After setting the table, Ben sat down in his chair. He looked at the clock, read for a few minutes and then called Cat to him. She stood in front of him and he asked, "Do you know why I punished you?"

"Because I was running in the house and Hop Sing caught me."

He smiled inwardly at the last part. "That's right. You were running in the house again. What have you been told about running in the house?"

"Not to."

"Why aren't you supposed to run in the house?"

"Because it's dangerous and someone could get hurt."

"That's right. Running in the house is very dangerous. Do your uncles or I allow you to do things that are dangerous?"

"No sir."

"Then why do you keep doing what you know you're not supposed to? Do you think I enjoy punishing you?"

"No sir."

"Do you like being punished?"

"No sir."

"Then I strongly suggest you think long and hard about running in the house before your punishment gets worse than it already has been, because I can guarantee you that it will get a lot worse." Before sending her back to the corner, Ben turned Cat over his knees and delivered two very hard smacks to her bottom. Cat yelped in surprise. "That is just a little reminder of what will happen if you continue running in the house. Now go back and stand in the corner until I tell you otherwise." Cat went back to the corner and cried as she stood there while Ben read for another ten minutes. Then he called her back over to him, hugged her and told her all was forgiven. "Our guests will be here soon. I want you to go upstairs, wash up and stay in your room until I call you to come downstairs. It shouldn't be long, maybe only fifteen or twenty minutes. I forgive you Catherine and I truly hope and pray that this is the last time I have to punish you for running in the house. As your brothers will tell you, I do not enjoy punishing my children. I do it to teach a lesson."

Cat went upstairs to her room, washed her face and hands, and then sat on the floor playing with her dolls and dollhouse. Ben walked upstairs to get her fifteen minutes later. He stood in the doorway to her bedroom and smiled as he watched her play. 'She might think she's an Apache warrior,' he thought, 'but she's still a little girl who likes to play with dolls.'

Cat looked up, saw her father standing in the doorway smiling at her and said, "Hi Pa."

"Hi Kitten."

"Whatcha doing?"

"Watching you play."

"Why?"

"Because I never had a little girl before and I like watching you."

"Oh, ok."

"Our company isn't here yet. Why don't you grab a book and come on downstairs? I'll push you on your swing for a little while and then if they're not here yet, you can sit in my lap and we'll read together."

"Ok. Should I bring King Arthur?"

"No, you and Little Joe are reading that one. Let's pick a different book. How about Gulliver's Travels? That sounds like a good book."

"Ok. I'll bring that one." Cat put her dolls away, took the book from her bookcase and went downstairs.

"Just put your book by mine and let's go outside for a little while." Cat set her book down and followed Ben outside to her swing. He pushed her for about ten minutes and looked at his watch. "I don't know why they're not here yet. Maybe the twins are acting up again."

"Mr. Winter has children?"

"Yes, he and his wife have two boys who are around your age. I think they may be eleven but I'm not sure. They are not nearly as well behaved as you are. They even have temper tantrums. I'll push you for another ten minutes and if they're not here yet, we'll go inside and read until they get here."

Mr. Winter drove his buggy into the yard five minutes later. After he helped his wife and sister out, they all walked over to where Ben was pushing Cat on her swing. "Sorry to be late Ben. Seth and Jackson decided to get into a fight shortly before we were to leave home. As part of their punishment, they were not allowed to come with us today. It took me a while to find someone to stay with them. James McLeod agreed to stay with them while we were here. They have an early bed time and a week's restriction to the house with extra chores." Ben started to stop the swing while Mr. Winter was talking. "No, don't stop it yet. She's having so much fun and we're enjoying watching you push her. It's a shame the boys decided to act up. They could be here playing with Catherine."

"Alright John. If you don't mind, I did promise her another five minutes."

"Well then, don't break your promise on our account. I wish I had a little girl to push in a swing."

Before Ben could answer, Cat called, "Push me higher Pa. I want to see if I can touch the top of the tree."

