Once supper was over and the table had been cleared, Ben said, "Catherine, it's Saturday night and we have church in the morning. Everyone takes a bath on Saturday night. You need to get your night clothes and a towel and go out to the bathhouse. Hop Sing will get your bath water ready. I want you to take a bath and wash your hair."

Cat couldn't believe what she was being told to do. She didn't mind taking a bath but if she washed her hair, it would have to be rebraided, she had a hard time doing it herself. She lived in a house full of men and was certain none of them knew how to do it. "I can't wash my hair. I can't…"

Ben didn't let her finish her sentence. "Saturday night baths are not up for discussion. Now go, get your night clothes, take a bath and wash your hair!"

"But my hair, you don't understand…"

"I told you there was to be no discussion. Now go and do what I told you to and if I hear any more arguments from you, we will have a necessary discussion in the barn!"

"You keep saying you love me but you won't even listen to me! If you loved me, you would listen to me! Uncle Matt always listened to me! I want to go back to Dodge!" Cat ran upstairs and slammed her bedroom door shut.

Ben stood up and began to unbuckle his belt. "When I finish with that girl, she's not going to be able to sit down for two days!"

"Cat's right Pa," said Hoss. "She was trying to tell you somethin' but you wouldn't let her finish what she was sayin'. And she wasn't sayin' that she wouldn't take a bath."

"When we were boys, you told us to always let someone finish what they were saying and to never interrupt," said Joe. "But you wouldn't let Cat finish before you started yelling at her."

"When we brought Cat home, you told us that we need to give her time to adjust to the way we do things," added Adam. "She has only been here three full days and already today you have yelled at and threatened to punish her twice. You want her to be respectful to you but how is she going to learn to be respectful if you interrupt her and yell at her before knowing what she was going to say? I think I know what she was starting to say, but I need confirmation from Cat. Why don't you ride over to the Ingalls' and ask Charles and Caroline what they think Cat was trying to tell you? Hoss, Joe, and I will take care of getting her bathed and ready for bed. If you go upstairs right now, you're going to do something you'll regret, especially when you find out what she was trying to tell you."

"I don't think she meant to slam her bedroom door," added Joe. "She's never had a bedroom before and probably didn't realize what would happen when she shut the door harder than normal."

Just then, Hop Sing walked in from the kitchen. "Why you yell at Missy Cat? Why you no let Missy Cat finish what she saying? You always tell boys not interrupt but you not let Missy Cat finish and you interrupt! You keep yell at Missy Cat, Hop Sing go back to China and take Missy Cat with him!"

Ben sighed. His sons and Hop Sing were right. Instead of listening to what his daughter was trying to tell him, he had assumed she was saying that she wouldn't take a bath and yelled at her. He buckled his belt and said, "Alright boys. You take care of your sister and I'll ride over and talk to Charles and Caroline. If nothing else, I'll cool down because I do need to apologize to Catherine for not giving her a chance to finish what she was saying before I yelled at her. It doesn't do any good to try and teach her the rules if I don't follow them myself."

As soon as Ben left, Adam, Hoss, and Joe walked upstairs. Joe knocked on Cat's bedroom door and asked, "May we come in? Pa's not with us. He went over to talk with Charles and Caroline."

"Yes."

Joe opened the door and the three of them walked in to find Cat putting her things in carpet bags. "Why are you packing your things?" asked Joe.

"Because I'm going back to Dodge where I belong. Uncle Matt always listened to me and he never yelled at me. Well, he did yell at me when me, Pete, and Mike were climbing the water tower, but that was different. He yelled at us to stop climbing and come down, but he didn't yell at me when Festus brought us down."

Her brothers looked at each other and laughed. "If that woulda been us," said Hoss. "Adam's grandfather woulda heard Pa yellin' all the way in Boston, even after we came down. One thing ya gotta learn about Pa is that he yells a lot. I think it has somethin' to do with when he was a sailor but he shore does like to yell. Now stop packing, put your things away, sit down here and tell us what you were tryin' to tell Pa because you belong here with us and nowhere else."

