Cat got the lead rope and the four of them walked out to the pasture where they found Bob and Dave starting to take the mares and foals into the barn. Dave looked at Cat and said, "I guess you'd like to take that little black colt into the house, wouldn't you?"

Cat giggled. "Yes I would. I wish Pa would let me. I wonder if I could teach him how to climb trees. Then he could come into my bedroom through the window."

"Well Cat, I've been around quite a while and I've never seen a horse climb a tree. Pete says you plan on teaching that young fellow to fly when he grows up. You might want to wait until he can fly before trying to sneak him into your bedroom."

Cat sighed. "I guess you're right. I just wish I didn't have to wait that long."

"I understand. Now, since he's right here, if you'll give me that lead rope, I'll catch his mama while you're paying attention to him."

"Thanks Dave." While Cat was waiting for Dave to get Lady, she hugged Fury and said, "Let's go for a quick run while we're waiting on your mama."

"Not until tomorrow," said all of her brothers together.

Cat sighed. "Can't you just close your eyes and pretend you don't know?"

"Sorry Cat," said Joe. "Pa would skin us alive if we did that. It won't kill you to wait until tomorrow. Then you and Fury can run around the pasture until neither one of you can stand up. And no, we won't help you sneak him into the house. I couldn't bring Cochise into the house when he was Fury's size so Fury will have to stay in the barn too."

"You're no fun," replied Cat, causing everyone in the pasture to laugh. "You just watch and see. I'm going to sneak Fury into the house after you're in bed and I'm going to let him sleep in your beds. He can have Adam's bed tonight."

"Come on Punkin," laughed Hoss. "Bring yore colt and his mama and let's get them into the barn. It's almost suppertime and I'm hungry. Ifn you don't hurry, I'm gonna hide that colt somewheres it will take ya a day to find him."

Ben, Abel, and Sam were sitting in the great room talking when Abel asked, "Ben, have you decided how many copies you want of the photographs I took today? I want to develop the negatives and make the prints tomorrow."

"I've been giving that some thought Abel. I think I'm going to need twelve. Including Hop Sing, there are six of us. Cat's uncles and my sister Victoria will want one so that makes nine. Her Godfathers will also each want those pictures so that makes twelve. Actually, I'm going to need fourteen. Roy Coffee and Paul Martin will also want one, so please make fourteen of them. Oh, Mark and Lucas McCain would never forgive me if I didn't send them a copy, so please make fifteen. I would also like you to take a photograph of Cat with her colt and puppies before you decide to move on."

Before Abel could reply, Sam chimed in, "I would also like a copy of each of those pictures. I really like Cat and I love her spirit, sense of adventure, and willingness to stand up for what she thinks is right, no matter what the consequences may be. I'm sure that if Hoss and Joe hadn't been there, Adam would have pulled Cat off the beaver dam, set her britches on fire, and blown up the dam and lodges. I'll write something up to go with the pictures and pay Dan at the Enterprise to print it for me."

"Thank you Sam," replied Ben. "I am going to enjoy reading what you write. Abel, I just thought of one other person who might like those pictures. Although Adam's grandfather has never met Catherine, I have written to him about her. I was just thinking that he might like to have copies of those photographs also. Maybe they, along with whatever Sam writes, will entice him to visit. I think he would see a lot of his daughter in Cat. Elizabeth was also free spirited and not afraid to stand up for what she thought was right. Captain Stoddard was not in favor of his daughter's intentions to marry me at first but she convinced him otherwise and he has a fine grandson because of her determination."

"That's fine Ben. I'll take some photographs of Cat, her colt and puppies. Then you can decide which one you want to send along with the others. I'll make sixteen copies of each photograph for you."

"Thank you Abel. I won't need as many of the family portrait. In fact, I don't see a need to do a family and individual portraits in dress and ranch clothes. Portraits in dress clothes will be fine. I'll only need copies of those for the six of us, my sister, Cat's uncles, Adam's grandfather, and Lucas, or should I say Mark because I know he'll keep them by his bed."

