She smiled, swaying with the music. The heat of the lights and the mass of people were bringing the flush to her cheeks and she was beginning to feel slightly woozy. She put down her glass and hiccuped. If only she had not had that last drink of champagne, she thought. She was completely unused to alcohol and her father had lectured her and Joe enough times about it. She decided that would be her last one.

"May I have the honour of this dance?" A young man bowed slightly in front of her. She had seen him arrive, but had not spoken to him. He stood nervously in front of her, as if expecting a refusal and she almost felt sorry for him.

"Thank you, I'd really like that."

The look of relief on his face was almost comical but she smiled graciously and gave him her hand. The waltz started to speed up and she was glad she had taken those few lessons from Adam. She concentrated on not tripping over her feet – or his.

She was not a natural dancer. Not a natural dancer! - that was an understatement! But as she looked around, she realized she was not the worst there. The waltz entered a slow movement.

"Do you like dancing, Miss Cartwright?"|

"I don't mind it, although I haven't had much practice."

"You'd never know it," the boy said gallantly. "You dance very well."

"Thank you," she smiled. "So do you."

"I think I've seen you around town a few times."

"Yes, probably! I'm always there with my brothers, working and doing errands for my Pa. I'm sure I've seen you too. You're Jason, aren't you? Jason Wright?"

"That's right."

"I don't believe you've been in the area long?"

"Not long. We moved here about a year ago. I grew up in Sacramento."

"California? That's unusual! Normally people are traveling in the other direction."

"Pa wasn't doing too well. He heard about the silver strikes and we decided to try our luck."

"Yes, there are a lot of people doing that."

"Pa didn't do too well in that, either."

"I'm sorry to hear that, Jason," she said sincerely. "Sorry - Mr Wright."

"Just Jason. That's alright."

"Well, you must call me Scamp. I mean, Marie."

"Scamp?"

"It was a childhood nickname."

"Marie's a lovely name, though."

"Thank you. It was my Ma's. Sometimes the others still call me Scamp. I suppose after more than twenty years, it's hard to get used to a new name. I used to hate it because I only got called it when I was in trouble."

"I don't expect you were in trouble that often, Marie."

"Oh, yes, I was! All the time!"

"Oh, I find that hard to believe!"

"Just ask my Pa or my brothers. I think there were times when Pa just about gave up on me. He wanted to strangle me half the time!"

Jason laughed as the music came to an end. He bowed once more and she gave an awkward curtsey. She had genuinely enjoyed it. He was not handsome youth but it had felt good dancing with him. Despite the fact she had grown up in a houseful of men, she was not used to male company outside her own family. The days of playing and scrapping with the boys at school were behind her. They were all growing up now and their interest in girls had changed.

"Thank you for that dance, Marie."

"I enjoyed it very much."

"So did I. Perhaps you'd do me the honor of another? Later?"

"I'd like that."

"May I get you a drink?"

"Oh, no, thank you."

"Perhaps something to eat?"

"No, thank you, I'm not really hungry."

"You don't have to be hungry to eat!"

She giggled. "You sound like my brother, Hoss."

Out of the corner of her eye she caught sight of Joe, talking earnestly to a small, blond girl, who was giggling into her fan rather too loudly.

"Would you excuse me a moment?"

"Certainly."

She sashayed toward them and found herself smiling and clicking her tongue. Trust Joe to get a girl laughing. He was funny and impudent, although in such an innocent, good-natured way, no-one took offence. Moreover he was so handsome he was never short of female attention. She did not realize she was just as attractive and the fact she had had four partners in under an hour proved it. Joe looked up, a glint in his eye and winked at her.

"Ellen, this is my sister, Scamp. Scamp, this is Ellen Rogers."

She shook her hand. "I'm pleased to meet you. I'm Marie Cartwright."

"But your brother said - "

"That's my nickname."

"Your brother's a very good dancer, Miss Cartwright."

"You can call me Marie. Yes, Joe is good. He's been taking lessons."

Ellen giggled again and Marie bit her lip. She found her a little fake, but then she found most girls fake. The games they played, coyness, pulling a man forward, holding him off, luring and repelling him. It seemed a skill that many girls were born with, but it was one she had never learned nor would never want to. She was too straightforward. She tried to conceal her contempt and then looked at Joe who was gazing at Miss Rogers with a dopey grin on his face. She shook her head. He was big enough and ugly enough to look after himself. She murmured her excuses and walked away. Ugly? Huh. If only he was, and maybe then he would not be a target for every amorous female out there. Perhaps she was doing Ellen wrong. Maybe the girl was above board after all. She would have to quit feeling so protective toward Joe. He was a grown man, or practically.

It never crossed her mind that she might need protection herself. She was unaware of the fact that Hoss and Adam had been keeping their eye on her. It would have infuriated her if she had known.