„I wonder what I should do first. Riding and enjoying this beautiful weather or go home, do my chores and then go riding", Rebecca thought to herself. „But if go riding first I might get into trouble with Pa, because I will be late at home. On the other hand if I do my chores first the weather won't be that beautiful any more, because it will be close to supper and getting late…"
„Miss Cartwright, can I help you?" „No leave me alone!" Rebecca responds not recognizing the voice asking her is the voice of her teacher. She wandered off in her thoughts that much that she didn't realize that she was still in school solving some math problems.
„I beg you pardon?!" The teacher responds very upset. „I want you to focus on the lesson this instant Rebecca Cartwright or I will have to write a note to your father saying that you do not pay attention in my lesson and being rude!"
„I am very sorry Miss Walker. It won't happen again." Rebecca says with much regret in her voice. She really didn't intend to be rude to her teacher she just didn't realize that she was in class and thought that her brother Joe would asked her something.
After two more hours school was over. „Hey, sis!" Little Joe called. „That was really close. You got lucky that Miss Walker accepted your apology and didn't write that note to Pa." „Yes I know!" Rebecca responds in relief. „I am a very lucky girl today. Because if she would have giving me the note I would be a very sorry girl tonight and probably not sitting that comfortable at supper."
„Why are you a lucky girl?" Adam asked walking towards his two youngest siblings. „Oh hello Adam, well no reason big brother." Rebecca replied, looking at her two feet as if they are the most interesting thing she has ever seen. Adam walked up to her and lifts up her chin. „No reason, huh? That must mean that you are in trouble. What have you done?" Becky looks into her brothers eyes and says: „Please Adam, everything is settled and you will only get mad if I tell you, so why don't we forget this one and move on? Could you please leave it alone for one time? I promise that everything is alright now and I apologized to the one I needed to." „Well alright, Becky." Adam replied. „I will let this one go. I am in such a good mood I don't want to ruin that." „Oh thank you, Adam! You are the best!" Rebecca said giving her big brother a big hug.
Rebecca was on her way to her horse to go riding home along with her brothers. She was a bit sorry for herself, because she wouldn't go for a beautiful ride now that Adam was here. She had to come straight home. While being lost in her thoughts Rebecca did not notice that a boy was behind her. It was David, a handsome looking boy with dark brown hair and blue eyes. He was about two years older than Rebecca and was eager to ask her to the upcoming winter dance in town. But he was very nervous to ask Rebecca out as he was fond of her for quite some time now. He thought that she was the most beautiful girl in town, with her blond hair, brown eyes and knowing exactly what she wants. Not being afraid of how others will react. David thinks that that is something that he is looking for in a woman. Of course he wasn't going to ask her to marry him or start courting her right now, but asking her to the winter dance was very nerve wrecking. What if she says no or doesn't even know his name? How embarrassing would that be? „Well there is only one way to find out." David thought to himself. „I just have to ask her."
Gathering all his courage, David walked up to Rebecca and called her name. „Rebecca?" But Becky did not respond, because she was lost in her own thoughts. „Rebecca? Becky? REBECCA!" David finally said louder and Rebecca woke up out of her thoughts and turns around. „Yes?! Oh hi David, I didn't notice you were there. I am sorry!" „Hi Becky, I am sorry, I didn't want to scare you. I just came to you because I want to ask you something." „Oh sure, what is it?" „Well…. uhm." David was really nervous. At home he practiced over and over again what he wanted to say to Rebecca but now that the time had come he couldn't say a word. „I…uhm…wanted to ask you to…uhm… come to the winter dance with me if you were planning on going there." Rebecca smiled, this was like a dream come true. This handsome boy, David on whom she has laid her eyes for some time now was coming up to her and asking her to come to the winter dance with him. In one instant she forgot about her riding plans and replied cheerful: „Yes of course I would like to come to the dance with you. It's a pleasure." „Really? That is awesome! Sorry, I mean that is delightful." David says, trying to keep calm in all his excitement. „Alright, I have to get home now but I will see you tomorrow in school and then at the dance. Bye Rebecca." And David went off towards home leaving a very happy and smiling Becky behind.