"I don't even think Hoss could push you that high silly girl. You're just about as high as I can push you. John, I'll let you borrow this one when she's acting up."

Mr. Winter just laughed. "That sweet child can't possibly act up."

Ben laughed. I already told you that Hoss named her Wild Cat when she was just a toddler. She's been in trouble already twice this week because she won't stop running in the house. Alright Cat, our company is here and your time is up. I'm going to stop the swing now." The Winters were expecting a temper tantrum and were surprised when Cat didn't argue with her father.

When the swing finally stopped, Cat got of and hugged Ben. "Thanks for pushing me Pa. It was fun."

"I'm glad you had fun. Now, let me introduce you to our company. I know that you remember Mr. Winter. This is his wife, Margaret and his sister, Susan. She is going to be your teacher when school starts. Margaret, Susan, this is my daughter, Catherine."

Cat said hello to the Winters and asked, "Pa, can I show Fury to the Winters?"

Ben laughed. "Sure Kitten. If they want to see Fury, you can show him to them. Where are your puppies?"

"I think they're in the kitchen helping Hop Sing."

The Winters laughed. "That's a new one for me," said Mrs. Winter. "How do puppies help in the kitchen?"

"By eating any food that Hop Sing drops," replied Cat.

"Sometimes I think he drops some of that food on purpose," laughed Ben. "Those are two very well fed puppies. Cat, why don't you go ahead and take our guests out to see your colt? I'll find your puppies and send them to you."

"Ok. Thanks Pa." Cat turned to the Winters and said, "Fury is out in the pasture with the other foals and their mothers." She led them out to the pasture. Fury saw her and ran over to her and was hugged and kissed.

"He sure is handsome," said Susan. "How old is he?"

"He's almost three months old. I got him at my mother's funeral. A cougar killed his mother and my cousin, Mark McCain and I threw rocks at the cougar to scare it away."

"You and your cousin were very brave," said Mr. Winter. "I don't know if I would be brave enough to do what you did."

"May I pet him?" asked Susan.

"Yes. He likes to be petted. Adam told me about a flying horse named Pegasus and I'm going to teach Fury how to fly just like Pegasus did."

Ben joined them with Lassie and Silver Chief. "Cat, why don't you show our guests what you've trained Fury to do so far? I'm sure they would like to see how smart he is." The Winters watched, amazed, as Cat picked Silver Chief and Lassie up and put them on Fury's back. Then she walked around the pasture with Fury's chin on her shoulder and the puppies still on his back. Then she put the puppies on the ground and started to run. Fury trotted along side her without a lead rope. When the pair reached the group, Ben handed Cat a carrot which she broke in half. She put one half in the back pocket of her buckskin pants and Fury gently took it out and ate it. Then Cat put the other half between her teeth and once again, Fury gently took the carrot and ate it. "I really wish you wouldn't do that," Ben told her. "He might accidentally bite you."

"Fury would never bite me, would you boy?" In response, the colt put his head over one of Cat's shoulders and pulled her in closer to him so she could hug him.

"Look at that," said Margaret. "That colt is hugging Catherine. I've never seen anything like it before in my life and I grew up on a ranch."

"We don't know why he acts the way he does toward her. It could be because she rescued him or it could be because she slept with him that first night. Whatever the reason, one thing is for certain, those two love each other and would spend every minute of every day together if I would let them. I half expect to wake up one morning and find the colt in bed with her and her puppies. Catherine, we need to go up to the house now. Say goodbye to Fury. You can play with him again tomorrow."

"Ok Pa. Can I please run around the pasture with him one more time before going up to the house?"

Ben laughed. "Alright Kitten. One more time around the pasture and no, he cannot come in the house for supper and he cannot sleep in your bed."

"AWWWWW. I think he'd look cute sitting in a chair at the dining room table."

Everyone laughed. "Alright silly girl. One more run around the pasture and that's it."

Once again, the Winters expected a tantrum or at least an argument, but Cat just said, "Ok Pa. I'll be in the house in just a few minutes." She took off running around the pasture with the colt trotting beside her.

