Theresa busied herself organising the girls' clothing into age groupings and the ladies into the correct sizes, packing the baskets neatly and placing them back up onto the wooden shelves as she finished them. She kept a careful list of items she felt needed to be replaced or stocked up. Finishing her assigned task, Theresa stood up and rolled her shoulders which had become a little tight with all of the bending over. Releasing the stressed muscles, she stretched her arms out in front of her and, picking up her list, she went to the counter and waited for Sam to finish serving his customer.

"I've finished organising the woman's things Uncle Sam, here is the list of things I think you are short of," she said handing over the list.

Sam accepted the list graciously, "Thank you, I will send a telegram later to arrange for the goods to come in on the stage in a few days. "

"What do you want me to do now Uncle Sam? " asked Theresa politely.

"Well I thought that you wanted to go on a tour of the town with your aunt this afternoon. It's quiet now my dear, do you want to go now?"

Theresa looked at the clock kept on the wall by the counter, it read 2.30. "Are you sure you don't need me anymore today Uncle Sam?"

Sam smiled, "No, you've done very well for your first day my dear, why don't you go and see your aunt and if she is agreeable still she can show you around the town. Tomorrow you can do a whole day in the store if you feel up to it."

"Thank you uncle Sam, I've been looking forwards to taking a good look around," she stepped closer and standing on her tip toes she kissed her uncle on the cheek. "I'll see you at supper then."

"Yes, supper and tell your aunt thank you for the sandwiches will you please." said Sam.

"Yes sir, I will," said Theresa calling over her shoulder as she walked out of the store.

"Adam?"

"Yeah?"

"I think I am in love."

"Don't be daft Jake; you've only just met the girl."

"Yeah I know, but I really do think that I'm in love this time. Do you believe in love at first sight Adam?"

"Only if you were a girl, Jake!" laughed Adam.

Jake steered his horse nearer to his friend and punched him on the arm, "I'm serious Adam and I'm not a girl!" Jake said indignantly.

Adam rubbed his arm and glared at his friend before he laughed again at Jake's face. "You really do mean it don't you? Well….I never thought I'd see the day Jake. Isn't she a bit young though?"

"Do you really think so, " Jake asked earnestly?

"Yep, she can't be more than about 16 maybe 17. Did you ask her how old she was, Jake?"

"Nah, all I found out was her name. Its Theresa by the way, it's a lovely name don't you think?" said Jake wistfully staring out into nothing.

"So all you know is her name. Damn Jake that must have been some talk you had!" laughed Adam.

Jake fingered his collar and blushed, "Well I would've asked her more questions but Sam kinda reminded me that I had things to do and then shooed me away."

"Sounds to me like Sam ain't that happy for you to be talking to the girl, Jake. You might want to watch yourself there. Uncles can be just as protective as fathers you know, " said Adam.

Jake sighed, "Yeah well I ain't gonna mistreat her Adam, so Sam's got nothing to be worried about, has he? I only want to get to know Theresa better."

"You keep thinking like that Jake and your romance will be over before it gets started. What you need to do is try and get on Sam's good side. Show him that you only want to befriend the girl and will promise to treat her in a gentlemanly way and maybe he will let you take her off for a picnic after church or something," said Adam wisely remember a time his father said the same words to him.

"Hmm, Ok, you might be right there Adam. I'll try it your way. You think Sam would talk about it over a drink?"

"Nope, I 've never seen Sam anywhere near the saloon but you could talk to him at church, or drop by the store the next time you're in town."

"Yeah, I do that Adam; I go see him the next time I'm in town."

The two young men continued their journey back towards the Ponderosa talking about Adam's meeting at the hotel. Before long they found themselves riding into the courtyard.

Adam and Jake were just dismounting from their horses when Hoss came running out from the house. "I'm sure glad you are back Adam. I hope you brought good news as Pa is in a frightful mood."

"Joe?" asked Adam.

"Uhuh," replied Hoss.

"Oh god, what has the little rascal done now?" said Adam.

"He only went and put his pot of worms that he dug up this morning in Hop Sing's cooler. Hop Sing found them an hour ago and you know how precious he is about things being stored in there. He started yelling stuff in Chinese and then in English. He was moaning that 'boys do not have no respect for his kitchen and stuff' and Pa walked into the brunt of it," Hoss finished.

"Where's Joe now, Hoss?"

"Standing in the corner in the main room. Stupidly he sassed Pa and called Hop Sing a silly old cook when Pa asked him if he put his worms in the cooler. I thought Pa was going to have a heart attack Adam! His face went purple, he was so angry. I don't mind admitting to ya Adam, it done scared the life outta me never mind Little Joe. Turns out Pa didn't sleep too well last night and well you know Joe he doesn't know when to shut up. Pa had already threatened him with a tanning this morning for jumping on his bed and well I guess his patience was already wearing thin. Anyway Joe's now in the corner with a sore backside, Pa's pacing about like a grizzly that's just woke up from his winter sleep. And I'm just trying to stay outta the way."

Adam handed his reigns to his middle brother and patted him on the shoulder, "Take care of the horse for me will ya Hoss. I'll go and see if I can't get Pa to calm down. Jake, you best be getting on with whatever else you needed to get done today. I'll speak to you later Ok?"

"OK, Adam." Said Jake leading his horse off to the corral where the ranch hands usually tied up their horses.

Hoss turned towards the barn and had only gone a few steps where Adam called out to him, "Hey Hoss, the other's get back from town yet with Hop Sing's supplies?"

"Yep, came back about an hour and a half ago." Hoss replied. "Hop Sing was putting the supplies away when he discovered Joe's worms!"

Adam groaned audibly. That younger brother of mine will be the death of us!