"I'll take the photographs of Cat and her puppies in the morning and I'll spend part of the day developing the negatives. Since everybody will be in dress clothes, I'll take the family portraits after church on Sunday."

"On second thought, just make thirteen prints of the photographs you took today and the one you're going to take of Cat with her colt and puppies. I've changed my mind about sending copies to her Godfathers. It's a long story but they are the reason Cat is living here with me and not with her parents. I allowed them on the Ponderosa for her mother's funeral because she would have wondered why they weren't here. However, that is the last time any of them will step foot on this ranch and if I have my way, it is the last time they will see Catherine. They have hurt her more than enough and I won't let them do it again. Also, I do not like some of the things I have been hearing about two of them."

"What will you tell Cat if she asks why they're not here at Christmas?" asked Sam.

"I'll tell her the truth. They're not part of our family. They were her father's friends, so they're spending Christmas with their families. She'll understand that."

Once the fish were put in the smokehouse and Lady and Fury were back in the barn, Cat headed for the house only to be stopped by Joe. "Not so fast Cat. You've got to wash up first."

"No I don't. I'm not dirty."

"Sorry Squirt. You've been cleaning fish and playing with Fury and your puppies. It's almost suppertime so you need to wash up. Hop Sing and Pa will never let you near the table as dirty as your hands and face are." He put his hands on her shoulders and propelled her toward the bathhouse. Adam and Hoss were already there waiting for Joe to bring Cat. They stepped aside and Adam held the door open for Cat.

Cat did a quick job washing up and said, "There. I'm clean. Are you happy now?"

"Sorry Squirt," said Joe.

"You need to stand closer to the soap and water," said Adam.

"It won't kill ya to do a good job washin' up," said Hoss. "Ifn ya go into the house lookin' like that, Pa'll just make ya come back out and wash up again."

Cat looked at her brothers and frowned. "I don't think I like having three big brothers."

"Why not?" asked Adam.

"'Cause you're all too bossy," came the reply, causing all three brothers to laugh.

Once all of them had washed and left the bathhouse, Adam picked Cat up and said, "Here Joe, catch."

He put Cat in Joe's outstretched arms who hugged her and said, "Hey Hoss, catch, and handed her to his brother.

They played with Cat for a while until Hop Sing came outside and said, "Supper almost ready. Mr. Adam and Mr. Joe set table."

"Awwwww Hop Sing," complained Hoss. "We was having fun playin' catch and usin' little sister as the ball."

"Hop Sing no care. Play with little sister tomorrow. Set table for supper now. Supper almost ready and table need to be set. You come now or I get wooden spoon."

"Alright Hop Sing," said Adam. "You don't need to get your spoon. We're coming."

"Yeah Hop Sing," said Joe. "Adam and I are coming. You don't need your spoon."

Cat and Hoss laughed at their brothers being threatened by Hop Sing. He looked at them and said, "Missy Cat and Mr. Hoss bring food to table when supper ready or Hop Sing use wooden spoon on them."

"I'll help," said Cat, "But I don't know if it's safe to let Hoss near the food before everybody else gets it. He might eat it all between the kitchen and the dining room."

"If number two son try to eat food before it on table, Hop Sing pop him with spoon."

"Don' you worry Hop Sing," said Hoss. "I done felt that spoon too many times. I won't try and eat the food before it's on the table."

"Very good. Number two son finally learning."

"Hop Sing?" asked Cat.

"Yes Missy Cat?

"Can we have flapjacks for breakfast tomorrow? I'll help make them."

"Missy Cat help, we have flapjacks. Now go in house and bring food to table when I say."

Since Hoss still had Cat in his arms, he put her over his shoulder and carried her into the house. Ben saw his middle son carrying his little sister and asked, "Hoss, why do you have your sister over your shoulder like that?"

"'Cause Me and Adam and Joe were playin' catch with her as the ball. I just caught her when Hop Sing came out and told Adam and Joe to set the table. Since I still had her, I figured I'd just carry her this way. I've got one hand free to swat or tickle her whenever I want to." He reached up, gave Cat a very light swat and started tickling her.

