Staying as close to Joe's side as I could, I rode into town. Already, the main street was filled. Miners and cowboys alike had come to town to enjoy themselves.

"This was a bad idea," I said, somehow keeping Belle calm when a gunshot split the air.

Again, Joe was listening, his eyes constantly moving. He didn't slow down but kept Cochise at a steady walk. There were more brown horses than I could count, especially if I were to take into consideration the horses being ridden as well. Beyond white marks, such as socks or blazes on the heads, I couldn't see any way to tell the differences between them at all.

Two men in the middle of a brawl fell into the street to my right. Poor Belle skittered to the side. She was uneasy and so was I. "Alright," I said, raising my voice. "Joe, you've had enough time. Can we—"

"There!" Joe interrupted me with an excited exclamation. "In front of the Bucket of Blood. I'm sure of it."

Why was it always the Bucket of Blood? The next thing I knew, Joe had brought Cochise to a halt and was dismounting. "Where are you going?" I demanded, though I knew I really shouldn't be surprised.

"I'll just be a minute," Joe promised, not even looking at me.

"No, you won't!"

And then he was gone, leaving me sitting on Belle in the middle of the street. My cheeks burned when I noticed several passing men staring at me. "If your father doesn't thrash you within an inch of you life, Joe Cartwright, I will think of a way to do it myself," I muttered, keeping my gaze on Belle's ears.

"Miss Lawson?"

At the sound of Slim Henry's voice, I closed my eyes. Perfect. Just perfect. As if my day wasn't already going downhill. After doing his best to ignore me, why would he speak to me now? Here?

"Are you alright?"

"Yes, I'm fine," I said, opening my eyes. "I'm just waiting for Joe."

Someone on the opposite side of the street shouted to a friend, using language that was hardly appropriate. Slim glanced over. "Looks like the fun started early," he commented. "I can go in and send Joe out for you, if you want. Or I can take you back to the Ponderosa myself."

Since riding with him would mean having a conversation, I was about to take him up on the first part of his offer. Inside the Bucket of Blood came the sound of shouting and tables being broken. I didn't have a single doubt that Joe was right in the middle of it.

"Stupid, stupid, stupid," I muttered.

"Miss Lawson?"

The noise increased in the saloon. "Alright," I said with a sigh. "Take me to the Ponderosa."

If the sheriff didn't pull Joe out of the mess he was in, I'd send Adam and Hoss back for him. See what he thought of that!

The first half of the ride was quiet, though very awkward. Slim had nothing to say to me and I didn't have anything to say to him. This gave me a little too much time to think. Did I feel guilty about leaving Joe to the consequences of his decision? A little, but it had been his choice to go into the middle of Virginia City. And she had apparently forgotten I was waiting for him outside the saloon. So I felt free to do what was best for me.

"I heard about the man outside the school."

Startled, I glanced over. Slim was staring straight ahead. "Yes?" I said slowly, unsure what he expected me to say to that. I'd thought most people—at least everyone who worked at the Ponderosa—knew about what had happened and why I was staying at the ranch.

"I'm sorry you were made to feel unsafe again."

"Well, the Cartwrights have promised not to let anything happen to me," I said with a sigh. "And they haven't let me down yet."

Slim made a sound that could have been a huff, but it was hard to tell. He didn't seem to have anything else to say, and for some reason, it irritated me this time.

"I was surprised you didn't speak to me after the dance, Slim," I said honestly. Though I kept my gaze forward, out of the corner of my eye, I saw him turn toward me. "No note, no word. Did I misread how things went so completely?"

He cleared his throat. "No. I enjoyed our time that evening."

Twisting, I narrowed my eyes at him. "So what happened? Is that all you wanted? Someone to have a good time with? It would have been nice to know that before that night."

"No, it wasn't like that!"

"What was it then? Why did you stop speaking to me?" I didn't even try to keep the frustration out of my tone. "You ignored me! No! It was worse than that. You politely nodded to me, but you said nothing. And yet, my friends believe you are courting me!"

If anything, his face paled. Again, he cleared his throat. "I'm sorry if I raised your expectations. I—" He paused and then repeated, "I'm sorry."

Quite frankly, his words only annoyed me more. 'Sorry' was all well and good, but surely I deserved an explanation? "I do not accept your apology. Not until you tell me what I did wrong."

"You didn't do anything wrong," he said quickly. He heaved a sigh. "Look. I've always sworn I would do the right thing and never flirt with the daughter of my boss. It wouldn't be right if I did something like that."

"Yes? What does that have to do with anything?"

Slim groaned. "I didn't think it would have anything to do with you and me. You're not a Cartwright, but I didn't realize you would become one in all but name. They treat you like their daughter and sister. I thought they would find you a place and then go on with their lives."

This was honestly worse than what I had imagined. "You honestly thought the Cartwrights would set me up with my job and then have nothing to do with me again?" I demanded. "Does that really sound like something they would do? Really?"

He didn't say anything.

"So because you learned I would have four men looking out for my welfare, suddenly I was no longer worth the effort?" I continued. "My appeal was that I was alone and helpless? Is that what you want me to believe?"

"When you put it like that, it sounds bad."

"Yes, it does! How else would you explain it?"

Again, nothing. "Even if you were justified to decide that being the adopted daughter of your employer was too awkward for you to manage, you at least owed me an explanation, Slim Henry," I informed him. I kicked Belle's sides and jumped ahead of him.