Cat put her things away, then sat in Hoss' lap. All three of her brothers hugged her. "Now," said Adam. "I think I know what you were trying to tell Pa, but I would like you to tell me."

"I was trying to tell him that I can't wash my hair because I can't braid it and I don't think any of you know how to do it."

"That's what I thought because when we were in Dodge, you didn't fuss about having to take a bath the night before your friend Julie's mother got married again."

"That's because there was always someone in Dodge who could braid my hair for me. If Miss Kitty was busy, I would go to Julie's house and her Ma would do it for me. If she was busy, Ma Smalley would do it for me."

Hoss looked at his brothers and said, "Well brothers, it looks like we're gonna need lessons in how to braid little sister's hair for her."

"You're right about that Hoss," said Joe. "We can't have her running around with dirty hair and we can't have her running around in messy braids either. Cat, why don't you get your night clothes, come downstairs and take a bath and wash your hair. We'll figure out what we're going to do about braiding it. We may have to take your comb, brush, and hair ribbons with us and ask one of the ladies to do it before church starts."

"While you're finding your night clothes, we'll go and see if Hop Sing has your bath water ready yet," added Adam. "Once you finish your bath and are ready for bed, if Pa isn't home yet, I'll read with you."

"By the way," said Joe. "Did you mean to slam your bedroom door?"

"No. I didn't know it would close that hard. It kinda scared me when it did."

"Ok. We'll make sure Pa knows you didn't do it on purpose. He gets angry with us when we slam doors. He got so angry with me one day that not only did I get a spanking; I had to open and close my door quietly one hundred times. So, now that you know what happens when you close your door hard, don't do it again because we don't want you to get in trouble."

While Adam, Hoss, and Joe were talking to Cat, Ben rode over to the Ingalls' house and knocked on the door. Charles answered the door and was surprised to see Ben standing there. "This is quite a surprise. We didn't expect to see you until tomorrow. Please come in and sit down. You look upset. What is wrong?"

Ben walked in, sat down and Charles handed him a cup of coffee. "I'm sorry to be bothering you at this time of night but I need help with Catherine."

Caroline walked into the room just then and said, "What is wrong with Cat?"

"I'm not sure," replied Ben and proceeded to tell them about the argument.

"Did you let her finish explaining what the problem was?" asked Charles.

"No, I didn't. I assumed she was arguing about having to take a bath and started yelling at her before she finished what she was saying."

"What was she saying when you interrupted her?"

"She was saying something about her hair."

"We told you yesterday that girls have their own unique set of challenges," said Caroline. "Their hair is one of those unique challenges. Tell me, how many women live in your house?"

"None. You know that."

"Exactly. Catherine wasn't saying that she wouldn't take a bath. She was trying to tell you that if she washed her hair it would need to be braided again and she's not very good at doing it. Mary is getting better at braiding her own hair, but she is almost twelve now. Laura is the same age as Cat and still struggles with her hair. Ben, you have got to listen to everything Catherine says and stop jumping to conclusions half way through what she's saying. If you don't, her feelings will be very hurt and you could lose her. She's a very resourceful child and could easily figure out how to get to her uncle's fort in Arizona. Now, I'm guessing that neither you nor your sons know how to braid a girl's hair."

"No, but I'm sure that Hop Sing would know. After all, he keeps his own hair braided in the back."

"No Ben," said Charles. "Catherine is not Hop Sing's responsibility. You adopted her and she is your responsibility. You and your sons are going to have to learn how to braid her hair until she is old enough to do it herself. Don't say that men don't do that sort of thing because I help Caroline with the girls' hair every Saturday night."

"Bring Catherine over before church tomorrow morning and I will do her hair," said Caroline. "Starting next Saturday, have her take her bath before supper. Then bring her over after supper and I will begin teaching you and her brothers how to braid her hair."

"Thank you both of you. I don't know what I would do without your help right now. It's getting late and I've taken up enough of your time. I'll see you in the morning. Thank you again for all of your help."