"You've done a great job raising her," said Susan.

"I wish I could take the credit, but I can't. That's one reason I wanted you to meet Catherine before school started. She is my younger sister's daughter and was raised by one of her father's brothers in Dodge City. Her father was killed in the war and her mother was murdered in June. I adopted her after my sister was killed. It's a long story how Catherine came to be raised by her father's brother. Maybe we can meet for dinner in town some day soon and I can tell you the story. I do need to warn you that she will be wearing her buckskins to school. All attempts to force her to wear a dress have resulted in Catherine being severely punished and ending up in tears. She's been through so much in her young life that I refuse to put her through that. She has decided to wear a dress to church but I have no idea how long that will last."

While they were walking back to the house, Cat ran past them to her swing. She pushed of f with her feet as hard as she could, swung a few times and then jumped off while the swing was in mid air. "I'd rather you didn't do that," said Ben. "You could get hurt."

"I won't get hurt Pa. Me and Mike and Pete used to do it on the school swings in Dodge all the time and we never got hurt. I still don't know why Uncle Matt got so mad at us when we climbed up the water tower. We were just having fun and weren't hurting anything."

Ben sighed. "It's Mike, Pete, and I and you could have been hurt. Accidents happen. One of you could have lost your footing and fallen off the water tower. You could have landed wrong when you jumped off the swing and gotten hurt."

Cat thought for a minute and said, "Ok Pa. I won't climb the water tower in town and I won't jump out of the swing when it's real high in the air."

Ben picked her up, put her over his shoulder and gave her a light swat. "That is for giving me more gray hairs than I already had. You and Little Joe are so much alike that if I didn't know better, I would swear that you had the same mother. I think I'll keep you right where you're at so you don't get into any mischief before we get into the house."

"But that's what Pete and Mike said I'm supposed to do."

"I'll just bet they did." He started tickling her and Cat giggled all the way into the house.

The Winters all laughed at the interaction between Ben and his new daughter. "I'll tell you what Ben," said John. "I'll swap my twins for your daughter for two weeks. You can straighten them out and I can spend two weeks spoiling your little girl."

"That sounds like fun Pa. I've never been spoiled before."

"I don't think so. You haven't even been home for two weeks and still need to learn how things are done here. Besides that, I'm still trying to straighten Joseph out and he's nineteen and now I have to straighten you out too."

"Hop Sing says I'm perfect, so I don't need fixing."

"Little girl, you are far from perfect despite what Hop Sing says. Now, let's take our company into the house." He opened the door and Adam, Hoss, and Joe got up to greet their guests.

"What have you got over your shoulder Pa?" asked Adam.

"A gift for the three of you. Who wants it?"

"I'll take it," replied Adam. "I have always enjoyed getting gifts."

"Alright son here you are."

Ben handed Cat to Adam who looked at her and said, "Little sister, you need your face and hands washed. They are filthy."

"No I don't. I washed up before going outside with Pa."

"I'm taking you upstairs so you can wash up and this time I recommend standing closer to the soap and water. Let's go Squirt. Hop Sing won't let you anywhere near the table as dirty as your face and hands are." He picked a complaining Cat up, put her over his shoulder and carried her upstairs.

"Ben," said John Winter. "I am absolutely amazed at that child. Even though they're ten, my boys would have had temper tantrums when they were told their time on the swing was up and when they were told it was time to come in the house. How do you do it?"

"As I told your sister, I can't take the credit. Catherine was raised by one of her father's brothers. He's the U. S. Marshal in Dodge City and he did a very good job raising her. I'm sure that she had some tantrums when she was very young as all children do, but as long as she knows what to expect, she doesn't give me any problems. She'll ask to run around the pasture with Fury one more time like she just did or to swing for another five minutes, but she won't argue with me even if I say no."

