I've still got my chores-'

'Don't you worry bout that Miss, you go on and enjoy your dinner with your family. I'll take care of things here for you.'

'Alright. Thank you Hosea.' They headed out of the barn, Joe placing the shawl he'd brought out from her across her shoulders. 'Nice man.'

'Hosea's been here for as long as I can remember, he's almost like a second father.'

'I can tell.'

'So, what did happen with Jimmy?'

She sighed. 'I was looking at some horses and he came over to have a conversation. I spoke with him for a little while but then when I wanted to leave he grabbed my arm. I asked him twice to let me go then let him have it.'

'Oooooh, remind me not to get on your bad side.'

Missie slapped his arm good naturedly. 'Don't go giving me a reason to and you'll be just fine.'

'Joe, can I speak with you for a moment?'

He looked up from the book he'd been reading as his father took his seat next to the fireplace. 'Sure Pa, what's on your mind.'

'I've been thinking about the stallion-'

'Oh, yeah. I was going to speak with you about him too.'

'How about you let me finish?'

Adam chuckled, glancing up from his book at the banter being exchanged between his father and younger brother.

'Of course Pa. Go ahead.'

Ben frowned, noticing Joe's feet on the table. 'Feet off the table.' His son sighed and sat up. 'While you were gone there was an incident involving Adam, Missie and your stallion. Adam went to work him and the stallion almost trampled him. Missie got involved and stopped him from attacking your brother then started training him herself. I am less than keen on the idea of having a dangerous horse on the Ponderosa and I wish to know what you plan on doing with him.'

He turned to Adam. 'What happened?' Adam recounted the story and as he did so his eyebrows rose higher. 'I thought he was a quiet horse.'

'Unfortunately you got more than you bargained for in that poker game Joe.' Adam added. 'There was a reason why those men wanted to be rid of him so quickly and I think we just figured it out.'

Joe sighed, running a hand through his thick curls. 'What do you wish me to do with him Pa? I can't rightly sell him knowing he's dangerous.'

'I've been thinking about that-' He lent forward to stoke the fire. 'I was thinking perhaps we might let Missie have a go with training him.'

Adam and Joe looked at their father at the same time. 'What?'

'Just hear me out. I was there with Adam to see some of what she was doing with him, I've never seen her so at ease and involved as I did watching her work with him in the corral-'

'If I did what Missie did you'd have tanned my hide good and proper.'

'Yes I would have. However the circumstances I am dealing with considering my raising of Missie are very different from those when you were her age. I saw how well she worked with him and while I am not condoning her actions I have already dealt with that. I think that it might do her good to work with the stallion, under supervision and in a controlled environment of course.'

'Missie's done asleep soon as her head hit the pillow.' Hoss announced, returning downstairs from tucking the girl in. Missie had adamantly requested he tell her a story before she went to sleep and he'd been happy to oblige. 'That lil girl was downright tuckered out. You been working her too hard Pa?'

Ben chuckled. 'She's had a big day, we were up early taking the horses in for that army contract and then her and Adam were riding fence lines most of the afternoon.'

'I've never seen anyone as keen as her to get working.' Adam added with a glance at his younger brother. 'She's got three times your motivation.'

'Very amusing older brother.'

'And returning to business-' They quietened down for their father to speak. 'About Missie. I am willing to let her try and gentle the stallion if one of us is watching her, someone is to be with her at all times while she is working with him.'

'And what if she can't handle him?' Adam wondered. 'What if he gets aggressive again?'

'If Missie's life is in danger then you can take any means necessary to keep her from harm. No horse is valued over someone's life, if it comes to it the stallion will be put down. I think she should be given a chance at least to work with him though. I think it might do her good to work with him.'

'Do you want me to tell her Pa?' Joe asked after a moment.

'Speak with her tomorrow, let her know I've given her permission to work with him but let her know that when she wants to someone needs to be with her.'

'I won't forget Pa.'

'Missie, can I talk to you for a moment?'