"Before you leave," said Charles. "There is one other thing you need to think about."

"What is that?"

"You owe that little girl an apology. You didn't listen to her, you interrupted her, and you yelled at her before knowing what she was trying to say. You can't expect her to follow the rules if you don't follow them too. You also need to stop yelling at her unless she's doing something that could be dangerous. Once she stops, talk to her without raising your voice. She'll listen a whole lot better if you're not yelling at her."

"You're right Charles. I'll apologize to Catherine as soon as I get home, even if I have to wake her up."

When Ben arrived back at the Ponderosa, he took care of his horse before entering the house. His sons were all in the living room and Cat was nowhere to be seen. Adam, Hoss, and Joe greeted their father when he walked into the living room. "What did you learn?" asked Adam.

"Catherine was trying to tell me that if she washed her hair, it would need to be braided again and she needs help doing it."

"That's exactly what I was thinking and Cat confirmed it for me. If you remember, when we were in Dodge, she took a bath the night before her friend Julie's mother got married and didn't complain about having to do it. Also, she didn't intend to slam her bedroom door. She didn't know what would happen if she shut it hard."

"You're right son. I just assumed she was acting like Joe used to when he was that age. It seems that I have a lot to learn about raising a little girl. We're going to need to leave for church early tomorrow morning because Caroline is going to do Catherine's hair for her. Starting next Saturday, Catherine will need to take her bath before supper so we can take her over to the Ingalls'. Caroline will start showing us how to braid Catherine's hair. I'm guessing that she's already in bed. Did you read with her?"

"Yes I did. We finished the book and she'll need to pick a new one tomorrow."

"Thank you. I hope she's not asleep yet because I need to go and talk to her." He walked upstairs and knocked on Cat's bedroom door. "Catherine, it's Pa. May I please come in?"

"I guess so."

He laughed quietly at the less than enthusiastic welcome from his daughter. "Well," he thought. "I deserve it the way I acted. At least she answered me." He entered the room, lit the lamp and sat down on the bed. "Come and sit with me Kitten. Don't worry, you're not in trouble, but I need to talk with you and can't do it with you in bed under the covers." Cat got out of bed and sat down next to Ben who pulled her onto his lap, hugged her and said, "This is much better. I can't begin to tell you how sorry I am that I didn't listen to you and that I yelled at you. And I am also very sorry that you feel I don't love you because I do love you, much more than you can imagine. If it makes you feel better, your brothers, Mr. and Mrs. Ingalls all scolded me and Hop Sing yelled at me. He even told me that if I ever did it again, he was going to go back to China and take you with him. I'll bet that when your brothers tell Roy what happened tonight, he's going to scold me too and he may even yell at me. Now what do you think about that?"

Cat giggled at the thought of Ben being yelled at by Hop Sing and Roy and scolded by her brothers and Mr. and Mrs. Ingalls. "That's funny."

"Tomorrow morning, we are going to have to leave for church a little earlier than we normally do. Caroline said that she would fix your hair for you before church. Starting next week Saturday, you are going to have to take your bath and wash your hair before supper for a few weeks. That way it will be dry by the time supper is over because she is going to start teaching me and your brothers how to braid your hair. Now, do you know what is going to happen to you the next time you move into my house and don't know what happens when you close doors hard?"

"No, what?"

"The same thing that's going to happen to you right now. You're going to get tickled."

Ben proceeded to tickle Cat until she said, "Stop. I'm going to have an accident in my pants."

"Well, in that case, I guess I'd better take you to the outhouse. Here, put your moccasins on and climb on my back. Your puppies will probably want to come with us, so we'd better put them on the floor. Didn't Uncle Matt ever yell at you?"

"Only once when me, Pete, and Mike were climbing the water tower. He yelled at us to come down but he didn't yell at us once Festus got us down. We never did figure out why him and Mr. Tanner were so mad at us. We weren't hurting anything. We were just having fun."

"They were angry with you because your idea of fun is dangerous. You kids could have fallen and been seriously hurt."

