When they arrived at the McCain ranch the next morning, Ben and Adam joined Lucas who was sitting on the porch, laughing at Mark and Cat's attempts to rope each other. It took a while but each child finally managed to catch the other. Before everyone headed out onto the ranch, Lucas had a surprise up his sleeve for Adam and Ben. "Cat, why don't you bring your bow and arrows and see if you and that ferocious puppy of yours can catch some supper for everyone?"

"Sure Uncle Luke. I would love to do some hunting." Cat walked into the bedroom and came out with her bow, quiver of arrows and knife.

Ben and Adam were surprised and said so. "I don't know why you're surprised," said Lucas. "Did you think they were just toys? Cat knows how to use that bow and arrows. She hits what she aims at most of the time. She's not big enough to kill a deer yet, but she has helped to skin them and knows several ways of cooking them. Wait until you see what she can do with rabbits. Even though she's only nine, she is pretty self sufficient. While she was with them this year, among other things, the Apaches taught her how to build a fire and cook things on it. She can already catch, clean and cook fish, rabbits and other small animals."

Lucas decided to get a deer while they were out hunting with Cat. When they reached a good spot, he rode off on his own. Ben and Adam watched, amazed, as Cat proceeded to kill enough rabbits to feed everyone for supper that night. They were equally amazed as Silver Chief also killed a large rabbit. "Now," asked Adam. "Who is going to clean and cook all of those rabbits?"

"Cat and I are," replied Mark. Cat showed me how to clean them and I'm almost as good as she is. Cat also showed Pa and me two ways of cooking rabbits." Lucas returned a short while later with a deer.

When they got back to the house, Lucas started taking care of the deer he killed while Cat and Mark talked about how they were going to cook the rabbits. "I think we should make stew," said Mark. "It doesn't take as long to make as frying the rabbits does."

"You're right. We should look in the house and see if we need to go to town and buy anything," said Cat. They went in the house and discovered that they needed to buy onions and carrots.

"Are the two of you really going to clean and cook those rabbits?" asked Ben when they came back outside. "You're only nine and I don't know of many nine year olds who can clean and cook rabbits. I still can't believe that Cat was able to kill them with only a bow and arrows."

"Of course we're going to clean and cook them," said Cat. "My Apache father and Little Bear showed me how to clean them when I was seven and my Apache mother showed me how to cook them." Cat took out her knife and cleaned one rabbit. Then she handed the knife to Mark who did another one. Once all of the rabbits were cleaned, the children took them into the house, washed them, cut them up, and put them in a large pot. Then they peeled some potatoes, cut them up and added them to the pot. They also added several other vegetables to the pot before going back outside. Ben and Adam had been following and watching the pair, still not completely believing what they were seeing.

When they went back outside, Cat walked up to Lucas and said, "Uncle Luke, there aren't any carrots or onions in the house. Mark and I need to go and buy some."

"That's fine. Here's some money. You two go to town and I'll put those rabbit skins on the side of the barn to dry. If there's enough food, why don't you invite Millie and Micah to supper while you're in town."

"That's a great idea Pa," said Mark. "We've got plenty of food for all of us, Millie and Micah too."

"It will be fun having Miss Millie and Micah here for supper," said Cat.

"Come on Cat. We need to get to town so we can finish making our stew."

"Alright Mark. Let's go."

"Wanna race?"

"Sure. You know that Ginger is going to beat that bag of bones you're riding."

"I don't think so. You'll be eating my dust before we leave the ranch." The pair raced out of the house mounted their horses and rode off as fast as they can, leaving the three adults laughing.

"She really is a remarkable girl Ben," said Lucas. "I'll be more than happy to keep her here if you don't want her. She and Mark get along great. They've always been like brother and sister and having her here for this past week has been a real treat. I'll add an extra bedroom and the two of them can share it."

"Thanks for the offer Luke, but I think I'll keep her. Although, I may take you up on that offer if she gives me too many gray hairs."

Lucas laughed. "No you won't. I seem to remember offering to take Little Joe off your hands quite a few years ago when he was giving you gray hairs and you kept him even though his brothers wanted to throw him back like a fish that was too small to keep."

"They still do sometimes. I wonder what they're going to do with Cat when she gets on their nerves."

"She's little enough so we can throw her back," said Adam. "We'll catch her again when she's bigger."

