Summary:  It’s the spring of 1883. There are 12 Cartwrights living on the Ponderosa: Adam and Bronwen and their four daughters, Hoss and Claire and their two sons, plus Ben and Joe, who are both widowers. Joe has been in San Francisco and he’s late returning. What could be the reason?

Rating: K  WC 28,600

Bronwen in Nevada Series:

From This Day Forward
Blessed are the Children
Angelic Affection
Over the Hill and Through the Woods
Precious Ties

Note: During the time this story takes place—April 1883 through May 1884—Kansas City, Missouri was actually known as the City of Kansas; it changed its name to Kansas City in 1889. However, I thought no one would know what I was talking about if I used City of Kansas.

For there are countless things
That only families have in common
And memories that no one else can make…
And these precious ties that bind a family together
Are bonds that time and distance cannot break.
Craig S. Tunks

Precious Ties

Chapter 1
It was a sunny April morning and Hop Sing and Hoss’s wife, Claire, were hanging the clean laundry to dry on the clothesline behind the ranch house while keeping an eye on Hoss and Claire’s two little boys.

“Someone rode up,” four-year-old Josh said excitedly and started to run to the front yard.

“Wait for us,” his mother commanded and the little boy reluctantly halted. Claire and Hop Sing abandoned the laundry and she picked up seven-month-old Jesse. They hurried to the front yard and discovered young Arthur Penhallow knocking loudly on the front door.

“May I help you, Arthur?” Claire asked, balancing Jesse on one of her hips.

“Oh, Mrs. Cartwright, I didn’t see you come up,” the boy said. “I have a telegram for Mr. Cartwright.”

Knowing ‘Mr. Cartwright’ meant her father-in-law, Claire held out her hand, saying, “He’s out in the north pasture but I’ll see he gets it as soon as he returns.” As she accepted the telegram, she added with a smile, “Wait just a moment and I’ll get you something for your trouble.”

After giving Arthur a quarter and watching him mount up, Claire said to Hop Sing, “I hope the telegram is from Joe. He should’ve been back from San Francisco a week ago, and I know Pa is starting to worry.”

Just then Josh tugged on her apron, asking, “Can I go see the barn cats?”

“When we’ve finished hanging up the laundry, then we’ll go see the barn cats,” she promised with a smile.

Claire was setting the table while Josh built towers of blocks for his little brother to knock down when Ben walked through the front door. Seeing him, Jesse began to smile and gurgle and Josh jumped and ran over to him, calling, “Howdy, Grandpa!”

“Oh Pa,” Claire said, smiling as she watched her father-in-law tousle Josh’s curls and then pick Jesse up and swing him over his head to delighted squeals. “A telegram came for you. I put it on your desk.”

“Thanks,” Ben said, putting his youngest grandson down and quickly crossing the room to his large desk. He opened the telegram and scanned it, his face assuming a speculative expression. He saw Claire looking at him expectantly and said, “Joe says he’ll be returning the day after tomorrow and wants the whole family, including Adam’s, here to greet him.”

“I wonder why he wants everyone here,” Claire mused. Then she shook her head slightly, saying, “We’ll just have to wait and see.”

The next morning Bronwen and Kerra, her live-in help, were doing the week’s ironing in the washhouse while Penny sat in one corner playing with blocks when Hoss arrived with Joe’s message. He knew Tuesday was ironing day, so he rode Chub around to the back of the house and then knocked on the mudroom door.

Kerra opened the door and said, “Hello, Hoss. What a nice surprise.” Just then Penny appeared in the washhouse doorway, and her face lit up when she saw her uncle.

“Unca Hoss!” she squealed, running straight to him.

He scooped her up and tossed her overhead, saying, “Howdy, Little Sweet Pea.”

Bronwen appeared in the doorway then with a smile for her brother-in-law. “It’s good to see you, Hoss.”

Hoss set the giggling Penny on his shoulders and said, “I wanted to let ya know that Joe’s comin’ home tomorrow, and he wants the whole family at the ranch house to greet him. Should be there around three-thirty or four I reckon.”

“How mysterious,” Bronwen said. “I’ll tell Adam and we’ll plan getting there around three o’clock.

By a little after three the next afternoon, all the Cartwrights were assembled at the ranch house. Ben and his two older sons were sitting on the porch and the two youngest members of the extended family were sitting on their daddies’ laps. Penny was clutching a brown velvet rabbit named Bunny that she took with her almost everywhere. The older children and their mamas were playing London Bridge in the yard. Josh was captured just as a buggy with Joe at the reins drove into the yard. The children forgot all about the game and ran toward the buggy, shouting, “Uncle Joe!” Then they fell silent as they saw the lady sitting beside him.

Meanwhile, the men stood and walked over to the buggy, carrying Penny and Jesse. Joe jumped down and then put his hands around the woman’s waist and swung her to the ground. Everyone could see that she was the perfect height with a perfect hourglass figure. Her face was a perfect oval and her features-including bright blue eyes, a slightly retroussé nose and soft, full lips-were perfectly proportioned. Her traveling outfit was as exquisite as she was.

Bronwen and Claire exchanged a glance before moving to stand by their husbands. Both felt plain and dowdy in comparison with the vision of loveliness before them. Their silk poplin Princess sheath dresses now seemed old-fashioned when compared to the newcomer’s dress with its shelf-like bustle and severely tailored bodice. Their old straw boaters were gauche next to her elegant high-crowned, small brimmed hat with its decorative feather. Bronwen was glad she had insisted the girls wear their second-best dresses to the family gathering. Penny was dressed in a long sleeve muslin dress with a high neck, decorated with lace and ribbons and with a ruffled skirt. Her bonnet was covered with ribbons and flowers. The three older girls all wore dresses made of taffeta with large lace collars and dropped waistlines with wide sashes. Their wide brimmed hats were decorated with tassels and cords. Claire was wishing she’d made Josh wear his knickerbocker suit complete with jacket and big bow tie. They both wished they’d convinced their husbands to wear frockcoats and ties.

Joe’s smile was blinding as he turned to the woman, who was rolling up her veil, and said, “Annabelle, I would like to present my father, Ben Cartwright.” Ben smiled as Joe continued. “And this is my oldest brother, Adam, and his wife, Bronwen; and my brother Hoss and his wife, Claire.” He then said proudly, “This is my wife, Annabelle.”

Annabelle gazed with interest at her new in-laws. Her husband’s father and brothers were all taller than he was. Joe didn’t resemble them, nor did they resemble each other. Her father-in-law was broad-shouldered and gray-haired with piercing dark brown eyes under heavy dark eyebrows. Her older brother-in-law was a little taller than his father with a lean, muscular build. On the sides and back his dark hair was thick and curly while on the top it was growing thin. His eyes were a dark hazel and he had a neatly clipped beard. Her other brother-in-law was the tallest, burliest man she’d ever seen. His thin, fine hair was sandy brown and his eyes were crystal blue. She glanced over at Joe, taking in his athletic build, thick brown curls and green eyes, and decided he was definitely the handsomest of the three brothers.

Her new sisters-in-law were also very different in appearance. Adam’s wife was short and slender, her head barely reaching her husband’s shoulder. She had dark hair and large violet eyes, partially obscured by her gold-rimmed spectacles. Hoss’s wife was about Annabelle’s own height but her figure was more voluptuous, particularly her generous bosom. She had curly russet brown hair and wide-set chestnut eyes.

Annabelle smiled at her new family and said, “I’ve been looking forward to meeting all of you so much,” in an accent that Ben and Adam immediately recognized as that of Boston’s high society, known as ‘Boston Brahmins’.

Joe grinned and said, “I’ll let you introduce your children to Annabelle,” and she smiled tentatively at the children, who were now gathered around the adults, staring at their new aunt.

Adam said, “Annabelle, these are our daughters. Betsy is our oldest. Miranda is next, followed by Gwyneth.” The girls smiled shyly and curtsied. Adam added, “This is our youngest-”

“I Penny,” the two-and-a-half-year-old announced with a big grin.

“I’m pleased to meet you, Penny,” Annabelle said with a smile. “I’m pleased to meet all of you.”

She saw her new nieces had inherited their parents’ dark hair. Two had their father’s curls and all four their mother’s very fair skin. The three older girls had hazel eyes but the baby had huge violet eyes.

Hoss put a hand on Josh’s shoulder as the little boy moved closer to him, still staring at Annabelle. “This here is our oldest, Josh, and this is his baby brother, Jesse.” When Josh continued to gaze mutely, Hoss said firmly, “Say hello to your Aunt Annabelle, Josh.”

Josh swallowed and said in a rush, “Hello, Aunt Ann’belle.” She smiled at him and said, “Hello, Josh.”

Her nephews were adorable. They both had round faces with rosy cheeks and their father’s bright blue eyes. The older had his mother’s curly russet brown hair while the younger’s curls were a silvery blond.

“Why don’t you children play Tag until it’s time for supper,” Bronwen suggested then.

“I’ll be It first,” Betsy declared, and the children all ran into the yard to play while the adults moved to the porch and sat down.

“When did you get married?” Ben asked quietly.

“The day before we left San Francisco,” Joe answered as he took one of his bride’s hands and enfolded it in his and gazed into her eyes. Then he turned to his pa. “You see, we didn’t want to wait until Annabelle’s family could travel here from Boston and it didn’t seem right for my family to attend our wedding if hers couldn’t, so we were married by a justice of the peace. Stephan and Emma Allerton were our witnesses, which was only fitting since we met at one of their dinner parties.”

“Emma and I went to school together and when she invited me to visit her in San Francisco, I decided to be adventurous and accept her invitation. I am so glad that I did. I hope you aren’t disappointed that you couldn’t be there at our wedding,” Annabelle said quickly.

“A little,” Ben admitted, adding with a slight smile, “but no more than I was to have missed Adam and Bronwen’s wedding.”

“We were married in Darlinghust, New South Wales where I lived,” Bronwen said.

Annabelle thought, That explains her unusual accent. Just then Penny whispered loudly in her daddy’s ear, “I gotta go!” Bronwen’s cheeks flamed as she took her youngest’s hand and hurried to the outhouse with her.

Annabelle smiled stiffly at Adam and, wanting to ease the awkward moment, remarked, “You must be a world traveler.”

“I didn’t make it to the Orient, but I saw a good bit of Europe, Egypt and the Holy Land,” he said, smiling crookedly because he was aware of her discomfort at Penny’s childish lack of modesty.

Hoss put an arm around Claire’s shoulders then and said, “Now, I didn’t have to go any further than Kansas City to meet Claire.”

“I’m afraid I’ve never been to Kansas,” Annabelle remarked, her tone just a little patronizing.

“I’m from Kansas City, Missouri,” Claire said quietly. “There is another Kansas City across the Missouri River in Kansas.” She smiled as she said, “It is confusing.”

“I’d never been further from Boston than Martha’s Vineyard until I traveled to San Francisco,” Annabelle said then, still with a trace of disdain.

“Martha’s Vineyard is an island off the coast of Massachusetts,” Ben explained, seeing the blank looks on Bronwen’s, Hoss’s and Claire’s faces. He said to Annabelle, “You and I and Adam are the only members of the family who’ve ever been east of Kansas City. Missouri.”

“Really?” Annabelle said, arching her eyebrows.

“Like you, we’re from Massachusetts,” Ben replied, “but I began traveling west when Adam wasn’t much more than a baby. Hoss was born on the journey and Joseph was born here on the Ponderosa.”

Just then, Hop Sing appeared in the doorway and Joe smiled broadly when he spotted him. “Annabelle, I want you to meet Hop Sing. He’s been our cook since-well, since before I was born. Hop Sing, this is my wife, Annabelle.”

The cook bowed low, saying, “Honored to meet Missy Cartwright,” and Annabelle said stiffly, “I’m pleased to meet you.”

Smiling warmly, Ben said, “Hop Sing helped me raise Joseph and his brothers.”

“He sure was a better cook than Pa or Adam was,” Hoss said with a chuckle.

Hop Sing smiled and then said, “Come to tell everyone supper ready. Made roast pork and sweet potatoes.”

“Darling, you’ve never tasted anything as good as Hop Sing’s roast pork and sweet potatoes,” Joe said as he offered Annabelle his arm.

Adam spied Bronwen and Penny returning and then called, “Children, it’s time for supper.”

While Hoss placed Jesse on a quilt by his grandpa’s favorite armchair and Adam put Penny in Josh’s old high chair and tied a napkin round her neck for a bib, Ben seated Claire in her accustomed place at the foot of the table and then Bronwen at his right. Joe normally sat at Ben’s left so he seated Annabelle on his right, across from Adam. Bronwen told Betsy to take the empty chair at Annbelle’s right and Miranda took the empty seat by her sister. As soon as Hoss had Jesse settled, he placed four-year-old Josh on the little block of wood his Uncle Adam had made so many years before for his Uncle Joe so he could eat at the table. Gwyneth sat between her daddy and her cousin and Hoss sat beside Josh. Everyone bowed their heads as Ben blessed the food and then began to pass the basket of sliced bread while Hop Sing served the roast pork and sweet potatoes.

Annabelle was startled when Betsy addressed her, asking, “Do you like to ride, Aunt Annabelle?”

“Yes, I do,” Annabelle replied when no one chastised Betsy for initiating a conversation with an adult.

“Me too,” Betsy said, smiling at her aunt, who couldn’t help responding with a smile of her own, thinking What a beautiful little girl. Betsy continued, “Miranda, Gwyneth and I have our own ponies. Mine is named Daisy, Miranda’s is Honey and Gwyneth’s is Lucky.”

“Gwyneth just got Lucky for her birthday,” Miranda added.

“Josh turns five in January,” Hoss said, “and he’ll get his pony then, but he’s already picked his out, haven’t ya, Buckaroo?”

The little boy grinned up at his daddy and said, “Yeah, I want Blackie!”

“We’ve got some Morgan mares you can choose a mount from,” Joe said to Annabelle then and she smiled at him. “Oh, I imagine you ride sidesaddle, don’t you?”

“Of course,” she replied, obviously surprised by the question.

“I’m sure we have a sidesaddle in the tack room,” Ben interjected, and the conversation moved to other topics.

“It must be a case of opposites attract,” Bronwen remarked to Adam when they were alone in their bedroom that night.

“I hope Joe hasn’t confused infatuation with love,” Adam stated thoughtfully as he played with strands of Bronwen’s long hair, which was spread across her back like an ebony cloak.

“I can see why he could be infatuated,” Bronwen said, lifting her head from Adam’s shoulder to peer at him nearsightedly. “She is so beautiful. But she may be infatuated as well.” She snuggled closer, adding, “If it is infatuation, I hope it grows into love.”

“So do I,” Adam said, putting an arm around her. “Joe deserves some happiness.”

“Annabelle is certainly different from Alice,” Claire remarked quietly as she and Hoss cuddled after making love. “He loved Alice so much; I’m surprised he chose someone so unlike her.”

“I reckon we all are,” Hoss agreed, enjoying the sensation of Claire’s soft, round body pressed close to his. “But Joe’s always had an eye for a pretty gal. I don’t think Joe musta told her too much about his family cuz she looked a mite staggered to see she has four new nieces and two new nephews.”

“She did, didn’t she?” Claire giggled softly. Then her tone grew serious as she added, “Bronwen and I were both city girls when we settled here so we’ll help Annabelle adjust to her new life.”

“I know Joe’ll really appreciate that,” Hoss said and then kissed her.

Shortly before seven the next morning, all the Cartwrights began gathering around the dining table. Claire had already nursed Jesse and now she placed him on his quilt so he could watch the rest of the family eat breakfast and play with his rattle. Hoss helped Josh onto his booster seat and Ben waited until Hoss had seated Claire before taking his own seat. Hoss was just sitting down as Joe hurried over.

“Annabelle won’t be joining us,” Joe explained quickly as he moved to his chair. Seeing his pa’s raised eyebrow, he added, “She isn’t used to getting up this early.”

“Naturally she may get up when she pleases,” Ben said in a pleasant tone as Hop Sing brought in a platter of flapjacks, “but she needs to understand that if she chooses not to eat with the rest of us, she will have to prepare her own breakfast. Hop Sing is not running a restaurant.”

“No, of course he’s not,” Joe said hurriedly. “If you don’t mind, I’ll go up and speak with Annabelle and we’ll be down shortly. Don’t wait for us since I know you’re all hungry.” He turned and hurried back up the stairs.

The others were nearly finished with breakfast when Joe and Annabelle descended the staircase. Annabelle’s hair was not as expertly coiffed as it had been the day before (her personal maid had decided to continue on to Boston and for the first time Annabelle had to fix her own hair), but she was dressed in a fetching wrapper of pale pink silk trimmed with lace and feathers.

As Ben and Hoss stood up and Joe seated Annabelle, Claire thought of the plain blue calico wrapper she was wearing and felt very poor and drab. Then her commonsense reasserted itself and she thought, Who in her right mind would dress like that to make soap and take care of two small boys?

“I’m sorry we’re late,” Annabelle stated evenly as the men sat down. “I didn’t realize that your habit is to have breakfast en famille.”

“Quite all right, my dear,” Ben said, smiling at her. “One of us should have mentioned it last night.”

Josh had been staring at Annabelle and now he spoke up. “Are you a princess?”

“No, . . . ” Annabelle tried to recall the child’s name but she’d met so many children the previous day. The only one she could recall clearly was Betsy, and that was because she was such a beautiful little girl. “No, I’m not a princess.”

“You look like Cinderella in Gwyneth’s storybook. When she goes to the ball.”

“Your aunt is as pretty as a fairy tale princess, that’s for sure,” Joe said and then took Annabelle’s closest hand and raised it to his lips. Her cheeks grew very pink at his public display of affection.

“Joe, as soon as you’ve finished breakfast, I want you to take charge of breaking the three-year-olds to saddle. There’s not much time before the army will be here for the mounts they’ve contracted for,” Ben said briskly. Then he turned to Hoss. “You’re still working on planting our oat crop?”

“Yessir,” Hoss replied after hastily swallowing his last bite of flapjack. “I reckon we’ll finish today.”

“I’m riding to the north pasture to check on the progress mending fences and repairing the windmill,” Ben stated as he and Hoss stood.

“Hop Sing and I are going to make soap today,” Claire declared.

“Make soap?” Annabelle said in surprise.

“When I lived in Kansas City, I bought Babbitt’s Soap,” Claire said. “But when Hoss and I married, I soon learned that we make our own soap since we have plenty of ashes for making lye and beef and pork fat.”

“How very economical,” Annabelle commented condescendingly, causing Claire’s cheeks to redden.

Hoss frowned slightly and then said proudly, “That’s right it is. We’re pretty self-sufficient here on the Ponderosa. We make our own candles, starch and laundry bluing, too. And we grow our own vegetables and raise our own chickens and pigs. No point in payin’ someone to do for you what you can do for yourself.”

Now it was Annabelle’s cheeks that were red from embarrassment. “I didn’t mean to give offense. I just didn’t realize people still made their own soap.”

“I’m sure you’ll grow accustomed to life on the Ponderosa just as Claire and Bronwen have,” Ben said calmly. “It’s quite a change from living in cities like Boston, Kansas City or Sydney and it will take time for you to adjust. It was the same with Joseph’s mother when I brought her here from New Orleans.”

Annabelle smiled at him while thinking, I won’t be making my own soap. I’ll arrange to have Pears Soap shipped to me here.

Hoss ruffled Josh’s curls and then leaned over and gave Claire a quick kiss. “We’ll see you at supper,” he and Ben said as they headed for the door and Josh called, “Bye, Daddy. Bye, Grandpa.”

Hop Sing came in and began to clear away while Claire took Jesse upstairs to change his diaper. Josh followed because he wanted to play with the Noah’s Ark Uncle Adam, Aunt Bronwen and his cousins had given him for his fourth birthday.

When Joe and Annabelle were alone in the dining room, he turned to her with a smile. “What are your plans for the morning, Darling?”

“I need to finish unpacking,” she replied, “and then I think I’ll take a nap. I’m not accustomed to getting up this early.” She paused and asked, “Are you going to be gone all day like your father and brother?” She really wasn’t looking forward to dining with alone with Claire since they were still strangers.

He gently caressed her cheek with his fingertips as he replied, “No, I’ll be working in the corral so I’ll be here for dinner.”

As Joe approached the house at noon, he saw Claire stirring a large kettle over an open fire. He knew from helping Hop Sing in his boyhood that she was removing the impurities from the fat that would be used to make their soap by boiling it with an equal amount of water. The stench of the rancid melting fat that permeated the yard was another vivid childhood memory. Then, downwind of the melting fat, he was surprised to see Annabelle playing catch with Josh.

As soon as Josh spotted his uncle, he shouted, “Howdy, Uncle Joe! Wanna play catch with me and Aunt Ann’belle?”

“Sure,” Joe called as he ran over. “Here, toss me the ball.”

A few minutes later Hop Sing walked onto the porch and called, “Dinner ready.” Then he walked over to Claire.

“The fat is totally melted,” she said as he approached.

“Eat dinner; I finish,” he told her and with a smile of thanks she hurried inside.

Joe blessed the food. Claire put a slice of ham and some mashed turnips on Josh’s plate and then the adults began passing the food around. Annabelle was surprised Hop Sing wasn’t there to serve them, but said nothing.

“You throw good, Aunt Ann’belle,” Josh said, his mouth full of mashed turnip.

“Josh, you know you aren’t to speak with food in your mouth,” Claire scolded.

Josh swallowed and said, “Sorry.”

Claire continued, “And you should say your aunt throws well, not throws good.”

The little boy looked puzzled but said, “You throw well, Aunt Ann’belle.”

Annabelle smiled and said, “Thank you, Josh.”

Smiling brightly, Joe remarked, “I guess you ladies had a busy morning.”

“Yes, I did,” Annabelle replied, for it had been the first time in her life she’d had to unpack her own trunk.

“And so did I,” Claire said and then there was silence. Joe made a few more attempts to start a conversation but finally gave up. He was puzzled. Claire and Bronwen had been chattering away like old friends almost from the moment they met, but she and Annabelle did not seem to be bonding.

Not long after arriving at the Ponderosa, Annabelle let Joe know she would like a house of her own.

“This house is magnificent, but Claire is its mistress,” she said one night after they’d made love and were in each other’s arms. “I feel like a guest.”

Joe was silent for a moment, considering her words. “All right, Darling. I know Pa will give me land to build a house. We just need to decide where.”

“And hire an architect,” she added.

“Oh, we have an architect in the family,” Joe said with a grin. Seeing her puzzled expression, he added, “Adam studied architecture while he was in Massachusetts attending Harvard.”

“Your brother attended Harvard College?” she repeated, her tone incredulous.

“That’s right,” he replied. “When Adam returned from college, he designed this house and was in charge of its construction. Then when he married Bronwen, he did the same for their house.” He gently traced the outline of her full lips, saying softly, “We don’t need to discuss the house just now, do we?”

Her reply was to kiss him hungrily.

Adam’s initial reaction to Joe’s request that he design a house for Annabelle and him and manage its construction was excitement. The excitement evaporated when he realized he had a scheduling conflict. He and Bronwen had been planning for months to take the girls to visit Bronwen’s parents in Darlinghurst, New South Wales. Dr. and Mrs. Davies hadn’t seen Betsy and Miranda since they were toddlers and they’d never seen Gwyneth and Penny.

“Joe, I’d love to take the job but there’s one problem: A job like this is going to take all summer and most of the autumn.”

“And you’re going to visit the Davies.” Joe finished his thought for him. “I’m sorry, Adam. I just forgot.”

“I can design the house,” Adam hastily assured him. “We’d just need to find a good man to manage the construction.”

