We are finally into the big storyline and this chapter should put a lot of things together. Lots of things will be happening really fast and lots of drama. Enjoy and review :)

Everyone arrived at the Masquerade Ball on Saturday evening a little before 7 pm. The ball was being held at a large barn and field just outside of Virginia City. The girls were dressed in fancy ball gowns with matching masks; Kathleen in a red and gold, Isabelle in lavender and white, and Lila in a green and silver. The Cartwright's were all in their best suits and simple masks with their respective lady as their date, except Joe. Lila had informed him that Ross was taking her only this morning, but Joe being Joe was bound and determined to be her date by the end of the night and end this feud once and for all. Upon arriving at the dance Isabelle and Hoss ran off to the snack table while Adam asked Kathleen for a dance. Lila stood off to the corner of the field watching the people dance and mingle.

"I don't think I have ever seen a more beautiful lady in my life." Lila whipped around at the sound of a man's voice to find Ross smiling at her with his hand held out.

"Ross you scared the daylights out of me. Don't do that again." Lila glared at him with her hand on her chest. She was trying to hide the fact she was trying to catch her breath from being spooked. After he apologized she turned her attention back to the crowd. She was searching for Joe whom she found flirting with a young girl; Lila felt her temper flare as her cheeks flushed. Ross noticed this and looked up to see what was upsetting her.

"Awe Lila don't let him get to ya." Pulling her into his arms, and lifting her chin he kissed her gently," You're here with me tonight. Now let's go show him how much fun you are having shall we?" He offered his arm to her which she took with a soft smile and led her out onto the dance floor.

Meanwhile on the other side of the field Isabelle and Hoss sat at a table eating a snack as they talked.

"Hey Hoss, what do ya think Lila is up to with the whole Ross and Joe thing?"

Hoss paused to think on that for a moment before answering back to a curious Isabelle.

"Well I don't rightly know Isabelle. One day she is all over Little Joe and the next she is yelling at him and inviting Ross over. All I do know is Pa is about fed up with it and Joe too. He done told me he was a winning her back tonight once and for all and he can't wait for Ross to throw the first punch so he could finish it."

"You mean Joe wants to fight em?"

"Yes Ma'am he does and knowing my little brother he'd win too. Lila wouldn't like that now would she?"

"No that would only drive her farther away." Isabelle paused again taking a sip of her punch before speaking again in a hushed tone." Hoss have you noticed how strange Kathleen is acting tonight?"

"She looked fine to me earlier. Why what's the matter?"

"I don't know, she just looks like she's searching for something, or someone."

Adam had gone off to catch up with some old friends after his dance with Kathleen. He told her he wouldn't go far and to be careful. The last letter had stated that the mystery man would be here tonight. Adam had hated the idea to leave her alone, but they both knew he wouldn't come around as long as Adam was nearby, so they had set up a trap. Kathleen was standing on the edge of the floor looking up at the stars when she suddenly she felt someone tap her shoulder. Jumping a bit she turned around to see a large man dressed in black wearing a large face mask. She couldn't tell much about him due to it already being quite late. He didn't speak, but he held out his hand to offer her a dance. Hesitating a bit, Kathleen reluctantly took his hand and let him lead her to the dance floor.

The waltz was on as she placed her hand on his shoulder and the other in his right hand as he slowly wrapped his left hand around her waist pulling her to him.

"You look lovely tonight." Kathleen's eyes went wide as he spoke for the first time in a deep baritone voice. He sounded so familiar, but she just couldn't place the voice.

"I have been waiting for this night for a long time now Kathleen."

"Who are you?" Kathleen studied his face hard trying to piece everything together, but couldn't. Whoever it was had planned this all out well.

"You will find out soon enough my love." And with that the song ended and he ran off into the crowd and disappeared. Kathleen tried to follow him, but he was nowhere to be found.

"I knew that voice, but from where?" With a loud sigh she went to find Adam.

Adam was standing next to the lamp talking to an older gentleman when she walked up.

"Would you excuse me sir, I'll be back shortly. So did it work? Did he show up?" Adam studied her face for an answer and knew what it was when her face fell.

"It did but he was wearing a full face mask and all black, I couldn't tell who it was, but I knew the voice. I've met him before I just can't remember when. "

Just then a loud crash was heard as Adam and Kathleen ran toward the sound of two men fighting. They came upon Joe on top of Ross fists swinging in the middle of the dance floor. Joe had the upper hand and was repeatedly hitting Ross in the face. It was apparent that Ross had gotten in a few hits on Joe. Joe's mouth was busted and blood was running down his nose onto his white shirt. Ross was going to have a black eye along with a bloodied nose and mouth. Lila was yelling at them both from the side. Hoss came up behind Adam and nodded. They were going to have to break up this fight. Although they really wanted to watch Joe beat Ross to a pulp. Adam grabbed Joe up off of Ross who Hoss pulled away. Joe lunged for Ross again, but Adam tightened his grip on him.
"That's enough Joe; you did a number on him now it's over."

In a drunken slur," Not enough Adam, He has took everything from me. He doesn't even care about you Lila he's just using you."

Lila was beside Ross with a rag wiping the blood from his face. As soon as Joe finished she walked over to him and slapped him across the face. Everyone's eyes went wide as Joe fell to the ground. He looked up to her with confused eyes.