Ben just sighed and shook his head. "You can have this one if you want," he said to Lucas. "I'll keep Mark and Cat and you can have Adam."

"No thank you. I've grown quite attached to Mark over the years and think I'll keep him. You need Adam to help keep Hoss and Joe in line. I was just thinking, tonight will be the perfect time for you to tell Cat about an adult needing to know where she's at. Besides myself, you'll have Millie and Micah to add their support for what you're saying. After all, who knows more about safety than the town marshal?"

Cat and Mark tied in their race to town. Micah was in the store when they walked in, so they invited him and Millie to supper at the same time. They both accepted the invitation and said they would be at the ranch by six. Cat paid Millie for the onions and carrots then she and Mark decided to race back to the ranch.

When they got back to the ranch, their horses were hot and needed to be cooled off . "We need to cool off the horses, but we also have to finish making our stew," said Mark. "One of us needs to walk the horses and the other needs to cut up the carrots and onions and finish the stew."

"I don't like cutting up onions," said Cat.

"Neither do I," laughed Mark. "So, how are we going to decide who cools out the horses and who cuts up the onions?"

"I don't know. What do you think?"

"I don't know either, but we've got to decide."

"Who won the race and what are you two trying to decide?" asked Adam.

"We tied both ways and we're trying to decide who cools off the horses and who cuts up the onions. If we both cool out the horses, we won't have time to finish making supper before Micah and Millie get here and we both hate cutting up onions," replied Mark.

Lucas, Ben, and Adam laughed at the dilemma facing the two children. "You two go and finish your meal. We'll take care of your horses," laughed Ben.

"Thanks Uncle Ben," replied both children together as they ran into the house with their purchases. Cat ran back outside and gave the change to Lucas, then ran back into the house to help Mark finish making supper."

After Cat and Mark left, Millie told Micah, "I'll bet that those two didn't even think about bread or dessert. It's a good thing I have an oven in the back. Would you mind watching the store for me while I run home and get some things to make bread and pie with?"

"It all depends. What kind of pie are you going to make?"

"I thought I'd make a cherry pie. I know how much Mark likes my cherry pies."

"Millie, for a piece of your cherry pie, I'd watch your store every day for a month."

"Thank you Micah. I'll be back in a few minutes."

Millie returned with the things she needed for making bread and pie a few minutes later. Micah helped with the baking and the bread and pies were done in a few hours. They left for the McCain ranch around five thirty. When they arrived, Mark and Cat came outside to meet them. When they saw the bread and pies, Mark said, "Thanks for making bread and pies Millie. Cat and I forgot all about bread and dessert."

"I kind of thought you did, but that's ok. The two of you are only nine and not used to planning meals for company."

Millie sliced the bread and Lucas set the pot of stew on the table. He filled the bowls and passed them around the table. Ben and Adam were skeptical about eating a meal that had been prepared by a pair of nine year olds but didn't say anything. Millie took a bite of her stew and exclaimed, "Catherine, Mark, this is delicious. I can't remember the last time I had stew this tasty. Lucas, you simply cannot let Ben and Adam take Catherine away from here."

"I couldn't agree more Millie," added Micah. "This is some of the best stew I've eaten in years. Lucas, Millie is right, you must keep Cat here. I'll be here for supper every night she and Mark cook. If they can make rabbit taste this good, I can't wait to see what they can do with a deer."

There were tears in Cat's eyes as she said, "I wish I could stay here Miss Millie. Uncle Luke doesn't treat me like a baby. Adam still thinks I'm a baby. This morning, I heard him tell Uncle Ben that he was going to take my bow and arrows away from me because little kids shouldn't be allowed to play with weapons. I think he's going to take my puppy and colt away from me too. Adam watched Mark and me kill and clean the rabbits and make the stew but he hasn't even tasted it to know that we can cook. I thought I was going to like living on the Ponderosa, but now I'm not so sure. Uncle Sam gave me money to send him a telegram if Adam tried to take my bow and arrows, puppy and kitten away from me. I think I'll go to town in the morning and send him a telegram and tell him that I want to live with Uncle Rip or here with Uncle Luke and Mark. I know Uncle Matt loves me and wants me, but I'm getting too old to share that little room with him and he's gone a lot too."

