"Hiding?"

An unfamiliar voice startled me from my thoughts. Spinning around, I found myself facing an older man. He was tall, perhaps even taller than Ben, and had white hair. His face was lined with the experience of his life, and his eyes held a hard expression that set me on edge.

Instinctively, I glanced toward the church. Thankfully, people were still in sight and I knew they would hear me if I were to cry out. "Oh, don't worry. I'm not going to hurt you," the man said, waving his left hand. His tone was almost bored. "I'm not in the habit of attacking young ladies on Sunday. In view of the church where I might easily be seen."

My cheeks flushed that he had read my thoughts so easily. He didn't even know me! A long time ago, one of my father's friends said my eyes showed exactly what I was thinking, but I'd thought that it was because he knew me well. It looked like I was going to have to guard my emotions a little better in the future.

"I don't think we have been introduced," I said, raising my chin. "Who are you?"

"My name is Alpheus Troy, Miss Lawson." He gestured with his right hand this time, which held a cigar. "Yes, I know who you are. You did arrive in rather...well, let's call it unusual circumstances, shall we? I am surprised you haven't heard my name. I'm considered an important man in Virginia City."

"If you have to say so yourself?" I asked, unable to restrain my sarcasm. Good heavens, Joe was a bad influence on me.

But the man only let out a laugh. "I can see why you survived the wilderness when your own father did not. You have some spirit in you."

Did he mean to imply that my father hadn't? How dare he judge a man he hadn't met? My father hadn't been weak! Just because he had died..I shook away the thought. I couldn't let this stranger unnerve me so much.

"In answer to your question, no," I said, curious and apprehensive about why he had chosen to approach me. As far as I could remember, the Cartwrights had never mentioned the man.

His forehead furrowed. "Question?"

"I am not hiding."

My. Troy's expression cleared, and he laughed again. "Oh, I think you are. The fine ladies of Virginia City somehow apply Eastern standards and sensibilities to life here in the territory, when it would behoove them to adjust their thinking."

Was there a point to this conversation? While part of me wanted to keep my eyes on him, I made a point of moving my gaze to the horizon. The breeze was making the colorful leaves dance on the branches. "You almost sound as though you don't approve of civilization."

"Oh, I wouldn't say that. I am a man who appreciates luxury and comforts that come with the civilized ways cultivated in the east," he replied. "But business is better for me when certain rules of civilization are kept away from several aspects of life."

What was that supposed to mean? "And what business are you in?"

"Mining, Miss Lawson," he said without hesitation. "Bringing silver out of the ground where God hid it."

Mining. Of course it was that, the thing that had compelled my father to leave San Francisco and his career of teaching. Even the Cartwrights have some interest in the business, which had surprised me. Was there anyone the precious metal hadn't touched in the Nevada territory?

"Since you hadn't heard my name, I'm going to assume you don't know my point of contention with Ben Cartwright," he continued.

"That would be correct," I said, unease twisting even more in my stomach.

"Odd, that," he said, his tone almost thoughtful. His eyes shone with glee. Why was he delighted about this? "I would think you would want to know whatever you could about the family you marry into."

Surprise almost made me choke. Marry? Me? To one of the Cartwrights? "Who said I was going to marry one of them?" I demanded, trying to cover my shock. Maybe, if Slim Henry hadn't made himself known, I might have fallen for Joe and his infectious charm, but that was something I would never admit to outloud. I looked on them as brothers. Now.

Mr. Troy tutted. "Make up your mind, Miss Lawson. You might have your choice among the four of them, but surely you've noticed that you're making the biddies of Virginia City anxious."

Four? My cheeks burned. I wanted to protest, but I had the feeling he wouldn't listen. "I thought you were going to tell me what you have against Ben Cartwright."

"Indeed." He waved his hand. "You see, he won't sell me his trees, nor will he sell me the land so I can cut down the trees myself," the man said. He didn't sound angry. Not just yet. "I need trees to expand my mines and get to the silver that is deeper in the ground. No amount of money will sway him."

Why was he telling me this? Did he expect me to change Ben's mind? "Mr. Cartwright puts a high priority on preserving the land," I said, choosing my words carefully. Mr. Troy had to know this already. "And he has enough money from other parts of the Ponderosa. Money won't sway him."

"Every man has his price, even if it isn't money." Mr. Troy paused to blow smoke into the air. "I thought I had found Cartwright's price in his sons, but I discovered that a woman doesn't have the resolve to see a matter through to the end."

If I had been confused before, I was even more so now. And I couldn't think of a thing to say to him. Could I reason with him? Should I just let him keep talking? What should I do?

"But, as I said, there is always a way to persuade a man, whether it be with money, family, or a woman," he continued. "I just have to find the point where Ben Cartwright is not so impervious."

