By the time we had eaten, Joe and I were back on our usual good terms with each other. He claimed that there were no chores for him to do, and I decided to believe him. So it wasn't long before our horses were saddled and we were on our way.
It really was the perfect day for a ride. I let Joe take the lead. After all,he'd grown up on the land. He knew the most interesting places to see and he was always eager to show them to me.
Hop-Sing had condescended to provide a picnic lunch for us to take with us, just in case we didn't make it back in time for the noon meal.
So, we ended up on the shore of Lake Tahoe. Cochise and Belle munched on grass behind us as we ate our own food. The water sparkled as it washed up against the shore. It was beautiful as long as I didn't close my eyes.
The sound, sometimes, reminded me of the night father was killed and I ran for my life. But not every time. Grief, I had found, was sometimes like a snake in the grass: it crept up on you without a sound until there it was.
"Honestly, why aren't you spending the day with Slim?" Joe asked, startling me out of my thoughts. "And don't throw something at me. I'm just curious. I'm not going to tease you."
Sighing, I let go of the pebble I had grabbed. "Well, for one thing, he didn't ask me,' I said, staring out over the surface of the lake. "You can't spend time with someone who doesn't talk to you."
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Joe turn toward me. "What do you mean?"
"I mean, I thought we had a lovely time at the dance, but since then—" I broke off with a shrug. "He seems to be doing his best to forget it happened. I don't think he'd even said good day to me. No. I'm wrong. He did say, 'Afternoon, Miss Lawson,' yesterday. So there's that."
Joe didn't seem to have anything to say to that, so I risked glancing over at him. He was scowling as he tossed pebbles at the water. "Don't," I said, knowing exactly what he was thinking.
"Don't what?"
"Don't go picking a fight because you think he has wronged me in some way."
"Well, he should know better and you don't deserve to be tossed aside without an explanation." Joe's forehead creased into even more of a scowl. "I want to know why he doesn't think you're good enough for him."
And I really, really, REALLY didn't want to know. Or did I? I couldn't be sure of anything except the fact that Joe Cartwright was bound to make a fool of himself if he wasn't careful.
"For crying out loud, Joe, it's not as if I'm setting here with a broken heart," I said, leaving out the few times I may have cried from confusion. "This is why I didn't say anything earlier. Leave it alone."
"But―" Joe's protest died away as I glared at him. He held up his hands. "Fine. I just don't understand. He talked about the dance like it was the highlight of his year. If you both had a good time, why not―" He paused and waved his hand. "You know."
"Well, maybe he changed his mind." And I was sick of the topic. "Leave him alone, alright? If things change, they change. Besides, I have a great deal to do with the school."
Joe scoffed. "You're as bad as Adam. What makes school so great?"
Anything I might have said was interrupted by movement to my right, along the bank of the lake. The hair on the back of my neck prickled like I was being watched. "Joe, who is that?" I asked, nodding in that direction. There were no herds of cattle this close to the lake, so I didn't think it could be any of the Cartwright hands. Unless it was someone who had the day off.
Sitting up straight, Joe pushed his hat back. "I don't know," he said, suspicion creeping into his voice. "Wait here. I'm going to go see who it is."
"Not a chance!" I scrambled up at the same time he did.
"No. Seriously, Rosemary. You need to stay here, where you won't get in the way," Joe said, as if that was supposed to convince me. "Anyone who trespasses on the Ponderosa is usually after something. Pa will never forgive me if something happened to you."
"Since the most trouble I've ever had has happened when I was alone, I will have to disagree with you," I said, running to Belle. "You go, I go. End of discussion."
Rolling his eyes, Joe gave up on the argument. He was mounted and racing away before me. Maybe he hoped to outpace me, but I was able to keep him in sight. All his attention was on the now fleeing horseman who was weaving his way through the trees.
I thought we were getting close to the edge of the Ponderosa property when Belle stumbled. Startled, I cried out, clinging to the saddle. It was a relief that Belle didn't go all the way down, but my cry was enough to make Joe slow and glance back.
That was enough time for the rider to vanish among the trees.
"Are you alright?" Joe asked, coming to my side.
"I'm fine." I slid to the ground and began to check Belle's legs. Joe dismounted and joined me. "Did you get a good look at him?"
"No, but I'll know his horse if I ever see it again," he said, his tone frustrated. "I should have caught him. Now he'll just think he can come and go as he pleases with no consequences."
"Sure, because you didn't just chase him off the Ponderosa." I was never sure where the Ponderosa ended and the rest of the world began. It seemed like a lot of people wanted a piece of the ranch.
"She looks fine," Joe said, stepping away from Belle. "Let's get back. I think Pa will want to know about this."
If anyone would have looked in on the Ponderosa, they would have assumed that all was as it should be. I knew better, though. The entire evening had an edge of seriousness, though Ben made an effort to keep things light and cheerful. Everyone turned in early.
Did the Cartwrights suspect something was not as it should be? Were they under threat from someone again? Did they know who or why? None of them had said, so I was left to wonder.
Sunday was a day just as beautiful as Saturday had been. I packed up what I had brought with me. There were times when I considered leaving some of my few belongings at the Ponderosa since I was there so much, but I couldn't bring myself to do it. They may have taken responsibility for me, but I knew there were those in town who were not as understanding.
Ben drove the buggy into town, and Belle was tied to the back. Adam, Joe, and Hoss chose to ride to church on horseback.
After church, the Cartwrights took me to lunch at one of the cafes in town and then left me at the schoolhouse. I waved from the porch as they left, feeling a sense of loneliness.
It didn't take long to prepare for the coming week, though I still hadn't worked out what to do about young Mr. Conway. When the sun went down, I kept my pistol close by, unable to shake the unease that had settled on me.
In the middle of the night, I woke up with a start. My heart was pounding, though I wasn't sure what had woken me. Laying on my back, I stared up at the ceiling. Just as I was about to roll over, I heard...something. It was hard to describe. It was like a thump, but softer. What I did know was that it was right outside my window, where there was no tree or bush to explain away the sound.
My heart was in my throat as I propped myself up. Was someone out there? Though I heard nothing else, I knew I wouldn't get a bit of sleep if I didn't at least try to peek out and check. Before I climbed out of bed, I reached over to where I kept the pistol at night.
Joe had kindly informed me that it was the height of stupidity to keep a loaded gun under one's pillow, so I didn't do that anymore.
I didn't exactly feel secure with the gun in my hand, but I made myself get up. Cautiously, I stepped to the window where I had a brown gingham curtain hanging across the glass. Holding my breath, I eased the fabric aside just enough to look out.
There was just enough light from the crescent moon to see a horse in the yard where my students usually played. I blinked, unsure whether to believe what I was seeing. Why was there a horse out there? Everything else looked as normal as it possibly could at night. Was I seeing...
The indistinct figure of a man crossed in front of my window.
Letting go of the curtain, I pressed my hand against my mouth to keep from making any sound, I pulled back. Who was that and why was he at the school in the middle of the night? My hand shaking, I peeked out again.
The man was crossing the yard to his horse. I watched him mount and then he rode away.
The breath I had been holding left in a rush and my knees gave way. I sank to the floor.
No more sleep for me.