Roy locked the boys back in their cells and their fathers left. Before Mr. Roberts took Tommy home, Ben said, "Ted, I need to talk to you about Thomas. Was Richard sick and unable to keep an eye on Thomas at school before Christmas break? It seems that Thomas along with his, William's, and Annabel's friends have been teasing my daughter about being adopted. Catherine was a baby when her father was killed in the war and the last time she was part of a family was before he left to fight. My sons and I are trying to teach her how to be part of a family but your son and those other children have her totally convinced that I will send her to an orphanage if she asks for help with anything. We have been friends for a long time, but if you can't control your son, I will ask the school board to exclude him from school until the end of the term. Hopefully military school will straighten him out as you seem to be unable to. I do not want any of those children near my daughter!"

Mr. Roberts looked at his son with fire in his eyes and voice. "Is that true Thomas? Are you and your friends still picking on Catherine Cartwright?"

Tommy looked down at his feet and refused to answer his father. "Do not look at your feet. Look me in the eye and give me an honest answer! Is that what you do when you run off and hide from your brother? Your refusal to answer me says everything. Ben am truly sorry about what Thomas is doing. Richard does his best to keep an eye on him but has told me that Thomas will say he needs to use the outhouse and then hide, leaving his brother to search for him while the other children hinder his search. Thomas, you will not be returning to school when class resumes in January. You will do your lessons at home with your mother and brother watching you. You will have no free time and someone will be standing outside the outhouse when you use it. When you are not doing lessons, you will be working with me and you will still be locked in your room at night! I have tried my best to raise you to be a man everyone can be proud of but you have decided that being a bully is better than being a good person. Therefore, I need to take harsher measures with you. Do not blame Catherine Cartwright as your punishment is nobody's fault but your own! Now let's go. You and I will be having a discussion in the barn when we return home! Your words to Mr. Cartwright's family as well as the fact that you refuse to follow instructions and won't leave his daughter alone are unacceptable!"

"Thank you Ted. Catherine will feel better about returning to school if she knows that neither Thomas nor William will be there. Now if only Frank could control his daughter, adjusting to being part of a family wouldn't be so hard on Cat. There is one other thing you need to know before you take Thomas home. I have been told that he and some of the other older boys have decided that the hill outside of town where the children like to go sledding, belongs to them. They have been running the other children down and wrecking their sleds. Young Robert Johnson suffered a broken arm last week because of them."

Mr. Roberts glared at his son. "So, you have been lying to your mother and to me when you tell each of us that you are going to help the other. I meant what I said son. You will have no unsupervised time from the time someone unlocks your bedroom door in the morning until you are locked in at bedtime. You have proven to me that you can't be trusted. You won't be using your sled anymore, so it will be given to Robert Johnson to replace his. I will also be taking money out of your bank account to pay his medical bills. I can't even begin to tell you how disappointed your mother and I are in you. I don't understand why you have turned into a bully. You have lived in a home filled with love since before you were born. Don't even try blaming your brother because the only time we have ever compared the two of you is when we measured both of you every year on your birthdays. Even though he had his own school work and chores to do, Richard always took the time to help you with yours. He also included you many times when he was fishing and swimming with his friends. Ben, I don't know what else to say except to apologize again for my son's behavior."

After Mr. Roberts and Tommy left, Roy said, "Ben, I have some news I know you will be pleased to hear. Millicent Warren will be leaving Virginia City shortly after Easter. I was able to locate a nephew and he has written to her inviting her to live in a small cottage on his land. Apparently, he has a sizable piece of land near Atlanta that has a two bedroom cottage near the main house. In his letter to me, he said he wrote to her, saying he and his wife were concerned about her living here all alone, especially as she is getting older and we have such harsh winters. She accepted his invitation and he will be here just after Easter to help her sell her house and take her back to Georgia."

"Thank you for that good news Roy. Cat is going to be a very happy girl when I give her the news from today. I still can't understand why those children felt the need to convince a nine year old child who hasn't been part of a family since she was a babe in arms, that she would be sent to an orphanage if she asked for help with anything."

"I think part of it is jealousy," said Lucas. "They are jealous that Cat lives on the Ponderosa, has two dogs, a colt, and can ride Adam's, Hoss', Joe's, yours, or any other horse she wants to. All she has to do is ask."