Adam and Cat came back downstairs. He sat in his chair and put her in his lap. The adults talked for a while. Cat tried paying attention to what was being said but started getting bored. Adam could tell she was getting restless and said, "Cat, supper should be ready soon. Why don't you show your pretty bedroom to our guests before we eat? Hoss, Joe, and I worked hard to fix it for you."

"Ok." She looked at the Winters and said, "Do you want to see my bedroom? Adam, Hoss, and Little Joe fixed it for me." They followed Cat upstairs to her bedroom. While John stayed in the doorway, the ladies admired the room.

"This is a beautiful room," said Margaret. I love how the walls are green like your eyes and how you can see Lake Tahoe from one of your windows."

Susan looked at the bookcase and asked, "Do you like to read?"

"Yes ma'am. I read a lot. Right now, me and Little Joe are reading King Arthur when it's my bedtime."

"I'm glad that you like to read. Reading can take you to far away places that you may never have the chance to visit. I do notice that we're going to need to work on your grammar. You should have said Little Joe and I.

"Where do your puppies sleep?" asked John. "I don't see a bed for them. Do they sleep in the barn?"

"They sleep in my bed with me. I'm the middle of a puppy sandwich." The ladies were not happy with that answer and decided to talk to Ben about allowing the puppies to sleep in Cat's bed. They felt that the animals should be sleeping in the barn, not in the house, and certainly not in a child's bed.

Margaret took her husband out in the hall. "John, I want you to get Ben alone. We need to talk to him about allowing those animals to sleep in Catherine's bed. That is simply unacceptable. They should be in the barn, not in a child's bed."

"No Margaret, not here and not now. This is Ben's home and we are his guests. If you want to talk with him about his daughter's puppies the next time you see him in town, I can't stop you, but it had better not be at church and you will not mention it while we are here. He probably has a very good reason for allowing it. Don't forget, that child has been through a lot in her young life and having those puppies in her bed may be helping her to cope. Remember, her mother was murdered only two months ago."

Susan saw her brother and his wife go out into the hall and decided to take the opportunity to get to know Cat a little better. She sat down on the bed and invited Cat to sit next to her. "I know that your name is Catherine, but I'll bet that you like to be called Cat, don't you?"

"Yes ma'am."

"That's what I thought. When I was growing up, one of my best friend's name was Catherine and she only wanted to be called Cat. Now tell me, what is your least favorite subject in school?"

"Arithmetic. I hate it."

Susan laughed. "I think that you and I are going to get along just fine. Believe it or not, I hated Arithmetic when I was your age too. You know, you never introduced me to your puppies. I would like to meet them."

"Oh. Sorry." Cat picked up Silver Chief and put him on the bed. "This is Silver Chief. My Apache brother Little Bear gave him to me." Then she picked up Lassie, put her on the bed and said, "This is Lassie. Mr. McLeod's brother gave her to me. They're four months old now. Whenever I go riding, they ride in my saddle bags."

Susan was concerned about Cat having an Apache brother but didn't say anything to her. She decided to talk to Ben about it when they met in town. She spent a few minutes playing with the puppies and said, "I think we'd better go back downstairs. Supper should be almost ready."

"Yeah. Hop Sing hates it when anybody is late for supper. He even yells at Pa when he's late."

"Well in that case, we had better go downstairs. I don't want Hop Sing yelling at me because I'm late for supper."

They walked back downstairs and a few minutes later Hop Sing told everyone supper was ready. "Missy Cat help bring food to table."

"Ok Hop Sing. I'm not real strong but I'll carry whatever I can."

Cat walked into the kitchen and Margaret looked at Ben and said, "That child is amazing. Our sons would never agree to help bring food to the table."

Cat carried the bowl of biscuits to the table and Hoss started to help himself, resulting in being scolded by his sister. "Hoss, you can't take your food before our company does. It's not polite."

"I guess she told you big brother," teased Joe.

"I'm just real hungry."

"You're always hungry," replied Adam. "Cat is right. We have company, all of the food isn't on the table yet and the blessing hasn't been said."