Cat looked at him like he was crazy. "No we couldn't. We're always careful and never get hurt. Well, Pete did get a skinned knee once but that was only because he was running to the outhouse at school and Mark Hansen tripped him. When Pete finished with Mark, he had a bloody nose and two black eyes. All the kids at school laughed at him because Pete was littler than him and beat him up. Mark never did mess with Pete or Mike after that. I did the same thing to him when he pushed me down the school steps and he quit messing with me too."

Ben hugged her and laughed. "My little tiger. You really are a Wild Cat, aren't you? What am I going to do with you? Little girls aren't supposed to go around giving boys bloody noses and black eyes. Climb on my back so I can get you to the outhouse and back to bed. I don't want you yawning and falling asleep in church tomorrow. Also, we're having a picnic with the Ingalls and Roy after church and I know that you're not going to want to be tired for it."

"Can I bring my ball that Little Joe gave me? Then Laura, Mary, Carrie and me can play catch."

"It's 'May I', and 'Laura, Mary, Carrie, and I'. Yes, you may bring your ball but it has to stay in the buggy during church."

"Can I take my fishing pole?"

"No, you may not take your fishing pole. There isn't anywhere to fish near where we're going to have the picnic. Yes, you may bring your puppies but they will have to stay in the buggy during church."

"They can't stay in the buggy by themselves. They're still babies and someone could hurt or steal them."

Ben admitted to himself that Cat was right. Although Lassie and Silver Chief were about four months old, anyone could walk past the buggy and take them. "I will ask Reverend Long if you can bring them into the church. They are very well behaved and won't cause any problems. If he says no, maybe Mrs. Long will let you put them in the parsonage. If not, I know that Roy will keep them in his office for you."

Cat hugged her father tightly. "Thank you. I don't want anybody hurting or stealing my puppies."

"I don't either. Now, let's get you to the outhouse and your puppies outside. Then you need to go to sleep. I will not have you falling asleep in church."

Once Cat and her puppies were back in bed, Ben went downstairs to talk with his sons. He told them about what happened in town and said, "Well boys, it looks like your sister inherited her mother's and Little Joe's temper. I couldn't believe it when she tackled Mitchell Harris, hit him several times, and sat on him until Roy got there. She also told him that the next time he touched her; she was going to pound the stuffing out of him. Cat also told me that when Mark Hansen pushed her down the steps at school, she gave him two black eyes and a bloody nose. I asked her what Matt's rule about fighting was and it's the same as mine. She can defend herself or someone else, but she cannot start fights, even if someone is teasing her about wearing buckskins and I have a feeling that is going to happen a lot once she starts school. Unfortunately, from what I've seen of her temper today, I have a feeling that she will be starting fights if the teasing continues. The school board meeting is going to be on Tuesday night at seven thirty and I plan on voting to replace Miss Smith with a better teacher. It's getting late and we have an early start tomorrow, so we'd better get some sleep. I'm going to write in my journal for a few minutes and then I'll be heading for bed myself."

Ben walked over to his desk, opened a drawer, and took out his journal. He thought about the day's events and started writing. He wrote about what happened with Mitchell Harris and said that he was concerned Cat would start fights if she was teased about the way she dresses. Then he wrote about the incident after supper. 'I hurt Catherine's feelings badly tonight. When I told her to take a bath and wash her hair, she tried to tell me she couldn't braid her hair again without help. I didn't listen to what she was trying to say and assumed that like Joseph when he was a boy, she was refusing to take a bath. I yelled at her and threatened to spank her. She yelled back and said she didn't think I really loved her because I wouldn't listen to her. Then she slammed her bedroom door. Thank God my sons were here because they stopped me from making a terrible mistake and losing Catherine forever. I have got to pay attention to what Betty Wilson told me in St. Louis and not yell at my daughter unless she is doing something dangerous and then stop yelling at her when she stops her behavior. Just as important, I need to listen to what she is trying to tell me or I will lose her and that is the last thing I want to happen.' He closed his journal, put it in his desk, blew out the lamp and went upstairs. He looked in Cat's bedroom and saw that she had kicked her covers off again, so he went in and covered her up again.