"He's right," said Roy. "I've heard the boys talking and they see red and are positively green with envy whenever they see her riding a horse with the Ponderosa brand or driving the Ponderosa buckboard, buggy, or surrey. Thomas and William are just plain bullies and don't like it that Cat fights like a boy and beat both of them in one. They're also jealous that she's one fourth heir to the largest cattle ranch in Nevada. As far as they're concerned, if you wanted another child, you should have adopted one of them and no, they don't care that Cat was your niece before you adopted her. Thomas and William made up all of that nonsense about her parents just to get her to start a fight and be severely punished for it. They didn't count on Hoss and Thaddeus hearing what they said and telling you and their fathers, resulting in them being punished."

While the family was at the jail talking to the boys and their fathers, the children were at the church listening to Andy sing. Just as Adam had done when he played for the children's Christmas party at school, he had the youngest children sit up front. He sang some songs by himself and had Adam join him for a few. Then he decided to have a sing-a-long of the children's favorite songs including Buffalo Gals, Jimmy Crack Corn, Frère Jacques, Oh My Darling, Clementine, Turkey in the Straw, and Skip to my Lou. When Andy got to Cat and her friends, Adam expected her to ask for Early One Morning, but Laura beat her to it, so Cat asked for Sweet Betsy From Pike. By the time every child had picked his or her favorite song, Andy had been entertaining the children for more than two hours. They wanted him to keep singing but he said, "Sorry kids. We've been at this for more than two hours and I'm sung out and I'm sure Adam's fingers are hurting. It's almost four thirty and it will be dark soon, so all of you need to start for home now. I'm staying at the Ponderosa, it's a long ride to get there and Hop Sing gets upset when people are late for supper. I'll see all of you in church on Sunday."

As they were leaving the church, Andy looked at Adam and said, "Admit it. You had fun today. In fact, you had more fun than you would have if you had stayed home with your nose in a book."

Adam tried denying it, but Andy persisted. "Alright, you win. Yes I had fun but if you tell any of those six monsters that will be riding home with us, I'll deny it." Andy just laughed at him. They retrieved their horses from the livery stable and a few miles outside of town, the children began singing. "They're singing off key," he complained.

"Well now, we know how to fix that, don't we?" asked Andy.

"I guess we'll have to join them and teach them how to sing in key." Adam and Andy urged their horses to catch up with the children and teased them about singing off key.

"Well then," said Jasper. "Why don't you sing with us? Then maybe we'll sing in key."

Adam and Andy agreed and soon the eight of them were singing a rousing chorus of "Sweet Betsy From Pike".

Did you ever hear tell of sweet Betsy from Pike
Who crossed the wide prairies with her lover Ike
With two yoke of cattle and a one-spotted hog
A tall Shanghai rooster and an old yellow dog

One evening quite early they camped on the Platte
Made down their blankets on a green shady flat
Where Betsy, sore-footed, lay down to repose
With wonder Ike gazed on his Pike County rose

Their wagons broke down with a terrible crash
And out on the prairie rolled all sorts of trash
A few little baby clothes, done up with care
'Twas rather suspicious, though all on the square

The Shanghai ran off and the cattle all died
That morning the last piece of bacon was fried
Poor Ike was discouraged, and Betsy got mad
The dog drooped his tail and looked wondrously sad

They soon reached the desert, where Betsy gave out
And down in the sand she lay rolling about
While Ike, half distracted, looked on with surprise
Saying "Betsy, get up, you'll get sand in your eyes"

Sweet Betsy got up in a great deal of pain
Declared she'd go back to Pike County again
But Ike heaved a sigh, and they fondly embraced
And they traveled along with his arm 'round her waist

They swam the wide rivers and climbed the tall peaks
And camped on the prairies for weeks upon weeks
Starvation and cholera, hard work and slaughter
They reached California spite of hell and high water

That morning they stood on a very high hill
And with wonder looked down into old Placerville
Ike shouted and said, as he cast his eyes down
"Sweet Betsy, my darling, we've got to Hangtown"

Long Ike and sweet Betsy attended a dance
Where Ike wore a pair of his Pike County pants
Sweet Betsy was covered with ribbons and rings
Said Ike "You're an angel, but where are your wings?"

This Pike County couple got married, of course
But Ike became jealous, obtained a divorce
And Betsy, well satisfied, said with a shout
"Goodbye, you big lummox, I'm glad you backed out"

They laughed and sang all the way back to the Ponderosa with Adam still threatening to throw all six children in Lake Tahoe or bury them under two mountains of snow. The six just laughed at him and Cat stuck her tongue out at her oldest brother, earning her a growl & light tug on one of her braids. "Just remember brat, I can throw you in the trough any time I feel like it," he teased."