“Sure,” Joe said, quickly masking his disappointment. “Annabelle is in charge of the house; whatever she wants is okay with me.” He added, “She’d like you to meet with her tomorrow morning to discuss the house.”

“That’ll be fine,” Adam said with one of his crooked grins. “I’ll let Jake know he’s going to be in charge at the sawmill and lumber camp a couple of months earlier than he expected.”

Adam quickly discovered his new sister-in-law had very definite ideas about her house.

“You’ve heard of the Queen Anne style?” she asked with a tiny trace of condescension in her tone as she sat beside him on the settee in the great room with its massive fireplace and cathedral ceiling.

“Yes, I’m familiar with it,” he replied, his tone neutral. “Is that the style you’re considering?”

“Yes. Several of my friends have had homes built in the style and I admire it. I’ve made a list of the features I want the house to have and the rooms.” She handed him some sheets of paper, which he accepted with a slight smile.

As he scanned the papers, he saw she wanted at least one tower and verandahs in both the front and back of the house, and lots of gingerbread trim. “Have you and Joe chosen the site?” he inquired, but she shook her head. He shrugged slightly and said with a smile, “I’ll get to work on the design right away.”

Adam had moved his standup desk from the library to the master bedroom the previous night and gotten out his drafting tools, India ink and roll paper. As soon as he returned from his meeting with Annabelle, he greeted Bronwen with a kiss and headed up the circular staircase to the bedroom to start working on “napkin sketches”.

Once the girls realized their daddy wasn’t leaving for the lumber camp each morning, Bronwen had a difficult time making them understand that he was home to work, not to play with them. The three older girls had their lessons with Miss Brooks and piano practice to keep them occupied for most of the day, but two-and-a-half-year-old Penny wanted to be with her daddy. Bronwen was thankful the weather was warm and sunny so she could keep Penny with her as she worked in the kitchen garden and hung the wash to dry. She would take her to look at the baby chicks and kittens and to see her sisters’ ponies. But as soon as Penny was inside, she would head for her parents’ bedroom to see her daddy. Adam would have to stop work and sing her to sleep at naptime or she would keep herself awake and be cranky the rest of the day.

In spite of interruptions, Adam completed an initial design in good time, and invited Joe and Annabelle to Sunday dinner to show them.

“Is Adam and Bronwen’s house the same style as the ranch house?” Annabelle asked Joe as he drove the buggy along the road Adam had constructed linking his house to the Reno, Virginia City and Carson City roads through the Ponderosa.

“No,” Joe answered. “It’s very different. You’ll see.” Then he added, “Adam picked a beautiful site that overlooks Lake Tahoe.”

“I’m sure it is lovely, but it’s also very remote, isn’t it?” she inquired, and Joe had to agree that it was.

As they drove into the yard, Annabelle could see the shingle style house with its brown shingle walls, dark green slate roof and green trim had a simple, rustic charm that might appeal to some. It certainly blended well with the ponderosa pines that surrounded the clearing. The tulips Bronwen had planted in front of the verandah added splashes of red, yellow and orange.

Adam and the three younger girls were sitting on the porch swing and as soon as Joe drew up in front of the house, Miranda and Gwyneth called, “Hello Uncle Joe! Hello Aunt Annabelle!” and Penny waved enthusiastically. Adam had been holding Penny (and the ubiquitous Bunny) on his lap and now he set her on her feet and hurried down the steps to help Annabelle down from the buggy. Joe refused his offer of help with the horses so Adam offered his arm to Annabelle, saying, “Bronwen thought you might like a tour of our house while we wait for dinner.”

“I want to show you my room,” Miranda said, walking by her aunt. “Mine and Betsy’s. It’s beautiful!”

“Oh, where is Betsy?” Annabelle asked, realizing she hadn’t seen her oldest niece.

“She’s helping Mama fix dinner,” Miranda replied. “Gwyneth and I set the table.”

“I help,” Penny said then. She and Gwyneth were trailing behind the others as they walked up the steps.

“She carried the napkins for Gwyneth,” Miranda explained. “Gwyneth puts on the napkins and silverware and I put on the glasses and plates.”

“Betsy is our little housewife and she’s already very interested in learning how to cook and bake,” Adam added.

“Mama lets her make our oatmeal and mash the potatoes,” Miranda confided as they entered the house. “Me and Gwyneth make the bread and butter sandwiches for tea. Don’t we?” Shy Gwyneth was tongue-tied in the presence of her beautiful new aunt and nodded mutely.

Adam corrected automatically, “Gwyneth and I,” and Miranda said quickly, “Yes, I mean Gwyneth and I make the sandwiches. Mama lets us cut the biscuits from the dough too.”

Annabelle smiled faintly, for she’d never been in a kitchen in her life. She was surprised Adam evidently expected his wife to perform the drudgery of cooking the family’s meals. She’d have to ensure Joe understood she intended to hire servants to do the cooking and cleaning. A lady did not demean herself by performing such tasks.

As Adam showed Annabelle the library with its two walls of built-in shelves about three-fourths full of books and the large inglenook fireplace that dominated a third wall, she was impressed.

“You must be a reader,” she commented and he smiled.

“Bronwen and I are both avid readers. Miranda and Gwyneth love to read as well.”

“See the books on that bottom shelf?” Miranda asked her aunt. “Those are our books. And Daddy reads us a bedtime story. We’re reading The Five Little Peppers and How They Grew now.”

“It’s nice that your father reads you bedtime stories,” Annabelle said sincerely. Her father had ignored her existence for the most part and hadn’t paid much more attention to her older brother.

“Let’s go across the hall and take a look at the parlor and dining room,” Adam suggested.

Annabelle admired the parlor’s color scheme: The walls were painted a shade of yellow that was golden while the ceiling was cream. The addition of brown velvet drapes and the brown leather Chesterfield sofa and tub chairs created an autumnal ambiance. She approved of the dining room with its walls painted two shades of blue, its lace curtains and its elegant buffet and dining table.

Joe joined the others there, saying, “I wondered where you’d gone.”

“Adam is taking me on a tour of the house,” Annabelle explained.

Joe smiled and then, giving one of Gwyneth’s braids a gentle tug, said, “You and your sister did a wonderful job of setting the table, Pigtails.”

Gwyneth dimpled while Penny tugged on his hand, saying, “I help, Unca Joe.”

“And I bet you were a good helper,” he said, reaching down to tickle her, causing her to giggle. Annabelle was startled by his rapport with his nieces. She had observed he had the same bond with his nephews, but since they were little boys that hadn’t surprised her quite as much. She’d never been around children much; her older brother had a daughter about Miranda’s age, but she’d never spent much time with her.

“The rest of this floor consists of the kitchen, Kerra’s bedroom and the combination washhouse and bathhouse. Let’s go upstairs and see the rest of the bedrooms,” Adam suggested then, interrupting Annabelle’s train of thought.

“Can-I mean may-we show Aunt Annabelle my room first?” Miranda begged as the six of them started up the stairs with Penny at the rear, clutching the banister with her right hand to help her balance and Bunny with her left.

Adam turned to smile at his second born, answering, “All right. We’ll look at your room first, then Gwyneth’s and then Mama’s and mine.”

Annabelle smiled when she saw the pink-and-white bedroom and the two beds with their ruffled canopies. “Your bedroom is beautiful, Miranda,” she said and the little girl smiled proudly at her aunt’s compliment.

“I like Gwyneth’s room,” Joe said, giving his niece’s braid another teasing tug, and they walked across the hall.

“Yes, this room is also lovely,” Annabelle agreed, admiring the pale green wallpaper with its seashell design.

Penny ran over to one of the beds and put her arms on it. “Mine,” she declared, and the adults smiled.

“Yes, when you’re bigger, that will be your bed,” Adam said with a smile for his youngest. He turned to Annabelle and Joe then. “I used double hung sash windows in the girls’ rooms and the nursery for safety, and I strongly recommend them.”

“I absolutely agree,” Annabelle said firmly and Joe nodded.

“Now we can take a look at the master bedroom,” Adam suggested

Annabelle didn’t care for the tent bedstead, finding it old fashioned, but she liked the room itself, and especially the large bay window with its window seat.

“I would like a window seat in our bedroom,” she announced.

“I’ll make a note of that when you look at the floor plans,” Adam stated.

Joe grinned at Miranda and Gwyneth and then asked, “Think we have time for a game of Old Bachelor before dinner?”

“I imagine so,” Adam replied, his lips turning up slightly at his daughters’ eager faces. Then he remembered his duties as host and, turning to his sister-in-law, asked, “Are you familiar with Old Bachelor?”

“No, I’m afraid not,” Annabelle answered stiffly, but Joe smiled at her warmly and, giving one of her hands a squeeze, said, “It’s easy to learn, Darling, and the girls love to play.” Miranda and Gwyneth gazed at their aunt with hopeful, eager expressions so she said, “I’d like to learn the game.”

When Betsy went to announce that dinner was ready, she found Miss Brooks in her room writing letters as she usually did on Sunday afternoons, and they discovered the others in the library. Penny was sitting in a window seat with Bunny and a picture book while the others were gathered around the desk playing Old Bachelor.

Betsy felt cross that they were playing without her, and it showed in her tone as she announced, “Mama says dinner is ready and you’re to come now.”

Adam frowned at his first-born and said, “I’m sure your mama phrased it more politely.”

Betsy dropped her eyes and said quietly, “Yes, sir. She said please come because dinner is ready.”

“May we finish the game first? Please, Daddy?” Miranda begged but he shook his head.

“If your mama has asked us to come, then we need to go now.” He grinned crookedly as he added, “I have the Old Bachelor so I lose.”

“Aunt Annabelle has the most pairs so she wins,” Miranda said with a small sigh.

Annabelle said little during the meal but Betsy and Miranda more than made up for her silence, and she was taken aback by their behavior. Her family had seldom dined en famille, but on the rare occasions when they had, she would never have dreamed of speaking unless she was spoken to first by one of her parents.

After the meal, Bronwen told the girls they were going for a ride and Penny was riding with her.

“I’d like to come with you, if I may?” Miss Brooks asked and Bronwen replied, “Too right you may,” with a smile.

“Let’s go to the library,” Adam suggested to Joe and Annabelle as Bronwen shepherded the girls upstairs to change into their riding clothes. When they entered the room, Adam went behind the large partner’s desk, picked up a roll of paper, and it spread on the desktop.

“I’ve designed a verandah with spindle work for the front and a smaller version for the back,” Adam said, gesturing as he spoke. “As you can see, to the left of the front door is a polygonal tower and to the right a round one. There are bow windows here on both sides of the ground floor and I’ve used stained glass at the top of the towers. As you requested, Annabelle, I’ve indicated the first floor should be brick, the second floor clapboard and the third fish-scale shingles.”

Joe had never seen a Queen Anne house and was startled by the towers and the house’s asymmetrical silhouette; however, the more he looked at the drawing, the more he liked it. He was very pleased to see that Annabelle clearly approved of the design.

“Have you given any thought to the colors?” Adam asked his sister-in-law.

“Yes,” Annabelle replied and Adam picked up a pencil to take notes. “Pa drove me to a hardware store in Virginia City and I looked at paint palettes. The verandahs and the trim on the first floor should be hunter green. The second floor should be painted burnt yellow and the trim should be sienna red. I want the third floor to be painted muddy brown and the trim to be amber.” She turned to Joe, and her radiant, beautiful face took his breath away. “It will be lovely, Joe, I promise,” she said, her happiness reflected in her tone.

“I’m sure it will,” he said softly, reaching for one of her gloved hands and entwining their fingers. Then he turned to his brother. “What about floor plans?”

“Right here,” Adam replied, pleased by their obvious happiness. “Here’s the first floor. The door from the verandah opens onto a foyer. To the left, the polygonal tower is the music room. Both the music room and the foyer open onto a reception hall and a circular staircase leading to the second floor. The round tower on the right is the parlor, and it’s accessed via the reception hall. This doorway,” he continued, gesturing, “connects the parlor to a smaller living room. The dining room is across from the living room and can be accessed from the reception hall, the living room, or this hallway between the pantry and the kitchen. Also off that hallway is the back staircase, which leads to the second and third floors. A small laundry room is behind the kitchen and is accessed from the hallway, as is the backdoor leading to the back verandah.”

“I’m impressed, Adam,” Annabelle said, and her sincerity was evident. “Joe, I want to use wallpaper in the parlor but I was thinking the dining room could be cabbage rose with cream trim. For the living room I’d like to use pale green with amber trim. I haven’t made up my mind whether to paint or paper the music room, but the reception hall should be lilac with gray trim.

“Whatever you want, Darling, is fine with me,” Joe said, giving her hand a squeeze. Then he turned toward his brother. “I do have a question. Why does the circular staircase only go to the second floor?”

“I can answer that,” Annabelle stated before Adam could open his mouth. “The third floor is where the servants’ rooms are located. No one else will be going up there.” She smiled at Adam then, asking, “May we see the second floor?”

“Of course,” he replied. As he moved those plans to the top, Annabelle and Joe could see a central hallway ran the length of the second floor. On one side were three adjoining bedrooms and on the other were two bedrooms, a bathroom and both staircases.

“I would like a change here,” she said to Adam. “I want the bedroom in the round tower to be the master bedroom. The adjoining room will be the nursery; it won’t need a closet so could you change that closet to a doorway connecting the two rooms?”

“Of course,” Adam replied.

“And could you put the window seat here?” Annabelle asked, pointing at the windows facing the front yard, and Adam replied, “Certainly.”

“I want to use wallpaper in the bedrooms but I want to paint the nursery a light purple called heather with a pale gold trim,” Annabelle pronounced decisively.

“By the way, have you chosen a site?” Adam asked then.

“Yes,” Joe replied. “It’s on the eastern boarder of the Ponderosa, about a quarter mile from the Carson City road.” He grinned a little and added, “We’ll be just about as far from the ranch house as you and Bronwen are, but in the opposite direction.”

Adam then asked Annabelle, “Do you have any special requirements for the kitchen, pantry or laundry room?”

“However you’ve done yours here should be just fine,” she replied in a disinterested tone.

“What about the third floor?” Joe asked and Annabelle replied in a dismissive tone, “Oh, we don’t need to see those rooms. I told Adam we’d need three bedrooms for servants.”

“Three?” Joe repeated, his surprise evident.

“A cook, a housemaid and my personal maid,” Annabelle replied, unruffled. “Since O’Neill chose to return to Boston, I’ll need another. I thought I’d advertise in the San Francisco newspapers. I’m sure we can hire a cook and housemaid in Virginia City.” She smiled at Adam, adding, “I’m certain your brother isn’t interested in our domestic details.”

“Uh, right,” Joe said. “We’d better be heading back to the ranch house, Darling. Adam, please thank Bronwen for a delicious dinner and tell her and the girls goodbye for us.”

“Yes,” Annabelle said, “And I want to tell you again how impressed I am with your work, Adam.”

“Thank you,” Adam replied and then turned to his brother. “Before I go any further, I’ll need to see the site.”

“Come to the ranch house tomorrow morning and I’ll take you,” Joe said.

That evening, after Adam and Bronwen had put the girls to bed, they went to the library as usual. Adam would read aloud as Bronwen worked on her mending or sewing. They were rereading Dickens’ Bleak House, but before Adam could open the book, Bronwen said quietly, “You’d like to manage the construction of Joe and Annabelle’s house yourself, wouldn’t you?”

“It doesn’t matter because we’ve been planning for months to visit Tad and Mam. In fact, I need to see about booking staterooms: one for us, one for the girls and one for Miss Brooks,” he replied.

“I’m glad you haven’t booked them yet. Cariad, I’ve been thinking. If we go next spring, Penny will be out of diapers. I remember how much fun it was last time we sailed for Sydney when Miranda was still in diapers,” she said and made a face.

He looked at her with narrowed eyes. “Liar. You just want me to be able to manage the construction of Joe and Annabelle’s house,” he said, frowning slightly.

“I protest,” she said in mock outrage. “I admit that did cross my mind,” and she grinned mischievously, “but I’m serious about Penny.”

“Tad and Mam will be disappointed,” he said then, but she could hear in his voice that his desire to oversee the construction of the house he’d designed was overcoming his guilt about postponing their trip.

“I know they will, but they’ll understand,” she said, going to sit on an arm of his chair, and he pulled her onto his lap for a long kiss. When it ended, she smiled wryly, saying, “It’s our daughters that I dread telling.”

“Yes, they’ve been talking about going to visit Tad-cu and Mam-gu and seeing kangaroos for weeks,” he said slowly.

“So the sooner we tell them the better,” she stated firmly. “At supper tomorrow.”

“Why not breakfast?” he asked, raising one eyebrow quizzically.

“Oh, we couldn’t do that to Miss Brooks!” she exclaimed and he chuckled, saying, “Yes, I see what you mean. I propose we tell them after supper so our meal isn’t ruined.”

“Too right!” she said emphatically.

That night as Joe watched Annabelle unpin her pale gold tresses before joining him in their bed, she remarked, “Your brother Adam is a very talented architect. I’m surprised he chose to leave Boston to come back and live on a ranch.”

“The Ponderosa is his home,” Joe stated, stung by her derogatory tone. “Of course he came back here.”

“It just seems a waste of his talent,” she said. “But I don’t want to talk about Adam now,” she added as she walked to the bed, gazing at him with smoldering eyes. “Do you?”

His response was to pull her into his arms and begin kissing her.

The next evening Adam’s family, Kerra and Miss Brooks gathered around the dining table, which was loaded with Welsh rarebit, leek and potato pie, Cornish pasties and bara brith, a bread filled with dried fruit that was one of Adam’s favorites. On the buffet was a platter heaped with picau ar y maen, little cakes fried on a griddle and then sprinkled with sugar that everyone loved. Adam blessed the food and then as the girls passed their plates to Bronwen to be filled, he asked, “What did you girls learn today?”

“Gwyneth first,” Bronwen inserted quickly.

“I read about a girl with a pet bird that would sit on her hand and sing to her,” Gwyneth said. “The bird lived in a cage; I don’t think a bird would like a cage cuz it can’t fly,” she added very earnestly.

“A wild bird wouldn’t like being caged,” Adam agreed, his tone as grave as the five-year-old’s. “The pet bird in the story probably always lived in a cage so it didn’t bother it.”

“I still wouldn’t never keep a bird in a cage,” Gwyneth declared resolutely, and her parents shared a smile.

“I think it’s mean, too,” Betsy said.

“If we did have a pet bird, Maegan would eat it,” announced Miranda, referring to the family cat.

“Yes, I’m afraid she would,” Bronwen agreed. “It’s in the nature of cats to eat birds as well as mice.”

Adam wanted to return the conversation to the original topic so he asked, “What else did you learn today, Punkin?”

Gwyneth frowned in concentration and Miss Brooks gently suggested, “Why don’t you tell your father how far you can count now.”

Gwyneth dimpled then and said, “I can count to 100 and I can spell pet, P-E-T, and cage, C-A-G.”

“You left off the e on the end of cage,” Miranda corrected and Gwyneth’s chin began to wobble and her lower lip to tremble.

“Those silent e’s are hard to remember,” Adam said gently as he smiled warmly at his sensitive third born, and the little girl’s face lit up as she returned his smile. Adam then turned to Miranda and asked what she’d learned.

“I know the multiplication tables up to times 12,” she replied proudly.

“But you made two mistakes in our dictation,” Betsy inserted, “and I didn’t make any.” Miranda was the better student so Betsy was delighted to have done better for once. She smiled smugly at her younger sister, who stuck out her tongue.

“Girls,” Adam said in a tone they recognized, so Miranda muttered, “I’m sorry.” Adam turned to Betsy then. “What did you study in your reader?”

“About a boy named Frank who went for a walk in a garden with his mother. He was good and didn’t touch anything. Another boy came and banged on the garden gate but the gardener wouldn’t let him in because he meddled with the flowers and fruit. Because Frank and his mother didn’t meddle, the gardener gave them each some pretty flowers,” she replied. Then she added, “I never saw a garden like the one in the story.”

Kerra spoke up then. “Back in Cornwall, the richest family in the parish had a big flower garden. It was surrounded by stone walls and it had an iron gate. I peeped through the bars once and it was beautiful. There were so many different flowers, and the hedges and shrubs were trimmed so they looked like animals.”

Adam then asked Miranda what her lesson was about.

“Mine was about a poor widow,” Miranda responded. “She went to a rich merchant and asked him for five dollars. He wrote a note and told her to take it to the bank. The banker started to give her fifty dollars but she told him that it was too much. The banker said the check was made out for fifty but he would go talk to the merchant. The merchant said as a reward for the widow’s honesty, he would change the check to five hundred dollars.”

Just then Penny, who was sitting in her highchair by Bronwen, spoke up. “I read, Daddy,” she announced loudly.

“You can’t read; you’re too little,” Miranda said dismissively and Penny’s lower lip came out in a ferocious pout.

“I do read!” she declared emphatically and scowled at her sister.

Miranda opened her mouth but Adam said firmly, “That will be enough, Miranda.” Then he smiled at his youngest and asked, “What did you read?

“Muver Goose,” she answered with a happy grin. “‘Bout kittens lose mittens.”

“I like that one,” Gwyneth said, dimpling.

“It’s silly though because kittens don’t wear mittens and they don’t eat pie,” Miranda commented, then quickly fastened her eyes on her plate when she saw her daddy’s frown.

When everyone was finished, Bronwen looked meaningfully at Adam, and he nodded slightly and cleared his throat.

“I have an announcement that concerns all of us. Your mother and I have decided to postpone our visit to your tad-cu and mam-gu until next spring.”

“Why?” Betsy asked, and her tone was definitely whiney. Miranda echoed her sister while Gwyneth’s lower lip stuck out in a pout.

Adam and Bronwen had expected this response. “There are two reasons,” he replied evenly. “First, it will be easier to travel if we wait until Penny is out of diapers, and by next spring she will be.” Her two oldest sisters glared at Penny, but she only grinned at them. Her parents exchanged wry smiles at their older daughters’ predictable reaction.

“The second reason has to do with the house I’m designing for Uncle Joe and Aunt Annabelle. If we postpone our trip, then I can be in charge of building the house just as I was our house and Grandpa’s house.” He saw the girls’ rebellious faces and said firmly, “Your mother and I have made our decision. If I hear anyone whining or complaining, then I will have a necessary talk with that person. Do you understand?”

“Yes, Daddy,” Betsy, Miranda and Gwyneth chorused, although their expressions were sullen.

Adam chose to ignore their expressions because he could sympathize with their disappointment. Making an effort to sound more cheerful, he asked, “When you’re finished helping to clean up, would you prefer to sing or play a game?”

“I wanna sing,” Gwyneth said but Betsy immediately said, “No, I wanna play dominos.”

“Me too,” Miranda added.

Knowing the two older girls had a habit of outvoting their younger sister, Bronwen quickly suggested to her middle child, “As soon as you’ve finished carrying your dirty dishes to the kitchen, why don’t you and Daddy and Penny sing until we’ve finished.”

Gwyneth’s face brightened and Penny grinned and exclaimed happily, “Sing!”

Miss Brooks said with a smile, “May I join you?”

“Of course,” Adam replied.

As Kerra, Bronwen and the older girls cleared away the dishes, Adam got Penny out of her highchair and the two of them and Miss Brooks went to the library. While they waited for Gwyneth, Adam sat in one of the comfortable armchairs and tuned his guitar. Miss Brooks sat in another chair, and Penny sat on the floor at her daddy’s feet, clutching Bunny. Gwyneth came running in a few minutes later and, as she dropped to the floor by Penny, asked breathlessly, “What shall we sing first?”