"You're still trying to treat Cat like she's too young to do anything Adam?" asked Lucas. "What happened to that promise you made while we were all still in Virginia City? Catherine isn't a baby any more than Mark is. You watched her work cattle yesterday and hunt today, but you still think she's a little kid. Maybe I should send that telegram to Sam for her. I'm sure that Matt and Rip won't mind if she lives here with us."

"Cat, I'm sorry for acting like you are too young," said Adam. "I told Pa I was going to take your bow and arrows away from you this morning because I thought that you thought they were only toys and weapons aren't toys."

"No Adam," said Lucas. "The problem is that you didn't think. You assumed that Cat was treating them like toys. Do you really believe that Matt, Rip, Sam, Phil, and Bill would allow her to have them if she treated them like toys? I seem to remember that you and your brothers gave her a new bow and quiver for her arrows when she was five, so why are you wanting to take them away from her now? Were you really going to hang Michael's sword on a wall in her bedroom or were you planning on taking that away from her too? What about her puppy and colt? Were you planning on taking them away from her too?"

"No, I wasn't going to take the sword away from her. I was just going to hang it high enough on the wall so she couldn't take it down. I wasn't going to take her puppy and colt away from her. There's no reason a girl can't have a puppy and colt."

"There you go again," said Ben. "The problem isn't that you thought Cat would play with the sword, bow, and arrows like toys. The problem is the same as you wanting her to dress like a girl. Everything she did was fine when she was your cousin visiting at school holidays, but now that she's your sister, and you're afraid she's going to embarrass you in front of your friends. You are going to have to adjust to the fact that Catherine will never be like other girls. Who knows, there may come a time when you are very glad of that fact. Don't worry Cat. Nobody is going to take your sword, bow, arrows, knife, puppy or colt away from you. However, if there was a way, I would squish you back into being just a little baby again because I don't ever want you to grow up. I would do the same thing with Adam, Hoss, and Little Joe if I could. I'm sure Lucas feels the same way about Mark."

"Yes I do," said Lucas. "Because you kids growing up means that we're getting older and we don't want to get older. So, if there was a way to keep you from growing up, we would do it so we would not get older." Everybody had a good laugh at Lucas' remarks. After two bowls of stew, everyone decided that they were ready for dessert and had a good laugh when Micah put both pies in front of him, picked up his knife and fork and acted like he was going to eat both of them.

While everyone was eating, Ben said, "Cat, as I'm sure you already know, you're going to have some new rules to learn and get used to. I want to tell you about a very important one right now. I'm sure that everyone here will agree that this rule is very important for your safety. There are two parts to it. The first part is that you need to ask permission before going anywhere out of the yard or pasture where Fury and Lady are. The other part is that an adult needs to know where you are all the time."

"I didn't have to do that in Dodge. Why do I need to do it now? I just left a note for Uncle Matt or gave one to Miss Kitty. Uncle Matt said I could go fishing after school as long as I got my school work done."

"That sounds like a safety rule to me," said Millie. "Mark has said that your father's ranch is very large."

"Yes it is," said Lucas. "You could put my ranch inside the Ponderosa and have a lot of room left over."

"Cat, you have only seen a small part of the Ponderosa," said Adam. "It would take more than three weeks to ride around the whole ranch."

"If your horse steps in a chuck hole and you get hurt so you can't ride, it could take several days before someone found you," said Micah. "Right now, your puppy is too small to go for help. He could easily be killed by an eagle, hawk, wolf, coyote, or cougar, so he would have to stay with you while you waited for help to come, so that's why an adult needs to know where you are all the time. I know that Mark always tells his father where he's going."

"Ok. I understand why someone needs to know where I'm at, but why do I need to ask permission to do anything? What if nobody's home and I want to go fishing? By the time someone comes home, it could be too late to go fishing. I don't want to sit around the house doing nothing instead of fishing. I should just be able to leave a note like I do with Uncle Matt."

"There are several reasons why you need to ask permission before going anywhere. First of all, you are not used to the weather on the Ponderosa and storms can blow up in no time at all. Everyone on the ranch knows what the signs of an approaching storm are. I know that you know how to tell if it's raining off in the distance, but do you know how to tell which way the rain is moving or if a storm is brewing? The other reason I want you to ask permission before going anywhere is because we might be planning to do something as a family and we will want you to be part of it."