"What the hell is wrong with you Joe? You honestly thought you could just beat Ross up and I would come running back to you? You claim you care about me and want me to be happy, but you have done nothing to prove to me that you do. If you cared so much about me you would be happy that I found love and you would at least try and accept Ross. You don't have to like him but you do need to respect my decision as my friend. But no what do you do you go behind my back and try and sabotage everything. You go and get drunk and start at fight with him. Well I hope this was worth it Joe because you just ruined any chance for us to be anything. I hate you Joe Cartwright, you are nothing but a spoiled child who can't appreciate what he has. You're nothing to me Joe, and I wouldn't care if you died tonight. Better yet I hope your mistakes catch up with you and you pay for this and everything else you have done."

Joe could only stand there with in shock as did everyone. He could feel tears stinging in his eyes as he got up and dusted his hat off and walked away. He was angry and hurt and drunk, he grabbed the first horse he saw and rode off into the night. Ben called after him, but he was already too far away to be heard.

Lila went back over to Ross and began dabbing at his face. Kathleen was not about to stand for this and before Ben could even take a step toward her Kathleen grabbed Lila by the arm and pulled her aside from the crowd that was leaving.

"I can't believe you Lila. You've done some horrible things in the past but this is by far the worst thing you have ever done."

Lila crossed her arms and looked away annoyed. Kathleen grabbed her chin and forced her to look back at her.

"Ow you're hurting me Kath."

"Good that was the point."

Pulling away she took a step back," What is your problem? He deserved that sis."

"No he did not. He was trying to stand up for you. Joe cares about you and has for a while. Yes, he can be annoying and selfish and rude, but so can you. And then you go and pit them against each other. What did you expect to happen? Them to become best friends so you can play around with them both? No. Now you and I are going to find him and you will apologize."

"But Kathleen?"

"No buts, now come on."

Kathleen grabbed Lila and led her over their horse and wagon and unhitched Junie and Cochise.

Adam, Hoss, Ben, and Isabelle were already over by the wagon when Kathleen and Lila came over.

"Where are ya'll going?" Adam had a feeling what was about to happen and he didn't like the idea.

"We are going after Joe before he does something stupid." Kathleen was already on Junie when Adam grabbed the reins.

"Kathleen you shouldn't be going alone Adam and I can go with ya." Hoss had stepped forward and was sharing concerned looks with Ben.

"This is something that Lila and Joe need to work out alone and I need to make sure it happens as her guardian and sister."

"Kathleen it's not-"

"Adam trust me on this. If we aren't back in 2 hours then you can come looking for us."

"1 hour."

"Deal."

Kathleen flicked the reins and took off with Lila close behind. Adam watched as they disappeared from view before turning around to the rest of the family.

"Pa why don't you head on home in case he heads there Hoss and I will stay here to follow them."

'What about Isabelle?"

"She can go with Pa."

"I'm going with ya'll they're my sisters and I'm not being left out."

"Fine ,but you stay close."

They split up; they were leaving the wagon here and taking individual horses. Ben rode home on Buck while Adam had Sport and Isabelle and Hoss rode double on Chubbs. The sun was setting so the tracks were getting harder to see.

Joe had stopped to take a rest about an hour out from town. His head was pounding and he really just wanted to get home. Was Lila right about what she said? It wasn't his intention to come across that way, but maybe he hadn't been handling everything the best. Joe slumped down against a rock when he heard footsteps. He shot up," Who's there?"

A man wearing all black and a full face mask came around the corner with his hands up.

"It's just me, didn't mean to spook ya Little Joe."

Joe looked at him before mumbling something about being sorry before lowering his gun and sitting back down. "Wait how do you know my name?"

The man smiled before removing his mask. He had light brown ,short hair and stubble across his face. He moved toward Joe as he spoke ," Because I know everyone that Kathleen has been staying with. You are Joseph Cartwright of the Ponderosa. You have two older brothers, Hoss and Adam, and your father Ben."

Joe was really lost now, what did he have to do with Kathleen? The man seemed to have read Joe's mind because he began to speak.

"My name is Duke Williams. I'm Kathleen's fiancée."

Joe's mouth fell open as everything started to click together, the flower's and notes." You are the one who has been sending Kathleen all those gifts."

"Yes I did. See she thinks I died 5 years ago in a bank robbery, but the papers didn't quite get it right. I was the one robbing the bank. I was doing so in order to get enough money to take Kathleen away and marry her. I asked her to run away with me when I proposed. But she said I had to ask her father, so I did, but he said no. I never liked the old fool any way. I knew he wouldn't ever agree especially after I took the money so I lied to her and said he had agreed. She accepted the proposal, but wouldn't leave her family. So I decided to just get rid of them. I knew her parents were going on a trip so I just got some friends of mine to help me run their stage of the cliff. I went down there to check on the scene and the old bastard had lived." His eyes lit up as he clenched his teeth," I shot the old man and went on with my plans. Robbing the bank was easy, but I wasn't expecting the police to be there so I faked my death. After everything calmed down I went back for her but she was gone. I've been looking for her ever since and just so happen I hear of 3 new ladies in town and what do I find."

Joe couldn't believe what he was hearing. Duke was Kathleen's fiancé and he murdered her parents. Joe's breathing increased as did his heart rate he had to warn everyone. He needed to make a run for it. When Duke turned around Joe got up slowly making sure to be silent.

"Don't try it boy." Joe froze, he heard the cock of a gun as he turned around slowly to see Duke pointing a gun at him," You really think I would tell you all that and let you live? Oh no son you will die, but don't worry I will take good care of Kathleen and her little sister. She was just a child when I was around but she has really grown up now." A smile slowly spread across his face as he pulled the trigger.

Don't kill me everything will work out guys you just have to keep reading and reviewing. Things will only get a lot worse before they get better.

Review and tell me if this is anything like what you were expecting and what do you think will happen next.