Hop Sing carried the platter of corn to the table while Cat carried the salad. When they were back in the kitchen, he handed her the bowl of green beans and said, "Put on table then sit down. Hop Sing bling rest to table and feed puppies in kitchen."

Cat carried the beans to the table and Joe held her chair so she could sit down. "Thank you Joe."

"My pleasure little sister."

After Hop Sing finished bringing the food to the table, Ben said the blessing and handed the bowl of potatoes to John. As the food was passed around the table, the Winters expected Adam to put food on Cat's plate and were surprised when he held each item so Cat could help herself.

"Hey little sister," complained Hoss. "Save some corn, potatoes, and gravy for me."

"Joe looked at the bowl of potatoes, elbowed Hoss in the side, and said, "There's still enough potatoes in that bowl to feed two of you. Cat hardly weighs more than a feather and needs to eat as much as possible so a strong wind doesn't carry her off. You just need to remember to leave enough food for me and Pa. In fact, I think you should get your food last so there's enough for the rest of the family."

"Alright you two," said Ben. "Remember, we have guests. Your brother is right Hoss. There is more than enough food left to feed two of you and Catherine does need to gain some weight."

"You know I love Hop Sing's squished potatoes and gravy," said Cat. "They're almost as good as chocolate cake."

"They're called mashed potatoes," said Hoss.

"I know, but when Hop Sing mashes them, he's squishing them so I like to call them squished potatoes. I could call them squmashed potatoes 'cause that would be squished and mashed put together."

Adam gave one of her braids a playful tug. "You go right ahead and call them squished or squmashed potatoes if you want to. I agree with you. It doesn't matter what you call them, they're still delicious."

After eating several bites of her food, Susan said, "This is a wonderful meal Mr. Cartwright. No wonder John insisted we accept the invitation. Hop Sing is an excellent cook and you are very fortunate to have him."

"Please call me Ben. Yes, Hop Sing is a wonderful cook and I feel blessed that he is here. He is more than just our cook. He is part of the family and even though I own the Ponderosa, Hop Sing is the real boss. I have even felt the sting of his wooden spoon when I interfere with his cooking by simply lifting the lid off of a pot. Catherine is the only one who doesn't get chased out of the kitchen when he's cooking. She made our flapjacks this morning and did an excellent job." Cat blushed and looked at her plate when her father complimented her.

Seeing Cat's discomfort at being complimented, Susan said, "Cat, since you and I are going to be friends, when we're not in school, you can call me Miss Susan. However, when we're in school, you're still going to have to call me Miss Winter. How does that sound to you?"

"It's ok if Pa says I can."

"Catherine," said Ben. "It is always alright to do something an adult says you can. If Miss Winter wants you to call her Miss Susan when you're not in school then you should do it." Everyone enjoyed the meal and when it was over, Ben said, "Catherine, if you help Hop Sing clear the table, we'll be able to have dessert sooner."

"Ok Pa. Just as soon as I finish my squmashed potatoes and milk."

Ben laughed. "How many helpings of potatoes does that make?"

"Three I think, because I had two pieces of corn."

"How about having a little more meat with those potatoes? There's one small piece left."

"Ok, as long as it's not too big. I need to save room for chocolate cake."

Everyone laughed. "As far as I can tell, you always have room for chocolate cake no matter how much you eat. It's a small piece. Pass me your plate and I'll put it on there for you."

Cat finished her food and began clearing the table. Hop Sing came out of the kitchen and said, "Hoss help clear table too. He eat most and only snap beans so he help clear table." Once the table had been cleared, Hop Sing served the chocolate cake and to everyone's amusement, gave Cat the largest piece.

After everyone had finished their dessert, they all went into the great room to sit and talk some more. Adam sat in his chair and pulled Cat into his lap. She started getting bored listening to the adults talk so she whispered something in Adam's ear. "Alright. Go and get it." She walked upstairs and returned with his guitar and handed it to him. "What song do you want me to play first?"

"The one about the wind."

"Do you remember what it's called?"

"No, not really. I remember it's something about a name for the wind."