„Rebecca Cartwright! What is taking you so long? Get on your horse now! We have to get home." An angry Adam woke her up out of her pink cloud she was flying on for the past few minutes. „I am sorry Adam, I am coming." „Well, what took you so long?" „I got held up by David. You won't believe what just happened Adam. He just asked me out the winter dance!" Becky told her big brother excited. „Who is David?" Adam asked suspicious, knowing that one day there will be boys in his little sisters life but he didn't expect it to be so early. Now he really has to keep an eye on her. „David is a really nice and handsome boy from school." Oh no she thinks he is handsome, Adam thought. This is not good. Why does she has to grow up so fast? Can't she stay a little girl a bit longer? „I see. And how old is this David? Do I know him or does Pa know him?" „He is about a year or two older than I am. 16 years I guess and I don't think that you know him yet, but you must have seen him around when you picked me up from school." „Alright, well before you go with him to the dance I would like to meet this young man." „Why Adam? Do you really need to? Don't you trust me?" „Of course I trust you, it's David I don't trust. And I am sure that Pa will feel the same way about meeting him before you go to the dance together." „Alright, I guess I don't have any other choice." „Yes, that's right, come on let's go and head home. There are chores waiting for you." The three Cartwright's got on their horses and rode off.
Later that evening Adam came up to Ben to talk to him about what happened at school this afternoon.
„Pa, can I talk to you about Rebecca?" „Yes of course son, what has she done? Is Rebecca in trouble again?" Ben asked suspicious. „Oh no she is not in trouble, at least not yet. But when I picked her and Joe up from school she got to talk to a boy named David and he was asking her to come with him to the winter dance. Do you know who this boy is?" Adam asked his father with concern, he was really protective over Rebecca and he doesn't want her to get hurt, especially not by a boy. „No, Adam I have no idea who that is. But I sure would like to meet this young man before I allow Rebecca to go to the dance with him. I had no idea that she was willing to go to the dance let alone already being interested in boys. This does come quite early and I am afraid that she will be a handful concerning this matter. I will talk to her about this." And Ben walked up the stairs going to Rebecca's room and knocked on her door.
„Yes come in." Rebecca replied to the knocking on her door and looked who was coming in. „Hello Pa, what can I do for you?" „Hello, darling I want to talk to you." „Am I in trouble, Pa?" Becky asked a bit frightened. „No sweetheart you are not in trouble I want to talk with you about something Adam just told me." „Oh I guess I know what this is about. It's about the winter dance, isn't it?" „Yes it is. I want to ask you a few questions about this boy David." Ben said to Becky and sat down next to her on a chair. Ben continued speaking. „I heard that you have been asked to the winter dance by this boy." „Yes, Pa that's right. Is anything wrong with this?" „No it is not wrong, I just want to know who this David is. What is his last name and who are his parents?" „His last name is Brown. His father is mister Brown and he runs the hotel in Virginia City." „Well mister Brown is indeed a very decent man and his wife is just lovely so their son must be the same." „See I told you so! I really don't understand why you and Adam are so worried. I am just tired of you two looking out for me all the time." Rebecca responded with a loud voice and sounding almost angry. She said it a bit too loud, because Ben didn't liked the tone of voice his daughter just used with him. „Young lady you will NOT raise your voice with me and you will certainly not tell me what I can and cannot do! Next time you raise your voice with me or speak disrespectful to me I will put you over my knee immediately without a warning! Do I make myself clear?" Ben responded quite angry. „Yes, sir! I am so sorry. It won't happen again." Rebecca replied with a remorseful voice and her head hanging down. „Alright, even now I know that he has decent parents I still want to meet David." Ben continued. „Maybe you'll just introduce me to him on Sunday after church." „I will Pa, no problem." Becky replied being very happy that this little incident with her father didn't escalate. Sometimes Rebecca's temper get's the better with her and she forgets all her manners. She has ended up many times over her father's lap receiving a spanking because of her temper. Most of the times she couldn't sit comfortable for a few days.
The week passed by without any further incidents. On Sunday it was time for the Cartwright men to meet David. Rebecca had already warned him that his Pa and brothers wanted to meet him at church. David totally understood why the Cartwright men wanted to meet him, but he was actually a bit nervous about it. They seemed very protective about their daughter and sister and he wanted to give a good impression.
After breakfast the Cartwright family got ready to go to church. Everybody was wearing their best clothes and Rebecca was wearing a beautiful dress. Benjamin, Adam and Rebecca took a seat on the carriage and Hoss and Little Joe rode by on their own horses. It was a cold but sunny winter day and everybody was in a good mood. But Rebecca did feel a little nervous because of the upcoming meeting between David and her family. She couldn't explain why she felt nervous, maybe she really likes him, more than she wants to admit.
During the church service David and Rebecca kept looking at each other. And that didn't go unnoticed by Adam, who is closely looking at his young sister. If it comes to Rebecca, Adam is very protective and he doesn't want her to get hurt at any cost. That means that he is going to keep a close eye on this boy David.
After church the Cartwright's met David and his family and to Rebecca's satisfaction it was a pleasant meeting.
The following days Rebecca was busy thinking about what she should wear to the dance….