"Son, do I need to remind you of what happens when you tickle your "ball" too much? You had better take her back outside for a few minutes."

"That's right. I plum fergot what happens when she gets tickled too much. Yore right, I'd better take her outside for a little bit."

When they came back inside, Ben said, "Here, let me have her for a little while. You've had her all day, so it's my turn now." Hoss handed Cat to their father who hugged her and said, "Now tell me all about those fish you caught. How did you and Hoss catch so many without your brothers to help?"

"Well, we didn't catch all of them."

"Oh. If you didn't catch them, who did?"

"The beavers did. The fish weren't biting at Lake Tahoe so we went back to the lake with the beavers. When we threw our hooks in the water, the beavers stared throwing fish up on the shore."

Adam and Joe walked back into the great room just as Cat started telling her story. They, along with Ben, Sam, and Abel had a hard time to keep from laughing at her tale.

"Did you get to see what the beavers look like?"

"No I didn't. They were throwing so many fish on the shore, I had to hurry and throw the little ones back in so they wouldn't die."

"I am very proud of you for throwing all of the little fish back in the water. That was a very good thing to do. I hope you thanked the beavers for catching the fish for you."

Cat giggled. "Yes I did. Pa, can I ask you something?"

"Of course you can Kitten. What's on your mind?"

"Do I really have to have three big brothers?"

"Why don't you want three big brothers?"

"'Cause they're all bossy."

Ben laughed. "How many big brothers do you want?"

"None. John and Robert Tanner are almost as bossy as Adam, Hoss, and Joe are. Can't I have sisters instead? Rebecca and the other girls weren't bossy like the boys."

"What should I do with your brothers?"

"Trade them to somebody else for sisters. Maybe Mr. and Mrs. Ingalls will trade Laura and Mary for one of them. They eat more than Mary and Laura do and they can help Mr. Ingalls on his farm so it would be an even trade."

Abel and Sam gave each other amused looks and tried their best not to laugh. Adam, Hoss, and Joe were also amused by the fact that Cat had only been home for three weeks and already wanted to trade them for sisters. They had figured it would eventually happen but they didn't expect it to happen so soon.

Before the conversation could continue, Hop Sing came out of the kitchen and announced, "Supper ready. Everybody go sit at table. Missy Cat and Mr. Hoss help bring food to table."

After supper, Abel said, "Hop Sing, that meal was wonderful. I can't remember the last time I had a meal that good. I know that I am a guest here, but if Sam will help me, I will clear the table so that you may serve dessert. Please do not say no. I have traveled through many cities and towns in my lifetime and I have never been treated so well. I usually sleep in my wagon and catch and eat my own food. However, today was different. Ben invited me into his home and has treated me like family. Please allow me to show my appreciation by helping to clear the table."

"Very well. Mr. Sam and Mr. Abel clear table."

Once dessert had been finished, the men took their coffee into the great room and talked while Cat lay on the floor in front of the fireplace, reading a book. After a while Adam noticed that Cat was almost asleep. He walked over, picked her up off the floor and said, "Come on sleepy head. It's high time you were in bed."

"I'm not sleepy," protested Cat as she yawned.

"Of course you're not," replied Adam. "And I ride a green horse. Let's go Squirt. I need to get you to the outhouse and then to bed." When Adam carried Cat back into the great room, he said, "Say goodnight to everybody. You'll see them in the morning."

Abel and Sam said goodnight to Cat and wished her sweet dreams. Hoss and Joe hugged their sister goodnight and kissed her on her cheek. "I'll be up in a few minutes to tuck you in," said Ben.

Adam carried Cat upstairs and helped his very sleepy sister change into her night clothes. Before getting her under the covers, he hugged and kissed her and said, "Good night little sister. I love you." Then he helped her get into bed, put her puppies next to her, turned the lamp down and walked out of her room.