She looked up from the stall she was cleaning and nodded as she rested against the rake. 'Sure. What's on your mind?'

'Come with me, I want to show you.'

The girl frowned and placed the rake aside, following him out the back door of the barn to the corral. Joe climbed up onto the fence, the girl climbing up beside him. The stallion snorted, lifting his head to look at them and she wondered just where this conversation was going.

'He's magnificent, isn't he?'

'He is.'

'Pa said I need to do something with him since he's standing here eating hay without earning his keep. He's too good to be gelded and used as a cow pony but I don't have plans to use him for breeding either.'

'Would you mind getting to the point please? I want to get my work finished before Pa and Adam get home.'

'He's yours if you want him.'

Missie turned to him, his words taking a moment to sink in. 'Pardon? Would you mind saying that again?'

'I said he's yours if you want him.'

'Does Pa know about this?'

'Pa was the one to suggest it. If you can gentle him he's yours. I don't have the time to spend on him and Pa thinks you might be able to do something with him.'

'I don't quite know what to say.'

Joe chuckled. 'Yes might be a start. There is one condition that comes with this.'

'Yes?'

'Someone needs to be with you whenever you're working with him. That is not negotiable. When you wish to work with him you need to let us know. We don't want you to be hurt.'

'My Pa had the same rule when I was working with the horses for their first few lessons too. I'll be sure to mind it. Besides, I can teach whoever's watching about my way of training.'

'So it's a deal then?'

'Yes big brother, it's a deal.' They shook hands on it and she looked back at the stallion. 'If he's going to be mine he's going to need a name. Blackie-no. Midnight- too common.' The horse snorted and she laughed. 'You don't like that either? Don't worry, I'll come up with something.'

'We best get back to that list of chores Pa left for us.'

'I'm almost finished in the barn, what's next on the list?'

Joe pulled it from his pocket as they walked back into the barn. 'The fence that needs fixing, I've taken care of everything else while you've been playing in the barn.'

'Playing? I'll have you know I've been working twice as hard as you.' She laughed and picked up the pitchfork once more. 'I'm almost finished in here, I'll come join you at the fence when I'm done.'

'Don't take all day, Pa wants us all to go do some target practice when he gets back from town.'

'I won't.' She promised as her brother left again and she focused back on her work at hand. Her hands might have been going through the actions of working but her mind was far from thinking about the stall she was mucking out. He was giving the stallion to her! She was truly elated, she'd never expected to own such a gorgeous animal as that stallion but on the other hand she was worried. Worried if she would live up to their expectations. Obviously her Pa had been impressed by what he'd seen her do with the stallion before, what if she couldn't gentle him fully though? The thought that maybe she wasn't good enough to own such a horse ran through her mind but she pushed it aside. They thought her able enough to work with him and she'd do her best to prove them right.

'Missie, you in here?'

She stood up from the stall she was cleaning as Ben walked into the barn. 'Hey Pa, I didn't expect you to get back so soon. I'm almost done in here, I've already done everything else you wanted me to do.'

'I saw, you've done a good job.' He leant up against the post, the girl forking in fresh straw into the stall. 'Anything happen while I was out?'

'Oh, you mean the little talk Joe had with me?' Missie grinned, stretching her back after she'd forked in the last of the fresh straw. 'Thank you for giving me a chance with the stallion Pa.'

'He told you about needing to have someone with you when you're working with him?'

She nodded. 'He did. Pa had the same rule-' She stopped for a moment, frowning. 'You know Pa, calling you Pa and referring to my stepfather as Pa just doesn't seem right anymore. You're my Pa now, I think perhaps I should refer to him by some other name. Maybe just Edward from now on.'

'You do what you think is right.' The girl returned the tools to where they belonged and gave Lily a pat as she walked past. 'Missie, while the boys finish up the fence and go set up for our target practice I think it's time we have that little talk about firearms.'

Lilly nuzzled her and she chuckled as she turned back to her father. 'Alright Pa but can we go inside for it? I really feel like one of Hop Sings cookies after working all day.'

