While everyone was eating their pie, Heath whispered something to Nick who nodded his head. When they saw that Cat was done, they got up, walked over to her and picked her up. "Excuse us, but we need to have a talk with our cousin for a little while," said Heath. Nick carried Cat outside, put her over his knees, spanked her, and sat her on the bench outside the hotel.
"What on Earth were you thinking of by embarrassing Adam like that?" hollered Nick. "You don't do that to anyone, especially an adult! I've half a mind to put you across my knees again and tan your bottom but good!"
"I don't understand why you're mad at me Nick. I didn't do anything wrong. I just wanted Adam to stop treating me like a baby."
Before Nick could explode, Heath put a hand on his shoulder. "She doesn't know that what she did was wrong." He sat down next to Cat. "I know you don't understand why we're angry with you, so let me try and explain." He sat there talking to her for several minutes and finally said, "How do you think you would feel if someone did that to you?"
Cat thought for a minute and finally said, "I don't care. I'm nine years old now and Adam was treating me like a baby."
"That doesn't matter," said Nick. "You embarrassed Adam and probably hurt his feelings. If you don't apologize to him right now, I will give you another spanking."
Cat was angry with her cousins and didn't want another spanking so she ran into the hotel and over to the tables where the rest of the family was sitting. "Adam, I am very sorry for what I did," she said with tears running down her face.
"Come here Cat," said Adam. Cat walked over to him slowly, certain she was going to get another spanking. When she got over to him, he hugged her and said, "Thank you for apologizing to me and promising never to do that again. Of course I forgive you. Now I need to apologize to you. I'm sorry for thinking of you as a baby, calling you one and treating you like one. You're right, you're nine years old now and that is hardly a baby. I was wrong and I promise not to do it again. Will you forgive me?"
"Yes Adam I do forgive you."
"Thank you Cat. You're my little sister now and we need to get to know each other better than we do. Would you like it if I went with Pa to pick you up at Uncle Lucas and Mark's house and go to Dodge with you? I would like to see what you do there and meet some of your friends."
"Yes, I would like that. You'll like Peter and Michael Tanner. We're a lot alike and I wish they could come and live here too."
Adam pretended to be afraid. "Three of you…here…I think I'd have to run away if there were three of you here. Hoss and Joe have been driving me crazy ever since they were old enough and now I've got you to drive me crazy too. No, if there were three of you along with Hoss and Joe, I would definitely have to run away." Cat knew she had been forgiven and hugged Adam's neck. "Hey, easy there. If you keep twisting my neck that hard, you're going to turn it so that I'm looking backwards all the time. I'll have to walk backwards so I can see where I'm going and everyone will laugh at me. Now, why don't you tell me how much money you will need to buy everyone here, including the soldiers a licorice stick?"
Cat thought hard for a minute. "Let's see now. There are ten soldiers, you, Uncle Ben, Hoss and Little Joe, so that makes fourteen. Uncle Luke, Mark, Uncle Matt and Miss Kitty make eighteen. There are five Barkleys, so that makes twenty three. Uncle Rip makes twenty four. Uncle Sam, Aunt Julia, Uncle Phil, Aunt Irene, Uncle Bill and Aunt Ellen make thirty. Sheriff Roy makes thirty one and I make thirty two. So if licorice is a penny a stick, I would need thirty two cents."
"Very well done little sister." Adam dug in his pocket and pulled out some change. "Here is fifty cents. Why don't you and Mark run down to the store and buy thirty two licorice sticks?"
"Gee thanks Adam. Come on Mark. Let's go before Aunt Victoria's stage gets here."
The two children ran out the door. Once they were outside, Mark said, "You know the licorice is just an excuse to get us to leave so they can talk about grown up stuff without us around."
"Yeah, I know. Adults sure are funny that way, aren't they?"
Once Cat and Mark left the hotel, Ben looked at his nephews and asked, "Why was Cat crying?"
"Because she embarrassed Adam and that was wrong so I gave her a spanking," answered Nick.
The rest of the family saw red. "Neither of you had permission to do that!" said Matt angerly. "She did nothing wrong. Adam was wrong and so were the two of you! Even if Cat had done something wrong, it was not your place to punish her! If she needed punishing, Ben, Rip, or I would have handled it. Both of you owe her an apology. Now she's going to have to start riding for Arizona with a sore bottom.
