Author's note: I'm really sorry for the delay in updating this story. It's been a long time I know, but I kinda got stuck in a rut with this one and the muse wouldn't comply so my other stories gained my attention for a while. I'm back in the swing of things with this one and so hopefully the delay between chapters will not be quite so long. I hope that anyone following the story is happy to see it being updated again. Reviews as always, very gratefully received.

Sunday morning dawned bright and early. The sun was out fully and it looked like it would be a fine day for the picnic.

Theresa washed and dressed in her russet coloured dress that she had worn when Scott first came calling. It was her favourite and it had a small lace edging to the bodice and sleeves. She had 2 petticoats underneath to fluff out the skirt and had adorned her neck with the simple silver necklace the locket containing her mother and fathers pictures inside. Standing and looking at herself in the mirror she twirled around and was pleased at what she saw. Then she carefully brushed her hair and set it just right.

She normally made an extra effort for church as it was a chance to meet up with other young people but today she wanted to look nice for Scott. Scott was a sweet handsome young man who had called by the store several times since the other day when he's visited the house and they were becoming firm friends.

Theresa knew that the boy liked her and she had to admit that she did enjoy his attention, but the fact is that he never had her heart racing like the handsome older cowboy who kept calling by the store to ask about whom she was going on a picnic with after Church. Still she wanted to be friends and she had promised herself to be very clear with Scott that she only wanted to be friends and that was it.

When Theresa was ready she helped her aunt Lucy get the breakfast ready.

"You look very pretty today, Theresa," Lucy said when they sat down in front of the scrambled eggs, bacon and toast.

"Thank you, Aunt Lucy."

"Yes, your Aunt is right, my dear, you do look especially pretty this morning. Are you trying to impress your young admirer?"

"Scott you mean?" blushed Theresa.

"Yes. Why is there more than one now?" teased Samuel, who was very well aware that many of the younger cowboys were making extra visits to his store in the last few days.

"Uhm….."

"Sam, leave the girl alone to eat her breakfast," scolded Lucy and then she winked at her husband when Theresa bowed her head to eat.

"Theresa, I've made some cookies and lemonade for you to take on your picnic and there's some gammon and some bread for you to make sandwiches with if you'd like."

"Thank you, Aunt Lucy. I'll make some sandwiches shortly."

The rest of breakfast passed normally with everyone eating and chatting about the topics that might be covered in the Reverend's sermon this morning.

When everyone was finished, Lucy cleaned up the breakfast things, whilst Theresa made sandwiches for the picnic and Sam left the house to hitch up the buggy ready for church. Soon a picnic basket was packed and they all bundled into the buggy to ride to the church for the Sunday morning service.

Samuel Carter pulled the buggy up in the churchyard, set the brake and looked around. The churchyard was already packed with other wagons and over at a hitching rail many horses were tied up including the Cartwright's. Samuel spotted a few ranch hands and miners too, dressed in their finest, which was a little unusual for this particular church.

"Morning Samuel, Ms Lucy, Miss Theresa," called Ben walking over to the wagon and offering his hand to help Lucy down.

"Good, morning, Mr. Cartwright, oh thank you very much," Lucy said accepting Ben's assistance to climb down from the wagon.

"Lucy, it's Ben as you well know or I will resort to calling you Mrs. Carter."

"Oh, alright, thank you, Ben." Lucy smiled at him when he set her on the ground.

"My pleasure, Lucy."

Samuel had already climbed down and he rounded the buggy and shook hands with Ben.

"Morning Ben."

"Morning Sam."

Both men shook hands warmly and started chatting whilst Lucy headed off to catch up with the other womenfolk.

Theresa sat in the back on the buggy and looked around to see if she could see Scott and his family and was startled a little when she looked down to see Jake at the side of the buggy.

"May I help you down from there, Miss Theresa?"

"Uhm, yes thank you, Jake." Theresa agreed and her heart started thumping hard in her chest at the handsome cowboys light touch against her hand.

Jake lowered the girl lightly to the ground and then he kissed her hand lightly, brushing the skin with his lips. "So, who is this person you are going for a picnic with instead of me?" he asked.

"Jake, please don't start that again."

"OK, but I I'll find out sooner or later you know."

"Oh my god! That's why you're here isn't it Jake? I've never seen you at church before."

"Well maybe I've suddenly found religion," smirked the young ranch hand.

"No you've not! Oh Jake, you know I like you but someone else asked me to go on a picnic first and I happen to like their company. I've said I'd be happy to go on a picnic with you to the lake another time, there's no need to get jealous."

"Oh, I disagree, my dear. Miss Theresa I don't think you realise just how beautiful you look in that dress and I've no doubt that seeing you in it today is going to increase my competition."