“Jesus Loves Me,” Penny said instantly. She loved to sing the chorus and Bronwen was teaching her the first verse.

“Yes, I like it,” Gwyneth said happily so Adam began to play the hymn.

Jesus loves me! This I know,
For the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to him belong,
They are weak, but He is strong.

Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
The Bible tells me so.

Jesus loves me when I’m good,
When I do the things I should,
Jesus loves me when I’m bad,
Though it makes Him very sad.

Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
The Bible tells me so.

Adam sang the melody with the girls and Miss Brooks for the first verse and chorus but he began to harmonize on the second verse. When they finished, Gwyneth looked at her daddy with her big hazel eyes and asked solemnly, “Daddy, do you love me when I’m bad?”

He smiled and leaned down to gently caress her cheek with his fingertips as he replied, “Yes, I love you when you do bad things. I’ll always love you, Punkin, no matter what, but it makes me and your mama sad, too, when you or your sisters behave badly.” He gave one of her braids a little tug and added, “But most of the time you are all good girls and that makes us happy. Now, it’s your turn. What shall we sing next?”

“Pop Goes the Weasel,” Gwyneth answered without hesitation so Adam began the jaunty melody.

All around the cobbler’s bench
The monkey chased the weasel;
The monkey thought ’twas all in fun,
Pop! goes the weasel.

A penny for a spool of thread,
A penny for a needle-
That’s the way the money goes,
Pop! goes the weasel.

The girls giggled when Adam made the ‘Pop!’ with his guitar. As soon as the song ended, Gwyneth said, “It’s Miss Brooks’ turn to pick.”

“Oh, let me see,” the teacher said, frowning a little as she thought. “Do you know Yankee Doodle?”

“Doodle!” Penny exclaimed with a big grin and clapped her hands, and they began to sing.

Father and I went down to camp,
Along with Captain Gooding;
And there we saw the men and boys,
As thick as hasty pudding.

Yankee doodle, keep it up,
Yankee doodle dandy;
Mind the music and the step,
And with the girls be handy.

There was Captain Washington
Upon a slapping stallion,
A-giving orders to his men,
I guess there was a million.

Yankee doodle, keep it up,
Yankee doodle dandy;
Mind the music and the step,
And with the girls be handy.

Bronwen and the older girls came in as they were singing the last chorus. She took an unwilling Penny upstairs to bed while Miss Brooks excused herself, wanting to give her pupils a chance to spend time with their father. When Bronwen came downstairs, she joined the second game of dominos.

After Betsy won the second game, Adam stretched and said, “Time for bed, girls.”

“Oh Daddy, can’t we stay up a little longer?” Betsy pleaded and Miranda added, “Please, Daddy.”

“No, it’s your bedtime,” he replied firmly. “Go on upstairs and get ready for bed. Mama and I will be up in a few minutes to hear your prayers, and then I’ll read from our book.”

That evening in the library after the girls’ bedtime story, as Bronwen picked up a dress of Gwyneth’s missing some buttons, she commented, “I thought the girls took the news pretty well, don’t you?”

He opened Bleak House where he’d left a bookmark and then, as his lips turned up in a little grin, he said, “Yes. I thought playing a game or singing would take their mind off their disappointment. Tomorrow they’ll be too busy with chores, schoolwork and piano practice to sulk.”

When Adam had returned from viewing the site for Joe and Annabelle’s house late Monday afternoon, Bronwen noticed he was quieter than usual. During the first months of their marriage, his reserved nature had been a source of friction between them. As the years passed, he’d made a real effort to be more open and she, in turn, had tried not to nag. She waited, trying to be patient. Tuesday evening when he joined her in the library, he sat in the armchair across from her and said quietly, “There’s something I need to tell you. The site Joe and Annabelle have chosen for their house is about three and a half hours from ours.”

“So far?” Bronwen commented, surprised.

“She wanted to be as close to Carson City as she could and still be on the Ponderosa,” he replied. He hesitated and then said, “Sweetheart, once we begin digging the foundation, I’ll have to stay at the ranch house. I’ll come home Friday evenings and go back Sunday afternoons.”

She was silent, digesting his news. They’d been separated before when he’d gone on business trips, but they were a matter of weeks, not months. And the girls always missed him dreadfully when he was away. However, she knew he truly wanted to be part of making the house he designed become a reality.

“The girls will miss you terribly, but I expect we’ll manage,” she said, trying to look and sound cheerful.

“What about their mama? Will she miss me?” he asked softly.

“Oh, I imagine she’ll miss you a little,” she said teasingly.

“Come here,” he commanded gently but insistently as he captured one of her hands and tugged it. Once he had her on his lap, he asked seriously, “Do you really think you can manage?”

“I’ll have Kerra and Miss Brooks, and I’m sure Pa will loan us someone to do your barn chores and chop wood.” She managed a little smile. “I won’t like being separated, but I will manage.”

He captured her mouth for a long kiss. “I don’t feel like Dickens tonight, do you?” he asked with a wink when the kiss ended.

“Not much,” she replied with a saucy grin.

Chapter 2
On Wednesday afternoons Claire, Virginia McCarran and Ann Lightly gathered for afternoon tea with Bronwen. Once Joe married Annabelle, Bronwen naturally extended an invitation and, of course, Annabelle accepted. She found the older women’s talk about their children rather tedious but she was happy to talk about the latest fashions with them.

The Wednesday after Adam showed Annabelle and Joe the design of their new home, Bronwen and Penny were sitting the verandah’s swing, waiting for their company to arrive. Bronwen was surprised to see Claire was alone when she drove the buggy in front of the house.

“You wait right here for Mama and Aunt Claire,” she instructed Penny before hurrying down the verandah’s steps.

“Joe drove Annabelle into Virginia City so she could choose fabrics for drapes and curtains,” Claire explained as she and Bronwen walked up the steps. She looked embarrassed as she added, “I know I shouldn’t say this, but I’m relieved she’ll be moving to her own house. Her family must be very wealthy because it’s clear she’s been waited on her whole life.” She added quickly, “To be fair, I admit she’s willing to play with Josh and watch Jesse while I work, but I feel she looks down her nose at me because I don’t expect Hop Sing to do everything.”

Bronwen looked at her sister-in-law sympathetically. “Adam told me that he could tell from her accent that she’s from one of Boston’s wealthy old families. Did you know that she’s planning on hiring a cook, a housemaid and a personal maid?”

“A personal maid?”

“To care for her clothes, do her hair and help her dress,” Bronwen explained, and Claire’s eyes opened wide at the idea of someone being dressed like a doll.

Just then they heard the sound of a buggy and saw Virginia McCarran drive up and she was closely followed by Ann Lightly. Ann had her youngest with her. Polly was about a month older than Penny and the two girls played together reasonably well while their mothers talked, drank tea and ate bread and butter or cucumber sandwiches. As was to be expected of two-and-a-half-year-olds, there was always a squabble or two when both girls wanted the same toy or the same picture book. The two little girls always got a bread and butter sandwich, which they enjoyed even though some of the butter always ended up on their faces, hands and clothes.

Bronwen settled Penny and Polly on the quilt she’d spread in a corner of the parlor as the other ladies rolled up the veils on their hats and removed their kid gloves. All the women but Bronwen wore hats and gloves, and all wore simple but elegant princess sheath dresses-their visiting dresses. Kerra entered the parlor, carrying a tray with Bronwen’s tea service, cups and saucers and a platter of sandwiches, which she sat on the tea table by the sofa.

“I want san’ich,” Penny demanded.

“Polly want sand’ich,” she echoed.

“If you say ‘please’, then you may each have a bread and butter sandwich,” Bronwen said and the two little girls squealed, “P’ease!”

After giving the girls their sandwiches, Bronwen sat on the sofa by the tea table and began to prepare the tea.

Claire explained Annabelle’s absence as Bronwen poured the tea. As she took her cup, Virginia remarked, “Hop Sing’s looking after both your boys?”

“Yes. Now that Jesse’s drinking milk from a cup, he doesn’t want to nurse as often,” Claire replied. “Hop Sing doesn’t mind looking after the boys; I think he actually enjoys it. Reminds him of when Hoss and Joe were little.”

They all smiled and then Ann said to Bronwen, “You must be looking forward to visiting your parents and I know the girls are excited.”

“Oh, there’s been a change in plans,” Bronwen said. “Adam and I decided to wait until next spring when Penny will be three and easier to travel with. It also gives Adam a chance to supervise the construction of Joe and Annabelle’s house.”

“Have you told the girls?” Claire asked. “They’ll be so disappointed.”

“Yes, they were upset,” Bronwen admitted, “but they’re so busy with their schoolwork, piano practice and riding their ponies that they don’t have time to sulk. Luckily.”

They all smiled and then Virginia said, “I decided to subscribe to that magazine Annabelle mentioned, Harper’s Bazaar. I’m looking forward to seeing the latest fashions from Paris. I hope I can sew something more fashionable to wear to town.”

“I have a feeling Paris fashions will be out of place here in Nevada,” Ann remarked with a wry expression.

“Too right!” Bronwen said emphatically. “I suppose we do need to buy new bustles and sew new dresses for town though. My latest Godey’s Lady’s Book has some patterns for dresses with bustles like the ones Annabelle wears.”

“Yes, I saw the patterns. I’m glad wrappers aren’t always changing style; I couldn’t afford to be having to make new ones just because the ones I have are no longer in style,” Claire said.

“Yes indeed,” Ann agreed.

Just then Penny shrieked, “Bunny mine!” and Polly hollered, “No!” The women saw the little girls were playing tug of war with Penny’s brown velvet rabbit. The two mothers hurried over.

“Polly, you know Bunny is Penny’s,” Ann said firmly as she loosened her little girl’s grip on the stuffed toy. “Look at this pretty picture book.” She successfully diverted Polly while Bronwen calmed Penny.

As Bronwen and Ann sat back down, Virginia said, “I know this is changing the subject, but I have to say I’ll be happy when cucumbers are in season because I do so love your cucumber sandwiches.”

“Thank you,” Bronwen said, smiling brightly.

Ann spoke up then. “I was going to ask Annabelle about her new house since I know Adam was going to show her his plans.”

“The drawing Adam made of the house is in the library,” Bronwen said. “I’ll get it.” When she returned with the drawing, the other women gathered around her.

“My, it certainly is different,” Ann commented.

“The towers are rather fanciful. The round one reminds me of the tale of Rapunzel,” Virginia said.

“Too right,” Bronwen said with a grin. “I like the towers, but I’m not so sure about having one floor brick, one clapboard and one shingle. And Adam said the house will be a rainbow of colors. Now Annabelle has told him what colors she wants for the exterior and he’s seen the site she and Joe have chosen, he’ll do a watercolor presentation drawing of the house.”

“It will certainly be a grand house,” Virginia said, “but I wouldn’t want to keep it clean.”

“Annabelle will hire a maid to do that,” Claire said. “I doubt she’s ever done any housework in her life.”

“I can’t imagine growing up wealthy enough to have servants waiting on me hand and foot,” Ann commented and Virginia said, “I don’t think I’d like it.”

They chatted about different subjects until the clock chimed the hour and Ann said, “Oh, I must go or the children will be home from school before me.”

“Yes, and so must I,” Virginia added. “Thank you so much, Bronwen. I always look forward to our Wednesday afternoons.”

“As do I,” Ann said smiling warmly.

Claire offered to help Bronwen and Kerra clean up and Bronwen accepted with a smile. They had just put the tea service away when Betsy, Miranda and Gwyneth burst into the kitchen.

“Hello, Aunt Clair,” the girls chorused.

“Hello and goodbye,” she returned their greetings with a smile. Then she added, “I’ll see myself out, Bronwen.”

“Mama, can-I mean may-I have a bread and butter sandwich? Please?” Betsy begged as soon as her aunt left the kitchen.

“And may I have one too?” Miranda asked while Gwyneth added, “And me?”

“Yes, you may each have one sandwich and a glass of milk,” Bronwen replied. “Then Betsy needs to practice on the piano and the rest of you may play upstairs until it’s your turn to practice.” She set the platter of the remaining sandwiches in the center of the kitchen table and the girls went to get their glasses from the kitchen dresser.

Penny tugged on her mama’s skirt, saying, “I want san’ich.”

“No, you already had one but you may have a cup of milk,” Bronwen replied.

“No milk! San’ich!” Penny yelled, stamping her foot while Kerra poured milk in the older girls’ glasses and they sat down.

“Penelope Jane, you do not talk back to Mama,” Bronwen said firmly as she leaned over to pick up her littlest girl and put her in her highchair. Penny began to scream, “Want san’ich!” as Bronwen set her in the highchair. Her older sisters began to eat, ignoring her tantrum as their parents had instructed them to do. Penny calmed down quickly and her mama asked gently, “Would you like a cup of milk?” She nodded, looking woebegone, and Bronwen dropped a kiss on her forehead and gave her the cup of milk.

“T’ank you,” Penny said and managed a smile, which her mama returned.

The girls were just finishing when they heard the mudroom door open and a familiar voice called, “Daddy’s home.”

“Daddy!” they all squealed and jumped up to run in the hallway. Bronwen quickly lifted Penny out of her highchair so she could toddle after her sisters. As soon as Adam opened the mudroom door to the hallway, he was mobbed by the girls, who all tried to hug him at once. He hugged the three oldest and then scooped Penny up and tossed her in the air as she giggled. Seeing Bronwen, he put Penny down and leaned over to kiss her.

“Will you play Old Bachelor with us, Daddy? Please?” Gwyneth asked.

“Please, Daddy,” Betsy and Miranda begged.

“Girls, Daddy will play with you after supper,” Bronwen said firmly. “Betsy, you practice on the piano first, then Miranda and then Gwyneth.

“May we go for a ride while Betsy practices?” Miranda asked then. Bronwen glanced at Adam, who nodded.

“All right. Go change,” Bronwen replied. Seeing Betsy start to protest, she added, “You may go as soon as you’ve finished practicing.”

Betsy hurried into the parlor and began practicing her scales while her younger sisters started to run up the stairs.

“Ladies do not run in the house,” Adam called after them, and grudgingly they slowed to a walk. Bronwen returned to the kitchen to prepare supper. Adam put Penny on his shoulders and gave her a piggyback ride up and down the hall while he waited for Miranda and Gwyneth. When they came down the stairs, wearing boys’ shirts and knickerbockers, he told them to wait in the mudroom, and then he put Penny in her highchair so Bronwen could keep an eye on her. As soon as she saw him start to walk away, her big violet eyes began to fill with tears and her chin began to wobble.

“Go wiv Daddy,” she implored in a quivering voice.

“Kitten, Daddy has to go help your sisters saddle their ponies. You and Bunny watch Mama and Kerra fix supper,” he said gently but she only cried harder, so Bronwen motioned for him to go. Miranda and Gwyneth ran outside as soon as they saw him, but his long legs allowed him to catch up. He had taught the girls to ride using English saddles so even Gwyneth could saddle her pony. Before the girls mounted up, he checked to make sure they’d tightened the cinch enough. Once he finished, he leaned against the corral and smiled proudly as he watched his little girls gracefully mount their ponies.

“You may ride as far as our picnic spot,” he instructed, “but then you need to head back.”

“Okay, Daddy,” they chorused and he added, “You may canter, but no galloping.” They nodded and headed toward the lakeshore at a trot.

Since Adam had spent the day working with Hoss and some loggers chopping down trees to prepare the site for Joe and Annabelle’s house, he went inside to wash up and change into clean clothes, and then he found his latest Harper’s and took it outside to read on the veranda. It was a beautiful spring afternoon: Cool but not chilly, and there were only a few clouds scudding along the brilliantly blue sky. For a few minutes, he watched a pair of cedar waxwings building a nest in the juniper tree he’d planted in the front yard, and then he turned his attention to his magazine, subliminally aware of the sound of Betsy practicing Beethoven’s Für Elise.

He was absorbed in his magazine when Betsy hurried out the front door, dressed for riding.

“All finished practicing?” he asked with a smile as he sat the magazine down. “Your sisters should be back soon. I’ll saddle Sport and ride with you.”

“I can go by myself. Please, Daddy,” she pleaded.

Adam knew Betsy was an excellent rider and she’d be taking the path he’d made to the lake. She’d ridden it dozens of times when they’d gone on family picnics.

“All right,” he said slowly, “you can go by yourself to our picnic spot and back. No galloping.”

“I promise, Daddy,” she said with a dimpled smile.

Miranda and Gwyneth returned not long after their older sister rode out. Adam told Miranda that he would take care of Honey so she could change clothes and start practicing. He and Gwyneth were just coming out of the barn when Daisy trotted into the yard, and her saddle was empty.

Betsy’s only eight years old; I should never have let her ride alone, was his anguished thought as he ran back to the barn. O God, let her be all right, he prayed silently as he saddled Sport. Swinging into the saddle, he called to an anxious Gwyneth, “Take care of Daisy. And don’t tell anyone Daisy came back without Betsy.” Then he galloped out of the yard.

He was about halfway to the picnic spot when he spotted her. She was walking, cradling her left arm.

“Princess, are you all right?” he called as he hastily dismounted. He dropped to his knees in front of her, and he could see she was crying.

“Something spooked Daisy and she reared back and I lost my seat,” the little girl sobbed. “Oh Daddy, my arm hurts so much.”

“Let me see,” he said gently and then he carefully rolled up her shirtsleeve so he could see the arm. He noted some swelling and asked her to wiggle her fingers.

She tried and said in a frightened voice, “That hurts, Daddy.”

“I think your arm is broken, Princess,” he said as he gently stroked her hair. “I’ll need to take you to Virginia City so Dr. Martin can set it. Now, I’m going to put you on Sport so you don’t have to walk home.”

The chestnut gelding tossed his head but otherwise stood quietly as Adam said softly, “Whoa, boy,” and lifted Betsy onto his back as gently as he could. Then he led the horse back to the house.

They found a worried Gwyneth waiting in the barn. Adam lifted Betsy down but in spite of his care, she moaned in pain when he accidentally jostled her arm.

“Are you okay?” Gwyneth asked her sister, who was trying hard not to cry.

“She’s hurt her arm,” Adam answered for her. “Princess, I have to tell Mama what happened and then I’ll hitch up the team so we can get you to the doctor. I want you to wait here and don’t move your arm. Can you do that for Daddy?” Betsy nodded but she couldn’t stop the tears from rolling down her cheeks. Adam dropped a kiss on her forehead, his heart aching for her pain. Then he added, “I think we should make you a sling before we go. I’m sure your mama has some cloth we can use.” Then he turned to Gwyneth. “Punkin, I’d like you to stay here with your sister. Okay?” Gwyneth nodded, her eyes beginning to fill with tears at her sister’s pain.

Although it seemed an eternity to the two girls, in reality, it was only a few minutes before their mama ran into the barn with one of her dishtowels, followed by their daddy. Bronwen wanted to gather her first-born in her arms, but she knew that would hurt her more, so she kissed one of Betsy’s tearstained cheeks and said, “Mama has a sling for your arm.” While she carefully slipped the homemade sling over Betsy’s head, Adam hitched their team of Morgan geldings to the surrey.

“All right, Princess, we need to go,” he said as he finished. He carefully lifted her and set her in the surrey’s front seat. Then he said quietly to Bronwen, “She’ll be all right.”

She managed a little smile and said, “I know she will be.” He leaned down to kiss her and then climbed into the surrey, slapped the reins and said, “Giddap.”

To keep Betsy’s mind off her arm, Adam suggested they play a game and she picked “I love my love with an A”. They hadn’t gotten very far into the game before Adam saw with relief that his ploy was working. They played a couple of games and by then the sun was setting so Adam stopped and lit the surrey’s side-lights. When he got back in the surrey, Betsy asked, “Daddy, will you sing to me?”

“Of course I will, Princess. What would you like me to sing?” he asked.

“What a Friend We Have in Jesus,” she replied. “Mama sings it to us when we’re sick.”

He smiled at his daughter, remembering the times he’d overheard Bronwen singing the hymn to one of their girls when she was ill.

Betsy leaned against her father and listened to his rich baritone as he sang to her:

What a friend we have in Jesus,
all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
all because we do not carry
everything to God in prayer.

Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged;
take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful
who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness;
take it to the Lord in prayer.

Thankfully Adam knew the Virginia City road well because the moon was a waning crescent so he’d had to drive by starlight and the meager illumination the side-lights provided. Paul hadn’t retired yet and heard the sound of a vehicle driving up to his house and hurried out the front door.

As Adam halted in front of the doctor’s office, he said, “We’re here, Princess.” He jumped down and then carefully scooped Betsy up in his arms as Paul came over. “Betsy was riding and took a tumble. I think she may have broken her left arm, Paul,” he said to the doctor.

“Bring her inside,” Paul instructed and smiled warmly at the little girl.

Once they were in Paul’s examining room, Adam set Betsy on the leather coach and then sat down beside her. Paul carefully removed the dishtowel sling and saw the arm was swollen, but not too badly. He examined it as gently as he could. Betsy tried to be brave, but she couldn’t stop a gasp of pain when he pressed where the bone was broken, and her eyes filled with tears.

“It’s a simple fracture,” Paul stated calmly. “I’m going to roll up your other sleeve, Betsy, so I can compare your arms.” As father and daughter watched, the doctor carefully observed both arms and then got a tape measure from his desk drawer and measured each of Betsy’s arms from the elbow to the wrist and then wrote down the measurements.

When he finished, he came and sat down at Betsy’s other side. Speaking in a sympathetic tone, he explained, “Betsy, I want to make sure you can use your left hand and that your left arm grows as straight and lovely as the right.” She smiled up at him tentatively and he continued. “That means that I must set the broken bones. I won’t lie to you, Betsy. It will hurt; it will hurt a lot so I’m going to have you breathe something called ether that will make you fall asleep so you won’t feel the pain. All right?”

Betsy swallowed convulsively and glanced up at her daddy. At his nod, she said timidly, “All right.” Paul patted her back softly and said, “Before I set the bones I must prepare the splints that you’ll wear on your arm. So you just wait here with your daddy.”

After the doctor left, Betsy looked up at her daddy and said in a trembling voice, “I’m scared.”

“I know, but you’re being very brave and I’m very proud of you. Tomorrow we can go home and you’ll feel much better then, won’t you?” She managed a little smile as she nodded.

Paul returned with two wooden splints padded with cotton. “All the splints I had were too long for your arm so I had to shorten these,” he said, keeping his voice friendly and matter of fact. “Once the broken bones in your arm have been set, I’m going to fasten these splints to your arm and hand with bandages so you can’t move them until the bones have a chance to grow back together. And you’ll keep the arm in a sling since that will also help you not to move it.” He gave her an encouraging smile and said, “I’m going to get the ether and I want you to lie down on the couch.”

Adam stood up so Betsy could lie back and Paul set a metal canister attached to a tube with a sort of mask at the other end of the tube by the couch. “Now Betsy, when I give you the signal, I want you to put this mask over your face and breathe,” Paul explained. “You’ll go to sleep and when you wake up, your arm will be set and in the splints.”

Betsy did as Paul instructed and when he knew she was unconscious, he and Adam laid the limp child down on the hard table Paul used to perform surgery. Paul carefully turned Betsy’s left arm so that her fingers turned up toward the front of her arm.

“I need your help, Adam,” he said then. “I want you to grasp her arm here below the elbow and hold it while I grab it below the wrist and pull. All right?”

Adam nodded, thankful that Betsy was anesthetized. He felt the bile rise in his throat as Paul pulled hard on her arm until he was satisfied the broken ends were back in position. Pa, you told me that I would never truly understand what you felt when Joe or Hoss or I was sick or injured until I had children of my own, and you were right.