Ben walked upstairs a few minutes later. He looked at the sleeping child and her puppies, smiled and shook his head. He never thought he'd see the day when he would allow not just one, but two dogs to live in his house and sleep in bed with one of his children. But he wasn't about to take them away from her and make them sleep in the barn. She had been through too much in her short life and he wasn't about to traumatize her further. He bent down, kissed Cat on the forehead, whispered that he loved her, patted each puppy and pulled the covers up over all three sleeping figures. Then he blew out the lamp, walked out of the room, leaving the door open slightly so he could hear if she had another nightmare and walked downstairs to his guests. The men talked for a little while longer when Abel excused himself saying it had been a long day, he was tired and was going to bed. Sam excused himself so he could write the story about Cat and the beavers and take it to town in the morning so Dan DeQuille would print it for him.

Once their guests had gone upstairs, Hoss said, "I'm gonna get Hop Sing and then we needs to talk about little sister and what she's feelin'. Ya ain't gonna like what I got to say but it's got to be said." He walked into the kitchen, knocked on Hop Sing's door and said, "I know it's late and yore tired Hop Sing, but we gotta have a family meeting about Cat and you need to be there 'cause yore family too."

"Alright Mr. Hoss. Hop Sing be there in a minute."

"Ok Hop Sing. See ya in a minute." Hoss returned to the great room and Hop Sing joined the rest of the family a few minutes later. "Now that we're all here, I got somethin' to say and Adam, I don't want ya sayin' anything until I said what I gotta say. Ya gotta take it easy on little sister. She thinks ya hate her and I don't blame her the way ya acted toward her today." Adam started to reply but Hoss said, "I done told ya not to say anythin' until I was done and I ain't done yet. First ya got mad when she got up on that beaver dam so's ya couldn't blow it and the beavers up. I got news for ya brother. I weren't about to let ya kill them beavers, little sister just beat me to it. Then ya threatened to pull her off the dam and set her britches on fire when she wasn't doing nothing wrong and ya know Pa don't want us spankin' her yet. If she was in danger on that beaver dam, I woulda pulled her off it myself, given her a good swat and brought her home to Pa. Ya also said she was a nuisance and a pest. That really hurt her 'cause she ain't used to bein' talked to like that. Then, instead of askin' Pa ifn she was allowed to put her feet in the water, ya decided to pull her away from the lake without knowin' if she was doin' something' wrong or not. So's when we was fishin' she asked me why you hate her. Ever since before the trial, Pa's been doin' his best not to treat her like she's Joe so's ya gotta quit bein' so bossy before she decides to try and go to Dodge on her own. The Apaches taught her how to hide her horse's tracks and I won't even be able to track her if she decides to take off on her own. Now I don't know about you, but Joe and I ain't ready to lose our little sister, so's ya gotta back off and quit being yore old bossy Yankee Granite Head self. She ain't even been here a month and yore makin' her feel like she ain't wanted here."

"Adam!" exclaimed Ben. "You called your sister a pest and a nuisance? I can't believe you did that, especially after what she's been through in the last three months."

"I've been calling Joe that for years and it hasn't seemed to bother him."

"That's because you've been saying that about me ever since I learned how to walk," replied Joe. "I've gotten used to it and know you don't really mean it. Or at least you don't any more. You did when I was three."

"That's because you were in my way when I was trying to do my barn chores. Believe me, I paid dearly for putting you on that nail."

"That is very true," said Ben. "However, Hoss' point is that Catherine isn't used to having any siblings at all, let alone older brothers to boss her around. The closest thing she's had to siblings were Mark McCain and the Tanner children, but she wasn't with them every day. Things may have been different if Grant, Sherman, and Sheridan hadn't convinced Michael to rejoin the Army. However, the past cannot be changed but what we do today can shape the future. With the events of the past week, I find myself wondering if I did the right thing by taking her away from everything she's known all of her life and bringing her here. She had a lot of freedom in Dodge but was well protected. She won't have nearly as much freedom here and I couldn't even keep her safe at church last Sunday. Catherine has to know that she is loved and will be protected from harm as much as possible and it is up to all of us to ensure that she knows it. That means not losing your temper with her when she gets in the way of your plans the way she did today.