"The Apaches taught me how to tell which way the wind is blowing. The Ponderosa is a big ranch and nobody will ever be home to tell me I can go somewhere, so I'll never be able to go anywhere. This is all Adam's idea so he can keep treating me like I'm a little kid or to make me act like a girl. If somebody is home, I'll ask before I go anywhere but if nobody is home, I'm just going to leave a note like I did with Uncle Matt. I don't want to sit around the house doing nothing while I wait for someone to come home. I can do my school work while I'm fishing, just like I did in Dodge. My friend Julie always checked it for me. I sometimes didn't get all of my Arithmetic problems right but everything was almost always right. Also, if nobody is home and I need help with my Arithmetic, I want to be able to go over to Laura and Mary's house. Mary and Mrs. Ingalls said that they'd help me. If I wait for someone to come home before I go over there, it might be too late and I might already be in bed and will get in trouble with the teacher for not having all of my work done. I won't go anywhere if it's raining or looks like it's going to rain."

Ben thought for a minute and said, "Alright Cat. If somebody is home, ask permission before going anywhere. We're not always going to say yes, but we're not always going to say no either and we'll explain why we're saying no. If your brothers or I aren't home, you can leave a note or tell Hop Sing. Just be sure to say exactly where you're going. If you go fishing when you have to go to school the next day, I don't want you riding all the way out to Lake Tahoe. There are ponds, streams and a small lake you can fish in that are closer to the house than Lake Tahoe. However, you will need to be home before supper and if your school work doesn't get done properly, you will not be allowed to go fishing when you have school the next day. Also, just like everyone else, you are going to have chores that will need to be done. You won't have too many. I think we'll start you out with gathering eggs in the morning and filling the wood box by the fireplace. If you neglect your chores, you will not be allowed to go anywhere on school nights."

"Except for doing chores, that's how I did things in Dodge and I always got my school work done. Uncle Matt said I wouldn't be allowed to go fishing, even on weekends if I didn't do my school work unless I had stuff I didn't know how to do. Then I was allowed to do it when someone could help me."

Once everyone was finished eating, Micah said, "Whose turn is it to do dishes tonight Mark?"

"It's mine Micah. Come on Cat, we'd better get started. We have a lot of dishes to wash tonight."

"Hold on a minute you two," said Micah. "Let's see now, Mark and Cat caught the meat and made this fine meal we all enjoyed. Millie made the bread and pies. Lucas washed dishes last night, so Ben and Adam, why don't the two of you help me do the dishes. It's not right for these two youngsters to have worked so long and hard to prepare this wonderful meal only to have to clean up afterwards. I think it's only fair that we help out too."

"Gee thanks Micah," said Mark and Cat together.

"Micah's right Adam," said Ben. We watched while Cat and Mark caught the meat and fixed the meal, so it's only fair that we help too." While Micah, Adam, and Ben were clearing the table and preparing to wash the dishes, Lucas carried two chairs outside and put them on the porch for Millie and he to sit in while Cat and Mark just sat on the edge of the porch.

"I wish you didn't have to leave tomorrow," said Mark. "I'm going to miss you and wish you could stay here forever."

"Me too. If Adam keeps treating me like I'm too young to do anything, I'll come back here, even if I have to come by myself."

"Cat," said Lucas. "I don't want you trying to come here by yourself from the Ponderosa. If Adam keeps treating you like a little kid, send me a telegram. I'll send telegrams to your uncles and Godfathers and I will come and get you myself. It is much too dangerous for you to try and ride here by yourself. Too many bad things can happen to you, so I want you to promise me that you will not try and come here by yourself."

"Ok Uncle Luke. I promise I won't try and come here by myself."

"Cat, I don't think that Adam is going to keep treating you like he has been," said Millie. "Your Pa and Lucas were pretty angry with him. Give it some time and things will work out. You are going to have disagreements with your Pa and brothers, but that's natural. Nobody agrees with others all the time. Lucas and Mark don't always agree but they still love each other. That's the way it's going to be in your family. You won't always agree and sometimes you'll be angry with your Pa or one of your brothers, but they will always love you. Remember, they have to get used to having you there all the time and the way you do things, just like you're going to have to get used to being part of a family and the way they do things. That will take time. It's not going to happen overnight. I don't know how long it will take. That depends on how much work you and the others put into it, but it will happen. One day it will seem like you've always lived there and been part of their family.