He watched as the doctor placed one splint on the back of Betsy’s arm and another that extended from the elbow down the palm of her hand, making certain that her palm was turned up. He fastened the splints with a bandage, and then carefully replaced the arm in the sling with Betsy’s palm turned inward. When he finished, he turned to Adam with a smile of satisfaction.

“She’ll need to wear the splints for a month. I’ll come by your place just to make sure the bones have knit sufficiently before I remove them. Then you and Bronwen will have to make sure she continues to wear the sling for another two weeks.” He put his hand on Adam’s shoulder, saying, “I’m sure there will be no evidence the arm was broken as long as you and Bronwen ensure the splints remain in place and she uses the sling. She’ll regain consciousness soon, so let’s move her where she’ll be more comfortable.”

Paul had a small room off the examining room with a couple of beds for patients that he wanted to remain for overnight observation, and Adam carefully carried Betsy there and laid her down on one of the beds. He sat down on the bed and enfolded her right hand in his. It wasn’t long before her eyelashes began to flutter and her eyes opened and fastened on her daddy’s. Then she glanced at her left arm.

“See, your arm is in the splints just as I promised,” Paul said cheerfully. “Tomorrow morning your daddy can take you home, but right now, I want you to drink this glass of water for me.”

Adam helped her sit up and as she reached out for the glass, Paul said, “You’re very lucky, Betsy, that you broke your left arm rather than your right. You can still write and still feed yourself, although someone will have to cut your meat for you. You’ll have to have help getting dressed and undressed because you’ll need to be careful not to jostle your left arm while it’s healing.”

Betsy finished the glass of water and after she handed it back to Paul, she turned to Adam and asked worriedly, “Oh Daddy, what about King and Prince?”

Paul said, “I’ll stay with Betsy while you take care of your horses. There’s room for them in my stable.”

“I’ll be back just as soon as I can, Princess,” Adam promised as he left the room.

“I’m sorry, boys,” he said to the pair of matched chestnut geldings as he led them to the water trough. “When we get home tomorrow, I’ll make it up to you with oats and bran mash.” After watering the horses, he led them back to the stable where he rubbed them down and checked their hooves before making sure they had hay to eat and then turning them into their stalls.

When he went back inside, he discovered Betsy sitting up in bed coughing.

“Paul, is she all right?” he inquired anxiously.

Betsy stopped coughing and said, “Dr. Martin asked me to cough to make sure I got rid of all the ether, Daddy.”

“That’s right,” Paul added with a smile. “Betsy is being a good patient. It’s getting late so I suggest that we all go to bed.” He started to leave but stopped in the doorway. “I do want to check on Betsy before you go. And I’ll leave Mrs. Penrose a note telling her to fix breakfast for three.”

Wednesday evening had been difficult for Bronwen. She’d had to hide her anxiety from the girls and comfort Gwyneth, who’d been very upset at seeing her older sister in pain. With help from Kerra and Miss Brooks, they got through dinner all right. Miss Brooks offered to play a game with Miranda and Gwyneth after dinner while Bronwen put Penny to bed.

She got Penny undressed and in her nightgown easily but when she tried to put her in her crib, Penny said, “Want Daddy!”

“Daddy and Betsy will be back tomorrow,” Bronwen said patiently.

“Daddy home now,” Penny said stubbornly and Bronwen sighed.

“No, Daddy and Betsy will be back tomorrow,” Bronwen repeated.

Penny’s eyes began to fill with tears and she sobbed, “Want Daddy.”

“Oh my Penny fach, Daddy will be home tomorrow; you must be patient,” Bronwen said softly as she patted Penny’s back soothingly. Penny continued to cry so Bronwen sat in the rocking chair. She rocked and sang until Penny finally cried herself to sleep.

After putting Penny in her crib, a weary Bronwen rejoined the others in the library, where she found them playing dominos. Miss Brooks smiled sympathetically and Gwyneth asked, “Do you wanna play?”

“Not tonight, thank you. I think I’ll just read,” she replied with a tired smile. She picked up her Godey’s Lady’s Book from where she’d set it on a side table and began to look at the patterns, trying to decide which she’d prefer and not to worry about her husband and little girl.

The four of them remained in the library until the clock announced it was the girls’ bedtime. “Go on upstairs and get ready for bed and I’ll come hear your prayers,” Bronwen instructed. The girls headed upstairs without their usual reluctance and Bronwen turned to Miss Brooks. “Thank you so much for playing with the girls.”

“I enjoyed it,” the tutor replied. “And I wanted to keep their minds off Mr. Cartwright and Betsy.”

“I appreciate that very much,” Bronwen said, adding, “Well, I’d better go upstairs and tuck them in, and then I think I’ll retire.”

Before she went upstairs, however, she locked the front and back doors and made sure all the downstairs windows were fastened shut. Maegan, her black and orange tortoiseshell cat who’d been curled up in one of the library’s window seats, trotted at her heels.

She went to Gwyneth’s room first. After kneeling down beside Gwyneth and hearing her prayer, which included a special mention of her oldest sister, Bronwen tucked her in and kissed her. She was starting to blow out the lamp when Gwyneth asked in a scared little voice, “Could you leave the lamp on? Please?”

Bronwen replied, “I’ll leave it on until you fall asleep. All right?” and Gwyneth nodded. It had been several months since she’d asked to have the lamp left on or woke in the night with nightmares so Bronwen knew she was still upset by the day’s events. As she left the room, Maegan jumped up on Gwyneth’s bed. Bronwen knew Adam didn’t approve of the cat sleeping with the girls, but she thought Maegan’s presence would comfort Gwyneth so she left them together.

As soon as Miranda finished her prayer and climbed into bed, she asked Bronwen, “What will Dr. Martin do to Betsy’s arm?”

Bronwen sat down on the bed and said, “When I was a little older than Gwyneth, your Uncle Bryn broke one of his arms. Your tad-cu had to set the bones so they would grow back together and Uncle Bryn told me and Uncle Rhys that was the worse part. Then Tad-cu put wooden splints on Uncle Bryn’s arm so he couldn’t move it while the bones grew back together and he kept it in a sling. After a few weeks, Tad-cu took off the splints and Uncle Bryn’s arm was good as new.” She smiled at her second born as she added, “I’m sure it will be the same for Betsy.” She tucked Miranda in and then kissed her goodnight.

As she changed into a nightgown, she thought back to when Bryn’s arm was broken. She and Rhys were curious about what Tad would do to Bryn. Mam was with Bryn so they had crept into the hallway that led from their house to Tad’s office and examining room. They heard their big brother scream in pain as Tad set the broken bones, and Bronwen’s eyes filled with tears at the thought of her precious daughter having to suffer such pain.

She slept poorly that night and her fair Celtic skin looked bruised under her eyes. She dressed hurriedly in the waist overalls and old shirt of Joe’s that she wore to go riding and went into the nursery, where she discovered Penny climbing out of her crib.

“Naughty, Penny!” Bronwen scolded as she quickly picked her baby up before she could fall. Penny grinned at her as Bronwen said, “I think it’s time for you to sleep in your big girl bed. Would you like that?”

“Big girl bed,” Penny said happily.

After Bronwen finished dressing Penny, the two of them went to check on the older girls, Penny clutching Bunny tightly. They found them dressed in their knickerbockers and shirts, ready to take care of their ponies and then feed the chickens and gather the eggs.

“Good morning,” Bronwen said as cheerfully as she could.

“Good morning,” the girls chorused. Then Miranda asked curiously, “Are you going riding, Mama?”

“No,” she answered with a smile. “Since Daddy isn’t here, I have to do his chores. Gwyneth, I want you to take care of Daisy and Lucky. Miranda, I need you to help me with Rosebud and Lady when you’ve finished with Honey.”

“Okay,” the girls said. Miranda added enthusiastically, “I’ll help with Sport, too.”

“No,” Bronwen said emphatically. “I’ll take care of Sport myself.”

“What me ‘n’ Bunny do?” Penny asked then, tugging on her mama’s hand.

“You and Bunny are going to watch Kerra milk Blossom, and then you can watch her fix breakfast.”

They found Kerra in the barn ahead of them and Bronwen took Penny over to watch the milking. She said quietly, “I need you to watch Penny and I’m afraid you’ll have to cook breakfast on your own.”

“That’s fine,” Kerra responded.

With everyone working together, it didn’t take too much longer to take care of the livestock, muck out their stalls and turn the ponies, horses and cow to graze in the pasture Adam had fenced in. Everyone stopped to wash in the combination wash and bathhouse and then hurried upstairs to change into their every day dresses, which for the two girls meant short-sleeved dresses of gingham and muslin pinafores and for Bronwen meant a plain calico wrapper.

Miranda and Gwyneth were relieved to see Miss Brooks (with help from Penny) was just finishing setting the table. While Bronwen put Penny in her highchair, Kerra carried in a tray with the toast rack full of warm buttered toast, a plate of crispy fried bacon and Bronwen’s tea service. She returned and put a bowl of oatmeal at each place setting and gave the girls milk to drink. Once she sat down, Bronwen blessed the food and they all began to eat.

“When will Daddy and Betsy be back?” Miranda asked.

“Around dinnertime or perhaps a little earlier,” Bronwen answered. “Stone the crows!” she exclaimed then, and the other two women exchanged grins at the Australian slang. “Your uncles are going to wonder where your daddy is.” She shrugged and said, “I suppose if they get worried enough, one of them will come here to check on him and I can tell him what happened. Or your daddy can.”

After helping Kerra wash and dry the breakfast dishes, Bronwen decided to take her sewing and work on the verandah. Her mother and her sister-in-law, Matilda, would each sew beautiful dresses for the girls that were only worn on Sundays and special occasions. Bronwen sewed their everyday dresses and pinafores, and they were passed from Betsy to Miranda to Gwyneth. By that time, they were only fit for the ragbag so Bronwen needed to sew clothes for Penny and she was working on a new dress for her to wear now that the weather was getting warmer.

She sat Penny on the verandah with her blocks and several picture books, and of course, Bunny. Then she sat down and began to sew. She was nearly finished hemming the short-sleeved pink gingham dress when she glanced up and saw a vehicle approaching. She put the dress down and watched as the vehicle approached until she recognized their surrey.

“Here come Daddy and Betsy,” she said to Penny, who squealed, “Daddy!” and ran toward the steps.

Bronwen stopped her and held onto her hand firmly, saying, “We must wait here for Daddy to stop King and Prince.”

As soon as she was in earshot, Betsy hollered, “Hello Mama! Hello Penny!”

“Wait and let me help you down,” Adam commanded as he pulled back on the reins.

He jumped down and put his hands around Betsy’s waist and swung her out of the surrey while Bronwen and Penny hurried down the verandah’s steps. Penny was so excited to see her daddy that she almost fell, but Bronwen had kept hold of her hand and pulled her up.

“Careful, Kitten,” Adam cautioned as his baby girl launched herself toward him, shrieking, “Daddy!” He caught her and tossed her into the air as she giggled. Then he kissed her cheek and said with a warm smile, “Daddy missed his Kitten.”

Betsy hugged Bronwen with her right arm and said, “See my splints, Mama. Dr. Martin put them on while I was asleep and he fixed my arm then so it wouldn’t hurt.”

“That’s wonderful,” Bronwen said, giving her a hug. Adam came over then, holding Penny in one arm, and gave Bronwen a quick kiss.

“Dr. Martin said Betsy was one of the best patients he ever had,” Adam said as he put his free arm around Bronwen’s shoulders, and Betsy beamed.

“Now, Betsy,” Bronwen said briskly, “we’re going to get you out of those dirty clothes and then I’ll give you a sponge bath.”

“A sponge bath?”

“We don’t want to get the padding on your splints wet,” Bronwen explained.

“I have to take care of the horses and then I’d better join Hoss and Joe,” Adam remarked quietly to Bronwen after he put Penny down and she followed Betsy up the verandah steps.

“Not ‘til after dinner,” she protested. “The girls would be so disappointed.”

He shrugged and agreed.

Knowing their older brother had nearly twice as far to travel, Hoss and Joe didn’t expect Adam until 10 or 10:30 and went ahead using a couple of mules to pull up the stumps of the trees Hoss and Adam had cut the previous day. When it got to be nearly 11:30 and there was no sign of Adam, they did begin to worry.

“Joe, you keep workin’ with ol’ Gray and I’m gonna head towards Adam’s house and see if everything’s all right.”

“That’s a good idea,” Joe said. “Sport might’ve gone lame and that’d sure slow him down.”

When Hoss reached the halfway point with no sign of his older brother, his worry increased so he pressed on. He was nearly three quarters of the way to Adam’s house before he spotted Adam and Sport. He stopped and waited for his brother.

“Been worried about ya,” he said as Adam drew up alongside him.

“Yeah, Bronwen and I were afraid you would be but she had no way of getting in touch with you and Joe. You see, yesterday evening I had to take Betsy to see Paul Martin.”

“She hurt?” Hoss asked, his concern obvious.

“She fell when she was riding and broke her left arm. She’s fine now. A little disappointed to only miss a couple of hours of her lessons,” and he winked, “but she got to tell everyone at dinner how Dr. Martin had her breathe something that put her to it sleep so it didn’t hurt when he fixed her bones.” Adam shuddered involuntarily as he remembered. “I’m glad Paul had the ether because it was hard just watching him set the bone.”

Hoss reached out and put his hand on his brother’s shoulder. “But she’s okay now and that’s what’s important,” and Adam nodded. Then he said with a wry grin, “All this time I never realized what the three of us must’ve put Pa through over the years.”

“Somethin’ tells me we’re gonna find out though,” Hoss said, his tone rueful. Then he grinned and said, “It’s so late now ya might as well turn around and head home. I’ll tell the others what happened. And you tell Betsy that Uncle Hoss is sure sorry to hear about her arm.”

“I will,” Adam said and then turned around and headed home.

After supper that night, Adam, Bronwen and their girls gathered in the parlor. They were happy to be together again and sang all their old favorites to the accompaniment of Adam on the guitar and Bronwen on the piano. They were enjoying themselves so much that Adam didn’t notice Bronwen was letting Penny stay up past her bedtime.

When the clock chimed the girls’ bedtime, Bronwen went up to help Penny and Betsy get ready for bed and Adam waited until Betsy called down that they were ready. He headed for the nursery first to tell Penny goodnight, but to his surprise, the crib was empty and stripped of its sheets, blanket and pillow. He hurried to Gwyneth’s room and found both his youngest daughters.

“I sleep big girl bed,” Penny announced proudly.

“So I see,” Adam said, raising an eyebrow at Bronwen, who gave him her We’ll talk about it later look.

Bronwen was teaching Penny a prayer and she knelt down and recited it (with some help from her mama). Adam and Bronwen heard each daughter’s prayer and then they gathered in Gwyneth and Penny’s room to hear Adam read their bedtime story.

As Adam and Bronwen walked downstairs together after tucking the girls in, he said quietly, “I thought we were keeping Penny in the nursery until she was out of diapers.”

“She hasn’t had as many accidents this week,” Bronwen said, “but the real reason I moved her is because I caught her climbing out of her crib this morning so I thought it would be safer if she were sleeping in her bed.”

“The girls are growing up so quickly,” he said regretfully.

She put an arm around his waist and said wistfully, “Too right they are.”

Chapter 3
Betsy was the center of attention at Sunday School that Sunday and happily recounted her adventure to the other girls in the class. Before and after the service, other mothers commiserated with Bronwen.

“That’s what comes of teaching little girls to ride,” sniffed Mrs. Gable to Mrs. Pengelly and Mrs. Watkins after the service as she watched the younger matrons gather around Bronwen. “Little girls should be sewing their samplers or practicing the piano, not gallivanting about the countryside on ponies.”

Ben had been speaking with Paul Martin about Betsy, and overheard Mrs. Gable.

“Excuse me, Mrs. Gable, but I couldn’t help overhearing,” Ben said, his voice and countenance glacial. “I’ll have you know that my granddaughters are accomplished pianists for their ages. And as for their riding, you must not be aware that aristocratic English girls are taught to ride and most are skilled equestriennes.”

Mrs. Gable could only sputter as Ben and Paul walked away. Mrs. Watkins tried to turn her laughter into a cough while Mrs. Pengelly hid her smile behind a hand. Mrs. Gable could be insufferable and they relished seeing someone put her in her place.

All the Cartwrights were gathering at the ranch house for Sunday dinner and on the way Betsy was telling her parents how everyone wanted to hear about how she broke her arm and how Dr. Martin set it. Miranda was quiet for a while, but finally she couldn’t stand it and interrupted Betsy to ask, “You wanna know what we learned in Sunday School?”

“Miranda, it is rude to interrupt Betsy when she’s talking,” Bronwen scolded, turning so she could look at the girls.

“Well, she doesn’t give anybody else a chance,” Miranda responded crossly. She couldn’t see her daddy’s grin and her mama said firmly, “That doesn’t excuse your rudeness, young lady.” Bronwen turned toward her oldest. “Betsy, you have been monopolizing the conversation so let your sisters have a chance to talk.” She smiled and asked, “Gwyneth, what did you learn today?”

“Mrs. Watkins told us about Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and how they was throwed-”

“How they were thrown,” her daddy corrected.

“How they were thrown in a fiery furnace,” Gwyneth said. “But God sent an angel so they didn’t burn up.”

“Miranda, can you tell Daddy and me why Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were thrown in the furnace?” Bronwen queried.

“Because they refused to bow down to the golden statue of the king,” Miranda answered.

“That’s very good girls,” Adam said. Then he suggested, “Let’s sing,” and Penny, who was sitting between her parents, clapped her hands and shouted, “Sing!”

Joe and Annabelle in their buggy were the first to arrive at the ranch house. Ben, Hoss and his family in their two seat surrey were the next to arrive, followed by Adam and family in their four seat surrey. After helping the women and children down, the Cartwright brothers took care of the horses. Claire had to hurry inside to nurse Jesse, leaving Ben, Bronwen and Annabelle with the children.

“Will you play catch, Aunt Ann’belle?” Josh asked.

“I like to play catch,” Gwyneth said shyly and Miranda added, “So do I.”

“All right. Go get your ball and we’ll play catch,” Annabelle said with a smile and Josh ran inside.

Ben saw Betsy’s disappointment since she couldn’t play and so he suggested a game of checkers and was pleased to see Betsy’s face light up. Bronwen had brought their Mother Goose so she sat down with Penny on her lap.

“Now, aint that a purty picture?” Hoss asked his brothers as they walked back to the house.

“Sure is,” Joe said with a grin. Then his expression grew serious as he turned to his oldest brother. “How’s Betsy doin’?”

“All right,” Adam replied. “She doesn’t like needing help getting dressed and undressed just like Penny. She already misses being able to ride or play the piano and she doesn’t like to read. Bronwen told me that when Ginny and Ann come over Wednesday, she’s going to ask them if Susan and Emma could come over and play with Betsy on Saturday.”

“Sure be nice if they could come,” Hoss said. “I think Josh gets lonesome. He’s always as happy as a dog with two tails when he knows his cousins are comin’ for a visit.”

“In a few years he and Jesse will be playing together the same way we did,” Adam said, smiling warmly at his brothers.

“He sure likes stories about when I was little, like the time we stole the gooseberry pie and tried to blame it on a bear,” Hoss said with a big grin.

“The girls like stories about when the three of us were young,” Adam said. “Bronwen tells them stories about when she was a little girl growing up with their Uncle Bryn and Uncle Rhys and they like them, too. Trouble is all our stories get the girls asking how come they can’t have a brother.”

At that Joe broke into his high-pitched giggle while Hoss guffawed. Adam rolled his eyes. Hoss and Joe were still laughing when Hop Sing came out and announced that dinner was ready.

Hop Sing had prepared a standing rib roast with side dishes of mashed potatoes and freshly picked green beans. Josh, who’d only recently been allowed to cut his meat, watched as his Uncle Adam cut Betsy’s meat for her and asked curiously, “How come Betsy don’t cut her own?”

Hoss asked him, “Don’t you use both hands to cut your meat?” Josh nodded and Hoss said, “Doc Martin don’t want Betsy usin’ her left hand so Uncle Adam cuts her meat for her.”

“Does your arm hurt?” Josh asked Betsy then.

She shrugged and replied, “Not now. It hurt really bad when it broke though.”

Bronwen saw the scowl on Miranda’s face as Betsy was once again the center of attention, and even Gwyneth looked sullen. She quickly remarked, “Miss Brooks was telling Adam and me that she is very pleased with the girls’ schoolwork. Betsy always does well with spelling, Miranda’s grasp of arithmetic is remarkable for her age and Gwyneth is reading so well that she’s nearly finished her primer.” Thus she turned the conversation away from Betsy and her broken arm-to her siblings’ delight.

Hoss noticed that Claire was quiet all through dinner. Afterward, he and the other Cartwright men played Old Bachelor with the older children while the youngest napped and the women talked. Claire seemed to be enjoying her sisters-in-law’s company and so Hoss decided she must have resolved whatever had been troubling her. He didn’t think more about it until that evening. No one else noticed anything out of the ordinary, but Hoss knew something was troubling Claire. He waited until Claire got into bed beside him that night, put an arm around her, and asked, “Now, Honey, do you wanna tell me what’s worryin’ you?”

She smiled and said, “You can read me like a book.”

He chuckled and said, “I read you much better than I ever read any book.”

She paused for a moment then said, “I know we’d said that we’d give Josh his pony when he turns five and in the spring you’d teach him to ride, but now I think we should wait a few years. Maybe when he’s nine or ten.”

Hoss was silent for a minute, deciding the best way to respond. “You know that Josh already done picked his pony and told me ‘n’ his uncle so Adam don’t sell Blackie to no one. I think his little heart’d break if we told him he’s gotta wait four or five years ‘fore he can have Blackie ‘n’ learn how to ride him. Why, that’d be askin’ him to wait as long as he’s been alive.”

“I just don’t want him to have an accident like Betsy’s,” Claire said, her tone determined.

“You know I don’t want that neither,” Hoss said earnestly. “But that boy has inherited his share of Cartwright stubbornness and I’m afraid if I don’t teach him how to ride, then he’s liable to try on his own. I can guarantee he’ll have an accident then.”

Claire sighed softly in resignation. “Yes, I’m afraid you’re right.”

Hoss gave her a squeeze and said, “I’ll teach Josh how to ride and he’ll be fine.”

She rested her head on his shoulder and said tenderly, “I’m so lucky to have you.”

“Funny, I was thinkin’ the same thing,” he said lovingly, and they kissed.

About a week later, the site for Annabelle and Joe’s house was prepared so Adam set about hiring construction workers to dig and stonemasons to build the three foot thick foundation. He knew it was time to break the news to the girls that he would be gone during the week, and he wasn’t looking forward to it.

“No, Daddy, don’t go,” Gwyneth pleaded, her big hazel eyes gazing at him imploringly.

“Can’t someone else be in charge?” Betsy asked.

“Yes, if it’s Uncle Joe’s house, why can’t he be in charge?” challenged Miranda.

“Uncle Joe doesn’t have experience in building houses and I do,” Adam explained patiently. “It won’t be so bad, girls. I’ll spend all day every Saturday with you and we’ll go riding and have picnics. Anything you want to do. I promise.”

“But you won’t be here to read about the Peppers,” Miranda objected.

“Mama can read to you while I’m gone and then I’ll read to you on Fridays and Saturdays,” Adam said.

“But you won’t know what happened when Mama reads to us,” Miranda responded. She sounded so much like Adam in her reasoning that Bronwen had to smile.

“Maybe we could read a different book,” she said. “Daddy and I found one about a horse that we thought you’d like. It’s called Black Beauty and the horse, Black Beauty, tells the story.”