Ben smiled and placed his arm around her as they walked to the house. 'I think you're entitled to one, let's just see what Hop Sing says.'

Missie watched on the sidelines for some time as her brothers practiced with their guns, her fathers words echoing in her mind as he stepped forward for his turn. He'd just spent the last hour with her speaking with her about the responsibility that came with carrying a gun and his words were firmly planted in her mind. Her stepfather had given her the same kind of talk when he'd given her her pistols on her birthday and she still remembered every word of that one too. When a person straps on a pistol they accept the responsibility that one day they might have to use it to take another person's life. She was acquainted well with that reality. In her mind she could still see the first man she killed and everything that happened around it-

'I believe that it's your turn now.' Adam exclaimed, coming over to her and extending the rifle towards her. 'You can borrow mine.'

'Thank you Adam.' She checked the rifle to make sure it was empty and it was. 'Mighty fine shooting older brother but let's see if I can do one better.'

'Oh I doubt it.'

'Those bottles that Hoss is putting up, they've got lids on them right?'

'Yes-'

'That's what I'll be aiming for.' She took a shell from the box of ammunition and began to load the rifle in preparation for her turn. 'Care to make a bet?'

'I think I've lost enough money to you this week.' He chuckled, tossing her brown hair that had worked out of its braid. 'From now on if you want to make a bet with me I know well enough not to.'

'Once bit, twice shy hey?'

'Something like that.'

'Your turn now is it Missie?' Joe questioned as he placed his rifle up against the log she was sitting on.

'I've been told it is.'

An idea came to Adam's mind and he glanced over at his brother. 'Missie says she'll be aiming to shoot the lids off the bottles.'

'You can't do that.'

'Oh I can't, can't I?' She caught the sly smile on Adam's lips. 'How about we have a bet then on that account? Say, fifty dollars perhaps?'

'And where are you going to get fifty dollars from when you lose?'

'If I lose I do your chores for two weeks. Fair enough?'

'Good enough for me.' They shook hands on it as their father and Hoss came back from setting up the targets. 'Hey Hoss, Missie reckons she's a better shot than you.'

'Does she now?'

Missie rolled her eyes. Brothers. 'Once a girl sets her mind to something you best watch out.'

'I agree-' Ben added, motioning for his sons to step back. 'Let's give Missie some room.'

'You worried I'm gonna shoot you in the foot Pa?' She teased as she stepped forward, rifle in hand. He replied back with something humorous but she didn't pay him any mind. Having a rifle in her hands for the first time in months, except for her shooting the cougar felt so unusual. The last time she'd fired a rifle was at a deer that ended up being their breakfast the morning of her family's murder-

She lifted the rifle up, checking the sights and to get a feel for the gun. Adam kept his firearms in immaculate condition and this one was no exception. Even her step fathers guns hadn't been as maintained as well as this one was. She looked down the sights at the first bottle then swept over the remaining four before lowering the rifle again. It was just like shooting at rats without them moving. If she could take the eye out of a rat at fifty yards with a .22 she could hit the lid off a bottle at forty with a .45 Henry.

Hoss frowned, watching his young sister. 'What's she doing Pa?'

'Getting a feel for the rifle, taking her time like I told her too. It's been sometime since she's fired a gun, with the exception of the cougar the last time she did she was trying to protect her family.'

Missie took a deep breath, raised the rifle and fired. The first lid was blown cleanly off as she fired at the second. She shot at them in rapid succession with each bottle's lid blown cleanly off without so much as shattering the rest of the bottle. She smiled as she lowered the rifle. Despite not having practiced in months she still was as good a shot as ever.

Joe's mouth hung open in amazement. 'H-How-'

'You just lost your fifty dollars I believe.' Adam clapped his brother on the shoulder with a smile as they walked up to the girl. 'Well done.'

'I knew you could do it Lil sis.'

'Great shooting my dear.'

'I believe I owe you fifty dollars.'