One other thing to remember is that as you grow older, you will have more responsibilities but you will also have more freedom. There is something I would like you to think about. I know that you haven't had a father since you were a little baby, but Ben is your father now. I want you to start thinking of him as your Pa instead of as your uncle. Once again, it's going to take time but the more you think about it, the sooner it will happen."

"Ok Miss Millie. I'll try my best."

"That's all anyone can ask," said Micah joining them on the porch. "As long as you try your best with everything you do, even if you don't succeed, you and everyone else around you will know that you did the best you could and that's what's important. My father used to tell me that it is better to have tried and failed than to have never tried at all. Never give up. Just keep trying and one day, you will succeed."

While Cat was thinking about what she had been told, Mark said, "Pa, since Cat's leaving tomorrow and I won't get to see her again until Christmas or maybe not until next summer, can we go for a moonlight ride around the ranch?"

"That's a great idea son. Why don't you and Cat start saddling horses and I'll join you in a minute."

Mark and Cat raced for the barn just as Ben and Adam walked out onto the porch. "Where are they going in such a hurry?" asked Ben.

"I was just coming in the house to tell you that we're all going for a moonlight ride around the ranch. Mark and Cat have gone to start saddling horses and I'm going to help them. Millie, shall I saddle a horse for you or are you going to take your buggy?"

"Of course you should saddle a horse for me. The buggy is fine for going to and from town, especially when you've got bread and pies, but it's not fine for a moonlight ride around your ranch."

Adam walked into the house and returned carrying Cat's saddle bags. Then he bent down and picked up Silver Chief who was nipping at his heels. "Well pup, it seems that you and I are going to be family, so it's time we started getting to know each other."

Cat walked out of the barn leading a pair of horses. Lucas and Mark were right behind her. When she saw Adam with her puppy, she was afraid he was going to hurt Silver Chief and started to drop the reins and run to get her puppy away from him. Lucas saw what she was going to do and put a hand on her shoulder. "I don't think that Adam is going to hurt your puppy. Watch and see what he does."

Adam held the puppy up and looked him over. "You're a little thing but you've got a lot of heart. I can tell you love that little girl but I'm not sure which one of you is wilder. It's going to be interesting to see what the two of you are like when you grow up." He stuck the puppy inside his shirt and said, "Well, let's see how you like riding this way."

"What are you doing with my puppy Adam?"

"I'm stealing him from you. I decided that I want him, so I'm going to take him," he teased.

Cat wasn't used to being teased so she became angry, walked up to Adam, kicked him and said, "Give my puppy back to me! He's mine and you can't have him! Little Bear gave him to me and I promised to take care of him. Give him back!" She kicked him again. "Give my puppy back!"

"Adam," said Millie. "It's obvious that Cat is not used to being teased. She thinks you're going to keep the puppy."

Adam got down on one knee and took his sister in his arms. "I'm just teasing you Cat. I'm not going to keep your puppy. He wouldn't be happy and would probably chew up my boots. I'm just trying to get to know him a little better. Look at him. He likes being inside my shirt."

"You're really not going to keep him?"

"Of course I'm going to keep him and when we get home, I'm going to run out to the pasture before you can and I'm going to take Fury for a ride."

Cat knew then that Adam was not being serious. "That's silly. Fury is still a baby. He's not even big enough for me to ride yet."

"If we're going to go for a ride, we had better go," said Lucas. "These children will fall asleep in the saddle if we don't leave soon."

Once everyone was mounted, Adam asked Cat if she wanted her puppy. "No, he can stay with you for the ride. I think he likes looking out of your shirt. But don't blame me if he wets on you." She rode off to join Mark leaving Adam with a confused look on his face.

About twenty minutes into the ride, Adam called out to Cat. "Cat, your puppy is wiggling. What does that mean?"

"What do you think it means? You're smart. You went to college. Figure it out."

Millie looked at Lucas and laughed. "I think that Cat is about to get revenge on Adam for teasing her earlier."

"Yes, it does seem that way, doesn't it?"

A few moments later, Adam found out what it meant when Silver Chief started wiggling. "Caaaat! Your puppy just wet on me!"

"Don't blame me. You're the one who wanted to carry him."

The rest of the group except for Cat and Mark had a hard time trying to keep from laughing at Adam and finally gave up trying. Cat and Mark didn't even try to keep from laughing at what Silver Chief had done to Adam.

"Ben, you are going to have your hands full with that girl," laughed Micah. "She certainly knows how to get revenge without getting in trouble for it."