“I guess that would be okay,” Betsy said and Gwyneth quickly agreed while Miranda’s agreement was unenthusiastic

“Now, I’m going to spend tomorrow with my girls,” Adam said, smiling warmly at them, “so what do you want to do?”

“Let’s have a picnic at the lake!” Betsy said excitedly and Miranda added enthusiastically, “You can take us for boat rides.”

“All right, a picnic and boat rides it will be,” Adam said. “Now, Gwyneth, it’s your turn to choose. What game shall we play before bedtime?”

“Errand Boy,” Gwyneth replied, naming the board game Ben had given the entire family for Christmas.

The family gathered in the library. Adam and the three older girls sat around his desk while Bronwen sat in one of the armchairs with Penny on her lap and played Five Fat Peas, Here Is a Beehive, Grandmother’s Glasses and Where Is Thumbkin?

“Daddy has to go to jail,” Gwyneth chortled as Adam moved his playing piece the required number of spaces and landed on a space that said he’d stolen money.

“That’s what happens if you steal something,” Adam said. “It’s your turn, Punkin. Spin the teetotum and we’ll see where you land.”

“Two,” Gwyneth said. She picked up her playing piece and moved it two spaces.

“You’re lazy so you have to go back four spaces,” Miranda said, reading what was written on the space, and Gwyneth’s lower lip stuck out in a pout

It was Betsy’s turn next and she landed on a space that said she was rewarded for hard work and could advance three spaces. “Only two more spaces and I’ll be president of the bank,” she said gleefully.

Betsy and Miranda were both close to achieving the goal of becoming bank president but the next turn Miranda landed on a space that punished her for dishonesty by sending her back six spaces while Betsy spun a two and won the game.

“Let’s play again,” Miranda said, but Adam responded, “No, it’s time you girls were in bed.” They recognized finality of his tone and reluctantly headed upstairs.

When Adam and Bronwen were together in the library later that evening, he said quietly, “I’m really going to miss this-putting the girls to bed and then our time together.”

“But it’s nice that you can spend more time with Pa and your brothers,” she remarked as she began sewing him a new shirt.

“Yes, but it won’t be like the old days when it was just the four of us and Hop Sing,” he said with one of his crooked grins. “It’ll be the four of us and Hop Sing plus Claire, Annabelle, Josh and Jesse.”

“Don’t forget Annabelle’s maid,” Bronwen said with a mischievous smile.

The previous week Annabelle had hired a personal maid and persuaded Ben to allow her maid to have the downstairs bedroom. The maid was named Mavis Turner. Joe and Hoss told Adam that she looked as prim and proper as a schoolmarm. (“She reminds me of Abigail Meyers before she married Hank,” Joe commented, “except she didn’t always look as though she’d bitten into a lemon.”) Miss Turner’s ash brown hair was scraped back into a knot and she always wore a plain wrapper of navy blue with a white collar. Her age could be anywhere from thirty to fifty.

Joe wasn’t that happy about the addition of Miss Turner. Annabelle made it clear that her maid would be the one dressing her in the morning and undressing her at night. His presence was not wanted then. At least Annabelle was as passionate as ever when they were alone, and he hoped it wouldn’t be long before their family increased.

Adam arrived at the ranch house Sunday after tearful goodbyes. He cared for Sport and then strode across the yard to the house. As he opened the door and placed his gunbelt up on the shelf with his father’s and brothers’, Josh came running over.

“Howdy, Uncle Adam! Guess what, you’re gonna sleep with me ‘n’ Jesse. I’m gonna sleep in a bedroll on the floor and you’re gonna sleep in the bed.”

Hoss and Ben came over then. Ben put a hand on Adam’s shoulder and said, “It’s good to see you, son.”

Hoss cleared his throat nervously before saying, “Uh, I guess Josh told ya about the sleepin’ arrangements?”

Adam grinned crookedly as he said, “That’s right.”

Josh tugged on his uncle’s hand then. “Daddy said you used to have my room.”

Adam smiled down at his nephew. “Yes, before your aunt and I built our own house that was my room.”

Ben spoke up then. “Go ahead and wash up, Adam. Supper is ready and we’ve been waiting for you.”

As they walked to the table, Josh announced, “You can sit between me and Daddy, Uncle Adam.” Adam and Hoss exchanged grins over Josh’s head.

After Ben blessed the food, he turned to his oldest and said, “I expect the girls are missing their daddy.”

Adam’s expression was melancholy as he said, “Yes, Penny was crying when I left and Gwyneth was trying hard not to.”

“Poor Penny,” Joe said. “I know she’s too little to understand you’ll be back Friday evening.”

“Yes, she was the hardest to leave,” Adam said. There was a touch of concern in his tone as he added, “Bronwen says she can manage, but I know it won’t be easy for her.”

“I’m gonna do your barn chores and chop your wood,” Hoss said, smiling warmly at his older brother, “and I’ll look in on Bronwen and the girls.”

“Daddy said I could come sometimes and see Blackie,” Josh said happily.

“And your aunt and cousins,” Hoss added. Josh said, “Oh yeah, them too,” which made the adults all smile.

“Since you’re doing my barn chores, I’ll do yours,” Adam said with a wink.

“How is Betsy doing?” Claire asked then. “Is her arm bothering her?”

“No,” Adam replied, “but she’s already complaining about having to wear the sling and not being able to move her arm. Bronwen and Miss Brooks have to watch her to make sure she doesn’t take the sling off.”

“I’ll see if she’d like to play checkers or Fox and Geese,” Hoss said. “That’ll help take her mind off her arm.”

As the meal drew to a close, Hop Sing entered the dining room with a beaming smile and carrying something covered with a napkin. “Mistah Adam, Missy Bronwen not want you be homesick so she show Hop Sing how to make little cakes you like.” He whipped off the napkin revealing a plate heaped high with picau ar y maen.

“These are delicious,” Annabelle said after swallowing her first bite. “What are they called?”

“I can’t pronounce the name in Welsh,” Adam replied, “but Bronwen says the English call them Welsh cakes.”

“I thought Bronwen is from the continent of Australia,” Annabelle said, sounding confused.

“She is, but her parents are originally from South Wales and so Bronwen and her brothers grew up speaking Welsh as well as English,” Adam explained.

“All that Welsh food Bronwen makes is delicious,” Hoss said. “Say, Hop Sing,” he asked the cook, who was clearing away the dirty dishes, “did Bronwen show you how to cook anymore Welsh food?”

“Maybe,” the cook replied enigmatically.

As they finished the last of the Welsh cakes, Ben turned to Adam and asked, “Care for a game of chess?”

“Sure,” he replied.

Adam noted with a tiny hint of a smile how the evening routine had altered over the years. Claire took Jesse over by Ben’s desk so they could play with the boys’ blocks while Hoss went outside with Josh to play catch. Joe and Annabelle sat side by side on the settee and talked for a short time until Annabelle knocked on Miss Turner’s door and announced she was ready to retire. As the two women headed up the stairs and Joe pretended to read the newspaper, Adam’s dimple appeared but he was careful not to catch his pa’s eye.

About the time Ben and Adam finished their first game of chess, Hoss and Josh came inside. It was Jesse’s bedtime so Hoss and Claire went upstairs with him. Josh wandered over and watched his grandpa and uncle for a minute or two and then walked over and began to play with the blocks. When Hoss and Claire returned, he and Josh carried the blocks over to the table in front of the fireplace and played with them while Claire sat in the blue wing chair and read her Godey’s Lady’s Book.

While Hoss and Claire put Josh to bed, Ben and Adam split the Territorial Enterprise between them, Ben sitting in his favorite leather armchair and Adam in the wing chair. Hoss smiled broadly as he came down the stairs, for the sight brought back happy memories. Adam and Ben put their newspaper pages down as Hoss and Claire sat on the settee.

“It must be strange for you not to be putting anyone to bed,” Claire remarked, smiling at Adam.

“Yes, it is,” he said with a wistful smile. “I miss hearing the girls say their prayers and kissing them goodnight. And reading to them.” He turned to Hoss and said, “I’m anxious to know how they’re doing.”

“Don’t worry. Bronwen’ll tell me and I’ll tell you,” Hoss said with a grin. Then he said, “So you start diggin’ the foundation tomorrow?” Adam nodded and Hoss said, “I remember diggin’ the foundation for this house. How about you, Pa?”

“I remember,” Ben said with a reminiscent smile. “I was glad to play my part.”

“Yeah, me too,” Hoss said. He turned to Claire. “Now, Joe was too little to help with the diggin’ but me ‘n’ him got to help lay some of the stones for the foundation. That made us feel pretty special.”

“That was a good time,” Adam said with a smile and Ben said, “Indeed it was.”

The four of them talked for a little longer and then they all decided to retire. As Adam turned toward his old room, Claire said with a smile, “Don’t worry; the boys sleep just as soundly as their father,” which caused Adam to chuckle.

Hoss woke up earlier than usual and Claire stirred beside him. “You don’t need to get up yet, Honey,” he said softly. “I gotta ride out to Adam’s so I got up early.”

She muttered something unintelligible and turned over. They’d made love the night before so her curls were unconfined and tumbled down her back and over her shoulders. He gently caressed them and then dropped a kiss on her cheek. He dressed quietly in near darkness and headed down the stairs. He walked through the great room to the kitchen as silently as he could, only to discover his older brother sitting at the kitchen table, eating a couple of fried eggs, bacon and toast and drinking coffee.

“Good morning,” Adam said, smiling broadly. “Hop Sing set a place for you and I said grace for both of us.”

Hoss sat down and, as he reached for the coffeepot, Hop Sing brought him a plate of eggs, bacon and toast. The eggs were over easy as he preferred instead of Adam’s preference of sunny side up.

“Hop Sing, you’re a wonder,” Hoss exclaimed before digging into the food.

The cook sniffed. “Hop Sing know Mistah Adam and Mistah Hoss have far to go and so need early breakfast.” The brothers shared a grin.

When Hoss reached Adam’s place, he saw the milk cow, ponies and horses grazing in the pasture so after turning Chub into the pasture, he headed for the barn. The three ponies’ stalls were clean so he set to work mucking out the others. Once that chore was finished, he headed for the mudroom door. He opened it, calling, “Howdy. It’s me, Hoss.”

Bronwen and Kerra were in the middle of the Monday chore of washing the dirty clothes and linens using their Blackstone washing machine, and Penny was playing with blocks in a corner of the room. She was the first to react and ran into the hallway, clutching Bunny in one arm and squealing, “Unca Hoss!”

“Hey there, Little Sweet Pea and Bunny,” Hoss said, picking his niece up and hugging her, and she grinned when he greeted Bunny. Then her happy expression dimmed.

“Daddy gone, Unca Hoss,” she said sadly.

“Nah, Little Sweet Pea,” he said gently. “Your Daddy aint gone. He just came to stay at your Grandpa’s house for a spell. He’ll be back. He told me to give you a big ol’ kiss from him.” He gave Penny a big smacking kiss on her cheek, and then looked up and saw Bronwen in the hallway. “Howdy, Bronwen,” he said with a smile. “I did Adam’s barn chores so I thought I’d come see you before I started on the woodpile.”

“Come in and have a cup of coffee,” she said with a warm smile for her brother-in-law.

Kerra was standing in the washhouse doorway and said, “I’ll make the coffee.”

Bronwen said with a grin, “All right, I’ll put the teakettle on.”

Once the coffee was made, Kerra left to hang the clothes they’d washed on the clothesline to dry, giving Bronwen and Hoss a chance to talk in private. She tried to get Penny to go with her, but the little girl clung to her uncle like a leech so Kerra left the three of them sitting around the kitchen table.

“Adam’s kinda worried about all of you so I told him that I’d report back how you’re makin’ out,” Hoss said as he sipped his coffee with Penny sitting on one knee.

Bronwen was silent as she added a little milk and a lump of sugar to her tea. Then she smiled. “It was a difficult evening, especially for Gwyneth and P-e-n-n-y. I rocked and sang to her until she finally fell asleep. This morning I found her in bed with Gwyneth.” (Bronwen didn’t mention Maegan was also sharing the bed.) “Gwyneth said P-e-n-n-y woke up in the night and starting crying so she suggested she come sleep with her. Betsy and Miranda are handling Adam’s absence much better. You may tell him that the girls enjoyed Black Beauty and that helped.”

“Black Beauty?” Hoss asked, obviously puzzled.

“It’s a book about a horse and I’m reading it as a bedtime story,” she explained, and he nodded. “We’re managing, just as I said we would.”

“I’ll tell Adam,” he assured her. Then he grinned as he added, “Since Miss Turner’s sleepin’ in the downstairs bedroom, Adam’s sharin’ his old room with Jesse and Josh. Adam gets the bed and Josh’s excited to be sleepin’ on a bedroll just like a real buckaroo.” They smiled and then Hoss added, “Almost forgot. Hop Sing made some of your Welsh cakes and everybody thought they was delicious.”

“Beauty,” Bronwen said happily.

Hoss finished his coffee and said, “I’d better get busy with that woodpile. Thanks for the coffee, Bronwen.”

“You’re very welcome,” she responded. Then she held out her hand to Penny, saying, “Uncle Hoss has to chop wood so you come watch Mama and Kerra wash the clothes.”

“I’m gonna eat dinner here, so you’ll see me then, Little Sweet Pea,” Hoss said with a smile. Reluctantly, Penny went with her mama.

Hoss finished chopping wood a little before morning lessons ended so when the girls, followed by Miss Brooks, entered the dining room, they saw their uncle putting Penny in her highchair.

“Hello, Uncle Hoss,” they chorused and Miss Brooks said, “It’s good to see you again, Mr. Cartwright.”

“It’s good to see you, ma’am,” Hoss said and then turned to his nieces. “Howdy, Sweet Peas.”

Gwyneth’s face was very serious as she gazed at her uncle. “Uncle Hoss, have you seen my daddy?”

“Sure did. Me ‘n’ him had breakfast together this mornin’. He’s really missin’ his little girls,” Hoss replied, and gave one of her pigtails a gentle tug.

Bronwen appeared in the doorway. “Miranda, Gwyneth. Set the table, please. The cottage pie is almost ready to take out of the oven.”

The girls hurriedly set the table and Kerra brought out the cottage pie. Once everyone was seated Bronwen asked Hoss to bless the food. As they ate, Miss Brooks suggested the girls tell their uncle how they’d spent the morning.

“Me and Miranda-um, I mean Miranda and I-practiced our penmanship,” Betsy said. “Miss Brooks says I write a fine hand” and she smiled proudly. Miranda frowned because her handwriting was never praised.

“I studied long division,” she said with a smug glance at her older sister, who was still struggling with multiplication problems.

Betsy stuck out her tongue at Miranda and Bronwen said firmly, “That will be enough of that, Betsy.” She turned to Gwyneth and asked, “What did you do this morning?”

“Practiced printing,” Gwyneth replied. “When I’m eight, I get to write like Betsy and Miranda,” and she looked to her teacher for confirmation.

“That’s correct,” Miss Brooks said with a smile. “First you learn to print and then to write.”

As they finished the cottage pie, Bronwen said “I tried a new recipe for dessert, and I think you’ll like it. It’s called chocolate pudding.”

As they swallowed their first spoonfuls, everyone’s face wore an expression of pure bliss.

“Bronwen, this chocolate pudding is dee-licious!” Hoss exclaimed and Betsy declared, “It’s the best pudding I ever ate!”

“Me, too!” Miranda and Gwyneth said enthusiastically. Penny stopped eating long enough to say loudly, “Good!”

Bronwen beamed at the success of the new pudding although she’d been sure the girls would enjoy it since they loved chocolate cake. The Lady’s Receipt-Book also had a recipe for chocolate ice-cream and she intended to try it this summer along with raspberry pudding for Adam.

As Kerra and Bronwen began to clear away, Hoss said, “Betsy, if there’s time before your afternoon lessons, I was hopin’ that you’d like to play a game of checkers or Fox and Geese.”

“May I, Miss Brooks?” Betsy asked hopefully.

“Of course you may,” Miss Brooks answered with a smile. Then she turned to her other pupils. “How do you girls plan to spend recess?”

“I wanna play croquet,” Miranda replied. “Do you wanna play, Gwyneth?” Gwyneth nodded and they headed for the mudroom where the mallets, balls, hoops and stakes were stored while Betsy and Hoss went into the library to play and Miss Brooks to look over the afternoon lessons. Bronwen took a reluctant Penny upstairs for her nap.

Hoss let Betsy win their game of Fox and Geese. They finished first so they went to sit on the porch swing and watch the others play croquet.

After a few minutes, Betsy said quietly, “I wish Daddy would come home.”

Hoss put an arm around her and gave her a hug, being careful of her injured arm. “I was just a couple of years older than you when your daddy went away to college. I missed my big brother so much.”

Betsy turned and looked up at her uncle. “Your big brother?”

Hoss chuckled. “He was bigger when he went away, but when he came back, I was bigger than him.” His expression grew serious as he said, “I missed your daddy somethin’ fierce when he went away to college and I knew I wouldn’t see him for four whole years.”

“Four years!” Betsy exclaimed.

“That’s right,” Hoss said.

“I guess that’s worse,” she said thoughtfully. “At least Daddy says he’ll spend every Saturday with us.”

“And your Uncle Joe and Aunt Annabelle’s house’ll be finished this fall. Maybe sooner if all goes well,” Hoss said, giving her another gentle hug, and she smiled up at him.

Just then Miss Brooks walked out onto the verandah and called to Miranda and Gwyneth. “Girls, you’ll have to finish this afternoon.”

As the girls came up the steps, Hoss said, “Afraid it’s time for me to be goin’. I’ll see ya tomorrow, Sweet Peas. Tell your mama goodbye for me.” Then he nodded to Miss Brooks. “Pleasure, ma’am” he said before heading down the steps.

Friday evening Bronwen and the girls sat on the porch swing, dressed in their second best clothes, and waited for Adam. Betsy and Miranda were the first to spot him and jumped to their feet, yelling, “It’s Daddy!”

“Daddy!” Penny screamed and started to slither off the swing while her older sisters started to run down the steps.

“Stop right there,” Bronwen commanded as she grabbed Penny, and unwillingly the girls obeyed. “No one is running to greet Daddy until he has a chance to dismount. Understand?”

“Yes, Mama,” the older girls chorused while Penny continued trying to squirm out of her mama’s grasp.

As Adam and Sport drew closer, the four girls began to shout, “Daddy! Daddy!” He smiled and waved at them. When he reached the house, he quickly dismounted and the girls all ran down the steps, Bronwen holding Penny’s hand so she didn’t fall in her excitement. He hunkered down and they all tried to hug him at once. He hugged each girl and kissed her cheek and then tossed a giggling Penny in the air and caught her. He set Penny down and took Bronwen in his arms and they kissed while the girls watched with interest. After a minute or so, Penny tugged impatiently on her daddy’s trousers, wanting his attention. Adam and Bronwen broke apart and Adam scooped Penny up and set her on his shoulders.

“Mama made a chocolate cake for dessert,” Betsy announced because it was her favorite cake.

“Guess what, Daddy,” Miranda added, pulling on his closest hand. “While you were gone, Mama made us chocolate pudding!”

“Your Uncle Hoss told us that it was delicious,” Adam remarked, winking at Bronwen.

“Dinner is ready whenever you are,” she said with a pleased smile.

He grinned and said, “Just let me take care of Sport and I’m ready.”

“We can help, Daddy,” Gwyneth offered eagerly but he smiled and shook his head.

“I wouldn’t want you to get your pretty dresses dirty,” he said and Bronwen quickly inserted, “And you need to set the table. Penny can help with the napkins and Betsy can put out the glasses.”

While the girls headed up the steps with much less enthusiasm than they’d come down, Adam took Bronwen in his arms for one more kiss before leading Sport to the barn.

During supper, the girls were all eager to tell their daddy what they’d been doing while he was away, and to pepper him with questions about his own activities. Adam and Bronwen shared smiles at their daughters’ delight at having the family circle complete once again.

When they finished supper, Bronwen said to Adam, “Miranda and Gwyneth have each learned a new piece they want to play for you. Kerra and I will take care of the dishes so the girls can have their recital now before bedtime.”

“Hurrah!” the girls shouted and, “Thanks, Mama.”

“Penny, you may sit with Daddy, but you must be quiet or you’ll have to go to bed,” Bronwen added in no-nonsense tone. Penny nodded solemnly, and then smiled at her daddy.

“C’mon, Daddy,” Gwyneth and Miranda said, each grabbing one of his hands and tugging on it, so with a grin that displayed his dimples, he allowed the girls to hurry him along to the parlor with Betsy and Penny right behind them.

He sat in one of the tub chairs and helped Penny climb up on his lap, saying, “Why don’t you go first, Punkin.”

Gwyneth walked over to the piano and said very seriously, “My piece is titled The Water Is Wide.” She sat down and after a brief hesitation began to play. She soon forgot to be nervous and played beautifully.

As he listened, Adam thought, There’s no doubt that Gwyneth is the most musical of our girls. Only five and she’s been playing piano for a year. He clapped enthusiastically when she finished and Penny copied him. Gwyneth turned around with a smile that showed she had inherited his dimples. “Now, Angel, it’s your turn,” he said, smiling at Miranda.

She jumped up from the Chesterfield where she’d been sitting by Betsy and hurried over to the piano. “I’m going to play Bach’s Prelude in C,” she announced before sitting in front of the piano and beginning to play confidently. About halfway through the piece she made a couple of mistakes but kept on playing. When she finished, she turned around and said in a quivering voice, “I didn’t make any mistakes when I practiced today.”

“She didn’t,” her sisters hastened to assure their daddy.

“Come here, Angel,” he said gently, setting Penny down and holding out his arms to his tearful little girl. As he patted her back, he said soothingly, “It doesn’t matter that you made a couple of mistakes, Angel. The important thing is that you didn’t stop. You finished the piece and you played it well.” He wiped the tears from her cheeks with his kerchief and then gave it to her so she could blow her nose.

“Could I play my piece again?” Miranda asked when she’d finished blowing her nose.

“If you like,” he replied and put Penny back in his lap.

Miranda wasn’t as confident but this time she didn’t make any mistakes. Her face glowed at her daddy’s and sisters’ applause.

Bronwen waited outside the library door until the applause ended and then she entered the room. “Time for bed, girls,” she announced.

“Can’t we stay up, Mama? Please?” they begged.

Adam said, “I can’t read to you until you’re ready for bed and have said your prayers, and I want to know what happens now that Mr. King has brought Phronsie to his home so Polly wouldn’t be homesick. Don’t you?”

“Yes, I wanna know,” Miranda said, nodding for emphasis, while Betsy declared, “And so do I,” and Gwyneth said, “Me too, Daddy.”

Copying her big sisters, Penny announced, “Me too. Me too, Daddy.”

He waited at the foot of the staircase until all four girls appeared, wearing their cotton nightgowns and muslin nightcaps that tied under their chins. Except for Penny, each girl’s hair was neatly braided into a single plait that hung down her back; Penny’s hair wasn’t quite long enough to braid yet. He felt such warmth and tenderness as he looked up at their innocent faces.

“We’re ready, Daddy,” Betsy called and with a smile he hurried up the stairs.

After the girls said their prayers, Adam sat in the rocking chair in Gwyneth and Penny’s room with Penny on his lap. Betsy and Miranda sat at the foot of Penny’s bed while Bronwen sat at the foot of Gwyneth’s. While Adam was reading, Maegan crept into the room and in one fluid motion leapt from the floor to Bronwen’s lap, where she began to purr as Bronwen petted her.