On their way back to the hotel with the licorice for everybody, Mr. Dawkins, the stage coach manager, stopped Cat and Mark. "You two need to hurry and tell your family that the west bound stage should be here in about fifteen minutes. I know that some of your family need to get on it and I wouldn't want them to miss it."
"Thank you Mr. Dawkins," said Cat. We'll run back to the hotel and tell them right away. The two children ran back to the hotel and Mark started giving licorice to everyone. "Aunt Victoria, Mr. Dawkins said to tell you that the west bound stage should be here in about fifteen minutes," said Cat, who then proceeded to hand out the licorice she had in her hand. Then she counted Adam's change back to him. "The licorice was thirty two cents and you gave me fifty cents. Here is your change. It's eighteen cents."
"Thank you Catherine," said Victoria. "We had better go over and wait at the stage office. I don't want to miss it."
Everyone got up to leave and so did the President's military escort. "Stay where you are gentlemen," he said. "This is going to be repeated twice in the next hour or so. We're going to have a long, dusty ride ahead of us so you may as well relax and enjoy yourselves while you can. I'm among family and friends and am in no danger here." Then the family walked over to the stage depot.
Heath apologized to Cat before the stage arrived but since Nick thought he was right, he did not. The stage was five minutes late and once goodbyes were said, the Barkley family departed for California. Mr. Dawkins looked at his watch and said, "The east bound stage should be here in about forty five minutes and the south bound stage in ninety."
"Thank you Tom. We'll be down in the hotel restaurant," said Ben.
Adam picked Cat up and said, "Hop Sing is right. You don't eat enough. You are as light as a feather. I'm afraid that a good strong wind will blow you away. We need to fatten you up."
"You're silly Adam," laughed Cat. "I weigh a lot more than a feather does and I don't want to get fat. I think it would be fun if the wind picked me up. I always wanted to know what it feels like to fly like a bird."
"I've got a better idea Adam," said Joe. "Instead of fattening her up, let's tie a tail and rope on to her and I can fly her like a kite, just like I used to do when I was a little kid."
"Baby brother, you're still a little kid and don't you forget it," teased Hoss.
Rip and Matt looked at each other, knowing that Cat was going to be alright now that she and Adam had patched up their differences. They both knew that she would get into mischief and be punished for it, which was all part of growing up, but she now had a father and brothers to depend on.
Thirty minutes later, the family walked back to the stage depot, this time to say goodbye to Matt and Kitty. Matt picked Cat up and hugged her tight. "Remember your promise. You're going to ask for help ignoring people who tease you and you're going to try your best not to start any fights."
"I won't forget Uncle Matt. I'll try my best."
"That's all anyone can ask for Sweetheart, is that you try your best. Now, give me a hug and have fun in Arizona and at Uncle Lucas'. Try and stay out of mischief while you're there. I'll see you in a few weeks."
"Ben, you might want to fix up someplace safe where Cat can practice with her bow and arrows. She usually hits what she aims at but those critters sometimes go wild and I wouldn't want to see anyone get hurt. Quint's got a spot behind his shop for her. You'll see it when you're in Dodge."
"That's a great idea Matt. We'll fix something up for her before Adam and I take her to Dodge. Have a safe trip and I'll see you soon."
Cat watched with tears in her eyes as the stage drove out of sight. Thirty minutes after Matt and Kitty left, it was time for Lucas and Mark to leave. "I'm glad that Adam isn't going to treat you like a baby anymore," said Mark. "It will be a lot easier for you now that you're not going to have to prove you're not a baby. It's going to be fun having you visit our ranch. I can't wait to start teaching you how to work with cattle. Pa's been teaching me how to throw a rope. I'm not very good at it yet, but maybe he can teach you too."
"That would be fun. Then I could pretend that Hoss was a big ol' cow and rope him." Both children burst out laughing.
"What's so funny?" asked Ben.
"Mark said that when I visit him and Uncle Luke, he's going to teach me how to throw a rope. Then when I get good at it, I'm going to rope Hoss just like he was a big ol' cow."
"Joe, you've got a good idea about flying our little sister like a kite," teased Hoss. "Only I think we should use a long rope and see if the wind will take her up, over the mountains."