Ben knocked on Cat's door before breakfast the next morning. "Cat, it's Pa. May I please come in?"

"Yes."

Ben walked in and saw Cat sitting at her dressing table brushing her hair. "I thought you would like some help buttoning your dress. I remember my wives complaining about having trouble buttoning their dresses in the back. Would you like me to brush your hair for you? I used to do that for my wives and your mother also. They liked it when I did."

"I do need help buttoning my dress and you can brush my hair if you want to."

"Ok. Stand up and I'll button your dress. Then we'll get your hair brushed. You'll need to bring your brush and comb with us so Mrs. Ingalls can braid your hair." Once he had buttoned Cat's dress, Ben said, "Alright Kitten. Your dress is buttoned. Sit down again and I'll brush your hair for you." He picked up the hair brush and began to brush Cat's hair. "I just noticed something about your hair."

"What is it?"

"It's not all brown. It has some red it in too. In fact, it's just like your mother's hair was. Our father had brown hair and our mother had red hair. Your mother's hair was brown with red mixed in, just like yours. Alright, now that your hair is brushed, come and sit beside me on your bed. We have a few minutes before breakfast and I'd like to spend some time talking with you." Then walked over and sat on the bed. Ben pulled her close, hugged her and said, "I need to apologize to you again for last night. I was wrong to not listen to what you had to say and to yell at you when I didn't pay attention to what you were trying to say. I don't ever want you to feel as though I don't love you. I have loved you ever since your mother and father said that they were going to have a baby and I will still love you long after I have gone to live in Heaven. We will have our disagreements. You will disobey me and I will punish you for it as I did and still do your brothers, but I will always love you. Now, let's go and get some breakfast before Hoss eats it all."

They walked downstairs where Adam, Hoss, and Joe were waiting to eat breakfast. Joe looked at Cat wearing a dress and said, "Hey Pa, where's Cat? I know that's not her with you because everybody knows that our little sister never wears dresses."

"You're right Joe," said Hoss. "Maybe we'd better look in the barn or out in the pasture with the mares and foals. She might be there."

"They're right Pa," said Adam. "I don't know who that little girl with you is, but it's definitely not our little sister."

Cat stuck her tongue out at her brothers and ran out the door, followed by her puppies. When she came back in the house, she was hugged by all of her brothers and Hop Sing. "Missy Cat look very pretty. Look like little girl not little boy. Should wear dresses all the time. Also still too skinny. Need to eat mole. Sit down eat plenty breakfast. Hop Sing have two picnic baskets fixed. You invite Longs and Sheriff Roy to picnic."

"Hop Sing's right Cat," said Hoss. "You sure do look cute in that dress." His brothers agreed with him.

After breakfast, Ben told Cat to go upstairs and get her brush, comb, hair ribbons, and sunbonnet. "I don't have one."

"You don't have one what?" asked Ben.

"I don't have a sunbonnet. I never needed one in Dodge 'cause I only wore dresses for Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas and to dances."

"Well, we'll need to get you one. I know that you're not going to be wearing dresses very much, but you should still have a sunbonnet for when you do."

"I've got my cowboy hat that Joe made me. What's wrong with it?"

"There is nothing wrong with your hat. Girls wear sunbonnets when they are wearing dresses so they don't get too much sun on their faces. Now, go and get your other things. We need to leave shortly."

When Cat came back downstairs she asked, "Do I have time to go and see Fury before we leave?"

Ben looked at his watch and said, "Yes. You have fifteen minutes, so go, say hello to your colt and then come right back so we have time to stop at the Ingalls' and get to church on time." Cat started to run toward the door when Ben grabbed her and delivered a strong swat to her bottom. "You've been told too many times not to run in the house. The next time I catch you, I won't stop with just one swat. Now walk to the door and go, see your colt before I change my mind and decide to give you the spanking you deserve."

