Cassie sat at the table in her new pink dress, hair combed, on a cushion to ease her welted bottom. The pain was becoming more bearable and she was crying less. She would still wake up screaming in the middle of the night and either Ben or Joe would lie down with her and nurse her until she went to sleep. Ben would hold her in his big arms and she would lean her head against his chest, shaking with fear.

"What is it, honey? A bad dream?"

"There was a big monster, Mr C - "

"Uncle Ben," he said patiently.

"Uncle Ben. It was big and scary! It was just SO scary!"

"What did it look like?"

She faltered. "I don't know. I c-couldn't see it very well."

"But you knew it was there?"

"Yes, sir. I could hear it. It was moving around. And the dark! The dark frightens me!"

She was petrified, whimpering and sobbing. He kissed her cheek. "You know, I used to say to Little Joe that the dark just means the sun's gone to sleep. There is nothing there in the dark that's not there in the light."

"R-really?"

"Really. How would you like it if I put a little night-light by your bed? Real, real low, so you could still go to sleep. Perhaps if you could see, you'd know there was nothing there. Because I know one thing, monsters don't like the light. The light scares them and they go away again."

"Do they, Uncle Ben?"

"Yes, they do. They don't like grown-ups, either. Every time they see a grown-up, they run away."

"Why's that, Uncle Ben?"

"Because they think children scare more easily. But when children get a bit older, the nasty monsters don't like it and don't come any more. They're not very brave, you know."

"How old do I have to be, Uncle Ben?"

"About your age. I shouldn't think it'll be much longer."

On one such night, the twins had come running in with their father and watched him admiringly as he comforted the child. He treated her wild claims with utter seriousness. He never once told her the monsters were not real, merely that they would not come any more.

"Why do you do that, Pa?" Joe asked. "Why don't you just tell her they don't exist?"

"Because she wouldn't believe me. You see, for her they do exist. The poor little thing's terrified and for her they're very, very real. But if she knows there's a light and I'm always nearby, hopefully her fear will start to fade. I tell her they will not hurt her because I won't let them. Because she trusts me, she believes me."

"It's because of her Pa, isn't it? Because he whipped her and was cruel to her?"

"Yes, I think it is, Little Joe."

She was blooming from the gentle treatment. She had started to fill out in the last few days and her hair, in a matching ribbon, was gaining a lustre. Her large doll sat on the chair next to her. She was starting to smile, making her very pretty. She was so feminine now she felt safe and loved, it made Ben laugh.

"She's certainly nothing like you, Scamp!"

"What do you mean?" she cried indignantly.

"Well, so she's girlish. A real pretty girl. You were never that! I mean – you're pretty, more beautiful really – but you used to eat mud pies and scrabble around with Joe."

"What do you mean, 'used'?" Hoss chuckled. "She still does!"

"I suppose you're right," she replied reluctantly. "She's only five. I usually hate girls but she's such a sweetie I can't help but love her."

The abused animal now stood in a stall in the barn. Ben had been very angry with both children for disobedience, for Joe had helped his sister take him. He had given them a tongue-lashing, frightening Cassie to death. She had flown to Joe's defense, standing in front of him, much to the boy's bemusement. She was usually timid to the point of terror but she was fearless in protecting those she loved.

"Please, Mr Cartwright, don't beat him!"

"What about me?" Scamp cried.

"Not neither of them, Mr C - "

"How many more times, girl!" Ben sighed. "Uncle Ben!"

"Sorry. Uncle Ben."

"And I don't beat my children!"

Despite feeling so much happier she still seemed petrified of angering him. "I'm sorry, Uncle Ben."

He stroked her cheek. "Don't be, child. Extra chores and restriction, however, I do give." He fixed Joe and Scamp with steely eyes. "And that's exactly what you've got. Why can you two never do as you're told? I forbade you to go around there. Sullivan's dangerous, especially when he's drunk. Which is pretty much all the time."

"We made sure he wasn't there."

"And what if he'd come back?"

There was a silence and Scamp lowered her head. "Sorry, Pa."

"I know you were behind it, young lady. Next time I won't go so easy."

"Yes, sir."

"Horse-stealing is illegal, you know!"

"Pa, you saw him! He was half-starved! How could I leave him? He was suffering!"

"I know, I know." In truth, he had been expecting her to disobey him and when he had seen the condition of the animal, his heart had hurt. Its ribs were visible, clumps were coming off its coat and it badly needed shoeing. Like Sullivan's daughter, it had been completely neglected. "I understand why you did it, Scamp, honestly I do. But you should've waited for me and I would have helped you. As it was, I - "

"But I couldn't wait, Pa. I was afraid for him!"

"As it was, I had to compensate the man and explain to him. The last thing I wanted to do was give that beast any money!"

"I'm sorry we disobeyed you, Pa," said Joe, "but I do agree with her. We couldn't leave Snowy there. He's almost on his last legs. Please, Pa."

"I agree with you, you had to get him out. But you put yourselves in danger. As you do so often." He clicked his tongue and saw Cassie staring at him with anxious eyes. She was not used to seeing him angry. "Never be like them, Cassie, will you?"

"She won't," said Joe. "She's too good."

"As I said, completely unlike Scamp, then!" He picked Cassie up. "OK, you two, I want that barn and henhouse swept and cleaned from top to bottom. And as for leaving the ranch for the next week, forget it."

"So we don't have to go to school, then?" Joe asked cheekily.

"I shall treat that comment with the contempt it deserves."

Scamp heaved a huge sigh. "When do we have to start, Pa?"

"You know the score. Or you should do by now." He winked at Cassie who was now smiling. "My children are often naughty. Often."

"After supper, then?"

"That's right, young lady, after supper. Homework now, then your normal chores, then supper, then the extra chores, then bed."

"We're slaves," Joe grumbled.

"Rather uppity slaves, if I may say so. And if you did as you were told once in a while this wouldn't happen. Now, upstairs and slave away at your homework. And Joseph, I shall check yours."

"You never check Scamp's! It's favoritism."

"That's because she's cleverer than you. And me, come to that."

"Uncle Ben, may I go and see Snowy?"

"You may go out to the barn with Joe and Scamp after supper. OK?"

"Yes, sir."

She took her doll and played with it in front of the fire. He was not used to such a docile and well-behaved child. As fond of her as he was, he felt he would miss the twins' naughtiness if they were like her. He might rage at them, punish them, they might drive him to distraction and turn him gray, but secretly he loved their drive and mischief.