"That sounds like fun," said Cat. "When can we do it?"
Ben just rolled his eyes and sighed. He turned to Cat's Godfathers and said, "Heath is right. I am going to have my hands full with her. I think she's going to be into more mischief than all three boys combined when they were her age. Are you sure I can't convince one of you to keep her?"
"Only if you take my youngest," laughed Grant. "Jesse is eleven and into everything. He and Cat are a lot alike."
Sherman and Sheridan also had a good laugh at Ben's question. "You wanted her; you've got her said Sherman. I've already got eight and don't need any more. I'll take Cat if you take my four youngest." Sheridan said that he already had four children and if Ben wanted two of them, he would take Cat.
"Alright, you win," laughed Ben. "I have no idea what I'm going to do with a child who thinks being flown like a kite would be fun. My life is about to get very interesting."
Since it was getting late, the decision was made that the President's party, including Cat would spend the night at the hotel in Virginia City and leave after breakfast. Ben decided that he, Adam, Hoss, and Joe would also spend the night. He spotted one of his hands coming out of the general store and asked him to tell Hop Sing that the family would not be home until after breakfast the next day.
After breakfast, everyone sat around talking for a little while. Then the President said, "We need to leave soon. How about letting Cat bring her horse? That way she can ride in the carriage part way and on horseback part way. With my escort, Bill, Phil and Rip to keep an eye on her, I don't think she'll wander off."
"That's a very good idea. Matt said that when Cat gets bored, she wanders off. So, yes, Cat can take Ginger with her. Otherwise, if she gets bored riding in the carriage, she's liable to wander off in search of adventure when you stop to rest. Joseph, will you please go down to the stable and bring Ginger back here? She's going along so Cat can ride part way if she behaves."
"I'll go and get her!" an excited Cat exclaimed.
"No Cat. I know how you are with horses. You'll start saying goodbye to Cochise and the others and we won't see you for an hour. You stay here with us and Joe will get Ginger for you."
"I won't take that long. I can get her and be back here in a little while."
"Catherine, if you disobey me on this, you will have a very sore bottom to start your trip," said Ben.
Rip spoke up too. "Catherine, if you disobey Ben, I will also put you across my knees and use my belt on your bottom. Do you want to start a very long trip not being able to sit down comfortably?"
"No sir."
"Then do as you're told and stay here."
"There are too many grown ups," mumbled Cat.
"What was that?" asked Ben.
"I said that there are too many grown ups. I'm going to take Uncle Sam's job when I turn ten and kids will run everything."
Ben shook his head as everybody else laughed at Cat's remarks.
"Who will help you run everything?" asked Adam.
"Mark, Laura, Mary, my friend Julie, and Peter and Michael Tanner."
Hoss picked Cat up and sat her on his shoulders. "I think you should wait until you're a little older before you think about taking Uncle Sam's job. You need to know a whole lot of arithmetic if you're going to be President."
"Oh yuck!" exclaimed Cat. "Why does everything need a lot of arithmetic? I wonder, if I take Uncle Sam's job now, could I make arithmetic go away?"
"Sorry little one," said the president. "Not even the president can make arithmetic go away. I'm afraid you're stuck with it for the rest of your life."
"That's terrible. If I become King of the World can I make arithmetic go away?"
"No Cat," said Joe, walking up with Ginger. "I'm afraid that the King of the World can't even make arithmetic go away."
"That's not fair," said Cat, making a sour face.
Once again, everyone had a good laugh at Cat's expense.
"We've got to get going," said Grant. "We have a long trip to make and we've kept Rip away from the fort for too long. Cat, you're going to start out riding in the carriage with me and your Godmothers. You will be allowed to ride your horse part way, but if you argue when I tell you it is time to ride in the carriage again, you will not be allowed to ride your horse again for the rest of the trip. Also, when you are allowed to ride your horse, you will stay with everybody else unless someone gives you permission to leave the group. Do you understand what I'm saying?"
"Yes sir."
"Good, because I don't want there to be any misunderstandings. This way, you know what to expect and we'll have a good trip."