Cat walked to the door, grabbed her hat and ran to the pasture to see Fury. She played with him for a few minutes then ran back to the yard where her family was waiting with the buggy. She went into the barn, got her ball and then ran into the house to get her brush, comb, and hair ribbons. Noticing that her father and brothers had taken their guns, Cat grabbed her bow and arrows on the way out the door. Ben saw the bow and arrows and asked, "Why did you bring your bow and arrows?"

"Because all of you brought your guns."

Ben couldn't argue with that logic so he just said, "Ok. Get in the buggy so we can leave. I don't want to be late for church." Cat put her puppies in the buggy, her bow and arrows under the seat and climbed in next to her father. She and her brothers were surprised when Ben handed her the reins. Joe started to complain that Cat was only nine and he was twelve before he had been allowed to even drive the buckboard, but stopped when Hoss elbowed him in the side. Ben turned around and said, "If the two of you can't set a better example for your sister, I can always add more weeks to your restriction. I'm positive that your brother and sister won't object to you doing their chores for a few more weeks."

They pulled into the Ingalls' yard a little while later where Charles was hitching the team to the wagon. He smiled when he saw Cat driving the buggy, shook hands with Ben and said, "I see that you've hired a driver. Is she any good?"

Ben laughed. "She's still got some work to do, but she does a pretty good job for a nine year old."

Charles picked Cat up and Adam put the puppies on the ground. "Caroline is expecting you Cat. Go ahead into the house. There's no need to knock." Then he turned to Ben and said, "She really looks cute in that dress and cowboy hat. When Laura sees it, she's going to want one also."

Cat picked up her brush, comb, and hair ribbons and ran into the house where she was greeted with hugs from Caroline and the girls. As Charles predicted, when Laura saw Cat's hat, she wanted one too. "Where are your father and brothers Cat?" asked Caroline.

"They're outside talking to Mr. Ingalls."

"I'm supposed to be showing them how to braid your hair. Mary, would you please go outside and ask Cat's Pa and brothers to come in here? We don't have a lot of time before we have to leave for church and I need to get Cat's hair fixed." Mary went outside and told Cat's family that her mother needed them inside. They followed her into the house and Caroline said, "Thank you Mary. Would you please make sure that Carrie is ready for church? Ben, boys, pleases come here and watch what I do with Cat's hair. I'll show you more next Saturday but there's no reason you can't start learning what to do right now."

Cat's father and brothers watched as Caroline brushed Cat's hair and then used the comb to part it down the middle, combing each half over to the side. Then she divided one side in three parts and began braiding it. When she finished that side, she tied one of the hair ribbons onto the end. Then she did the same thing with the other side. "That doesn't look too hard," said Joe.

"It's a little harder than you think because if you pull too hard you'll hurt Cat and if you don't pull hard enough, the braids will be messy. Alright Cat, I'm finished. You can stand up now."

Cat stood up and everyone told her how cute she looked. "Cat, you are so cute in that dress with your hair braided and your hat hanging down your back. Is there any way I can convince you to wear a dress more often?" asked Ben.

Cat thought for a minute and then got a very mischievous look on her face. "Sure. I'll wear a dress more often if I can have chocolate cake for breakfast, dinner, and supper every day."

Everyone laughed and Ben just shook his head and sighed. "Catherine, this is only your fourth day home and I think you have already given me more gray hairs than Joseph did when he was your age. We need to go now so that we're not late for church."

"Can Mary, Laura, and Carrie ride in the buggy with us?"

"Where are your brothers going to ride?"

"They can ride in the wagon with Mr. and Mrs. Ingalls."

"No, not today."

"Well then, can I ride with Laura, Mary, and Carrie?"

"Not this time Sweetheart. We'll see about next week. This week, I want you to ride with your brothers and me. If Adam, Hoss and Joe don't mind, Mary, Laura, and Carrie can sit in their laps on the way to the picnic, but right now, I want you next to me in the buggy. Now, go, get your puppies and get in the buggy."

"Ben," said Caroline. "Does Cat have a sunbonnet?"