"Competition? For what?" frowned Theresa.

"Why for your affections, my love." Said Jake raising his hand to touch her cheek.

Theresa blushed and lightly slapped his hands away. "Oh stop that, Jake. I don't believe you for one minute."

"Hey, Miss Theresa!" said Scott pulling in the surrey nearby.

Scott was driving the wagon but his whole family were in it with him. They were visiting friends in town for lunch after church and would get a ride back home afterwards, so that Scott could take Theresa to the picnic in the surrey.

Theresa waved enthusiastically and Jake scowled beside her.

"That's him isn't it? Why he's nothing but a boy!"

"He is not just a boy, he's my friend, Jake and I'll thank you to not say anything nasty too him."

Before Jake got the chance to say anything, Adam called to him.

"Jake, come here for a moment would you please?" called Adam who was standing with his younger brothers and Mr. Edwards.

Jake frowned but did as he was asked, but he kept looking over his shoulder as Theresa made her way over to the young boy.

"Jake, Mr. Edwards was just telling me that he's sure he spotted some of our cattle straying onto one of his fields. Didn't we send someone out to repair the fence in that sector just yesterday?"

"Uh…." Jake said not really paying much attention, he was looking over Adam's shoulder at Theresa talking to Scott and his family.

"JAKE!"

Jake quickly turned to face Adam, "Ah, yes, sorry Adam, what were you saying?"

"I was saying that, Mr. Edwards said we may have some cattle missing. I thought we'd someone out there yesterday checking the fence line. Did you check that it was done like I asked?"

"The north-east fence line? Uh…yes we had Pete and Kevin out there and they came back saying that it was all repaired OK."

"Didn't you go check it?"

"Uhm, no I was going to do that but then your father asked me to do something else."

"Did you tell him I asked you to check the fence repairs were done?"

"No. Sorry Adam. I'll go check them right after the service."

"No, go now and get some men to take with you as it sounds like they are our cattle that are loose. And Jake... this time stay and supervise the repairs."

"But Adam?"

"Jake, please just do as I've asked." Adam frowned and turned to face Mr. Edwards. "I'm sorry Mr. Edwards; it seems that it may be our cattle that are loose. I'll speak to my father, sir and I'm sure that he will pay for any damages to your crop."

"Thank you, Mr. Cartwright. Well if you'll excuse me I'll re-join my family."

"Yes sir."

Adam watched the man walk away and he shook his head sadly. Jake was skating on thin ice. He knew that his fiend was in love with the pretty young girl that he was always chasing after, but he had already warned his friend that his job was more important and would be at risk if he didn't concentrate on his job, yet it seemed like Jake wasn't listening, either that or he didn't care anymore.

Ben meanwhile had been happily chatting with Samuel and Lucy Carter and Hoss and Little Joe had wandered over to talk to their friends when Adam and Mr. Edwards started talking about missing cattle.

"Adam, Hoss, Joseph it's time for the service," called Ben.

"Coming, Pa," called Adam and he walked quickly over to his father, snagging his younger brothers along the way.

"Good morning, Miss Theresa. Uhm, this is my mother and father and that is my little brother Jamie and of course the little girl is my sister Sarah."

"Good morning, pleased to meet you Mr. and Mrs. Baxter. Hello Jamie, Hello Sarah."

"Hi," said the little girl shyly from beside her mother.

"Hello," said Jamie.

"Good morning, Miss Theresa, it's nice to finally meet you in person. Scott has been talking about you for days." Said Mr. Baxter.

"Pa!"

Mr. Baxter chuckled and ruffled his eldest's hair softly. "I'm sorry son but it's true."

"Patrick, stop teasing the boy. Hello my dear, I'm Isabelle Baxter, Scott's mother."

"Pleased to meet you, ma'am, sir." Theresa said shaking hands with Scott's mother and father.

"Are you going on a picnic with my brother after church?" asked a soft voice.

Theresa turned to face the voice, "Yes, I am. May call you Sarah?"

"Yes," whispered the little girl. "I like your dress it's very pretty."

"Why thank you, Sarah and yours is lovely too."

Sarah beamed a wide smile and Jamie the young boy rolled his eyes at the conversation. He wanted to jump down and go and see if he could catch up with his friends before the service, but he knew that his father would not allow that whilst they were being introduced to someone. He actually thought that the girl his brother was sweet on looked kinda pretty and she seemed nice too, but he wasn't that interested in girls at his age and would rather be trying to get in a quick game of marbles before the service.

"Come Theresa, it's time for the service," called Samuel.

"Coming, Uncle Sam," she called over her shoulder. "Excuse me but I have to go now. It was nice meeting you all."