"That's part of what Matt was trying to tell you," Rip said to Ben and Adam. "If you set clear expectations at the outset, Cat will know what is expected of her and what the consequences will be for disobedience. She wants to ride her horse, so she won't argue when she's told to ride in the carriage and she won't leave the group without permission. The key is to make sure she understands what is expected of her. If she doesn't understand the expectations and consequences for disobeying, she won't cooperate."
"Ok Rip. We'll make sure she knows the rules and consequences for breaking them," said Ben.
"Good. That will make things easier for all of you. I'm not saying that Cat won't break the rules. She is independent and likes to do things her own way regardless of the consequences. But at least she won't be able to say she didn't know what the rules were."
"Ben, Rip, we need to leave," called Grant. "We've got a long way to go and it's getting late.
Rip walked over to his horse and mounted while Ben walked over to the President's carriage where Hoss had just taken Cat down off his shoulders. Adam, Hoss, and Joe hugged her and told her that they'd miss her. Ben hugged her, told her he'd miss her, to have a good time and stay out of mischief. Then he put her in the carriage and watched it drive out of sight. He turned to his sons and said, "Well boys, let's head back to the ranch. We've got a lot of work to do, including getting ready for Cat to live with us. We also need to find someplace safe for her to practice with her bow and arrows. Matt says she hits what she aims at most of the time but sometimes the arrows go wild and I don't want anyone getting hurt. I've also got to figure out how to tell Hop Sing that Cat is going to be gone an extra two weeks. He wasn't very happy when I told him that she was leaving to go to Arizona with her Godparents and Rip." The four of them rode back to the Ponderosa with Ben wondering what he was going to do with a nine year old girl who thought that being flown like a kite sounded like fun.
For a while, Cat was content to ride in the carriage but after several hours, she became bored and started to get restless. Grant hugged her and said, "I know that you're getting bored riding here with me. You have done what I asked and did not complain. The next time we stop to rest the horses, you will be allowed to ride your horse. Just remember, you need to stay with the group."
"I will."
"That's my girl."
The group stopped to rest by the shore of a small lake. Cat was stiff from riding in the carriage for so long and asked, "Uncle Rip, can I go for a walk around the lake? I've been sitting for too long and need to stretch my legs. It's not a big lake and it won't take me too long to walk around it. I won't go swimming but I will take my moccasins off and get my feet wet."
Rip hesitated when two young soldiers spoke up, "Lieutenant, we'll be proud to escort your niece and keep anything from happening to her. We have a younger sister who's about her age and can be a real handful, so we know what to expect. In fact, if we're going to be here more than a few minutes, we may take our boots and socks off and cool our feet off in the lake."
"It's May, Catherine. May I go for a walk around the lake? Are you ever going to pay attention to your grammar lessons and start speaking correctly?"
"Probably not," Cat replied, dodging a playful swat aimed at her bottom. "So, can I go for a walk around the lake?"
Rip let out a long sigh. "Since these men have said they will go with you, you may go for a walk around the lake. Yes, you may get your feet wet, but no swimming as we won't be here long enough for you to get dry and I'm sure that your Godmothers do not want a wet child in the carriage with them."
"That's ok. I won't need to be dry. Uncle Sam said I could ride Ginger so I won't be all wet in the carriage."
"Catherine Michael, go for your walk before I change my mind. There will be consequences if you go swimming." Rip found himself wishing that his brother had fathered a boy instead of a stubborn, headstrong girl who is just like her mother had been, if not worse. He loved his niece but wondered if dealing with a boy would be easier.
Cat decided she had better go before her uncle got angry with her. Once she and the two soldiers were away from the group, she took off her moccasins and went in the lake. "Don't worry; I'm not going to go swimming. I don't want to be riding when I'm all wet. I just said I was because Uncle Rip said not to."
The two soldiers laughed. "Young lady," said one of them, "You are a real handful. We have a sister about your age and like you, she does her best to do the opposite of what she's told. I've lost count of how many times she's been bottom side up across our or Pa's knees."
"You're right about that David," said the other soldier. "Samantha and the Lieutenant's niece are a lot alike. She only wants to be called Sam and wears britches all the time. Ma has a hard time getting her into a dress on Sunday mornings for church. Just before we left on this trip, she got a whipping for starting a fight at school. A boy knocked her books out of her hands and she slugged him so hard his nose started bleeding. The teacher whipped her and since Pa was out of town, when she got home, Tom here whipped her too. Since that was the third time in a month she has started a fight at school, when Pa got home, he used his belt on her bare bottom, but I'm sure that she'll hit that boy again the first chance she gets."