Penny fell asleep almost immediately but Adam read until he saw Gwyneth had also fallen asleep and the two older girls could barely keep their eyes open. He carefully put Penny in her bed and tucked her in as Bronwen motioned to the other girls to go to their bedroom.

After kissing Betsy and Miranda goodnight, Adam and Bronwen quietly exited the bedroom. He put an arm around her shoulders and she put an arm around his waist as they walked down the hallway. When he turned toward their bedroom instead of the staircase, she said, “Oh, aren’t you going to read Bleak House to me? I’ve been looking forward to it so much.” She sounded very sincere, but he saw the mischievous gleam in her eyes and then her lips turned up in an impish grin.

“Bleak House is not what I’ve been looking forward to,” he said, sweeping her up in his arms and then kissing her thoroughly.

When they broke apart, she said breathlessly, “Well, maybe it wasn’t Bleak House I was missing after all,” and with a low chuckle, he carried her into their bedroom.

The next morning as they were eating breakfast, Adam asked, “So, what do you want to do today, girls?”

“Let’s have another picnic,” Miranda suggested and Betsy agreed, saying, “Yes, picnics are fun.”

“I wanna see the ponies,” Gwyneth announced and Betsy immediately said, “Oh yes! We haven’t been to see them for a long time, and Blodwen and Rhiannon may have had their babies.”

Seeing Miranda’s frown, Adam said, “We can have our picnic there,” and her expression brightened. Winking at Bronwen, he added, “Be sure and pack plenty of carrots.”

Adam had established his pony farm about an hour’s ride southeast of their house and hired Tex Reynolds, who’d worked at the Ponderosa since Adam was attending Harvard, to manage it. Bronwen said that since the ponies were Welsh, the farm should have a Welsh name and christened it Dolydd Byw or Wild Meadows.

Adam always enjoyed visiting Dolydd Byw. There was a pasture for the mares with foals, a broodmare barn and a smaller foaling barn that was more the size of a shed. Then there was a separate compound for the fillies and colts who were weaned and for the stallion. Finally, there was a log cabin with a lean-to at either end, just like the one the Cartwrights had lived in before Adam’s return from college, where Tex and the stable boys and groom lived along with one of Hop Sing’s many cousins. He did the cooking, cleaning and washing. In the spring and late summer, Adam hired hands to plant and harvest the ponies’ hay and oats.

Tex was standing at the gate to the mare’s pasture when the Cartwrights rode up. Miranda and Gwyneth were mounted on their ponies while Betsy rode in the surrey with Bronwen and Penny.

“Mornin’ folks,” he said, smiling and tipping his Stetson as they dismounted. He helped Betsy down while Adam helped Bronwen and Penny. “Sure sorry to hear ya took a tumble and busted yer arm,” he told Betsy. “Same thing happened to me when I was ‘bout yer age. Aint no fun.”

“No, it’s not,” Betsy agreed.

Tex smiled at her again and then turned to the rest of the family. “You picked a good day fer a visit. Blodwen foaled early this mornin’. A bay filly with a white stripe. Rhiannon foaled Monday. A colt who’s gonnna be black like his sire. Look yonder,” and he gestured toward the far end of the pasture where a bay mare was nuzzling and licking her little bay foal and a chestnut mare grazed as her foal nursed.

“Do you see the foals, girls?” Adam asked.

“Not very well,” Gwyneth complained.

“Let’s feed carrots to Glennys and Linette,” Adam suggested, referring to the two mares with older foals that were grazing nearby. “Then I think Blodwen and Rhiannon will want to get their share. But first we have to take care of our mounts. Right?”

“Right,” said Miranda and Gwyneth.

“We’ll wait for you here,” Bronwen said, getting the bunch of carrots from the backseat of the surrey. Adam picked up the picnic basket and set it beside her, and then he and the girls mounted up and headed for the other pasture with Tex following in the surrey. Once the saddles, bridles and harness were removed, the ponies and horses were put in the large pasture for the fillies and colts.

“A Mr. Carlisle stopped by the other day,” Tex said to Adam as he and the girls walked back to the mares’ pasture. “Wanted to buy the black gelding. Was a mite put out when I told him it was sold. Tried to offer me more money. I showed him the bay and the chestnut, but he wasn’t interested. Insisted he would talk to you. Told him it wouldn’t do him no good cuz the black was a gift for yer nephew, and he rode off mad enough to kick a cat.” Gwyneth looked horrified at the idea of anyone kicking a cat so he added quickly, “It’s just a way a talkin’. I don’t mean he really kicked a kitty-cat.”

Adam grinned crookedly as he said, “I’m sure glad Josh let us know that Blackie is the pony he wants. Have you started breaking him to saddle yet?”

Tex nodded and said, “All three two year olds are green broke. Todd McCarran said to tell ya that he wants the chestnut filly for his youngest’s birthday and that’s about a month away so Billy’s concentratin’ on trainin’ her.”

“Johnny Lightly was saying he was interested in buying a pony for his Carrie so hopefully he’ll be satisfied with the bay gelding,” Adam commented.

When they returned to the mare’s pasture, they saw that Linette and her six-month-old foal had walked to where the others were waiting. Linette, a chestnut with a bald face, was leaning her head over the top fence rail and Betsy was stroking her face. Her foal, a light bay filly, was poking her head between two lower rails and a delighted Penny was petting her while Bronwen looked on.

Miranda and Gwyneth ran toward the fence, wanting their chance to pet the ponies and feed Linette carrots. Penny turned toward her daddy and said with a delighted smile, “She likes me!”

He hunkered down and stroked the foal’s soft muzzle and then turned to his baby girl. “Mama and I were thinking that when you’re a big girl like Gwyneth, she could be your pony.”

“My pony!” Penny exclaimed joyfully.

“What’ll you name her?” Gwyneth asked and without hesitating, Penny replied, “Muffin.”

“Muffin,” Miranda said with a snort of derision and Bronwen said, “Miranda,” in a warning tone her daughter recognized.

“Muffin’s a good name,” Gwyneth said loyally.

“Yes, because she’s sort of brown like a muffin,” Betsy added. Then she asked, “Daddy, may I feed Linette a carrot?”

“I want to,” Gwyneth said. “You’ve been petting her.”

“Gwyneth’s right so she can feed Linette first,” Adam said firmly.

“I feed Muffin carrot,” Penny announced but Adam said gently, “I’m sorry, Kitten, but Muffin is too little to eat carrots.”

Bronwen said quickly, “I see some daisies, Penny. Let’s make a daisy chain,” and she held out her hand. Penny smiled at her mama and took her hand and they walked off toward the flowers.

As Linette chomped down her carrot, Glennys, a black mare with a white stripe, ambled over. She was followed by her foal, a black colt with a white stripe and three white stockings.

“I get to feed her a carrot,” Miranda insisted while Betsy scowled. However, it wasn’t long before Rhiannon came to investigate with her five-day-old foal trotting at her side.

“Isn’t he sweet,” Betsy said as she held out a carrot to the chestnut mare.

“Yes, but don’t try to pet him. Rhiannon may bite you,” Adam cautioned.

“Why doesn’t Blodwen come?” Gwyneth asked her daddy as she gazed at the light bay and her bay foal at the other end of the pasture.

“Her baby isn’t even a day old so she may not want her around people yet,” Adam explained. “We’ll come back in a few weeks and I bet she’ll bring her where you can get a better look.”

The girls had just about finished feeding the mares carrots when Bronwen and Penny walked over with their daisy chain.

“For you, Daddy,” Penny said, smiling sweetly. As he bent over so she could place it around his neck, Betsy and Miranda snickered.

“Thank you, Kitten,” he said with a smile, ignoring the sniggering of his older daughters. Then he said, “I’m getting hungry. How about you, girls?”

Everyone agreed they were hungry so Adam carried the picnic basket to a black cottonwood that stood a ways from the log cabin. They sat under the tree and ate the pasties Kerra had made along with the remainder of the previous night’s chocolate cake. Then they played London Bridge with Adam and Bronwen being the bridge. When they tired of that, Adam told the girls stories about when he and Uncle Hoss were little boys. Penny fell asleep, but the older girls listen with great enjoyment.

That night when Adam was tucking Betsy in and telling her goodnight, she said quietly, “I wish you didn’t have to go tomorrow, but I’m very glad you spend Saturdays with us.”

“So am I, Princess,” he said and kissed her cheek.

Chapter 4
April turned to May and Dr. Martin removed Betsy’s splints. He told her that her arm would be as good as new as long as she continued to wear the sling for two more weeks. Finally, the first week in June she was liberated from her sling and was able to play the piano, ride Daisy and join the games of croquet.

Bronwen and Claire decided that since neither of them enjoyed sewing that they would hire Mrs. Pascoe, a widow who supported her four children by her work as a seamstress, to make them each two dresses and a suit in the new style. The first Sunday that they wore their new outfits, their husbands wisely kept their opinions of the enormous bustles to themselves, but Annabelle complimented her sisters-in-law on their stylish new clothes. Mrs. Pascoe and the other seamstresses in Virginia City soon had enough work to keep them busy for weeks as women switched to the new style.

The end of June began summer vacation for Betsy, Miranda and Gwyneth. When Ann Lightly came on Wednesday afternoons, she brought her two older daughters to play with the older Cartwright sisters. Virginia McCarran brought her two girls as well. The girls would play hopscotch and jacks and they would jump rope. Sometimes they had tea for their dolls using the little table and chairs Adam and his brothers had made for Betsy and Miranda and the china tea set Bronwen’s parents had given their eldest granddaughter. Just like their mama, the three sisters served their guests bread and butter sandwiches that they’d prepared.

Jesse turned nine months in June and was crawling everywhere. He also loved to sit and roll his ball back and forth with his big brother.

“When’ll Jesse be able to play catch instead just rollin’ the ball, Daddy?” Josh asked one evening as he and Hoss went outside with Josh’s ball.

Hoss chuckled and ruffled his first-born’s curls. “Your brother aint even a year old yet, but he’ll be playin’ catch with you before you know it. I expect he’ll be walkin’ soon.”

“Really?” Josh said with a grin.

“Yup, and I bet he’ll be followin’ you around like a little puppy. Leastways, your grandpa told me I used to tag after your Uncle Adam all the time when I was little boy,” and Josh grinned up at his daddy.

The last Friday evening in June Adam suggested, “Tomorrow, let’s look for strawberries and then Mama can make strawberry cakes.”

“Oh yes, I love strawberry cakes,” Miranda said and her sisters agreed.

The family sat off early Saturday morning. They loaded the surrey’s back seat with their tin buckets and then set off for the wild strawberry patch Adam and Bronwen had discovered when Miranda was around Penny’s age.

“Remember, girls,” Adam admonished as the three oldest grabbed their buckets and prepared to jump down. “Fill your buckets first, and then you can eat what you pick.”

“Okay, Daddy,” they chorused and then ran toward the strawberry patch. He helped Bronwen and Penny down and while they joined the others, he set up a picket line for King and Prince. He unhitched them from the surrey and then tied them to the picket line so they could graze before grabbing his bucket.

Bronwen made sure Penny picked ripe berries and reassured her when some angry birds that considered the berries belonged to them swooped down and tried to peck them for stealing the fruit. The older girls worked to fill their buckets quickly as they crawled along on their hands and knees, hunting for the small red berries on their long, slender stalks.

It was a good sized patch and it didn’t take a long time to fill all the buckets. Bronwen was pleased to see they’d picked enough for strawberry cakes and strawberry jam. They all enjoyed eating some berries before they headed for home.

After dinner while Penny took her nap and Adam played with Miranda and Gwyneth, Betsy wanted to help her mama make the strawberry cakes.

Bronwen got her copy of The Lady’s Receipt-Book: a Useful Companion for Large or Small Families and opened it to Strawberry Cakes.

“These cakes,” she explained to Betsy, “are like biscuits and scones. We start out the same by rubbing the flour into the butter.”

“I can do that,” Betsy said, and Bronwen said with a smile, “Too right you can. I’ll go ahead and beat the eggs and then mix in the powdered loaf sugar.”

When they were both done, Betsy watched Bronwen add the egg mixture to the butter and flour, making a dough. “Would you like to knead the dough?” Bronwen asked and Betsy nodded eagerly. When the dough was ready, Betsy watched her mama roll it out and cut out five circles. “I’ll share mine with Penny and the big cake is for Daddy,” Bronwen explained.

While the cakes were baking, mother and daughter mashed most of the strawberries and sweetened them with powdered sugar. As they were cooling, Betsy watched as Bronwen made icing, using some juice from the mashed berries for flavor and to make the icing a pretty pink. Once the cakes were cool, Bronwen split them and put each on a plate.

“Now, we put the mashed strawberries on the bottom layer,” Bronwen instructed. Once the bottoms were covered with all the mashed berries, they put on each top layer and pressed it into the mashed berries. Then Bronwen spread icing on the tops and sides of the cakes before adding whole strawberries to the top of each cake in a decorative pattern.

“Oh Mama, they’re so pretty!” Betsy exclaimed.

Bronwen gave her a hug, saying, “And you were a wonderful helper. Now, run along and go play with Daddy and your sisters.”

That evening when Bronwen brought out the five strawberry cakes, Penny clapped her hands and exclaimed, “Pretty!”

“They are pretty,” Miranda agreed.

“Too pretty to eat?” Adam teased and she replied emphatically, “Not that pretty!”

After swallowing his first mouthful, Adam turned to his first-born and said, “You are going to be as good a cook as your mama.”

“They are awfully good,” Miranda told her sister and Gwyneth added, “They really are.” With her mouth full of strawberries and cake, Penny shouted, “Good!”

“Penny, you shouldn’t talk with food in your mouth,” Bronwen scolded while Betsy beamed at her family’s praise.

Summer vacation was over all too soon for the three sisters. They’d spent their time riding their ponies, playing croquet, practicing the piano and helping weed the garden. Then on Saturdays they’d gone with their daddy to the swimming hole or to visit Dolydd Byw or to pick raspberries, gooseberries and currants that their mama had made into cobbler, pie, jam and jelly. Sunday afternoons before he had to leave, they’d made ice cream-sometimes vanilla and sometimes chocolate.

Meanwhile, progress was being made on Joe and Annabelle’s house. By the first week in September, the exterior of the house was complete as was the plumbing for the kitchen and the two bathrooms: one on the second floor for the family and a small one on the third floor for the servants. Since Annabelle had no interest in the servants’ quarters, Adam consulted with Joe and the two brothers agreed the servants should also have a room for bathing.

“Looks like you should be able to move in by the first week of October,” Adam announced at supper, pleased by the delight he saw on his brother’s and sister-in-law’s faces.

“Now we need to buy our furniture and our china and silver,” Annabelle said to Joe, her face radiant. “Oh, I must advertise in Virginia City and Carson City for a cook and a housemaid,” she added. “So much to do!”

“We have a month, Darling,” Joe said, enchanted by her enthusiasm. “We’ll get it all done.”

“If there’s anything I can do to help, Annabelle, please let me know,” Claire offered.

“Thank you,” Annabelle said, smiling warmly at her sister-in-law. Then she turned to Adam. “The girls are going to be so happy to know you’ll soon be home to stay.”

“No happier than I’ll be,” he stated with a grin and a wink.

As excited as Annabelle was to be moving to her own house where she would be the mistress, she knew she would miss Joe’s family. Her life with them was so different from her old life.

At age nineteen she’d married a wealthy man her father’s age and it was considered a brilliant match. However, on their wedding night he made it clear he viewed her as merely another beautiful object in his collection. Throughout the five years before his death, he never displayed the slightest interest in consummating their marriage. Annabelle knew that meant she wouldn’t have a child, but the thought didn’t trouble her. Then she met Joe-and her life was turned upside down.

Joe was so different from all the other men in her life-her father, her brother and her late husband. Joe was as passionate as they were cold and as open as they were reserved. The contrast between her family and Joe’s was equally striking. The Cartwrights genuinely enjoyed spending time together and they expressed their affection without constraint. At first, it seemed peculiar to Annabelle but the more time she spent with her new in-laws, the more she appreciated their warm and loving relationships. As Annabelle observed Claire with her two boys and Bronwen with her girls, Annabelle realized that not only did she want children, she wanted to care for them herself, not turn them over to nursemaids as she and her brother had been.

She was beginning to grow worried since she and Joe had been married nearly five months but she showed no signs of being with child. She felt closer to her sisters-in-law than any other women that she’d met since moving to the Ponderosa, but her concern was too personal to share even with them. One night after she and Joe made love and he was holding her close, he said very gently, “You know, Darling, if you share a trouble, it’s easier to bear.”

She dropped her eyes and said softly, “I love you and you love me. What troubles could I have?”

He kissed her and then said, “I don’t know, but I do know that something is troubling you and I want to help.”

“I’m afraid I’m barren,” she said so softly that he had to strain to hear.

He hugged her tightly and dropped butterfly kisses on her eyelids before saying, “We haven’t even been married a year; it’s too early to worry about that. Trust me.”

She managed a tremulous smile and his heart overflowed with tenderness and love. He held her close and they fell asleep wrapped in each other’s arms.

Annabelle was so busy interviewing prospective cooks and housemaids and traveling to San Francisco with Joe to select furniture, china and silver that the days just flew by. She hired a woman named Jane Perkins, who had glowing references from her previous employer, as cook. Mrs. Perkins (Annabelle had been taught the British custom of addressing cooks as Mrs. regardless of their marital status) was in her early thirties, a small woman who was a little stout and who possessed a brisk and forthright manner that appealed to Annabelle. She understood that as a plain cook she would be responsible for keeping the kitchen clean as well as cooking the meals, and she impressed Annabelle as very capable.

She had decided on a housemaid but when she mentioned her decision that evening at supper, she was surprised by Joe’s reaction.

“I was hopin’ you’d choose Lily Pollard,” he said.

“That young girl in the threadbare dress?” she asked with raised eyebrows. When he nodded, she explained, “She’s too young and she has no experience working as a housemaid.”

“But she’s a hard worker and her family could sure use her wages to help feed and clothe her younger brothers and sisters,” he said.

“Her father was killed in a mining accident leaving her mother with seven children to raise on her own. She’s takes in laundry and ironing but she can barely make ends meet,” Ben said quietly.

“If we hired Lily, that’d be one less mouth for her to feed and Lily would give her wages to her mother,” Joe added, reaching for Annabelle’s hand and squeezing it.

“But she would be responsible for keeping all the rooms clean except the kitchen and that includes dusting, sweeping and scrubbing. She’d also have to make and change all the beds and do the washing and ironing. I just don’t think she could cope.”

Joe frowned but then he snapped his fingers. “It sounds like too much work for one person so we hire Lily and her younger sister, Rose. We can afford it.”

“Since they are inexperienced, it will be easy to train them to do things as you like them done,” Adam argued persuasively.

“It’d be a real kindness,” Hoss added.

“Mrs. Pollard won’t accept anything she considers charity, so this is really the only way to help them,” Claire explained.

“All right,” Annabelle said, “we’ll hire the Pollard sisters. And I’ll write a letter for them to give Mrs. Pascoe instructing her on suitable clothes I’ll want her to make for each girl and to send the bill to me. I think they’ll need new shoes as well.”

Joe leaned over and gave her a quick kiss. “You won’t regret it, Darling.”

While Annabelle was busy preparing to move, Claire and Hop Sing as well as Bronwen and Kerra were equally busy with the normal autumn activities of salting the meat from the pigs and steers Ben and Hoss slaughtered and making sausage, lard and candles. The Cartwright sisters and Josh helped their mothers pull the navy beans and dig up the potatoes, beets, turnips and carrots, and store them in their root cellars. Lessons were briefly suspended and Miss Brooks always volunteered to help with harvesting the kitchen garden.

The last Thursday of September when lessons were over for the day, Betsy, Miranda and Gwyneth headed to the kitchen for a glass of milk and perhaps, if they were lucky, a gingersnap from the cookie jar. For just a second, they were frozen in the doorway at the sight of their daddy sitting at the kitchen table drinking a cup of coffee while their baby sister sat on his lap drinking a cup of milk. Then as one they rushed forward, squealing, “Daddy!”

Adam hastily set down his coffee so he could hug his girls. Bronwen and Kerra, who were preparing supper, looked on with smiles.

“Are you home for good?” Miranda demanded.

“Yes, I’m home for good,” he answered with a smile. “I offered to help Uncle Joe move tomorrow, but he told me to go home to my girls so here I am.”

“And I’m making a chocolate cake to celebrate,” Bronwen said and the girls cheered.

“Who’d like to play dominos while we wait for supper?” he asked and all three girls shouted, “Me, Daddy!”

“All right, you girls go set up the game and I’ll be there in a minute.” He set Penny down, saying, “Go with your sisters, Kitten. You can help Daddy play.” Once the girls had left the room and Kerra had gone to get something from the pantry, he took Bronwen in his arms for a kiss. When they broke apart, he said with a wink, “We’ll have a private celebration tonight.

On Friday, Joe and Hoss and a couple of hands moved all of Annabelle and Joe’s new furniture. The next day, September 29, was Jesse’s first birthday so Joe decided they would finish moving on Monday. He and one of the hands took Annabelle and they spent Saturday morning putting down rugs and arranging furniture.

Claire had scrubbed the floors and polished the furniture until it gleamed on Friday. She was so exhausted she went to bed right after she and Hoss tucked Josh in for the night, and she was sound asleep when Hoss came upstairs. He smiled tenderly at her sleeping form, thinking, You’re workin’ too hard, Honey. I know you want everything just so but I don’t want you wearin’ yourself out. He got into bed carefully so he wouldn’t wake her and smiled contentedly when, still asleep, she snuggled next to him.

For the birthday dinner, Hop Sing prepared roast beef with the birthday boy’s favorites as side dishes-mashed potatoes and gravy and peas. He made a silver cake with orange filling and boiled frosting, and put a single birthday candle in the center. Claire used the best lace tablecloth and set the table while Hoss held Jesse on his knee and jiggled him and Josh sat on Ben’s lap as Ben read aloud the old Puss in Boots that had been passed from Adam to Hoss to Joe.

As soon as Claire finished, she walked over to Jesse and Hoss. “It’s time to get ready for your party,” she said, holding out her hand. Hoss set the little boy on his feet and he put his hand in Claire’s. As Claire and Jesse headed toward the stairs, she said, “Josh, as soon as Grandpa finishes, you need to come change. I’ll put your clothes on your bed.”

“Aw Mama, do I gotta?” Josh whined.

“Yes, you ‘gotta’,” Claire responded in a no-nonsense voice, and Hoss said, “I’m gettin’ all dressed up, too, Buckaroo.”

“So am I,” Ben added.

“And your cousins will be dressed up,” Claire said, but Josh made a face and muttered, “Aw, they like to dress up.”

Ben tried to hide his smile but Hoss chuckled as he said, “You’re right about that, Buckaroo. Don’t matter if they’re little girls or big girls, they like dressin’ up.” Claire just shook her head and walked up the steps with Jesse clutching her hand.

Once they were in the boys’ room, Claire checked Jesse’s diaper to see if he needed changing and then she dressed him in a tartan kilt, lined with calico so the wool wouldn’t scratch, and a white cambric tunic.

“As soon as Mama brushes your hair, then you’re ready for your party,” she told her baby boy with a smile, and he grinned back at her, showing his four little teeth.

Josh reluctantly entered the bedroom as Claire was brushing Jesse’s silver blond curls, followed by Hoss.

“I’ll watch Jesse while you change,” he offered, adding, “and I can help Josh, if he needs any help.”

“Thank you,” she said, handing him Jesse. “Make sure he stays clean.”

“Jesse wants to look nice for his party, don’t you?” Hoss asked and the toddler gave another toothy grin.