Missie smiled as she handed the rifle back to him. 'I'm glad I haven't lost my eye for shooting, I don't know how many hours and cans I spent on practicing.'

'That truly was some of the best shooting I've ever seen.' Ben added in admiration. 'Why don't you show us what you can do with your pistol?'

'Sure Pa. You all going to stand clear well behind me this time?' She teased with a grin. They took a couple steps back and she focused on the targets once more.

'You might want to borrow a pistol-'

'It's alright Joe, I've got my own.' She took a deep breath, her hand resting down beside her skirt where her pistol was strapped underneath then drew. Five bottles smashed loudly in succession as she fired quickly and cleanly then slipped her pistol back into its hiding place. She sighed, turning back to her father and brothers. 'I'm not as fast as I used to be.'

'Fast?' Joe spluttered with surprise. 'Missie, you're faster than most men I've seen. How could you be faster than that?'

She shrugged. 'With practice. I didn't have time to stand around and aim when a rattler was curled up at my feet. Pa, sorry, Edward, taught me quick draw after I was almost bitten by a rattler while checking fences one day.'

'I didn't even notice you were carrying a pistol, how'd you keep it hidden in there?'

'The advantages of wearing a skirt, big brother. See-' She held the pocket open to show them. 'I've got my pistol strapped down a little lower than where you guys carry so it's concealed beneath my skirt. I've lined the inside of my pockets with stiffer fabric to hold it open and prevent my pistol from being caught on anything. Obviously too these aren't true pockets, they're open so I can take the pistol out. My Ma concealed her own pistol the same way. When Edward had as much weight in our town as he did he wanted us to be able to protect ourselves. I just wish my skills had been enough-'

Ben placed his hand on her shoulder as her voice trailed off. 'I think that's enough practice for one day. How about you go on and get cleaned up for dinner, I've got a surprise to give you after.'

'Alright. Thanks again Adam for letting me use your rifle.'

'I'll come with you, we just might be able to swipe a couple of Hop Sings cookies if we work together.'

The girl chuckled and they headed back to the house with Hoss's arm around her shoulders. 'I guess Missie's proved she can handle both a pistol and rifle.'

'I'd say.' Adam agreed as they gathered their firearms to return them to the house. 'But Pa, where'd she get the ammunition for her pistol?'

'I think perhaps I'd prefer not to know.'

'You going to let her continue carrying a pistol then?'

'She's been responsible while she's been wearing it, we still wouldn't know if she hadn't taken it out on the camping trip.'

'I had no idea she was carrying one.' Little Joe added. 'She's got it hidden pretty well. She's not a bad shot either.'

'She's better than you.' He teased, his younger brother punching his arm. 'You better cough up that bet you lost with her or with the way she can shoot there might just be one less Cartwright running around.'

With dinner eaten the members of the family went about their various evening activities. Missie and Little Joe were absorbed in a game of checkers with Hope curled up on the girls lap. Hoss was mending a bridle while Adam read a book. Ben had disappeared after the meal, preparing the surprise for the girl.

'Alright, king me.' Missie exclaimed with a triumphant smile. That was the fifth checker of Joe's she'd been able to capture so far and the second one she'd been able to turn into a king. Her brother sighed and slipped one of his checkers beneath hers. 'Thank you.'

'Man little Joe, your luck sure is bad today. First you go losing that bet to Missie and now she's a tramplin you at your own game.'

'If I didn't know any better I'd say you had it coming.' Adam glanced up from his book at them. 'With the amount of times you've cheated at checkers I'd say it's just your due reward.'

'Very funny older brother, very funny.' He stared at the board intently before making his next move. 'Your turn.'

Missie contemplated her choices carefully, capturing two of his checkers with one move. 'Sorry big brother, I really think you've got bad luck tonight.'

'Yeah yeah.' He moved another checker, intent on just ending the game and being put out of his misery. The girl smiled, quickly taking the last three of his in one go. 'Alright Hoss, how about you and I have a round instead.'