"I think I like your sister," said Cat. "Where does she live? I want to meet her."
"She lives in Washington. You may get the opportunity to meet her some day. Pa keeps talking about wanting to move west where there's more land. He doesn't like being in the city," said Tom.
"There's lots of empty land around Virginia City. Your family could move there."
"I don't know if Virginia City can handle two girls like you," teased David. "Come on, we had better walk a little faster. I don't know how long the President plans on stopping here and we need to be back before he's ready to leave."
"Don't worry, he won't leave me behind. He's my Godfather and the rest of the family will get mad at him if he leaves me behind."
Tom sighed. "Miss Catherine, you don't understand. We are in the Army and can't keep the president waiting, even if we are escorting his Goddaughter. Also, if you keep the president waiting, the Lieutenant may warm your backside for you. That saddle of yours will be awfully hard if you have a sore bottom."
"You can call me Cat. I guess you're right. If Uncle Sam gets mad at me, I might get four spankings. If that happens, even the carriage seat won't be comfortable." She started to walk faster, but since she was in the lake and barefoot, Cat slipped on a rock. Fortunately, Tom and David were there to keep her from falling and getting soaking wet.
"Careful there Miss Cat," said David. "When I said we need to walk a little faster, I didn't mean for you to risk getting hurt. We're almost three quarters of the way around the lake. Why don't you come out of the water and walk in the grass? We need to do the same. That way, our feet will be dry before it's time to leave."
Cat came out of the lake and walked in the grass with her escort. When they reached the rest of the group, Rip wanted to know what happened and if Cat was hurt. "I'm fine Uncle Rip. David said we should walk a little faster in case Uncle Sam wanted to leave and I slipped on a rock. David and Tom kept me from falling in and getting soaked."
Rip thanked both men for taking care of his niece. "You're welcome Lieutenant," said Tom. "It was our pleasure. In fact, your nice reminds us of our little sister. They're a lot alike. If it's alright with you, we'd like to keep an eye on her while she's riding her horse. I know she promised to stay with the group and, if she's anything like our sister, she'll do her best to keep her promise. However, promises don't keep rattlesnakes or other critters from frightening horses." Rip agreed and told Cat that when they left, she needed to stay with Tom and David. To his surprise, she agreed without arguing.
After a little while, Cat got bored staying with everybody. There was a curve in the road about half a mile ahead, so she rode up to Rip and asked, "Uncle Rip, can I please ride ahead as far as that curve? I promise I'll stop right there and wait for everyone else. I'm tired of just following everybody and Ginger want to run some."
"Alright Cat. You can ride ahead as far as that curve."
"Thanks Uncle Rip," she called as she urged Ginger into a gallop. She reached the curve and stopped to wait for the rest of the group to catch up. Ginger wanted to keep running. "I'm sorry girl," Cat told her. "I want to run more too, but I promised I'd wait here. If I don't, we won't be allowed to leave the group and run again."
The group continued on their journey until almost sunset when they stopped for the night in a large town. After getting hotel rooms for everyone including the military escort, they went to a local restaurant for supper. While they were eating, the President said, "Cat, I am very proud of you. You did everything you were told without complaining and asked permission to leave the group. Tomorrow, I would like you to ride in the carriage for a little while and then you will be allowed to ride your horse the rest of the day."
"Thank you Uncle Sam. Can I please ride up with the driver tomorrow?"
"May I," said Rip. "It's may I, Cat, not can I. Adam is really going to have to work on grammar with you along with arithmetic."
Cat made a sour face and said, "I don't like grammar and I really don't like arithmetic. I wish I could make them go away forever. Now, can I please ride with the driver tomorrow?"
Rip sighed. He knew that Cat had deliberately used improper grammar just to irritate him and decided to do something about it. "Unless you start using proper grammar, you will not be allowed to do anything except ride in the carriage and stay with the group. That includes going for walks when we stop to rest."
"That's not fair Uncle Rip. It shouldn't matter how I talk."
"I'm sorry Catherine, but that's the way things are going to be for the rest of the trip. Either you start using proper grammar or you ride in the carriage and stay with the group the rest of the trip."