Claire decided to wear one of her new dresses. It was made of robin’s egg blue challis with a printed design of red rosebuds. The severely tailored lace trimmed bodice had long, tight-fitting sleeves and the underskirt had five rows of ruffles. It had fit perfectly at her last fitting with Mrs. Pascoe but now she could barely fasten the bodice, her breasts straining against the fabric.

“Hoss, could you come here, please,” she called and he and Jesse walked across the hall as she unfastened the bodice. “I need you to tighten my corset just a little so the dress fits properly.”

“Just a little,” he agreed. When he finished, she felt a bit uncomfortable but the bodice looked much better. That’s odd, she thought. Then she remembered how tired she had felt lately. Oh, and I’m late; I should’ve had my monthly flow two weeks ago. I wonder . . . But I won’t say anything to Hoss until I’m sure.

“Jesse and I will leave you alone so you can change,” she said, “and we’ll see how Josh is doing.”

Just then, Annabelle and Joe walked through the front door and seeing the empty great room, he remarked, “Wonder where everyone is?”

“I’m sure they’re upstairs getting ready,” she replied. “We need to hurry.” She knocked on her maid’s door but there was no answer. “She must be waiting upstairs.” She moved briskly across the room and up the stairs with Joe following. They went down the long hallway past the boys’ room, Hoss’s and Claire’s, and then Ben’s. Joe stopped at his pa’s door and watched Annabelle go around the corner to their room. He sighed and knocked on his pa’s door.

Ben opened the door, dressed in his frock coat, vest and trousers of black broadcloth, holding his necktie in one hand. “You need to hurry, Joseph,” he said, opening the door wider. “Adam’s family will be here soon.”

“Don’t worry, Pa,” Joe said with a grin. “Adam has to wait for five females to get dressed; I’ve got plenty of time to change.”

Indeed, when Adam’s family arrived, everyone but Annabelle was waiting in the great room. Josh didn’t look too happy to be wearing his navy blue knickerbocker suit and a black tie arranged in a big bow, and his daddy didn’t look that comfortable in his suit and tie.

Betsy and Miranda ran inside first, calling, “Happy Birthday, Jesse!” He was sitting on his mama’s lap and smiled at his cousins and giggled. Gwyneth and Penny were right behind their sisters. Penny ran over to Ben, saying, “See my pretty dress, Granpa!” She twirled around so he could view her long-sleeved blue velvet dress trimmed lavishly with lace and ribbons. “Gwyth has new dress, too,” she announced. Ben noted with an inner smile that Gwyneth seemed as ill-at-ease in her cherry red velvet trimmed in lace as her Uncle Hoss was in his finery.

Adam and Bronwen entered then and he explained, “I left our gift on the porch.” Then he sat in the blue wing chair while she sat in the red one beside it. “Happy Birthday, Jesse,” they said and he grinned happily. “Oh, I see you have another tooth,” Bronwen said, smiling at her little nephew.

“He walks real good, too,” Josh announced proudly.

Claire set Jesse on his feet, saying, “Show your Aunt Bronwen and your cousins how well you walk.”

Bronwen held out her arms and Jesse toddled over on his chubby little legs. She picked him up and set him on her lap, saying, “My, you’re a big boy now, aren’t you?”

Ben saw Penny frown and wanting to prevent a tantrum, he quickly asked, “Will you sit with me, Pretty Penny?” Her little face lit up as she smiled at him, and he lifted her onto his lap. Just then, Annabelle came down the stairs, looking as ravishingly beautiful as ever. She joined Joe, Claire and Hoss on the settee, excusing her tardiness.

“You must be looking forward to moving into your new house,” Bronwen commented as she put down a wriggling Jesse, who toddled back over to his mama.

“Indeed I am,” Annabelle replied emphatically. “The house is beautiful and your husband is a very talented architect.”

“Thank you,” Adam said with one of his crooked smiles.

“We’re going to finish Monday and I sent a message to Mrs. Perkins on Friday to order all the supplies she’ll need.

“I’m gonna haul the supplies plus her belongings, Lily’s and Rose’s to the new house,” Hoss interjected and Ben added, “I’ll be driving Mrs. Perkins and the girls.”

“Aunt Annabelle, did you know Lily and Rose’s little sisters are named for flowers too?” Miranda asked. When Annabelle smiled slightly and shook her head, Miranda continued. “Pansy’s a couple of years older than Betsy and me but Marigold is our age.”

“Their brothers are named after the Gospels,” Betsy stated. “Matthew, Mark and Luke. No John though.”

“Oh, I meant to tell you before,” Bronwen said to Annabelle. “Kerra and I had Lily and Rose over so we could show them how to use a washing machine and a mangle. Of course, their mother already taught them how to use a flat iron.” She smiled as she added, “They are so excited to have jobs and be able to help their mother.”

Just then, Hop Sing announced dinner was ready so Hoss put Jesse in the highchair he’d inherited from Josh while Adam set Penny in Josh’s old booster seat. They’d put all the leaves in the dining room table so it could seat twelve, but they were rather crowded.

“When Jesse gets too big for his highchair, I think we’ll let the younger children use the center table as their dining table,” Claire remarked. Betsy and Miranda hoped that meant they’d still be eating with the adults.

After finishing their delicious dinner, where the birthday boy got as much of his mashed potatoes and gravy on his face and bib as he did in his mouth, they all adjourned to the great room to watch Jesse open his presents with the help of his big brother.

“Here,” Josh said, handing Jesse a package. “This is from me and Mama and Daddy.” Jesse took the gift and began to chew on it. “No!” Josh said, snatching it away. “You’re supposed to unwrap it.”

Hoss saw Jesse’s face pucker into a scowl and said quickly, “Why don’t you show him?”

Josh ripped off the wrapping and Jesse laughed and clapped his hands when he saw a floppy-eared dog made of blue calico. Josh handed him the dog and Jesse grabbed it eagerly. When he immediately began to chew on it, Josh started to object but Claire said firmly, “It’s Jesse’s toy and he can chew on it if he wants too.”

“Why don’t you open another gift for him,” Ben suggested with a smile, which Josh returned, and then he selected another present.

“This is from Grandpa,” he said to his little brother, still happily chewing on his calico dog. He tore off the paper and held up a little statue of a boy and a dog and along the base was printed the phrase ‘Speaking Dog’.

“It’s a bank,” Ben explained. “Set it on the table, please, Josh, and I’ll show Jesse how it works.” He fished around in a pocket for a coin while all the grandchildren gathered around the table to watch. He put a nickel on the plate the boy held and then he pushed the lever at the back. The boy dropped the coin into the trap door and the dog’s mouth opened and its tail wagged.

“Oh, may I try?” Miranda asked and Josh said eagerly, “I wanna try!” while Penny squealed, “Me! Me!

“Jesse first,” Ben said, “and then you may take turns, going from youngest to oldest.” He pulled out another nickel while Hoss and Adam searched their pockets for coins. Ben put the nickel on the plate and then helped Jesse pull the lever. The little boy clapped his hands and laughed as the dog wagged its tail and opened its mouth as if to bark.

After each child put in a coin, Josh picked up the remaining gift and ripped off the wrapping paper, revealing a wooden box painted with the scene of two little girls, a little boy and his dog at a puppet show.

“If you’ll please hand me the box, Josh, then I’ll show Jesse how it works,” Joe said with a big grin. He set the box on the table and began to turn a crank on one side. Immediately, music was heard. Jesse grinned and Gwyneth said, “Pop Goes the Weasel!” When the tune reached ‘Pop’, the lid of the box flew open and a clown head with a tall hat and a big red nose popped out. The older children gasped in surprise while Jesse and Penny shrieked. Then Jesse clapped his hands and bounced up and down on his daddy’s lap and Penny squealed, “Again!”

After the fourth time Joe made the jack pop, Hoss said gently but firmly, “We don’t wanna wear him out, and you haven’t seen what Uncle Adam, Aunt Bronwen and your cousins gave you.” He nodded to Adam who strode quickly out the front door and returned, carrying a miniature rocking horse about two feet high with a real leather bridle and English style saddle.

“It’s a rocking pony,” Gwyneth said with a dimpled grin and Betsy added, “Me and Miranda and Gwyneth helped Daddy make it.”

“The girls used a pumice stone to smooth the wood and they painted the horse,” Adam explained as he set the rocking pony down on the oak plank floor near the door.

“Except the hooves,” Miranda said. “Mama painted those.”

“C’mon, Jesse, and Daddy’ll show ya how to mount up,” Hoss said, taking the excited toddler by the hand, with Josh trailing close behind.

“How did you ever find the time, Adam?” Claire asked wonderingly.

“I did most of the work last winter,” he replied. “I needed something to do all the days we were snowbound,” he added with a wink. “This winter I’ll make one for P-e-n-n-y.”

“What I wanna know,” Joe said, getting up to join his brothers and nephews, “is how you got the tack for this little rocking pony.”

“I told Rob at Greene’s Saddlery what I needed, and he agreed to make it for me. Told me it he enjoyed it.”

“I see your Uncle Adam’s done nailed this pony’s saddle on so we don’t have to tighten the cinch,” Hoss said with a grin. He helped Jesse put his foot in the small stirrup and throw his other leg over the pony’s back. He handed the excited little boy the reins and Jesse laughed in delight as Hoss gently rocked the pony.

“On Jesse’s behalf, I want to thank you all for your lovely gifts,” Claire said as Hop Sing carried the birthday cake with its lit candle into the dining room. “Now, let’s have some of the delicious birthday cake Hop Sing made Jesse.”

Hoss stopped rocking the pony and Jesse pouted, but Hoss shook his head. “No, Little Buckaroo, Mama says it’s time to eat your cake.”

“You like cake,” Josh said coaxingly and after a small hesitation, the toddler let go of the reins and let his daddy pick him up and carry him over to the table. Hoss sat down with Jesse on his lap while Ben seated Claire and Adam and Joe seated their wives. Adam also set Penny on her booster.

Once everyone was seated, Claire moved the cake closer to Jesse and said, “It’s time to make a wish and blow out your candle.” Jesse had other ideas and reached his fingers toward the flame and Hoss snatched them back.

“You don’t touch the fire; you blow it out,” Josh scolded.

“He’s too little to understand,” Hoss said. “You blow it out for him.”

After they finished eating, Adam and his family had to head home and Hoss’s family took Jesse’s new toys upstairs to play with in the boys’ room. Ben settled down with a book in his favorite chair while Joe and Annabelle decided to play a game of chess.

After a moment, Ben put his book down and thought about the day’s events. I have been so blessed, he thought. Not only has the Lord given me three fine sons, but I have the gift of watching my grandchildren grow up. Two fine grandsons and four beautiful granddaughters. I only wish you could have been with me today, Inger, my love, to see our grandsons. I can tell Josh is going to be just as good a big brother to Jesse as Adam was to Hoss. God willing, Joe and Annabelle will soon have a child. Yes, I have been richly blessed.

Chapter 5
Ben and Hoss left early the next morning for Virginia City. They worked together to load the supplies. Then they drove to Mrs. Hawkins’ boarding house where the cook was staying.

“Good morning, Benjamin,” the widow greeted him, adding a flirtatious wink.

“Good morning, Clementine,” Ben said, tipping his hat, and Hoss did the same, saying, “Mornin’, ma’am.”

“Good morning, Hoss,” she replied with a friendly smile. “I expect you’re here for Miss Perkins.”

“Miss?” Hoss repeated, sounding confused, and Ben shook his head at him, which Hoss recognized as a sign Pa would explain later.

“She’s waitin’ for you in my parlor,” Mrs. Hawkins continued, motioning for the two men to enter her house.

Miss Perkins rose as she saw the two men enter. She swallowed nervously as she gazed up at Hoss and looked to Ben, whom she had met when she’d had her interview with Annabelle at the ranch house.

“It’s good to see you again, Miss Perkins,” Ben said. “This is my middle son, Hoss.”

“Horse?” Miss Perkins repeated dubiously.

“No, ma’am. Hoss. H-o-s-s,” he corrected politely. “Is this your trunk?” When she nodded, he picked it up, saying, “I’ll take it out to the wagon.”

As Ben and Miss Perkins prepared to be on their way, he said to Mrs. Hawkins, “Always a pleasure, Clementine.”

“You’re welcome anytime, Ducky,” Mrs. Hawkins said with another wink.

As Ben helped Miss Perkins into the surrey, he explained, “We just have to pick up the Pollard sisters and then we’ll be on our way. The Pollard sisters will be the new housemaids.” Miss Perkins seemed friendlier than Miss Turner so he added, “This is Lily and Rose’s first job. They’re young and they’ve never been separated from their mother and siblings before.”

Miss Perkins understood why he was providing the information and said with a reassuring smile, “I remember my first position and I’ll be a friend to them.”

The Pollard family had been watching for them, Miss Perkins saw as Mr. Cartwright pulled up in front of a shabby little house with peeling paint. The tiny yard was neat and tidy, she noted, and boasted an apple tree loaded with fruit that was almost ripe enough to pick. A thin woman whose brown hair was streaked with white came out the door with two skinny girls. Each girl’s dark hair was braided in long pigtails and they wore identical plain, dove-gray wrappers and starched white muslin aprons. Behind them trailed five younger children whose ages seemed to range from twelve to six, all in neat but threadbare clothing.

Ben introduced Miss Perkins to the Pollards and when the introductions were complete, Miss Perkins said, “Mrs. Pollard, I hope you’ll excuse me, but I want the girls to get started off on the right foot, so I must say that housemaids don’t wear their hair in pigtails. Do you have any hairpins I could use to put their hair up? If not, I have some we can use in my trunk.”

“No, I think I have enough,” Mrs. Pollard replied, a red flush vivid against her pale complexion. Miss Perkins called after her, “I’ll show them how to pin it up on the way.” Then she smiled at the two sisters, noting both had their mother’s ivory skin and dark brown hair and both were sloe-eyed. She resolved to put some meat on their delicate bones.

Meanwhile, the oldest boy handed Hoss a battered old carpet bag held together by twine. Hoss took it with a friendly smile, saying, “Thanks, Matt.” He put the carpet bag on the wagon beside Miss Perkins’ trunk and headed for Joe’s house.

Mrs. Pollard returned a few minutes later and gave Miss Perkins a handful of hairpins. She and Ben went over to the surrey, giving the Pollards some privacy for their tearful goodbyes. Ben helped the girls into the second seat of the surrey and neither he nor Miss Perkins said a word about their red, swollen eyes. When they had passed the outskirts of Virginia City, Miss Perkins asked Ben to stop.

“This won’t take long, Mr. Cartwright,” she said, and he smiled and nodded. “Rose, trade places with me and then you can watch how I do Lily’s hair.” Smiling shyly, Rose did as she was bid. She watched with interest as the older woman wrapped her sister’s braids at the back of her head and then pinned the coiled braids in place. Then it was Lily’s turn to watch.

“There, not hard at all,” Miss Perkins said with a smile as Ben slapped the reins and said, “Giddap.” As they moved down the road, Miss Perkins turned to suggest, “You might want to do each other’s hair until you have more practice.”

“We will. Thank you, Miss Perkins,” Lily said.

When they approached the new house, the Pollard sisters’ eyes grew big and round. “Oh, isn’t it grand,”‘ breathed Rose.

It seemed a bit too fanciful to Ben and he was surprised when Miss Perkins remarked, “I’ve seen several houses built in this style in San Francisco; it’s quite fashionable.”

Ben started to pull up by the front but Miss Perkins quickly said, “Oh, would you drive us around to the back, please. That’s the entrance we’ll be expected to use.”

Ben nodded and continued around to the back where they could see Hoss and Joe busy unloading supplies. As Ben helped Miss Perkins down, Hoss walked over.

“Howdy. I’ll take your belongings upstairs now,” he said with a friendly grin. “Miss Turner done picked her bedroom so you just gotta decide who gets which of what’s left.” He hefted Miss Perkins’ trunk on one shoulder and picked up Lily and Rose’s carpet bag and started up the verandah’s steps.

Miss Perkins and the girls followed Hoss up the back staircase past the first landing and up another floor. They saw a hallway ran the length of the floor with rooms on either side.

“The room there across the hall is for storage,” Hoss explained as he led them down the hall. “Next to it is the room Miss Turner chose.” He nodded at the other side of the hall and said, “That’s your bathroom.” As they walked past, the girls glimpsed a linoleum floor and a large rectangular tub raised off the ground on feet. They weren’t sure what it was for or exactly what a bathroom was, but were embarrassed to ask.

Hoss set down the carpetbag and opened the door of the room next to the bathroom. They saw the room had a sloped ceiling and a Venetian window. The walls were painted tan and the trim was painted a dark red. The room contained a plain bedstead, chest of drawers, washstand and braided rug.

“The other bedrooms are in the towers,” Hoss said. “Take a look and then tell me who’s goin’ where.”

Both towers had round stained glass windows, sloped ceilings and furniture identical to the other bedroom. The round tower’s walls were painted slate blue and the trim was gray while the polygonal tower’s walls were a dark green and the trim was tan.

“I don’t fancy an odd shaped room,” said Miss Perkins, “so I’ll take the one by the bathroom.” Hoss set her trunk inside the room and looked expectantly at the Pollard sisters, who’d been furiously whispering together.

“We’d like this room,” Lily said, moving to stand by the doorway to the polygonal tower.

Hoss started to say they could each have a room, but then realized they preferred to stay together. He smiled at them as he carried their carpetbag into the room and set it down by the chest of drawers.

“Thank you very much,” Miss Perkins said to Hoss and the girls echoed her. Hoss headed back down the stairs and Miss Perkins turned to the girls. “I need to begin putting my kitchen in order and you need to find Mrs. Cartwright and see what she wants you to do.”

“Yes, ma’am,” they said. Then, summoning all her courage, Lily asked, “Miss Perkins, what’s a bathroom?”

If she was startled by the question, she had the kindness not to show it. “A bathroom is a room for bathing. That’s what the big tub is for,” and the girls nodded their understanding.

Hoss discovered that Joe was just finishing with the supplies and that his pa had headed back to the ranch house.

“Do you mind staying a while longer?” Joe asked him. “I’m gonna need help hanging curtains and drapes.”

“Glad to help, little brother,” Hoss said, slapping Joe on the back.

It was late that afternoon when Hoss and Joe finished. Joe and Annabelle walked with him to the back verandah.

“Thank you so much for all your help,” Annabelle said warmly.

“Shucks, that’s what families are for,” Hoss said before heading down the verandah’s steps.

“Don’t forget to tell everyone that they’re invited to dinner Saturday,” Joe called and Hoss called back, “I won’t.”

As Hoss drove off with the empty wagon, Joe put an arm around Annabelle. “Are you happy with your house, Darling?”

She looked at him, her face glowing with happiness. “Oh yes! The house is more beautiful than I imagined.”

“I was just thinking that it’s a couple of hours until supper,” he said softly as he gently caressed her slender neck with his fingertips, “and we have a brand-new bedroom with a brand-new bed.” He moved his mouth to hers and felt her immediate response.

Miss Perkins, Rose and Lily were waiting in the large kitchen with its linoleum floor, tile walls and slate countertops when Miss Turner joined them.

“They should be ringing the bell any minute,” she said and the two girls smoothed their ruffled aprons. Mrs. Cartwright had told them that when they served at dinner or supper they must wear their black serge wrappers and ruffled white linen aprons. Sure enough, they heard the tinkling of the bell for the dining room within a few minutes. Miss Perkins moved the pot roast from the oven to the platter and then arranged the potatoes, carrots and onions around the meat and handed the platter to Lily. She carefully walked down the short hallway linking the kitchen to the dining room and started to offer the platter to Joe when Annabelle’s voice made her freeze.

“No, no, Lily. You always serve from the left and you clear away from the right,” she stated, a touch of impatience in her tone.

“I- I’m sorry, ma’am,” the girl stuttered, looking very young and nervous.

“I understand that you didn’t know, but now you do,” Annabelle said, using a gentler tone. “Just make sure you don’t forget.”

“Oh, I won’t, ma’am,” Lily promised earnestly and Joe smiled at the girl reassuringly.

After supper while Joe and Annabelle played cribbage in the living room, she commented, “It appears that Lily and Rose are going to need even more training than I realized.”

Joe said quickly, “But they’re bright girls and I know they’ll be easy to train.”

She smiled at him, saying, “Yes, I’m sure they will be. I just need to patient. Still, I’m relieved that our first dinner party will only include our family. It’d going to be a bit crowded with twelve of us and Jesse in his highchair.” She said more softly, “Seeing our nephews and nieces at the birthday party made me want a child even more.”

“We’ll have children, Darling,” he said, reaching for her hand and enfolding it in his own. “I’m sure of it. Right now we should just enjoy our time together. Once the babies start arriving, we won’t have much time for just the two of us.”

Her lips curved up slightly. “Yes, from what I’ve observed, you’re definitely right about that.

Late Saturday morning Adam drove his surrey up to the ranch house where the rest of the family was waiting. Hoss helped Claire and Jesse into the backseat and then joined them while Ben helped Josh into the third seat and then climbed up beside him. Betsy and Miranda turned around as Adam said, “Giddap,” to Prince and King.

“We wanted you to sit with us, Grandpa” Betsy said with a little pout. Oh my, Ben thought, in a few years that pout is going to have the boys rushing to do whatever she wants them to do.

“Yes, Josh gets to see you all the time,” Miranda added.

“I promise that I’ll ride with you girls on the way back,” he said, smiling at his granddaughters.

“Let’s sing,” Adam suggested, hoping to avoid whiney or cross children on the journey.

“That’s a good idea,” Hoss quickly agreed. “How about Sweet Betsy from Pike?”

The ploy worked and the children were keyed up with anticipation as the surrey approached their uncle and aunt’s new house.

“Ooh,” Betsy and Miranda breathed, taking in the towers and the different colors used on the different stories.

“It looks like a fairytale house,” Gwyneth said admiringly.

“It’s so different from our house and yours,” Claire commented, a bit overwhelmed by the lavish decorations and colors. “I can see you are a talented architect.”

“There’s nobody smarter than our daddy,” Miranda said emphatically and Betsy and Gwyneth nodded their agreement while Adam grinned just a little.

“I always said your daddy is the smartest,” Hoss said with a big grin and Adam’s dimple appeared as he added, “And your daddy, Josh and Jesse, is the strongest.”

Ben glanced down at his grandson and saw his proud smile.

Adam stopped the surrey by the front door and Ben and Hoss helped the women and children down. They waited on the verandah for the men to take care of the horses and when they were all together, Ben used the brass knocker on front door.

Their knock was answered by Lily. She appeared nervous as she took the men’s hats so they all smiled to put her at ease. The Cartwrights looked around the foyer, noting the walls were painted a soft lilac while the trim was gray. The hardwood floor was also painted gray.

“If you’ll please follow me,” Lily said, leading them through the foyer and the reception hall, which only differed from the foyer by the addition of an oriental rug, to the parlor where Joe and Annabelle were waiting.

The parlor was papered in chocolate brown with a floral design in green and tan, and the wooden floor not covered by an Axminster carpet was stained a dark brown. The cameo back settee, the two ladies chairs and two gents chairs were made of rosewood and upholstered in a brown velvet that matched the wallpaper. The room also contained a marble top rosewood center table and three rosewood occasional tables. To Bronwen, the room seemed dark even with the three tall sash windows and crowded with furniture and bric-a-brac. However, she knew this parlor was more fashionable than her own. Claire held Jesse’s hand so he wouldn’t accidentally knock anything down and break it and Bronwen did the same with Penny, who was clutching Bunny in her other hand. The older children stared in fascination because this parlor was different from any room they’d seen since it was round.