At least he respected me enough to stay a few feet behind me after that. But when the Ponderosa came into view, he came up beside me. "Can I at least ask what you're going to tell them?" he asked quietly.

Unbelievable! He was only concerned about his job? "If I am asked, I will tell the truth," I told him honestly. "Do you think I would lie to my friends?"

To his credit, Slim didn't try to argue or protest. He didn't exactly look pleased either.

Another of Cartwrights' hired hands was in the yard and gladly took charge of Belle for me. I didn't pause to see what Slim did as I walked to the front door. I did hear the pounding of hoofbeats as he rode away.

"There you are," Ben said as I entered. "I was wondering what was taking you so long. Where is Joe?"

All of my self-possession fled and I burst into tears.

Somehow, I managed to collect myself enough to explain Joe's plan and how I thought he'd been fighting. Hoss and Adam set out to find their youngest brother. hop-Sing muttered about having to delay the evening meal. Ben sat beside me on the settee, patting my shoulder.

"I'm sorry," I said, drying my tears. "I shouldn't have listened to Joe."

"Joe can be persuasive when he wants to be," Ben said, his tone kind. "But I know my impetuous son isn't to blame for these tears. Not completely. Do you want to tell me about it?"

Sighing, I leaned my head back. My father had always been a little absent-minded and especially confused whenever I was emotional. It had been strange to have Ben Cartwright step up and take every bout of tears in stride. Nothing, it seemed, was too much for him.

"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to."

"Just...disappointment," I finally said. "In myself and...someone else. Things were not what I thought they were."

"Should I assume Slim Henry is that person?"

I peeked open one eye to look at him. My cheeks heated with a blush of embarrassment. "Is it that obvious?"

"You forget that I have had years of experience when it comes to romance and heartbreak," he said, his tone amused. He settled back on his side of the settee.. "I also have three sons who have been as unlucky in love as I have."

Reminded of Joe's two recent courtships, I heaved another sigh. "True. I suppose I really have no reason to complain or be hurt in comparison."

"Heartache is not something to compare to another person. Pain is pain no matter what the case is." There was a pause. "Did Henry hurt you?"

Ben's tone was so serious and concerned. "No. Not really," I said quickly. "As I said, I'm just disappointed."

"The boys were certain you and Henry would get on well."

"We did. At least, I thought we did. That's why I'm disappointed." I found myself explaining how I had enjoyed the dance, but then hadn't heard a word from Henry after that. I hesitated before I added what Henry had just told me, ending with, "I feel like such a fool."

Ben's hand slipped to my hand for a reassuring squeeze. "You are the furthest thing from a fool, Rosemary. The only fool I can see in this is Henry. It is admirable that he would respect his employer's family, but it is a shame he would let that keep him from thinking you are worth the risk."

"I can't blame him if he didn't think I was worth the effort."

"Again, he is a fool. The man who is worthy of you will risk even my scrutiny to win you. I know I am a poor substitute for your own father, but I will do my best."

Sighing, I nodded. "Even a poor substitute is better than nothing at all." I paused and then added, "I don't think I ever thanked you for taking me in and looking after me. I don't know what I would have done—"

"You would have found some way to survive," Ben interrupted, not letting me finish. "There is no need to thank me, Rosemary. After having only sons, it has been refreshing to have a daughter in the house. I'd thought it would take my sons marrying before it would happen, and I've already mentioned their lack of fortune with romance." He raised an eyebrow at me. "Although I did think you might restrain Joe a little from his more impetuous ideas."

"I doubt there is anyone capable of that if you can't."

Ben chuckled. "He is so like his mother. I wonder if she would have encouraged him or if she would have managed to temper or steady him." His tone became sad. "I sometimes wonder what life would be like if she—any of my wives, really—had survived."

None of the Cartwright sons had talked much about their mothers. Joe had mentioned a few things, such as his mother being beautiful and fun. I liked to think I would have liked Marie Cartwright. How could I have not when her son was one of my closest friends?

I couldn't help but wonder what my life would be like if my father had lived. Would I be in the mining camps, still cooking over an open fire and barely managing to scrimp by? Would I have met the Cartwrights? Or would some greater tragedy have occurred?

"But," Ben continued, shaking off his reverie, "life cannot be lived if one's head is in the past."

Forcing a smile, I nodded my agreement. Look to the future. That's what I should do. If only it weren't so hard sometimes! The past cast a long shadow and the present...well, the present had plenty of its own troubles.

And speaking of the present... "Do you think Joe managed to learn something before the fists started flying?"

"If he did, he will never let us forget it." Ben shook his head. "It is disconcerting how cautious our trespassers are. Chance alone has let us know they are there. That tells me there is someone with a plan, and someone who has taken the time to plan is not one we should underestimate."

His words sent a chill down my spine. Men who should not be underestimated were usually dangerous in some way. "And we still don't know why one of them came to the schoolhouse."

The man chuckled again. "I would think it would be obvious, considering what Slim said to you today. You are considered part of the family, Rosemary. Whoever we are up against might have thought to use that to their advantage. That may be the biggest mistake they ever make."

With that, he stood up and went to his desk, leaving me rather stunned. Family? While I had looked at the Cartwright family as a sort of family, I hadn't realized they thought of me in the same way. The thought warmed my heart.

Now all I had to do was decide if this was going to bring me less or more trouble in the future!