"There's nothing wrong with the way I talk and I'm not going to ride in the carriage the rest of the way." Cat started to walk out of the restaurant.
"Where are you going?" asked Rip.
"I'm going to get my horse and go to Arizona by myself. I looked at the map and I know how to get there. I also know how to get to Uncle Lucas' ranch from your fort. I don't need grown ups. I can take care of myself. I may not be big enough to hunt deer yet but I can hunt rabbits. I know how to clean and cook them. I also know how to catch, cook and clean fish. No Indians will hurt me because I am the daughter and granddaughter of Apache chiefs. Nobody will be able to track me because I know how to hide my tracks and ride my horse so her tracks can't be seen either."
The women looked at each other with concern in their eyes when Julia Grant decided she'd had enough and spoke up.
"Alright! That is enough. Rip, the child is only nine years old, not nineteen. Better grammar will come with time. Catherine has done everything that was asked of her today without complaining, so there is no need to push her about her grammar right now. If you keep pushing her like that, she will ride out on her own and God only knows what will happen to her. I don't want to wake up in the morning and find her gone! I know my Goddaughter well enough to know that she'll do exactly what she says. Rip, you of all people should know how much like her mother Cat is. Kate wouldn't hesitate to set out on her own and neither will her daughter. I for one don't want to have to send a telegram to Ben, telling him that we've lost Cat. He just lost his sister two weeks ago and he doesn't need to be told he's lost her daughter too. How do you think Matt will react when he gets a telegram saying that you've lost your brother's only child again and this time you may not get her back?"
Julia walked over and put her arm around Cat. "Catherine, how about if you ride in the carriage with me for a little while tomorrow and I'll ask the driver if you can ride up with him for a little while. That way, Uncle Sam, Aunt Ellen, Aunt Irene, and myself will get what we want, which is to spend more time with you, and if the driver agrees, you will get what you want, which is to ride up with him. You will also be able to ride your horse part of the way."
"Ok Aunt Julia. I'll ride part way in the carriage but I do hope that the driver will let me ride up with him too."
"That's my girl. Now, it's getting late. You've had a long day and tomorrow is going to be another long day. Let's get you in bed and if your Uncle Rip behaves himself, I'll let him come and say goodnight to you."
Cat yawned loudly. "Ok. I am kind of tired and a comfortable bed sounds nice right now."
As Julia and Cat started to leave the restaurant, Tom and David got up to accompany them. "You don't need to come with us gentlemen," said Julia. "The hotel is just across the street."
"Yes we do Mrs. Grant," said David. "You are the president's wife and Miss Cat is the president's Goddaughter. It is our job to make sure nothing happens to either of you. Judging from the looks of Miss Cat, it seems that either myself or my brother should carry her before she falls asleep walking across the street."
Tom picked Cat up and carried her over to the hotel. She was so tired that she fell asleep with her head on his shoulder before they reached the middle of the street. When they reached the hotel, David got the key to the Grant's suite, unlocked the door and went in. Once he was certain it was safe, he allowed Julia to enter. Tom followed carrying the sleeping Cat, put her on a small bed in the bedroom and took her moccasins off. Then he and David left the suite and took up posts outside the door. A few minutes later, Julia opened the door and said, "I'd really like to go back over to the restaurant and join my husband and the others, but Catherine is sleeping and I really don't want to leave her alone in a strange hotel room. She's still having nightmares about her mother's death and I'm concerned that if she has one and wakes up in a strange place, she'll be confused and frightened."
"I'll stay with her Mrs. Grant," said Tom. "If you'll give me a few moments, I want to get a book out of the room my brother and I are sharing. Then he can escort you back to the restaurant."
"You two are so good with her. Do you have children of your own?"
"No ma'am, not yet," answered Tom. "I'm going to be married a few weeks before Thanksgiving and David here, hasn't gotten up the courage to ask his girl to marry him yet. We have a younger sister who's about Miss Cat's age. In fact, the two of them are a lot alike."
"Oh heavens," laughed Julia. "I don't know if the world is ready for two little girls like my Goddaughter. Go ahead and get your book. I'll sit with Cat until you return." She walked back into the suite. A few minutes later, Tom returned with his book and David knocked on the door. "That was quick," said Julia when she answered the door. "Please come in while I fetch my wrap."