"No you can't. It's cold outside and Pa and everyone else will get mad at you. Maybe Hop Sing will use his spoon on you and then Hoss will put you in the trough."

Andy laughed at his friend. "She's got you there Adam. Watching Hop Sing use his spoon on you and Hoss putting you in the trough sure would be funny."

"You know, you can always join these six monsters in the lake or buried under snow."

"Sure I can, but so can you. How do you think Hoss will react to you doing either of those things to me or the kids? And I'll make sure to tell him what you have threatened to do to us."

"No you won't."

"Of course I will. Hop Sing needs to know what you have threatened to do to these poor innocent children and me."

Adam laughed. "These six little monsters are hardly innocent. I had a nice quiet afternoon with a book and just my brothers for company planned until they went along with your little plan. I will get my revenge on them. It may not be until spring, but I will get my revenge."

Andy and the children laughed at Adam. "Adam," said Mike. "Hoss and Joe haven't done anything to help with meals or anything else since your family arrived. Do you really think your Pa gave them the afternoon off to lay around the house doing nothing? If I was allowed to bet, I would bet next week's chore money that he made them do something out on the ranch, even if was just counting cattle."

Adam thought for a moment and said, "Knowing my father, you would win that bet Mike. I guess I'll find out when we get home what he told them to do. Chances are, I'm going to be the one who has to go out and make sure they did what he told them to do."

They arrived back at the ranch just as Ben was leading Buck out of the barn. He looked at Adam and said, "I'm glad you're home son. I told your brothers to take hay out to the cattle and I'm on my way to see if they followed instructions. With both of us checking the pastures, we'll be back here before supper."

Adam sighed. "Alright Pa. I'll ride out and help you see if Hoss and Joe fed the cattle." He reached into his pocket, pulled out a dollar coin, tossed it to Mike and said, "Here Mike. I know we didn't really bet, but if we had, you would have won."

"Thanks Adam."

"You're welcome."

Ben and Adam rode out to see if Hoss and Joe had followed orders. When they returned to the house and Adam told his father what he had observed, Ben was furious with his two younger sons. They had only given the cattle enough food for one day. He stormed into the house and yelled, "JOSEPH, ERIC, OUTSIDE RIGHT NOW!" When they made no move to get up, he said, "Since you will not follow my instructions, I have no choice but to embarrass you in front of the family, Andy and your sister's friends. Before leaving for town, I instructed the pair of you to take hay to the cattle as when I checked yesterday, they only had one day's worth left. Those cattle are our livelihood and the pair of you barely gave them enough food to last another day. Tomorrow morning, you will go and feed the cattle before breakfast. We are going to Carson City after breakfast. I want those cattle fed before we leave, and I am not delaying our departure to wait for you to feed the cattle!"

"But Pa," complained Hoss. "We can't do nothing afore breakfast. I'll be too doggone hungry to even lift a bale of hay."

Ben saw red. "I don't care how hungry you are! Those cattle will be fed before breakfast! Furthermore, the two of you will be doing your sister's chores, including taking care of her horses for the next two months and that includes feeding and grooming them, mucking out their stalls and saddling and unsaddling Beauty whenever Cat needs him!"

Joe started complaining about it wasn't fair that Adam got to go to town while he and Hoss had to feed the cattle. "I am tired of listening to the pair of you complain! Neither one of you has done anything to help around here since everyone arrived. Since all you can do is complain about how unfairly you are being treated, you can also do Adam's chores for the next two months and that includes taking care of his horse! If you want to continue complaining, I can arrange for the pair of you to do your sister's and brother's chores until Cat returns from Dodge at the end of August!"

Cat and her friends sat listening, wide eyed, as Ben loudly lectured Hoss and Joe. Cat was hoping that they would continue arguing with their father so she wouldn't have to do any chores until after the summer was over and was disappointed when they stopped.

Ben looked at the children and said, "Children, I want to thank you for all of your help at meal times. Even though you didn't have to, you set and cleared the tables and helped Hop Sing bring the food out of the kitchen. You won't need to worry about doing those things for the remainder of your visit. Hoss and Joe will be doing them instead."