"Yes, let's get inside to the service, children. It was very nice to meet you, Miss Theresa." Said Mr. Baxter and he helped Jamie and Sarah down from the buggy and then everyone trooped into the church, where Theresa joined her Aunt and Uncle in their usual pews.

When the service was over and everyone had thanked the Reverend for the service on their way out. Adam gently pulled Ben aside before they mounted up, he pointed out Theresa who was talking to her aunt and Uncle and some of the other townsfolk and he explained about Jake's lapse of judgement and about the possible damage of Mr. Edward's crop.

Adam hated ratting out his friend, but he knew that if Ben found out that Adam knew and tried to cover up for him, then Adam's life would be made very difficult too. Ben raised his son's to be honest with him and any attempts to conceal anything from him would be deemed as a very big deal. Adam might be a man now but angering his father was something he still feared.

Ben was furious with the young ranch hand but Adam pleaded with his father to not fire him as he (Jake) was in love and not himself. Ben agreed to not fire the younger man but told Adam to tell Jake that he wanted to see him when he returned to the ranch. Adam inwardly winced, Jake really didn't know what he was in for, Adam knew only too well having been on the end of one of his father's lectures many many times over the years. Oh well, Jake perhaps Pa will have better luck focusing you on your work than I have.

"Alright son, don't forget your manners and remember that being alone with a young lady at your age is a privilege so don't do anything to let Mr. Carter down." Mr. Baxter said.

"I won't, Pa. enjoy your lunch with the Peterson's."

"We will, son. Enjoy your picnic."

"Thanks, I'll be home before 7."

"OK, we'll keep your supper in the warmer." Mrs. Baxter kissed her son on the cheek and then she, Mr. Baxter and the younger children walked over to get into the Peterson's surrey.

"Excuse me, Miss Theresa are you ready?" said Scott.

"Yes, Scott I'm ready." Theresa said, she said goodbye to her Aunt and Uncle who reminded her to remember the rules and then she carried the basket in one arm and held Scott's arm with the other.

When they reached the surrey, Scott helped Theresa up into the back seat as he had agreed. "Ma's packed some food and some elderberry wine for us in the basket at your feet," he said as he settled himself into the front seat and picked up the reins.

"Well, Aunt Lucy has made some cookies and some lemonade for us and I've made sandwiches so it seems we will have quite a spread."

"Good, because I'm always pretty hungry. Are you ready to leave?"

"Yes."

Scott released the brake and shook the reins, "Giddy up," he called and spurred the horses on out of the churchyard.

Scott steered the surrey steadily along the dusty trail, keeping carefully away from the ruts by guiding the wagon in the middle of the trail as much as possible. Whilst he steered, he chatted easily with Theresa about the Reverend's sermon that morning.

The sermon had been on the dangers of succumbing to temptation and both young people commented on the fact that it may have been the Reverend's attempts to make a plea to the miners and ranch hands in the congregation, of which their seemed a higher number than usual for both groups.

Reverend Edmonds often used this subject in his sermons, selecting a particular topic like drinking or gambling or women as he felt necessary. Today's sermon had been on the evils of drink and in particular he had chosen to comment on how so many men failed in their daily tasks after a night frequenting the saloon.

Virginia City was still only a small township, but it had grown very quickly over the last few years with the silver mining being more prominent and attracting those intent on striking it rich.

With the increase in the area's inhabitants being mainly men and they expressed the need for something to do to relax after a hard day. This meant the number of saloons in town had increased and existing ones had expanded in size. Saturday nights in particular in town had been increasing in rowdiness and one saloon had expanded its gambling exploits to accommodate extra tables to cater to its customers.

Miners and ranch hands had been drawn to the temptations like fireflies to a bright light and Sheriff Coffee and his deputy were often kept so busy that on the weekends, another deputy was on standby to help out.

This in Reverend Edmonds opinion, meant that the territory was becoming wilder rather than more civilised and he was determined to do his utmost to preach as hard as he could, to try and bring these hard working men back into the folds of righteousness.

Of course what the Reverend hadn't born in mind, was that 3 families had moved into the area in the last month and now, there were along with Theresa at the mercantile, 3 other attractive and unattached young ladies for the younger men to lust over. It was for this reason alone that many of the men that were attending church for the first time in a long while, were there that day.

It was pretty well known that nice girls liked clean well-behaved young men to court them and so eligible young ranch hands and those accompanying their fathers and friends to the mines, cleaned up and dressed in their best clothing, to attend church on a Sunday morning, in the hope that they could get the opportunity to speak to one of the young ladies new to the area.

When they had travelled out of site of the church, Theresa tapped Scott on the shoulder to get his attention.

"Scott, it's awkward talking like this, won't you pull over so that I can climb into the front with you?"

Scot slowed the pace of the horses a little and glanced over his shoulder, "But, Miss Theresa what about your uncle's rules?"