"No she doesn't. That's why she's wearing her cowboy hat today. I'll have to get one for her next week."

"Laura, you and Cat are about the same size. Please go and get one of your sunbonnets for her. It will look much better with her dress than the cowboy hat does."

"Cat shore ain't gonna like that," said Hoss. "She loves that hat."

Ben sighed. He didn't need an argument with his daughter about what she was going to wear on her head to church.

"Maybe we can get her to compromise," said Adam. "She can wear the sunbonnet to church and the hat after church is over. It can't hurt to try."

Cat had her own version of compromise. She put the sunbonnet on and then put her hat on top of it, causing everyone to laugh. "Alright Kitten. You can wear your hat for now," laughed Ben. "But will you please take it off when we get to town? You can wear it again after church."

Cat thought about it for a minute and said, "Ok. But I wanted Reverend and Mrs. Long and Uncle Roy to see my hat."

"They'll get to see it Kitten. Roy is coming to the picnic with us and Hop Sing packed enough food so I can invite the Longs too. I'm sure that they'll say yes, so everyone will get to see your hat."

"Ok. I'll take my hat off when we get to town."

Ben hugged her and said, "That's my girl. Now, run and use the outhouse so we can leave for church."

Cat kept her word and took her hat off when they reached town. Ben stopped the buggy in front of the church so Cat and her brothers could get out. Reverend Long spotted them and excused himself from some people he had been talking to. He walked over to the buggy and greeted the Cartwrights. Adam had already exited the buggy and was about to help Cat out when Reverend Long said, "Please allow me." He picked Cat up and hugged her. "It is very nice to see you again and you look very cute in that dress." He picked Silver Chief up and hugged him too. Then he noticed Lassie. "And who is this pretty girl?" he said, picking the puppy up and hugging her. "I don't remember seeing her before."

"Her name is Lassie. Mr. McLeod and James gave her to me."

"Well, hello Lassie. It is very nice to meet you."

After all of his children had exited the buggy, Ben moved it to the side of the church and walked back to the front. He shook hands with Reverend Long and said, "The Ingalls will be joining us for a picnic after church and we would enjoy it if you and Joanne would join us also. Hop Sing packed more than enough food for all of us and Caroline brought some of her sweet cider. It's some of the best I've ever tasted. That's why we brought the puppies with us. Would you mind if they stayed inside the church during the service? They're too small to stay in the buggy by themselves and they are very well behaved for such young puppies."

"They are God's creatures and as such, they are more than welcome in the church." Reverend Long picked up both puppies and carried them toward the church.

Mrs. Warren, one of the town's busybodies, saw Reverend Long start to carry the puppies into the church and said to some of the other ladies, "I hope that the Reverend isn't going to allow those creatures into the church. A church is no place for those things. They belong in a barn! In fact, it would have been better if they had been drowned as soon as they were born!"

Cat started getting upset at Mrs. Warren's words but felt Hoss' hands on her shoulders. "Easy there little one," he said quietly. "There's no sense getting all riled up at that busybody's words. She's been stickin' her nose into everybody else's business for as long as I can remember. She don' like children or critters and never has, but she don' mind givin' people advice on how to raise their youngins. She even tried givin' Pa advice on how to raise us. Everytime a baby is born, she says the same thing about it she did about your puppies."

Reverend Long heard Mrs. Warren, winked at Cat and said, "Of course these adorable puppies are welcome in our church. They are God's creatures and part of His kingdom." He held Silver Chief up and continued. "Besides that, I happen to know this young man quite well and he is very well behaved for one so young and I'm certain that the young lady will be just as well behaved."

The Ingalls arrived just then and Ben introduced them to the Longs. Cat was happy to see her friends. The girls walked up to Ben and Cat asked, "Can I please sit with Laura and Mary?"

Ben looked at Charles who nodded. "It's may I and yes you may." The three girls sat in a pew right in front of their families. Reverend Long began the service by introducing himself and his wife. When the service was over, he got the buggy from the parsonage and joined the Cartwrights and Ingalls for their picnic.