The children looked at each other as though they could read each other's thoughts. "That's ok Pa," said Cat. "We don't mind helping. Besides that, Hoss and Joe are mad at you and they'll take so long setting the tables that the food will be cold and it will be our bedtime before they're done. We don't want to go to bed hungry."

"Well then, we'll just have to make sure they don't take too long. There are six of you and except for tomorrow when we'll be eating dinner in Carson City, we eat three meals a day here. Divide yourselves into three teams and each team will supervise Hoss and Joe setting the table for a meal. Each team member will be allowed to carry one of Cat's arrows and poke whichever brother is being slow, in the bottom. Just don't poke them too hard because we don't want them to get hurt, we just want them to set the tables in a timely manner. Take a few minutes to decide which of you is going to be on each team."

While the children were talking among themselves, Adam looked at his brothers and shook his head. They just didn't know when to quit. He fully expected that by the time they were done, they would be doing extra chores, including his and Cat's for more than just two months. January was his month to clean tack and he was going to pay his sister to help him but since at least one of his brothers would be doing it, he could spend time with Cat and try to make up for the way he had been treating her. It was too cold for fishing, but as long as it wasn't snowing or threatening to, they could go hunting and he could show her around the ranch more. He looked at the children and asked, "Well, have the six of you decided what teams you're going to be on to supervise Hoss and Joe setting the tables?"

"Yes," said Mike. "It's going to be me and Cat, Jas and Mary, and Laura and Mark. Cat and I are going to do it before supper tonight, Mary and Jas will do breakfast tomorrow, and Laura and Mark will do it for supper tomorrow. We're going to switch meals every day."

"That sounds like a good plan," said Ben. "Hoss, Joe, supper will be ready soon. You need to set the tables now. Remember, your sister and Mike will be supervising you and they have my permission to poke you with Cat's arrows if you deliberately take your time."

Hoss and Joe started setting the tables. Hoss was hungry so he hurried while Joe, being angry with his father, took his time. "Come on Joe," said Cat. "Hurry up. I'm hungry and we can't eat until you finish setting the table." Joe ignored his sister and kept taking his time. By now, even Hoss was getting upset with him.

"Get a move on Shortshanks. Everyone's hungry and we can't eat until yore done." Joe ignored his brother just as he had ignored his sister. Cat got angry and jabbed him hard with her arrow and he yelped in pain.

Hop Sing came out of the kitchen to see what was going on. When he saw that only one table had been set, he hit Joe with his spoon, causing Joe to yelp in pain again. "Number three son stop foolishment and set table or Hop Sing use spoon again!"

"Ben, we're hungry and the food will be cold before Joe finishes his job. The children and Hop Sing don't seem to be able to get him to move faster so you need to do something," said Victoria.

"Just be patient for a minute Vicki. Cat can handle Joe. I have a feeling that she is about to call in the heavy artillery."

Cat lost her patience with Joe and said, "Lassie, Chief, everybody's hungry and Joe won't finish setting the table. He's being mean. Make him stop."

The two puppies started nipping Joe in the legs, ankles and his bottom. "OW! Stop! You're hurting me! Cat, make them stop!"

"Not until you start setting the table faster. They're hungry too and Hop Sing won't feed them until all of us have our food." Everyone else laughed at Cat scolding her older brother and using her puppies to get him to move faster.

"You were right Ben," said Victoria. "Cat does know how to handle Joe. I wish I would have had those puppies when my children were younger. They would have gotten things done a lot faster if I did have them."

"It's your own fault baby brother," teased Adam. "If you and Hoss had fed the cattle like Pa told you to, you wouldn't be in that predicament. Also, since you are taking entirely too long to set one table, if little sister hadn't set her dogs on you, I was going to come in there and drop you on your head. Get the table set or I'll do just that and then Lassie and Silver Chief can chew on your ears for a while."

He stood up and Joe said, "Alright, alright. You win. I'll get the table set. Cat, call off your monsters so I can get it done."

"Ok but you need to hurry or I'll let them chew on you again. Everyone's hungry."

Hop Sing came out of the kitchen to tell everyone that supper was ready. When he saw that Joe still hadn't finished setting his table, he went back into the kitchen, returned with his spoon and hit Joe with it several times. "Hop Sing tell Little Joe stop foolishment! Finish set table or I use spoon again. Pop, pop, pop. Since you take too long, you help Hop Sing wash dishes after suppel."