"You're right on both counts Micah. Cat is definitely going to be a handful. I know that Adam is angry about what happened to him, but he was warned and Cat did nothing wrong. Hopefully now, he'll start treating his sister with more respect. This is the second time she's gotten even with him for upsetting her. Who knows what she'll do if it happens again?"

"What happened the first time?"

"Cat's uncles gave her money to send them a telegram if things got too bad for her on the Ponderosa and Adam decided that a nine year old shouldn't have any money and told me he was going to take it away from her. She overheard him and the day everyone left Virginia City, we all had dinner at the hotel restaurant. The sheriff is a friend and joined us. Cat walked up to him in front of the whole family, her Godparents, Lucas, Mark, the president's security detail and everyone in the restaurant, gave him the money her uncles had given her and asked him to keep it because Adam thought she was a baby and was going to take it away from her. Needless to say, Adam was very embarrassed. Two of my nephews took her outside, spanked her and made her apologize to Adam. I let them know in no uncertain terms that they were out of line. I told them that Catherine is my responsibility and if I thought she needed to be punished, I would take care of it. My sister agreed with me and so did their older brother."

"Would you have punished her?"

"No I wouldn't have. She did nothing wrong. Adam deserved it. Matt and Rip told him not to take the money away from her but he decided he knew better. I'm not even going to scold her about what the puppy did to Adam. Cat's not used to being teased and he should have stopped when she kicked him. I will have a talk with her about kicking people though. That's not a habit I want her to have, even when she's angry."

"Adam, there's a stream just up ahead where you can wash out your shirt," said Lucas.

When they reached the stream, Adam gave the puppy back to Cat. She and Mark praised him for wetting on Adam. Lucas heard them and said, "Kids, that's not the right thing to do. Cat, I know you were angry with Adam for teasing you, but you should never praise your puppy for wetting on someone, even if you are angry with that person."

"Oh. Sorry Uncle Luke. I didn't know."

"I know that but now that you do know, you shouldn't do it again."

"I won't."

Cat and Mark saw Adam bending over the stream rinsing his shirt out and decided to push him in. Ben saw what they were up to and said, "Catherine, Mark, don't even think about doing what I know you're about to do. That will land both of you in serious trouble."

Adam heard his father, turned around and tucked one child under each arm. "I've got a pair of fish here that are too small to keep. I'm going to throw them back."

"Adam, don't you dare. I just scolded them for wanting to push you in, so you cannot turn around and toss them into the water. Now, if you are finished rinsing your shirt out, let's continue our ride. Those two children need to go to bed soon."

When the group got back to the house, Lucas pulled a chair close to the fireplace and hung Adam's shirt on it. While they were waiting for the shirt to dry, everyone had another piece of pie. "Lucas," said Millie. "I can't thank you enough for inviting me out here tonight. I can't remember the last time I had such an enjoyable evening. I do wish that there was a way we could keep Cat here. How about if we hide her at the store until after Ben and Adam leave? Then we'll be able to keep her here."

That made everybody laugh. "Lucas, why don't you, Mark and Cat spend the night at the hotel?" asked Ben. "Then all of us can have breakfast together. We'll take the stage to Santa Fe and then the train to Dodge."

"We can't take the train," said Cat. "What about Silver Chief? They don't let puppies on trains and I'm not going to leave him behind!"

"Come here Cat." Cat reluctantly walked over to her father, thinking she was about to be scolded. Instead, Ben picked her up, sat her in his lap, hugged her and said, "You don't have to leave Silver Chief behind. They do let puppies on trains. We'll buy some newspapers in Santa Fe and we'll sit in the passenger car closest to where the horses are. Then if he needs to do his business, he can go on the newspaper or Adam or I can take him to the car where the horses are and he can do his business in the straw. You will need to have him on a lead though. When the train makes long stops, we'll be allowed to get out and stretch our legs and we can't risk your puppy deciding to take off chasing a rabbit. It will be a good idea to have him on the lead while we're on the stage too. When we stop, I don't want to risk him getting under the horse's hooves and getting hurt. Now, why don't you go and pack your things and we'll take them to the hotel with us tonight."

"I'll help you Cat," said Mark. A few minutes later the pair came out of the bedroom with Cat's things and everyone started for town. When they arrived at the hotel, Lucas got Cat and Mark to bed before taking care of the horses and joining the others in the dining room.