That brings me to another point. The three of you are not allowed to spank your sister yet. If she does something wrong and she knows it's wrong, give her a swat and bring her to me or Hop Sing. If neither of us is around, put her in a corner or send her to her room and she can tell us what she did wrong we return home. I want her to get used to having older brothers looking after her before allowing you to spank her. Remember, she has only been here three weeks and is still trying to figure out where she fits in. However, make sure she knows that what she did was wrong before administering any kind of punishment."

Before the conversation could go any farther, they heard Cat cry out, "No! Mamma Wake Up…" They rushed upstairs and into her bedroom. Joe lit the lamp while Ben cradled his daughter in his arms, talking softly and trying to sooth her."

When Ben was finally able to calm Cat down, Adam reached for her and said, "I'll take her. Pa's right. I've got to start showing her that I'm someone she can depend on to take care of her if it ever becomes necessary and not just an older brother who is going to boss her around all the time. Please put her pillow and favorite blanket on my bed. She can sleep there tonight."

When they returned to the house, they found everyone, including Sam and Abel, in the great room sipping hot cocoa. Hop Sing handed a cup to Adam and another one to Cat. "I put little bit of herb to help Missy Cat sleep in her cup. Not a lot but enough to help."

"Thank you Hop Sing," said Ben. "I wish you had an herb to keep the nightmares from happening. Hers are worse than Joe's were when he was little."

"Time only cure for nightmares. Missy Cat need time to deal with loss of mother."

"I know Hop Sing. I don't like it but you are right. It's going to take time. Boys after church on Sunday, I would like you to follow through with your plans that were disrupted last Sunday. There's no guarantee they'll work, but they certainly can't hurt. Cat, you need to finish your hot cocoa and let Adam take you back up to bed."

"I'm not sleepy. Can't I just stay up with everyone else?"

Everyone laughed at the young girl struggling to keep her eyes open. "Sorry Kitten. It's long past your bedtime and you need your sleep. Tomorrow will be another busy day and we've got the dance tomorrow night. You don't want to be too tired to dance, now do you?"

"No, but I still want to stay up with everyone else."

"Sorry Kitten. Maybe some other night, but not tonight. Now finish your hot cocoa and let Adam take you back up to bed."

Cat finished her hot cocoa and started for the stairs followed by Adam. When she stumbled on the first step, he picked her up and said, "Silly girl. You're so tired, you can't even walk up the stairs but you wanted Pa to let you stay up later. I need to get you and your puppies back in bed." He carried Cat upstairs to his room and put her and her puppies in his bed. After taking his nightgown, robe and slippers out of the wardrobe, he turned the lamp down low and said, "I'll be back upstairs in a little while. I'll change in your room before coming to bed. You've got your pillow and favorite blanket as well as your puppies, so you'll be fine here alone for a bit. I promise I won't be long."

He put his night clothes in Cat's room and walked back downstairs where everyone was discussing Cat's nightmare. "I know at the trial you said that Cat was having nightmares because of what happened to her mother," said Sam. "But I never dreamed they were that bad."

"The nightmares were worse last night and tonight than they were before the trial," replied Ben.

"Please enlighten me," said Abel. "Why is Catherine having nightmares and what trial is Sam talking about?" Ben told Abel about Cat's mother being murdered and how Mrs. Warren had attacked her after church. "That poor child," replied Abel. "No wonder she is having nightmares. I wish, as I'm sure you do, that there was a way to prevent them from happening."

"The doctor and the minister advised my sons to take their sister out to her mother's grave. She hasn't been there since the funeral and it is hoped that giving her a chance to grieve will lessen the nightmares. They were supposed to take Catherine out there after church on Sunday but she was attacked and injured. Adam, Hoss, Joe, I would like you to take your sister to her mother's grave after church."