"Thank you ma'am," said Tom. "I'll just sit in this chair until you and the President return. Don't worry; Miss Cat will be just fine." David escorted Julia back to the restaurant.
About an hour later, everyone returned to the hotel and Rip, the generals and their wives joined the Grants in their suite. "How's Cat?" asked Julia. "Did she have a nightmare or wake?"
"She's fine Mrs. Grant. "She hasn't made a sound. I just checked on her a few minutes ago and she's still sound asleep. Except for kicking her covers off, she hasn't stirred at all. It was a long day and she was pretty tuckered out before everyone even went to supper. I'm surprised she stayed awake as long as she did."
Rip had walked into the bedroom to say goodnight to his niece. When he came out, he said, "I would like to thank both of you for looking after my niece today. I can't begin to tell you how much I appreciate it. She seems to have taken quite a liking to both of you. To be honest, I was surprised when she listened to you. Catherine is very hard headed and likes to do things her own way."
"It was our pleasure Lieutenant," said David. "Your niece reminds us of our little sister. In fact, we told Mrs. Grant earlier that Miss Cat and our Samantha are a lot alike."
"Oh no!" laughed Rip. "There is another Wild Cat lose? I don't know if the country can take two of her. One is a handful but I'm afraid that two would be impossible, especially if they ever got together."
Everyone started laughing loudly at Rip's statement when Julia said, "Hush. Not so loud. I don't want Cat to wake up."
"Don't worry Mrs. Grant," said Tom. "When I checked on her a few minutes before you returned, she was so sound asleep, you could fire a cannon out the window and it wouldn't wake her up. That little girl is just plum tuckered out and I don't even know if the smell of chocolate cake baking next to her would be enough to wake her up. Now, if y'all will excuse us, David and I need to get some sleep before it's our turn to stand watch."
"The two of you have done more than your fair share today and will not be standing watch tonight," said Sherman. "I've already informed the captain and he has taken you off the watch rotation. Enjoy getting to sleep all night for a change."
"Thank you General," said both of them together and left the President's suite.
"I'm heading for bed also," said Rip. "Cat will be well rested and those two young men and I will have our hands full keeping up with her. Goodnight everybody. I will see you in the morning."
Once Rip had closed the door behind him, Grant said, "Bill, did you get those things I asked for from the fort when we were in Virginia City?"
"Yes I did. I wasn't sure if you were going to promote him to captain or major, so I got two sets of each bars."
"Wonderful. Thank you very much. I hate using you and Phil as errand boys but I want this promotion to be kept a secret until it actually happens. I can't wait to see the look on Rip and Cat's faces when I promote him. When we reach the fort tomorrow, I would like the members of my escort to ask the men stationed at the fort for their opinion of both Major Bush and Rip. I'll make my decision about which rank he's going to be promoted to after I hear from the men. Also, tomorrow we're going to be passing another fort on our way to Arizona. Will one of you please go there and pick up some corporal's stripes for those two young men who have done an admirable job of keeping our Goddaughter out of mischief? They need to be commended for it. I'm not even sure if Kate and Michael could have done what they did."
"I'll do it for you Sam," said Sheridan. "Speaking of Kate and Michael, now that Cat is getting older, we really need to tell her about her parents. I also think that when she's old enough to understand, we need to tell her how it's our fault she is growing up without her father. I wonder if Kate ever forgave us?"
"I'm sure she did," said Irene Sheridan. "After all, Matt told us that when she gave Catherine to him, she told him to give her to one of us if he couldn't keep her and Ben wouldn't take her. Well, it is late and I'm tired. Phil, please take me to our room. I would like to go to bed. Goodnight everyone. I will see you in the morning."
"I am also very tired and would like to go to bed," said Ellen Sherman. "Bill, will you please escort me to our room? Goodnight Julia. Goodnight Sam. I will see you in the morning."
Once everyone left, Julia turned to her husband and said, "They're right. It's been a very long day. Tomorrow will also be a long day and Cat will be well rested and full of mischief. We also need to get some sleep if we're to even try and keep up with her." The President blew out the lamp in the sitting room. Then he and his wife walked into the bedroom, kissed their Goddaughter goodnight and went to bed.