A/N: Well. It has been five years since I first wrote Rosemary's side of the story, Enter Mark Twain. A reader recently reached out and told me how much they had enjoyed the story (shoutout to buxy!). A few things the message contained sparked this idea and I just had to write it. I hope you enjoy it! As always, I do not own these characters and I am writing this just for fun.

Don't let him see you flinch, Rosemary. Flinch and he wins.

"No."

A simple, short word, but could be spoken with a thousand distinct tones that added meaning. This time, it was spoken with a mixture of amusement and challenge. And the smirk that accompanied added a note mocking.

"Mr. Cowan, are you saying you did not study the vocabulary words I gave you yesterday?" I asked, trying not to let my annoyance show in my tone. "Did you simply forget? Again? Or do you have a more valid reason not to have prepared for today's lesson?"

"It plum left my mind the minute the bell rang, I think," Ron Cowan said, an impudent grin on his face. "Maybe I need to stay after class so you can help me remember, Miss Rosemary."

Chuckles came from the back of the classroom. There were only a few boys who were Ron's age, but they all looked up to him. When mischief was afoot, he was usually the one to blame. He had just turned sixteen, and I knew it was only a matter of time before he just wouldn't show up in class again.

But, in the meantime, he'd learned I was only a few years older than him and his words had taken on a suggestive tone I did not like.

"Somehow, I don't think that would accomplish anything, and you are to call me Miss Lawson," I said, holding my ground. "Well, then. You may sit back down, Mr. Cowan, and we'll see if Miss Walker knows the answer."

The boy didn't lose his grin as he sat back down at the desk that was almost too small for him. He was no longer towering over me, but I honestly didn't feel as though I had won the confrontation.

Miss Walker, fourteen and one of the brightest in the schoolhouse, easily spelled the vocabulary, and I could move on. A glance at my watch showed that it was time for the school day to end. I rang my bell and dismissed all my students for the weekend.

As I stood at the door to see the children off, I couldn't shake the confrontation from my mind. Each week, Ron became a little more belligerent, a little more disrespectful. Notes and visits to the parents yielded no change. Heaven knew there was no discipline I could enforce in the classroom that he would accept.

One shouldn't threaten her students with a pistol, after all.

"Are you sure you don't want me to stay?" Ron stopped in front of me. He'd held back to be the last one to leave.

There were still students in the yard, so I wasn't afraid. Not really.

"If I thought it would help with your poor memory, I would say so, but I really doubt it would do any good," I said primly. "Good afternoon, Mr. Cowen. I expect better of you come Monday."

Was it wrong for me to wish that he wouldn't come back? He chuckled and put his hat on his head. Ron sauntered off the porch with the confidence of a boy who thought he could take on the world and come off the winner. He joined his friends and off they went, laughing.

Breathing out, I retreated inside. I grabbed the broom and set to work on my daily routine. It was easier to keep the floors cleaned if I swept every afternoon. As I worked, my mind wandered.

It had been all of three months since I had taken up the post of teacher. Soon, there would be a break to allow families to harvest their crops with the help of all hands old enough for the work. Truthfully, I was looking forward to the rest that time would give me.

Not that I didn't enjoy teaching. I did, very much. For the most part, the children were eager to learn, and they were wonderful students. But with the growing disrespect of the older students, it was a fight each day to keep control of my classroom.

And I was exhausted.

"Hello the school!"

The cheerful shout brought a smile to my face. The last Friday of the month brought my favorite time: returning to the Ponderosa.

"Hello Hoss!" I called out, hastily sweeping the dirt and dust out the open door. He had ridden right up to the porch. I could see the last of my students vanishing down the road. "I'm almost done. Give me just a moment."

"Take your time," Hoss Cartwright said. "Anything I can help with?"

"Saddle Belle for me?"

Without hesitation, Hoss dismounted. He tied the reins of his faithful mount, Chubb, to the porch rail before he set off to the little stable at the back of the school.

I hurried to put my broom away and to collect my saddlebags from my living space. In anticipation of this very moment, I'd packed my bags with what I thought I would need for the weekend. I did one last check, ensured the stove was cold, and no embers remained to cause trouble, and then closed the door behind me when I stepped out of the building.

Moments later, Hoss was leading Belle around the corner of the schoolhouse. "All ready?" he asked, reaching to take the saddlebags from me.

"More than ready," I said, not even trying to hold back my eagerness. I let him take the bags from me. They weren't heavy, but Hoss always insisted on taking them from me, even if it was only a few steps to Belle's saddle. "Joe didn't come with you?"

Hoss swung the bags up on to Belles back and made sure they were secure. "Not this time," he said. "He said he had plans to meet some friends in town this evening. He's probably already in town."