'Much more fun watching you get your hide kicked by our sister Little Joe.'

She smiled smugly. 'I take it you don't wish to be beaten for the fourth time in a row tonight.'

'I just don't know how you do it.'

'Thinking, thinking over every move and every possible outcome.'

'You sound like Adam here.'

'Yeah well I prefer not to have my hide kicked if possible, unlike you. Adam and Hoss filled me in on some of the highlights of you not using your brain.'

'Some brothers you pair turn out to be.'

'Just bestowing words of wisdom on our younger sister here.' Adam winked at her and she giggled. He'd told her more than one story about the most accident prone member of the family. 'Instructing her in the way she should go so she doesn't turn out like you.'

'I'll have you know there's nothing wrong with me-' He tossed a checker piece at Adam which he ducked and instead it hit his father in the side of the head as he walked down the stairs.

'What in the tarnation?' Ben yowled, picking up the checker that had landed on the floor. 'Who threw this?'

Three fingers pointed directly at him and he cringed. 'Sorry Pa, it was meant for Adam-'

'How many times do you have to be told not to throw things inside the house?'

'Sorry Pa.'

Ben sighed, placing the checker piece on the table and returned to the reason he'd come downstairs. 'I'll deal with you later, young man.' In his hands he held a wrapped up package, the object of which his trip to Virginia City that day had been. 'Missie, this is for you?'

'For me Pa?' She took the long parcel carefully, laying it down on the couch beside her to open it. Hope nuzzled at her hands as she tried to get the string undone. 'What is it Pa?'

'If I told you it wouldn't be much of a surprise now would it?' He questioned, sitting down in his seat to watch her open the present. 'Open it and you'll see.'

'You sound like Adam.' She gave up trying to undo the knots and got out her pocket knife from her belt instead. A couple moments later with the strings cut she was able to peel back the paper to reveal a leather scabbard with a rifle inside. It was a henry repeater like the other ones they had but a slightly smaller and more decorative version. Engraved on the side were her initials, M. C. and they matched those of the ones on the scabbard. 'Oh Pa, it's gorgeous.'

'I'm glad you like it honey. I've had it on order for some time, it finally arrived in today on the freight wagon. You'll be able to carry that with you on the ranch now instead of one of ours. I thought you might like your own rifle.'

'I do Pa, I do.' She placed it and her kitten aside, getting up to give her father a hug. 'Thanks Pa.'

'Your welcome. If one of us has time tomorrow we'll take you out so you can have a go of it and get used to it.'

'That'd be great. Care to bet on my skills once more Little Joe?'

'No, not me. You're unlike any girl I've ever been around.'

She laughed. 'I don't know whether that's a compliment or an insult.'

'Compliment. I don't know of any girl let alone a man in Virginia City whose as good a shot as you.'

'Speaking about bets, would you like to make good on your end of the bargain?'

'Alright-' He pulled his wallet from his pocket where he'd stored the cash to pay her earlier. 'What are you going to do with your new found riches?'

'Save it. Christmas is only a few months away.'

'That sounds like a good idea Missie.' Adam interjected. 'Perhaps you might learn some new money saving habits from your sister Little Joe.'

'Yeah, number one. Don't bet if you've got a chance of losing.' She pocketed the cash to add to her box in her room later. 'Where do you want me to put my rifle Pa?'

'There's an empty spot on the rack for it, I put one of the old ones into the one in the bunkhouse.'

'Alright I'll place it up before I head to bed. Care for a game of checkers Hoss?'

'Sorry Lil sis but now's not a good time-' He stuck himself with the needle again and winched. 'Gotta get this fixed for the team.'

'How about you and I have a game of chess Missie? I'm finished with Shakespeare for the night. That is of course if you want to challenge the chess champion of the Cartwright clan.'

'I accept your challenge Adam-' She replied theatrically and with a devilish grin. If she was good at checkers she was even better at chess. 'Prepare to lose your crown my good man.'