Hoss waited until they were alone. "Who is this fella?"

"I tell you, Pa, if anyone's hurt her, I'll kill 'em!" Joe cried.

"You won't have to," Adam growled. "Because I will."

"Let's find out what happened first, shall we, boys?"

"Well, Scamp wouldn't make a fuss for nothing," said Hoss. "It takes an awful lot to upset her."

"I'm gonna find out!" Joe started for the door.

"Leave it for now, son." Ben tightened his hold as Joe tried to get free. "Please, Joe. We will find out in due course. She will tell us. Let her calm down a bit."

The party seemed to go on for an eternity but the men ended it as soon as they possibly could. Mrs Warren approached them as she left.

"Mr Cartwright?"

"Yes, ma'am?"

"Please give my best to Scamp. She was truly upset about something."

"Thank you, ma'am. I will do that."

"I didn't believe that story of her falling down."

He hesitated as he looked down at her. "No. Neither did I." He paused. "Did you see the man chasing her?"

"I saw her with him earlier. They were dancing and laughing. They seemed to get on well. Then just before she ran up to us, I saw him again. He seemed to be cut on his face. He did not speak to us, he mounted and rode off."

Ben's heart went cold. If anything had happened to her...he knew he would not be responsible for his actions.

"I always liked her," the lady smiled. "Her and Little Joe. Dear little children. Many the time they made me laugh. Like two little rays of sunshine. You must be so proud, Mr Cartwright."

"Thank you, Mrs Warren. I am."

"I know we don't know each other well, but...if you ever need any help...you know, with Scamp...Maybe one day you might need a woman's help...Well, you know where I am."

He shook the woman's hand warmly. "Thank you, ma'am, I appreciate that. I really do."

"Don't forget, will you, Mr Cartwright?"

"I won't forget."

They rushed to her room to find her asleep in a fetal position, her thumb in her mouth. Ben stopped his sons from waking her.

"She needs rest. We will talk to her tomorrow."

"But what happened, Pa?" Hoss cried in anguish.

"I don't know."

"I have to know, Pa!" Joe said.

"Joseph, she needs to sleep. You saw how agitated she was earlier. Her mind needs the rest."

"I tell you, if that man has hurt her – in any way – I will rip him limb from limb."

"And I'll help you," said Adam.

"So will I."

"You three! What good will it do her if you're all behind bars? We don't even know what happened yet."

"I should think it's obvious," Adam said. "Obviously he tried something and she hit him or scratched him or something."

"I wish she'd broken his jaw!" Hoss cried.

"No, I'll do that when I see him!"

"Joe, will you behave?" Ben carefully examined his daughter as she lay sleeping. Despite the voices she had not woken up. "She doesn't look injured. I think..." He trailed off for a moment. "If something had happened, it...would be more obvious."

"God, she'd better be alright!" Adam muttered.

"If she isn't, there's a very good horsewhip out there," said Hoss. "I can christen it. Because we've never used it on a horse."

"Go and get the spare blanket, Joe."

Ben covered her and ushered the brothers out of her room. The four spent a sleepless night, tossing and turning with anger and worry.