"Joseph," said Ben. "Since you have decided to behave like a spoiled child having a temper tantrum and kept everyone waiting while you took your time setting the table, you have earned yourself two more months of doing Adam's and Cat's chores. If you continue with this behavior, I will take you out to the barn after supper and treat you as the child you are acting like. You are nineteen now and need to start acting like it. Think about what kind of example you are setting for these six children." Knowing his father was not making an idle threat, Joe finished setting the table and everyone sat down to eat.

After supper, Ben sat down in his chair, called Cat over to him, pulled her into his lap and hugged her. "I have some good news for you."

"I don't have to go to school any more forever?" asked Cat hopefully.

Everyone except Mark and her friends laughed at her. "No Kitten. I'm afraid you have to attend school until you're eighteen. The good news is that neither Thomas nor William will be returning to school in Virginia City. I told Mr. Roberts about Thomas and his friends teasing you and he told his son that he would not be attending school here anymore. He was going to have to do his lessons at home with his mother and brother watching him and he was going to be supervised all day and locked in his room at night."

"That's good. I hope I never see him again." Cats friends said the same thing.

"You'll still see him at church until he leaves for military school after Easter but he'll be with one or both of his parents and his brother so he won't be able to bother you again. I have some more good news. Sheriff Coffee told me that Mrs. Warren will be leaving after Easter to live with her nephew near Atlanta. He's going to come here and help her pack her things and sell her house. Then he's going to take her back home with him."

"That's really good news. Now I wish Annabel would go away forever too."

"I know you do, but at least she won't be back at school until after Easter."

"If Annabel is going to be at the school, I shouldn't have to go. 'Cause if she even says one bad thing to me, I'm going to pound the stuffing out of her!"

"We have talked about that too and you are not allowed to fight unless you are defending yourself. Your uncles and I do not want you starting fights anywhere."

"If I don't go to school, I won't get into fights with Annabel."

"Catherine, we have discussed this too many times. You will go to school until you are eighteen and you will not start fights with anyone, anywhere unless you are defending yourself! You still have a little while before bedtime so why don't you go and play with your friends and Mark until then? Hoss, Joe, since you have to be up extra early to feed the cattle and set the tables before breakfast, I highly recommend you make it an early night."

Not wanting to face their father's anger again, Hoss and Joe went to bed early, woke up at dawn, loaded the sled with hay and went out to feed the cattle. They returned to the house in time to set the tables with Mary and Jasper supervising. While Hoss and Joe were out feeding the cattle, the children helped Hop Sing make breakfast.

Ben noticed that Cat was wearing dirty ranch clothes to breakfast and asked, "Why are you wearing dirty ranch clothes Cat? You did remember that we're going to Carson City today, didn't you?"

"Yes Pa. I remembered. Hop Sing said he would make flapjacks for breakfast and I always put a lot of syrup on them, so I wore dirty clothes so I wouldn't get my dress dirty."

"That is a very good reason to wear dirty clothes to breakfast. If I had known we were having flapjacks this morning, I probably would have done the same thing because I also like a lot of syrup on my flapjacks."

"Are we going to eat dinner at the Magnolia?"

"Yes we are. Why do you ask?"

"I wasn't sure what dress I was going to wear but since we're eating dinner there, I'm going to wear my Christmas dress so Chef Jackson and Ronald can see it."

With Joe and Hoss helping, Hop Sing brought the food to the tables. "Little boys and little girls big help with breakfast. Missy Cat make flapjacks, Missy Laura make bacon, and Missy Mary make eggs. Little boys make biscuits and help clean up. They welcome in Hop Sing's kitchen any time."

"Hey Hop Sing," said Hoss. "How come you let them little kids in your kitchen but you always hit me with your spoon when I go in there?"

"Little children help and clean up mess. Number two son only steal food. Make mess and not clean up. That why Hop Sing no want him in kitchen!"

"Well Cat, now I know the real reason why you wore dirty clothes this morning," teased Ben. "You wanted to wear the flapjacks, not eat them."

Cat giggled at being teased. "Well, it is hard to stay clean when you're making flapjacks."

"You could have worn the apron you got from the Ingalls."

"It's too pretty. I didn't want to get it dirty."

Everyone laughed at Cat's statement. "You're supposed to get it dirty silly girl," said Victoria. "You wear the apron to keep from getting your clothes dirty. Matt, why did you raise our niece to be so silly?"

"I didn't have to. She comes by it naturally. Michael did and said many silly things when he was growing up. I'm sure Kate did too. In fact Victoria, I'm willing to bet that you did and said many silly things when you were growing up and so did your children."