"You're right. The song is called 'They Call the Wind Maria'. I learned it in one of the mining camps when I was in California."

After Adam finished the song, the others began requesting songs. They sang for a while then John looked at his watch and said, "We have time for one more song and then we need to go back to town. It's a long ride and James needs to get home so he can help his father in the store. Since it was Catherine's idea to have Adam play for us, I think she should choose the last song."

"Alright Squirt, what do you want me to play?"

"I want you to play 'Early One Morning'."

"I thought you would."

Once Adam finished the song, the Winters got up to leave. They thanked Hop Sing for the wonderful meal and everyone walked outside. As they were saying goodnight to everyone and getting in their buggy, Cat asked, "Pa, can I go and say goodnight to Fury?"

"No you may not. It's dark outside and I don't want you in the pasture after dark. Also, it's getting close to your bedtime so I think you should say goodbye to the Winters, use the outhouse and get ready for bed."

Cat sighed, looked longingly toward the pasture where Fury was and slowly walked over to the outhouse. John laughed. "Typical child. Anything to delay bedtime for as long as possible. Goodnight Ben. I'll see you in church on Sunday."

Cat wasn't ready to go to bed yet, so she took her time going back to the house. She really wanted to go and play with Fury but knew she'd be in trouble if she did. She stood out in the yard looking up at the moon and stars when Joe called her. "What's taking you so long Cat? If you don't hurry, we won't have time to read before you go to bed. I thought you wanted to read more of King Arthur."

"Ok Joe. I'll be in as soon as Lassie and Silver Chief finish doing their business."

Her puppies finished and Cat ran to the house. Once inside, she started to run to the kitchen to see if Hop Sing would give her a snack before bed when she felt herself grabbed from behind by a pair of strong hands. "Little girl, we need to have a serious talk about you running in the house," said Ben. "Since I caught you before you did, you are not in trouble right now, however we do need to have a serious talk." He walked over to his chair, sat down and put Cat in his lap. "Joe, please go and get Hop Sing. I want the entire family to hear what I am going to tell your sister."

Joe walked into the kitchen and told Hop Sing that his father wanted him. Hop Sing walked into the great room and said, "Little Joe say you want Hop Sing."

"Yes Hop Sing. Please sit down. Thank you for coming out here. I know you've had a busy day and are anxious to relax before bed, but I need you and my sons to hear what I have to say to Catherine. I just caught her starting to run in the house again. Since nothing I have done so far has worked, I have come up with a different idea. Catherine, starting tomorrow, when you are caught running in the house, you will have to stand in the corner for an hour and will not be allowed to ride any horse by yourself for a day. Each time you are caught, thirty minutes will be added onto the time you have to stand in the corner and one day will be added onto the time you will have to ride double with one of us. You will also receive a bare bottom spanking if you are caught running up or down the stairs, in the kitchen, or if you run into somebody. If the person you run into is holding a gun, I will use that big belt in the barn on your bare bottom. This is your only warning. I do not want to punish you but I will if I have to." Cat scowled when she was told what her punishment for running in the house would be. She hated standing in the corner and didn't want to ride double like a baby. Ben looked at his sons and Hop Sing. "If you catch Catherine running in the house, put her in the corner and let me know. If she needs a spanking, I will take care of it. Hop Sing may use his spoon on her but I will administer any spanking that is necessary. Catherine, do you understand what you have been told?"

Cat didn't like what her father had just told her but she just replied, "Yes sir."

"Good because I don't want there to be any misunderstandings. Now go and get ready for bed."

"But I was going to ask Hop Sing for a snack. I'm hungry."

"You just finished a large meal. I can't believe you're hungry again."

"I know, but I am."

"Alright. Go and get ready for bed. Then you may have a snack." Cat walked upstairs and returned a few minutes later in her night clothes. "Hop Sing put a snack on the dining room table for you. Once you finish it, carry your plate and glass to the kitchen, say goodnight to Adam and Hoss and then go upstairs. Joe will be up to read with you shortly.