"Oh." I fought off my disappointment. Of course, I couldn't expect Joe Cartwright to think my visit was as important as I did. He had friends and his life didn't revolve around me. And I knew him well enough to know plans with friends meant... "So he's already at the Bucket of Blood?"

Hoss turned around with a laugh, his blue eyes crinkling. "He thinks no one knows what he's really up to."

Well. I just might have to disabuse him of that belief the next time I saw him.

The ride to the Ponderosa was always a peaceful one. The stunning views had been the first thing I fell in love with when I had arrived in the Nevada territory. The second had been the massive Ponderosa Pines. With autumn on the horizon, and the leaves just shifting color, I was eager to see what else the changing season would bring.

Riding a horse had become second nature, given how necessary it was to travel from one place to the next. Though I had once feared being on Belle's back, now it was a favorite pastime. And if Joe had been the one to meet me at the schoolhouse, we would have raced at least part of the way to the ranch.

Had Joe become tired of my company?

He, like the rest of his family, had been my first friend in the territory. It would break my heart if we were already drifting apart after knowing each other for such a short time. I'd already lost too much in my life and Joe Cartwright was a friend worth having.

"Try not to fret, Rosemary," Hoss said as the ranch house appeared ahead of us. "Joe's always been eager to do whatever kind of fun comes to mind. He'll settle down once he blows off some steam."

How did he know what I was thinking and why did Joe need to blow off steam? It didn't sound like something I should question as we rode into the yard of the ranch house. All I could do was watch and wait.

The Ponderosa ranch house was a structure unlike anything I had ever seen before. The walls were made of the massive Ponderosa pines that stretched towards the sky in every direction. It was the largest home I'd seen since I left San Francisco, with a rustic charm I hadn't expected to like so much.

"Afternoon, Miss Lawson."

My cheeks heated as I tried not to give a start. Slim Henry was taking off his hat as he approached. "Good afternoon," I managed to say as I dismounted. Here was something else for me to worry over.

He had taken me to a dance two months ago and I thought it had gone well. We had danced late into the night like so many other couples had done. We hadn't really discussed anything serious, but a barn full of other people was hardly the place for that. But we had laughed so much that evening. I had enjoyed myself and I thought he had too.

Then...nothing. No notes. No visits. No other invitations to spend time together. I didn't even see him in church.

I had, at first, made excuses: work on a ranch was busy and hard. It came with unexpected problems and followed the schedule nature dictated. Entertainment and courtship had to come second. But the weeks had passed, and it became harder and harder to make excuses.

Joe's constant teasing about Slim's interest had confused me because it was the exact opposite of the evidence in front of me.

"Afternoon, Slim," Hoss said cheerfully. "You should join us for dinner tonight. Hop-Sing is roasting beef, I think."

Hastily, Slim put his hat back on, covering his sandy brown hair. "Afraid not," he said, his brown eyed gaze shifting to the left. "But thank you for the offer. I'm going to be...riding herd tonight. Some of the other men have heard wolves."

"Jud might trade with you."

But no, nothing more was to be said about it. Slim grabbed the reins of Belle and Chub and led them toward the barn. Hoss looked between us with a slight frown. He opened his mouth to say something, but he seemed to think better of it.

"Whatever Hop-Sing is cooking smells delicious," I said, just to change the subject. "Beef, you said?"

"You know Hop-Sing always cooks his best when he knows you're visiting," Adam Cartwright said as he stepped off the porch. "Hello, Rosemary."

"Hello, Adam," I said with a smile.

"Are you having any problems in the classroom?"

The question made me hesitate. A teacher who couldn't keep order in her classroom could quickly lose her position. And Adam was on the school board. "Nothing I haven't been able to handle," I said with more confidence than I felt. "A few of the older students still don't like that I'm not much older than them."

Adam nodded. "Several parents have had only good things to say about you. Their children are progressing better than before."

Pleased, I ducked my head. "I'm glad," I said, feeling the blood rush to my cheeks. I'd thought—hoped—that I was doing well. It was nice to hear that someone agreed.

"I'm going to check the North pasture," Adam said to Hoss. "Jud said there were some signs that someone has been up there. I should be back in time for supper."

"I'll go with you," Hoss said immediately. He glanced at me. "You'll be alright by yourself?"

"Of course," I said, forcing a smile. They'd treated me as a sister long before this. I couldn't expect them to treat me like an honored guest every time I came. "I know where to go. I'll see you later on."

Off they went. Carrying my saddlebags, I went to the front door. The scent of roasting beef filled my nose and made my mouth water as I entered the house. "Hello, Hop-Sing!" I called out.

The cook came rushing from the kitchen. :Welcome, Missy," he greeted with a wide smile. "Come. I have tea ready."

"Perfect," I said with relief. That, at least, hadn't changed and I hoped it never would. "Tea is exactly what I need."