A chill went down my spine. Did he have something to do with the man who had come to the schoolhouse—Cal Wilson? Was he trying to get land and trees from Ben by... what? Scaring me? Making the Cartwrights think I was threatened? That seemed a little desperate, and Alpheus Troy didn't sound like a desperate man.

"I suppose every man convinces himself that he must do what is necessary to get ahead in the world," I said slowly, resisting the urge to glance over my shoulder again. "I'm glad I can go through life without that mindset. It sounds...well, it sounds very lonely, if I am honest."

"Lonely?" Mr. Troy repeated with a mocking smile. "Why so?"

"Because you will never be sure if those around you will turn on you as easily as you will turn on them to get ahead. And I have the feeling you will never be satisfied with what you have. It will never be enough."

"Hey, Rosemary!"

The sound of Joe's voice was both a relief and a worry. If there was bad blood between the Cartwrights and Mr. Troy, would Joe be provoked into another fight if he saw me with the man?

"Hurry back to your protectors, Miss Lawson," Mr. Troy said, his tone still mocking. "You never know what might happen when you are away from them."

Was that a threat? I didn't pause to find out. Instead, I spun on my heel and walked away. My instinct was to walk as fast as I could, but I didn't want him to think that I was running from him. Even though running was exactly what I wanted to do.

"There you are," Joe said as he met me half-way between the church and the graveyard. "Pa's ready to go. We weren't sure where you had gone. What were you doing?"

Did he not see... Puzzled, I glanced over my shoulder, but there was no sign of the man I'd just had a conversation with at the gate of the graveyard. Where had he gone? "Joe," I said, turning my attention back to my friend. "Who is Alpheus Troy?"

Of course he couldn't just tell me. First, he had to demand where I had heard the name and why I was asking about who the man was. Then, once he learned that Mr. Troy had approached me, I had to keep him from rushing to find the businessman.

By that time, Hoss had found us and he wavered between helping me keep Joe from doing something stupid and going off with his younger brother.

What had happened to cause this kind of reaction from them both?

It was only when I was seated in the buggy next to Ben that I was finally told the story. Some months before I arrived, Alpheus Troy and a few other mine owners in Virginia City had decided on a plan to force Ben into either selling the trees on the Ponderosa or selling them the land outright for them to do the logging themselves.

"At least, I assume they intended to force me to sell the trees or the land," Ben said, his tone slightly bitter. "They may have planned for me to just give it to them."

A pit of dread coiled in my stomach. The importance of timbering had been made very clear when the Ophir mine collapsed. One of Adam's friends had been killed before a new system of building the timbers in the mines had been found.

"What was their plan?" I asked uneasily.

It was worse than I could have imagined. They had hired a singer to lure one of the Cartwright sons into town where they would keep him until Ben agreed to their terms. What kind of person would devise such a scheme for trees?

No. Not just trees. For the money they would get out of the silver mines that needed the trees to get them there.

"I take it that didn't work out for them?" I asked, trying to make sense of what Alpheus Troy and his friends had been hoping for. "Who agreed to be party to such a plot?"

Ben shook his head. "They sent for someone who had never been here before. Her name was Lotta Crabtree. They told her it was just a prank, the proof for some bet they had made that she could lure one of my sons to follow her. And Joe did."

To be honest, it didn't surprise me that it had been Joe had this Lotta Crabtree managed to get to Virginia City. I'd seen for myself how a pretty face could turn his head. He was fortunate that the lady had a change of heart when she learned Troy's plan.

While Joe evaded Troy's men all night, Adam had outdrew a hired gunman. Once morning came, Joe returned with his family and Miss Crabtree had quietly left. She must be the woman Mr. Troy had referred to when he said a woman lacked resolve.

"I thought Troy would take defeat like a man and move on," Ben said, glancing over at me. "He's kept to his own business, not even renewing his offer to buy my land. Should have known he would not give up so easily. A man like him seldom does."
"So you really think he is behind Cal Wilson coming onto the Ponderosa and the schoolhouse?" I asked.

"It makes sense if it is him. He'd been after the trees for at least a year before he tried to hold Joe hostage." Ben's expression was serious and regretful. "It wouldn't surprise me if he was somehow involved in Billington's scheme, hoping to finally get what he wanted."

"So what will you do?"

The man heaved a sigh. "Nothing. Not until there is proof. It will be better to have the law on our own side."

That, I knew, wouldn't go over well with Joe, who was always looking for a reason to use his gun. At least, that's how it seemed at times. He practiced often, honing his skill. He was the one who had taught me how to load and shoot. In fact, I was a little surprised, he hadn't talked me into practicing with him.

Shaking my head, I tried to focus. "It's a game, then? Waiting and hoping he makes a mistake?"

Ben hesitated before he said, "I wouldn't call anything so dangerous a game, Rosemary. I hope you won't mind staying close to the house. I don't like that Troy has chosen to involve you. I would never forgive myself if anything were to happen to you."

"I'll be careful," I promised. I just wished there was some way I could help my friends.