"Oh heck, Scott, no one is going to see us out here so how will he find out? Please Scott pull over," pleaded Theresa.

"Ah, I don't know, Miss Theresa. You may not be scared of your Uncle but I sure am, he scares the pant off me," the younger boy admitted, hating himself for admitting it to the girl he was sweet on. The trouble was that he meant every word. Samuel Carter intimidated Scott and the boy really didn't want to get on the wrong side of the man, let alone have to face his own father for breaking the rules set for him.

"Oh Scott, Uncle Sam's not here and there's no one in sight to see us and tell him, is there? Come on please, it's hard to hear you speaking properly what with the wheels clacking and such."

The younger boy anxiously looked around them and Theresa was correct, there was no sign of anyone and there wasn't a dust cloud anywhere that indicated someone in a wagon or on horseback would be coming along soon. Plus they would be at the meadow soon and that was off the main trail so it was unlikely that they would be seen and it's not that Scott didn't want to have the pretty girl sit next to him anyway.

"OK, I'll stop in a minute," he said and Scott brought the horses to a halt. He kept tight hold of the reins to steady the horses, whilst Theresa climbed over the seat, flashing her ankles as she did so. Setting herself down next to the somewhat startled boy she smiled and then linked her arm in his.

"Now there that's better isn't it? We can talk and both hear each other clearly now." She brushed her skirts down smoothly with her free hand, "OK I'm ready now," she declared, "shall we drive on to the meadow?"

Scot nodded and he shook the reins, "giddy up."

Although he was happy to have Theresa next to him, Scott found that his nervousness was increasing with her sitting so close and with her arms linked in his and her body leaning into him.

His heartbeat had increased exponentially and he was starting to sweat, also another part of his body was reacting to the closeness of their bodies and it seemed he was powerless to stop it.

"Scott, are you OK? You're perspiring."

"Uh, uh….yes…yes …..I…I'm fine..." he stuttered.

"Are you sure? Because you don't look or sound fine, what's wrong?"

"Yes….I'm….sure …I'm…..f...fine." the boy replied not looking at her.

"Well OK, if you're sure," Theresa replied, oblivious to the fact that she was the cause of the boys nervousness. Theresa had little real experience of courting, even though she was old enough to get married in several states.

The small town she originated from did not have many eligible boys her age and although she had picnicked with a boy of two in her school, they had not progressed past anything other than a quick peck on the cheek to thank each other for the day.

Scott tried to concentrate on the trail and Theresa's questions about the area and the surrounding fauna, in an attempt to try and distract a certain part of his anatomy from increasing and becoming noticeable.

As he guided the surrey, he shifted about as much as he dared to try and conceal it and he inwardly cursed himself for giving into Theresa's pleas to sit in the front seat. If he hadn't agreed he wouldn't have been in the position of being pretty uncomfortable right now at his body betraying him, as it reacted to the closeness of a pretty young girl's body.

Scott had little experience himself of courting and he was mortified at the thought that Theresa would see his expanding manhood tenting his trousers or of him losing control and the evidence of that showing on his clothing.

He was a very nice well-behaved young man who had been brought up by strict but loving parents and his only intention that day was to spend some time getting to know the young girl beside him better. If he was to be lucky enough to get a kiss or two then he would have thought himself fortunate indeed, but he wasn't going to force the issue.

On top of that he was of the understanding that his father and her Uncle had made it very clear that he was to behave perfectly whilst out with the young lady or his hide would be in great danger.

Whilst Scott tried to answer Theresa questions as best he could, his mind in the brief moments of silence in between questions, wandered onto other completely boring topics like his daily list of chores at home and his routine on reception at the hotel, anything to get his nether region to deflate. Spotting the turning to the meadow coming up Scott breathed a heavy sigh of relief. Thank you lord.

"We turn off here and the meadow is just ahead behind that copse of trees." He said hoping that his voice sounded more steady and normal than it had been.

"Oh good, I hope it as pretty as you said."

"Oh it is, Miss Theresa, believe me." Scott replied and he was pleased to realise that all his attempts to think about boring and uninteresting things was having the desired affect and things below his waist were relaxing and his discomfort was reducing.

Praying hard that there were no physical signs of his embarrassment he guided the surrey as near to the trees as he could so that the horses could be set in the shade. The setting the brake and tying off the reins he climbed down from the wagon and walked round to help Theresa down to the ground.

"Let me get the horses settled and then I'll carry the baskets if you take the blanket." Scott said. Minutes later the horses had been unhitched and tied to a tree in the shade so that they could rest up and help themselves to the thick deep green grass at the base of the trees. Then handing the blanket to Theresa he collected both picnic baskets from the back seat and led the way through the trees.