Cat finished her snack, said goodnight to Hop Sing, Adam and Hoss and went up to her room. Joe joined her a few minutes later and they read one chapter in King Arthur. Then he hugged and kissed her goodnight, put her puppies in the bed with her, turned the lamp low and walked downstairs. Ben walked upstairs to say goodnight to his daughter. He sat on the bed next to her and said, "I am very proud of the way you acted when the Winters were here. They were very impressed with your behavior and so are your brothers, Hop Sing, and I."

"Do Mr. and Mrs. Winter's sons really have temper tantrums?"

"Yes they do."

"How old are they?"

"They are ten, why?"

"I didn't think that ten year olds had temper tantrums. I thought only real little kids did that."

"How old were you the last time you had one?"

"I'm not sure, but it was before I started school, so it may have been when Uncle Rip, Adam, and Hoss took me back to Dodge after I lived with the Apaches. I remember I wanted to stay with the Apaches but my Grandfather said I had to go back and live with my white family. I may have had one then."

"Ok, so you were only four or five. That's what I thought. It's nothing to be ashamed of. All little children have temper tantrums. Sometimes it's because they're not getting their own way and sometimes it's because adults aren't listening to what they have to say. Anyway, it doesn't matter. What does matter is that you were very well behaved while our guests were her and Adam, Hoss, Little Joe, Hop Sing, and I are very proud of you. Now, it's time for you to go to sleep. You had a very busy day and tomorrow will be busy also because we'll be out at Lake Tahoe for a picnic with the Ingalls, Mitch, and Mike Devlin almost all day." He hugged and kissed Cat goodnight and said, "Goodnight Kitten. Never doubt that I love you very much and I am very happy that you're my little girl now." He tucked her in, blew out the lamp and went back downstairs.

He sat down in his chair and said, "Well Adam, I sure hope that your plan works."

"I do too Pa. Hoss, Joe, and I hate to see her getting in trouble for running where she isn't supposed to. I just thought of something. Cat may not be aware of the real danger that loaded guns pose. I know that she was standing next to her mother when she was killed, but I don't know if she's aware of the very real danger that a loaded pistol poses. Matt said he did his best to shield her from as much violence as possible. That's why he sent her out to the Tanners whenever a cattle drive came through. I have an idea that may help."

"What is your idea son?"

"I'm going to talk to Mike Thomas after church on Sunday and get some scrap pieces of different sized wood from the lumber yard. Then we're going to take the wood and Cat out away from the house and each of us is going to fire one bullet into each piece of wood from different distances. For example, Joe could fire from up close, I could fire from farther away, Hoss would be farther away than me and then you would be farthest. Maybe after seeing the wood, Cat would understand why we keep telling her it's so dangerous to run in the house."

"That's a great idea Adam," said Joe. "I sure hope it works."

"I agree with Short Shanks," said Hoss, earning him a glare from Joe.

"Yes, that is an excellent idea and I truly hope it makes the proper impression on your sister."

"There's just one thing," said Adam. "Until we show her how much damage a pistol can do to a piece of wood, if she's caught running in the house, just make her stand in the corner and don't make her ride double with one of us."

"She probably won't run in the house tomorrow," said Hoss. "She's gonna be playing with Fury and her puppies after breakfast and then she's gonna be getting ready for the picnic and we're going to be out at the lake most of the day."

"Sunday morning she'll be getting ready for church and then all of us will be in church, so she won't have time to run in the house then," added Joe. "Also, if one of us tries to stay with her whenever she's in the house for the next two days, she won't run."

"It shore can't hurt to try Pa," said Hoss.

"Alright Adam," said Ben. "I will go along with your idea because it may serve to keep Catherine from running in the house. As you said, she will be busy most of tomorrow and Sunday morning, so she won't have much time for running. I appreciate your willingness to stay with her when she's in the house to keep her from running. Now, I don't know about the three of you, but I've had a long day and tomorrow will be another long one and I am tired, so I am going to bed. I suggest you do the same."