"Pa?"

"Yes Cat?"

"Can Lassie and Silver Chief come with us?"

"Do I have a choice?"

"No," came six voices all at the same time.

Ben laughed. "Well then, I guess they're coming with us."

"Girls?" asked Victoria.

"Yes ma'am?" replied all three.

"Would you like Kitty and I to rebraid your hair before we leave? You've been out ice skating and sledding and it's gotten a little messy."

"Yes please," replied Cat and Laura.

"No thank you Mrs. Barkley," said Mary. "I'm going to wear it down."

As they were walking upstairs, Kitty leaned over and whispered to Cat, "Why don't you ask your aunt to rebraid your hair for you. The two of you need to get to know each other and I know she'll be thrilled if you ask her. Remember, I'll be seeing you again in the summer and can do it then, but you may not see your aunt again until next Christmas."

When they reached Cat's room, she asked, "Aunt Victoria, will you please braid my hair for me?"

"Of course I will Sweetheart. There is nothing I would like better than to help you. Why don't you put your dress on and then I'll brush and braid your hair for you."

While the girls were getting ready, Hoss and Joe hitched up the surrey and large buggy while Ben walked over to the bunkhouse and asked Pete to make sure Hoss and Joe had given the cattle enough hay. He was pretty sure they had but wanted someone to double check. Then he went to talk to his sons. "Adam, Joe, your sister is going to want to drive the buggy or surrey. I am going to allow her, Mark, and her friends to take the buggy but I want the two of you to go with them. I know that Jasper and Michael are quite capable of stopping the horses if they spook, but I would still prefer it if you were with them. Also, Cat fell asleep on the way home when I took her to Carson City before Christmas and the other children may too."

"Alright Pa," said Adam. "Cat won't be happy but we'll ride with the children."

"Thank you both. Don't worry about your sister. I'll explain it to her and she'll understand." As Adam predicted, Cat was upset about two of her brothers having to ride in the buggy with the children. "Counting Andy, how many adults are going?"

"Thirteen."

"That's right. Now how many children are going?"

"Six."

"That's fine. Now, how many people altogether?"

"Nineteen."

"Now how many people will the surrey hold without people sitting on each other's laps?"

"Nine or ten."

"That's right and it's going to be crowded with eleven adults. That's one reason Adam and Joe need to ride in the buggy with you children. Also, if you remember, you fell asleep on the way home when you and I went to Carson City before Christmas. If you and the other children fall asleep on the way home, who is going to drive the buggy?"

"Lassie and Silver Chief. They're real smart and can do anything."

Ben laughed, picked Cat up and hugged her. "I've said it before and I'll say it again. You are the silliest little girl I've ever met. Your puppies are smart but they can't drive the buggy. They don't have hands and they're not strong enough to stop the horses if they get spooked. I promise you that except for when we're in town, the only time one of your brothers will drive the buggy is if you ask them to or you fall asleep. Once all of the snow has melted, you and I will return to Carson City and I will allow you to drive the buggy in the city."

Andy decided to ride with the children, Adam, and Joe. When all six children tried to get into the front seat, Adam said, "There is only room for five of you up there. One of you will have to sit in the back with Joe, Andy, and myself."

Cat said, "I want Mark to sit with me because when he goes home, I won't see him again until after my birthday in June."

The other four agreed that was fair but when they couldn't decide who was going to sit in the back, Adam went into the barn and returned with four pieces of straw that had been broken into different lengths. "The person who picks the shortest piece will ride in the back seat on the way to Carson City and the person who picks the longest straw will switch places with them on the ride home." Mary picked the short straw and got into the back seat, knowing she would be sitting in the front on the way home and Mike would be sitting in the back. Adam was concerned that Mark and Laura were sitting next to Cat because he didn't know if Mark was strong enough to hold the horses if something spooked them but reasoned that he, Joe, or Andy could always stand up, reach over and grab the reins if it became necessary.

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a/n: "Sweet Betsy from Pike" comes from a songbook published in 1858 called Put's Golden Songster. "Old Put" was the pseudonym of John A. Stone, a San Francisco-based entertainer who wrote, performed, adapted, collected, and published songs for and about gold miners. "Sweet Betsy from Pike" is based on an Irish melody that most likely crossed the Atlantic to the New World during the potato famine. There is a Pike County in both Missouri and Illinois from where many California-bound gold seekers began their land journeys.