"No wait until Sunday," said Hop Sing. "Mr. Cartwright say Sunday family day. Spend day fishing and swimming at Lake Tahoe. Sons take Missy Cat to mother's grave tomorrow."

"You're right Hop Sing. Thank you for reminding me of the planned family day. I had other plans for tomorrow, but this is more important. Boys, please take your sister out to her mother's grave after breakfast tomorrow. Now, I suggest we all get some sleep. Tomorrow will be another busy day."

The next morning, Cat remembered she was now allowed to run and she had promised to help Hop Sing make flapjacks for breakfast. After dressing, she walked out into the hall and seeing it empty, ran to the stairs. Instead of walking down the stairs, she climbed onto the banister and slid down. Ben saw his daughter and asked, "Catherine Michael, are you allowed to slide down the banister?"

"I dunno. Uncle Matt didn't have one. It was fun though."

"The answer is only on very special occasions such as when you are allowed to run after not being able to for a week and on your tenth birthday. So, from now until your tenth birthday, you walk down the stairs like everyone else does."

"It was fun. Can I do it again?"

"Didn't you listen to what I just said? You will be allowed to do it again on your tenth birthday, not before. Now, Hop Sing told me that you promised to help make flapjacks for breakfast so go, use the outhouse and then help Hop Sing."

Cat sighed and did as she was told. The last time she helped Hop Sing make flapjacks, he had the batter already mixed up. This time he showed her how to make it. Once the batter was made, Hop Sing carried the bowl over to the stove, put a ladle in it, and set a platter on the counter next to the stove. "Missy Cat bring stool to stand on and make flapjacks like before. Remember use towel to hold handle of pan so not to get burned."

"Ok Hop Sing. I'll remember. Thanks for not letting me get burned last time."

Hop Sing patted the child on the head and said, "You little girl still and not know better. My job to teach you. Now you make flapjacks while Hop Sing make scrambled eggs and bacon. Maybe next time I teach you how to make scrambled eggs. You know how to catch and cook food, you never go hungry."

"That would be swell Hop Sing. I would like to learn how to make scrambled eggs. You make the best eggs I've ever eaten."

While he was making the eggs and bacon, Hop Sing watched Cat making the flapjacks. "Missy Cat doing very good job. Almost as good as Hop Sing. No flapjacks burned. Tell Hop Sing when batter gone."

"Gee thanks Hop Sing. You're the best cook ever. I've used all of the batter."

"Very good. When flapjacks finished, you carry eggs to table. I carry flapjacks and bacon."

While Cat was helping Hop Sing make breakfast, everyone else was in the great room. They all laughed when Ben told them about Cat sliding down the banister. His story caused Adam to start thinking and reflecting on things they had done in the past. He was deep in thought when Sam said, "Ben, I've been thinking about what you said last night about Cat's Godparents. I think I know who they are but that's not important. I disagree with your decision to cut them out of her life right now. Does she know that they were responsible for her father leaving his wife and infant daughter to fight in the war?"

"No she doesn't. She's too young to understand right now and the family decided that they should be the ones to tell her."

"I'm not trying to tell you how to raise Cat or run your life. I'm just trying to get you to think about the potential consequences of your decision. However if you cut them out of her life at this point in time, you're going to have to tell her why she's not allowed to see them. I have a feeling that once Cat learns what two of her Godfathers are doing, she will not want anything to do with them, but I think that should be her decision. Besides that, there may come a time when you will need their help with something."

"You're right Sam. In fact, I started thinking about my decision when I went to bed and came to the same conclusion you did. I'm going to send the pictures and your article to Catherine's Godfathers."

Just then Hop Sing came out of the kitchen and said, "Breakfast ready. Everybody go to table." Everyone sat down while Cat and Hop Sing carried the food to the table. She put the eggs on the table and sat down. Hop Sing put the rest of the food down and said, "Missy Cat make flapjacks. Do very good job. Not burn any. She good girl and learn quick."

Everybody helped themselves to the food and praised Cat for the flapjacks. "Little sister," said Hoss, "I declare these flapjacks are almost as good as Hop Sing makes. They're real tasty. Ya done a real good job on them."

"Thanks Hoss. I'm glad you like them."

"Like them? Little sister, I love them. In fact, I think I'll try and talk Pa out of makin' ya go to school so's ya can just stay home and make flapjacks for me all day long."

"Sorry son," said Ben. "Your sister needs to go to school just as you and your brothers did."

"Missy Cat no spend all day making flapjacks for Mr. Hoss," said Hop Sing. "She need learn other things too. Mr. Hoss get fat if all he eat is flapjacks. Need meat and vegetables too."

Before the discussion could continue, Adam said, "Pa, I've been thinking and Cat should be allowed to slide down the banister one more time today."

Cat and the rest of the family were surprised at Adam's comments. "I admit, I am surprised to hear you of all people say that son. Please explain your reasoning to me," said Ben.

"I started thinking about when we first built this house. It was late summer when I returned from college. It took me a while to draw up the plans and we had to prepare for the winter, so it was spring before the house was finally finished. If you remember, the morning after we spent our first night here, all of us, including you and Hop Sing slid down the banister twice as a way to celebrate having just spent our first night in our new house. We did the same thing a few months later on the morning of Joe's tenth birthday as a way of celebrating the first birthday in our new house. Of course, we had no way of knowing that we would be celebrating another birthday that same night. Since Cat is now living here permanently, I feel that she should be allowed to slide down the banister one more time after breakfast and then twice on her tenth birthday so she will have done the same thing the rest of us have already done."

"I can see that you have put a lot of thought into your suggestion. Hoss, Joe, Hop Sing, do you agree with Adam?" When they replied that they did, Ben said, "Very well. Catherine, after breakfast, you may slide down the banister one more time and that will be the last time until your tenth birthday."

"Thanks Pa. It was fun. I wish I could spend all day doing that."

"Sorry Kitten. Just one more time and not again until your tenth birthday unless Hop Sing or I give you permission to do it again."

"Ok Pa. I'll just do it one more time."

"Cat," said Joe. "After breakfast, you need to spend some time with Fury and then you're going to ride out with Adam, Hoss, and me. We're going to be taking you somewhere special. You're going to need to learn how to get there and back by yourself so pay close attention to the way we go and come back."

"Where are we going?"

"You'll see when we get there. That's all I'm going to tell you so don't ask any more questions."

"Adam, Hoss, Joe, your father has asked me to take some photographs of your sister with her colt and puppies," said Abel. "I would appreciate it if you could delay your departure by about thirty minutes."

"That's fine Abel," said Adam. "Take all of the pictures you need to. We'll leave when you're finished."

After breakfast, Ben told Cat she could slide down the banister one more time. She started to run toward the stairs when his voice stopped her. "Catherine, is the house on fire?"

"No sir."

"Is it falling down around you?"

"No sir."

"Is somebody sick or injured and you're in a hurry to get the doctor?"

"No sir."

"Then why are you running in the house?"

"'Cause I'm in a hurry. I haven't been able to run in a week and I want to run everywhere."

Ben sighed. "The rule about running in the house hasn't changed. I'm letting you off with a warning this time but there will be consequences if it happens again. Do I make myself perfectly clear?"

"Yes sir."

"Good. Now walk up the stairs, slide down the banister and then go spend some time with your colt. Abel is going to take some pictures of you, Fury, and your puppies. Then you will be going someplace special with your brothers. You can run outside but not in the house."

Cat did as she was told. After going outside and closing the door behind her, she looked at her puppies and said, "I'm tired of everybody bossing me around. I should be able to run in the house and slide down the banister if I want to. They should know I won't get hurt. I never get hurt. If Uncle Matt hadn't yelled at us and sent Festus up to get us, me, Pete, and Mike would have climbed all the way to the top of the water tower in Dodge and maybe gone swimming in it. Grownups are dumb for always thinking that kids are going to get hurt doing stuff. I guess they were never kids."