“What do you think?” Joe asked, a big smile lighting up his expressive features as he stood up when Bronwen and Claire entered the room.

“It’s magnificent,” Ben declared and Hoss added, “It sure is!”

“I never seen a round room before,” Josh commented as he looked all about him.

“Would you like a tour?” Annabelle asked and Joe added, “I thought the kids and I could go outside and play tag while the grownups go on the tour.”

“I’d rather go on the tour,” Betsy said and Miranda added, “And so would I.”

“May we please?” Betsy begged her parents and they nodded.

Josh turned to his and said, “I wanna play tag.”

“Which would you rather do, Punkin?” Adam asked and she replied, “Play tag.”

“I already seen the house so I’ll play with Jesse and Penny,” Hoss suggested. He quickly added, “And Bunny too,” making the little ones grin.

Joe, Hoss and the little children headed for the front yard. Annabelle motioned to a door and explained that it led to the living room.

Bronwen loved the living room. It seemed cozy since it was smaller than the parlor. A camel-back sofa and two armchairs upholstered in brown and green striped chintz, a bookcase with glass doors and a game table were the only furniture the room contained. The green walls, amber trim and braided rug added to the homey feel.

“I really like this room,” she said enthusiastically. “The parlor is magnificent as Pa says, but I like this room because it feels more comfortable,” she explained.

“Joe thought that since the living room is just for the family, it should be less formal than the parlor,” Annabelle stated. She smiled at Bronwen. “It is more comfortable.” Then she said, “Now I’ll show you the dining room,” and led them through another door back to the reception hall and into the dining room.

Just as Bronwen loved the living room, Claire loved the dining room. It was so feminine with its rose walls and cream trim, its beautiful handmade lace curtains held in place by decorative glass curtain pins, the mahogany dining table with cabriole legs, the elegant replica Chippendale dining chairs and the buffet with leaded glass doors. The table was already set with an exquisite lace tablecloth. Bronwen and Claire both liked Annabelle’s Minton china with its design of blue and dark pink floral medallions and scrolls. The pattern on her silverware was too ornate for Bronwen’s taste but Claire thought it was beautiful. They both admired her cut glass goblets and both worried their children might accidentally break one.

“I want to save the music room for after dinner because I think everyone will enjoy it,” Annabelle said as she led them into the reception hall. “I’ll show you the master bedroom, and then dinner should be ready.”

Bronwen liked the way Adam had designed the window seats under the three tall sash windows in the curving wall, and Claire liked the wallpaper with its design of pale green palm leaves on a cream background. Ben and Adam first noted the large brass bed with its spindle design and then they took a closer look at the chest of drawers, Annabelle’s vanity, the washstand and the commode chest, and realized that they were all made of pine.

Annabelle noticed their interest and said, “It was Joe’s idea to have the furniture made from your own trees. I wanted furniture made of rosewood or cherry, but he finally persuaded me. He hired a cabinetmaker and we discussed the designs with him. I’d never seen furniture made from pine, but these pieces are lovely.”

“Yes, they are very attractive,” Ben agreed, clearly proud of his youngest’s ingenuity.

“And very clever of Joe,” Adam stated admiringly.

Claire happened to be standing by the three windows overlooking the front yard and she glanced outside. “Joe and the children are coming inside,” she announced.

“Then dinner must be ready,” Annabelle said, so they all went downstairs.

Miss Perkins had baked a ham and prepared side dishes of candied squash, mashed turnips and glazed carrots. The children were quieter than usual during the meal, not totally at ease in their elegant new surroundings. Seeing Lily and Rose serve the food, dressed in their black wrappers with white collars and cuffs and starched ruffled aprons was strange. The Pollard sisters were nervous but Annabelle was pleased with their performance. The dessert was chocolate pudding, which delighted the children.

As everyone finished, Annabelle said, “I thought you would all enjoy the music room so I saved it until the end of the tour.” She and Joe led the others through the reception hall to the music room in the polygonal tower. Each wall had a tall casement window and combined with the wallpaper, which was a pale tan with a design of green leaves, made the room feel light and airy. Four gents chairs and four ladies chairs were arranged in a semicircle around the room’s dominant feature-a magnificent Steinway grand piano.

“Oh!” Gwyneth, Miranda and Betsy breathed in unison, their hazel eyes enormous.

Annabelle smiled at her nieces. “Your grandfather has told me you are all accomplished pianists for your ages. Would you like to play something for us?”

“Why don’t you play your new piece, Punkin,” Adam suggested. “You played it beautifully for me last night.”

Gwyneth nodded shyly and approached the piano as the others seated themselves. Claire held Jesse on her lap while Hoss held Josh and Adam held Penny. Gwyneth turned to face her audience, and with a solemn expression announced, “I will play King William’s March by Jeremiah Clarke.” She seated herself and began to play, as always, losing herself in the music.

When she finished, everyone applauded loudly, the youngest imitating their parents.

“Gwyneth, that was just beautiful,” Annabelle said with great sincerity. She had never dreamed a child of five could play so well.

“Miranda and I have learned a duet, Viennese Sonatina No. 4, and we’d like to play it,” Betsy said after a whispered consultation with her sister. They sat down on the bench and began to play. As she listened, Annabelle thought If Joe and I have daughters, I hope they are as talented as Adam and Bronwen’s.

“Won’t you play something for us, Annabelle,” Bronwen suggested when the applause for the girls’ performance ended.

“Why don’t I play some songs we can all sing,” Annabelle said as she walked over to the piano and began to look through a stack of sheet music. “Do we all know Silver Threads Among the Gold?

Everyone but the children knew it and Ben smiled at his grandchildren, saying, “We’ll let you choose the next song. The adults gathered around the piano with Adam and Bronwen harmonizing while the others sang the melody.

Darling, I am growing old,
Silver threads among the gold,
Shine upon my brow today,
Life is fading fast away.
But, my darling, you will be, will be
Always young and fair to me,
Yes, my darling, you will be
Always young and fair to me.

Chorus:
Darling, I am growing old,
Silver threads among the gold,
Shine upon my brow today;
Life is fading fast away.

When your hair is silver white,
And your cheeks no longer bright,
With the roses of the May,
I will kiss your lips and say,
Oh! My darling, mine alone, alone,
You have never older grown!
Yes, my darling, mine alone,
You have never older grown!

chorus

As he sang, Ben blinked back the scalding tears that filled his eyes as he thought of his three lost loves, who had died much too young for any silver threads to mingle with the gold or ebony.

While the adults sang, the three older girls looked through the stack of sheet music until they found a song they liked. As soon as Silver Threads Among the Gold was over, Miranda handed her aunt a piece of music, announcing, “We want to sing Grandfather’s Clock.”

“Oh, that’s a good one!” Hoss exclaimed, grinning at his nieces. With a smile, Annabelle began to play.

My grandfather’s clock
Was too large for the shelf,
So it stood ninety years on the floor;
It was taller by half
Than the old man himself,
Though it weighed not a pennyweight more.
It was bought on the morn
Of the day that he was born,
It was always his treasure and pride;

Chorus
But it stopped short
Never to go again,
When the old man died.
Ninety years without slumbering,
Tick, tock, tick, tock,
His life seconds numbering,
Tick, tock, tick, tock,
It stopped short
Never to go again,
When the old man died.

My grandfather said
That of those he could hire,
Not a servant so faithful he found;
For it wasted no time,
And had but one desire,
At the close of each week to be wound.
And it kept in its place,
Not a frown upon its face,
And its hand never hung by its side.

Chorus

It rang an alarm
In the dead of the night,
An alarm that for years had been dumb;
And we knew that his spirit
Was pluming his flight,
That his hour of departure had come.
Still the clock kept the time,
With a soft and muffled chime,
As we silently stood by his side.

Chorus

Josh, Penny and even Jesse joined in on the tick, tock in the chorus. When they finished, Betsy asked, “May we sing Blue Tail Fly next?”

Adam glanced out the nearest window at the position of the sun, and then shook his head. “We’ll have to save it for another time.” He put a hand on Joe’s shoulder and said with a wide smile, “Annabelle, Joe, I want to thank you for a most enjoyable afternoon.”

“Yeah, and tell that Miz Perkins that the dinner was delicious,” Hoss said with a big grin.

“‘Specially the chocolate pudding,” Josh added with a grin as big as his daddy’s.

As they prepared to leave, Ben turned to Joe and Annabelle and mentioned that he looked forward to seeing them at church the next day.

Joe swallowed and said, “Uh, well, um, we decided to attend church in Carson City since it’s so close.”

“Oh yes, of course,” Ben said, but Joe saw the disappointment in his pa’s eyes.

“We’ll still be having Sunday dinner with you,” Annabelle inserted smoothly and Ben smiled at her.

Joe and Annabelle stood on the front verandah and waved goodbye to their family. Then she said with a smile of satisfaction. “Our first dinner party was a success.”

Chapter 6
Josh slowly opened his eyes and stretched and his daddy grinned at him, saying, “Mornin’, Buckaroo. Rise ‘n’ shine.”

“Mornin’, Daddy,” Josh said, smiling as he sat up and threw back his covers. “Where’s Mama?” he asked curiously because normally she was the one to wake him up and dress Jesse.

“Mama has a tummy ache so she’s stayin’ in bed,” Hoss said as he began changing Jesse’s diaper. “We got a surprise for you two buckaroos. Grandpa and Hop Sing are gonna take you to stay with Uncle Adam and Aunt Bronwen and your cousins for a couple of days. Now, won’t that be fun?”

Josh nodded but then he asked anxiously, “What about Blackie?”

“Blackie’ll come too. When your cousins ride their ponies, you can ride Blackie. And you can take care of him same as you do here. I expect he’s hungry so you’d better hurry up and get dressed.”

After breakfast, Josh and Jesse went upstairs to say goodbye to their mama. Mama and Daddy had explained to Josh that Mama was fat cuz his new baby brother or sister was growin’ inside her. Josh had got to put his hand on Mama’s tummy so he could feel the baby kick. He wondered how the baby was gonna get out, but when he asked Mama, she told him God would take care of that when it was time for the baby to come out.

Now, Josh saw Mama was sitting in her rocking chair in her nightgown and robe. As soon as she saw him, she held out her arms so he gave her a big hug and kiss and enjoyed feeling her arms enfold him and hold him close to her soft chest, so different from Daddy’s. When he moved back, Jesse ran over.

“Bye-bye, Mama,” the toddler said and received his own kiss and hug.

Mama smiled but Josh saw her bite her lip and frown for a moment. Then the frown was gone and she smiled again. “You be good boys and mind Aunt Bronwen and Uncle Adam.”

“We will,” Josh promised earnestly. “Won’t we, Jesse?” and the younger boy nodded and then grinned.

Daddy appeared in the doorway, holding Jesse’s calico dog and his rocking pony. “Here ya go, Little Buckaroo. Blue says he wants to visit Uncle Adam and Aunt Bronwen.” The toddler eagerly took the proffered toy. Seeing his daddy start to pick up a carpetbag by the enormous bed, Josh quickly said, “I’ll carry the bag.” He had to use both hands, but he proudly carried it down the stairs and out the front door. He saw Grandpa was tying Blackie behind the surrey while Hop Sing was placing the pony’s tack on the floor of the back seat. Daddy set the rocking pony beside the tack before picking up a giggling Jesse and tossing him in the air.

“All right, Little Buckaroo, you’re ridin’ in the backseat with Hop Sing,” Daddy said to Jesse as he set him down beside the cook. Then Daddy turned to Josh and said, “You get to ride up front with Grandpa,” so Josh climbed up into the surrey and Daddy set the carpetbag at his feet. Once he was sitting down, Grandpa slapped the reins and said, “Giddap.”

About halfway to their aunt and uncle’s house, Jesse began to ask for Mama so Josh turned around in his seat and sang the beehive song to his brother cuz it always made him laugh. Grandpa sang the song about the sailor who was drunk and one about Betsy and Ike. Then Grandpa told stories about when Daddy and Uncle Adam were little boys. Jesse fell asleep but he woke up when Grandpa stopped the surrey in front of the shingle house. As soon as he saw he wasn’t home, he began to cry for his mama. Aunt Bronwen came hurrying out the front door, wearing a big apron dusted with flour, and Penny was right behind her. Josh jumped down as Aunt Bronwen ran down the verandah’s steps toward the surrey. Penny followed at a much slower pace, clutching the railing in one hand, as she called, “Hello, Grandpa! Hello, Josh! Hello, Hop Sing!”

Aunt Bronwen picked up the sobbing Jesse and Josh heard her quietly ask Hop Sing, “Baby’s on the way then?” and he saw the cook’s slight nod. So the baby wuz comin’ out and he didn’t get to see it! He felt very cross but then Grandpa said, “C’mon, Josh. Let’s put Blackie in the pasture with the other ponies.” Josh forgot about being cross and went to lead his pony to the fenced in pasture.

Penny trotted along beside them. “I gotta pony,” she announced. “Her name’s Muffin.”

“I know. It’s a funny name,” Josh commented.

“Is not!” Penny retorted, scowling ferociously at her cousin.

“Here we are,” Grandpa said, opening the gate in the pasture’s fence and Josh slipped off the lead rope and halter. Blackie tossed his head and whickered before galloping away to join the other three ponies. “Now, Josh,” Grandpa said, smiling down at him, “let’s see about unloading the surrey.”

It wasn’t long before Blackie’s tack was put up in the barn, the rocking pony placed on the verandah for Jesse to ride and the carpetbag set just inside the doorway.

“I’ll see you boys tomorrow at church,” Grandpa said before bending over and kissing each boy’s cheek. “I’ll see you, too, Pretty Penny,” he added and gave her a kiss as well. Hop Sing said goodbye and then he and Grandpa got back in the surrey and drove off. Jesse began crying again and Josh had to blink back the tears that filled his eyes. He realized how much he missed Mama and Daddy and staying at his aunt and uncle’s house no longer seemed so adventurous. Just then his three older cousins and their teacher came out the door onto the verandah.

“Hello, Josh,” they said. Then Miranda added, “Is Aunt Claire having her baby?”

“Yes,” Aunt Bronwen replied. Then she smiled at Josh and Jesse. “When you go home, you’ll have a new baby brother or sister.” Then she added briskly, “Right now you girls need to set the table for dinner and I’ll take the ankle biters to get washed up.”

As they were eating, Miss Brooks said to Josh, “Would you like to come to class with your cousins? I could teach you how to write your name and you could surprise your parents.”

“Yes, ma’am,” he replied with a happy grin, thinking how surprised Mama and Daddy would be.

He worked hard that afternoon carefully printing Joshua B. Cartwright. It was harder than it looked cuz sometimes the letters got all turned around, but when class was over, Miss Brooks said he’d done a fine job.

“Can we ride our ponies now?” he asked eagerly but the girls shook their heads.

“We have to practice on the piano first,” Betsy explained.

“And Mama and Daddy won’t let us ride unless one of them comes with us,” Miranda added.

“You wanna play catch until it’s my turn to practice?” Gwyneth asked.

“Sure,” he replied enthusiastically.

As they played, he was surprised and not pleased to realize Gwyneth was better at playing catch than he was. It didn’t matter that she was a year older. Girls weren’t supposed to be better at throwing and catching a ball than boys. When Miranda came out to tell Gwyneth it was her turn to come inside and practice, Josh tagged after her. He saw Jesse and Penny were both happily riding their rocking ponies on the verandah and his oldest cousins were playing a game with a little rubber ball and small, pointed pieces of metal, but he decided to go into the library and look at the picture books. He finished with the books and missing his mama, he walked down the hall to the big kitchen with its walls and floor made of rusty-colored tiles. He stood in the doorway and watched as Aunt Bronwen put mashed potatoes on top of something and then pulled open the door to the big kitchen range’s oven and put it inside. Miz Kerra was standing at the sink washing up after Aunt Bronwen. Aunt Bronwen looked toward the doorway and saw him.

“Hello, Josh,” she said with a smile. “Would you like a gingersnap and a glass of milk?”

“Yes, ma’am,” he said eagerly.

“Sit down at the table and I’ll get them for you. In fact, why don’t you put the teakettle on, Kerra, and you and I will join Josh.”

Josh watched as Aunt Bronwen put three cookies on a china plate and set it in the center of the big wooden table. Then she headed for the doorway so he followed her. She went into the mudroom and opened the bottom door to a wooden box almost as tall as he was, and took out a glass pitcher filled with milk. Aunt Bronwen smiled at him and said, “I keep the milk in the ice box so it doesn’t sour.”

When they walked into the kitchen, Miz Kerra was pouring water in the china teapot. She sat the teakettle back on the range and then she swished the water around the teapot before pouring it in the sink.

“Why’d you do that?” Josh asked curiously and Kerra replied, “It’s called warming the pot and it’s how my mother always made tea.”

“And mine,” Aunt Bronwen said as she poured milk from the pitcher into a glass for Josh and then filled the little pitcher in her china tea service.

Josh watched as Miz Kerra put a spoonful of tealeaves into the teapot. “One for me,” she said, smiling at Josh. “One for your aunt,” she continued, adding a second spoonful, “and one for the pot.” She walked over and got the boiling teakettle and poured water over the leaves. “Now, Master Josh, we let it brew for a few minutes.”

Aunt Bronwen took the big pitcher of milk back to the ice box and then the three of them sat at the kitchen table and ate a cookie and drank milk or tea.

“Did you learn how to write your name?” Aunt Bronwen asked after adding a little milk and a lump of sugar to her china teacup and taking a sip.

Josh remembered to swallow the cookie he was chewing before replying. “Yes, ma’am. And I learned how to write my numbers, too.” He grinned as he added, “Mama and Daddy are sure gonna be surprised.”

“Too right they will be,” Aunt Bronwen said, smiling at him. She had a bite of cookie and after swallowing it, she said, “You know, Josh, your mama and I were thinking that when we get back from Australia in September, you could come here and have Miss Brooks teach you along with your cousins. Would you like that?”

Josh nodded and smiled. Miss Brooks was nice and he’d like to be able to read.

They were nearly done when they heard Betsy shout, “Daddy’s home!” so Aunt Bronwen said, “Finish your milk and biscuit-I mean cookie-and then you and Blackie can go for a ride.”

As he hurriedly ate the last of his cookie and gulped his milk, he heard the sound of his little brother crying and it was getting closer. Suddenly, Uncle Adam appeared in the doorway, holding a loudly sobbing Jesse, trailed by a sulky Penny.

“He heard the girls talking about Daddy and thought they meant his,” Uncle Adam explained as he patted Jesse’s back. “Hello, Josh,” he said with a friendly smile. “Are you and Blackie ready to go for a ride?”

“We sure are!” Josh exclaimed enthusiastically as he jumped to his feet. Uncle Adam handed the crying Jesse to Aunt Bronwen and ruffled Josh’s curls.

“Let’s go saddle Blackie,” he said and they started for the door, but Penny followed. Uncle Adam said in a firm but gentle voice, “You stay here with Mama and Jesse.”

“No!” Penny shouted and stamped her foot.

Uncle Adam leaned down and gave Penny one swat on her bottom, saying sternly, “Penelope Jane Cartwright, you do not talk back to your daddy.”

Now Penny was crying as loud as Jesse and Aunt Bronwen made a shooing motion with her free hand so they hurried down the hallway, through the mudroom and outside. Josh saw his uncle’s horse was drinking from the trough by the hitching rail. Josh knew his uncle had put his old horse, Sport, out to pasture a few weeks earlier just as Daddy had with Chub. He and Uncle Adam had bought a pair of four year old Quarter Horse geldings. Daddy’s was black with a white star and Uncle Adam’s was chestnut with a flaxen mane and tail and a white blaze.

“Do you like your new horse?” he asked politely as they walked to the barn.

“He’ll do,” Uncle Adam replied. “I miss Sport though.”

“Daddy says he misses Chub,” Josh said, trotting to keep up with his uncle’s longer stride.

“You’ll have a new baby brother or baby sister when you get home,” Uncle Adam said then. “That’s pretty exciting.”

“I hope it’s a brother,” Josh declared.

Uncle Adam looked down at him and smiled. “Now, I always wanted a little sister. Instead I got four daughters so I guess it evened out.”

When they got to the barn, Uncle Adam asked Josh if he needed help carrying his tack to the pasture.

“I can do it myself,” Josh replied and his uncle chuckled.

“Spoken like a true Cartwright,” he said with a grin.

As they came out of the barn, the girls came running up, dressed in knickerbockers and shirts just like Josh. “Wait for us. Please,” Betsy said so they did. Josh’s saddle was bigger and heavier than the English style his cousins used but even when his arms hurt, he refused to ask for his uncle’s help.

It didn’t take long to saddle the ponies and Uncle Adam checked to make sure all the girths were tight enough. Once they were all mounted, Uncle Adam said, “Let’s show Josh our picnic spot.”

“Can we have a race?” Betsy asked eagerly but Uncle Adam shook his head.

Josh enjoyed the ride even if he wished his uncle had let them race. He was certain Blackie was faster than any of his cousins’ ponies. At supper he learned the food his aunt had put in the oven was called cottage pie and it was good. Best of all, there was chocolate pudding for dessert.

Jesse loved chocolate pudding, too, but when he finished, he started crying for Mama. Josh felt his own eyes begin to fill with tears that threatened to overflow when he realized how much he missed Mama and Daddy and Grandpa. Then he felt Uncle Adam’s hand on his shoulder, giving it a friendly squeeze, and he blinked back his tears and looked up at his uncle and smiled.

Aunt Bronwen took Jesse away and his three older cousins helped Miz Kerra clear away. Josh said to his uncle, “Miss Brooks showed me how to write my name. You wanna see?”

“I certainly would,” his uncle replied. “C’mon, Kitten.” He picked Penny up and set her on his shoulders as they walked across the hall to the library. When they walked into the library, they saw Aunt Bronwen’s cat lying stretched across the desk.

“Scat, Maegan!” Uncle Adam said crossly. Maegan waited until he was almost close enough to touch her, then jumped off the desk and ran under one of the chairs. “That cat!” Uncle Adam said in a disgusted tone, and Josh almost giggled.

His uncle got him a piece of paper and a pencil and while he printed, his uncle got Penny a picture book to look at.

“I finished,” Josh declared, holding up the paper for his uncle to inspect while Gwyneth joined them.

“Very good,” Uncle Adam said and smiled at him.

“Let’s play a game, Daddy,” Gwyneth suggested.

“Josh is our guest so he chooses the game,” Uncle Adam said and Josh said, “Could we play Old Bachelor?”

“Sure,” his uncle replied and opened a drawer in the desk and pulled out the cards.

Penny abandoned her book and ran over saying excitedly, “I play!”

“You and I can play together, okay?” Uncle Adam asked and Penny smiled up at him and said, “Okay.”

They were in the middle of their game when Betsy and Miranda came in after washing and drying the dishes. “I want to play dominos when you finish,” Miranda said.

“Josh gets to pick because he’s our guest,” Gwyneth stated and Josh said, “I like Old Bachelor.”

Uncle Adam then said, “The two of you could play dominos or you could play checkers.”

“Let’s play checkers,” Betsy suggested and Miranda agreed.

Josh played two more games of Old Bachelor, and by that time, Penny had fallen asleep and Josh and Gwyneth were struggling to keep their eyes open. Aunt Bronwen, who joined in the last game, said with a smile, “‘Time for bed.”

Uncle Adam turned to Betsy and Miranda, who were still playing checkers, and said, “As soon as you finish, come to bed.” The girls nodded, absorbed in their game.

Uncle Adam, who was carrying Penny, led the way with a sleepy Gwyneth following. Aunt Bronwen walked beside Josh with her hand on his shoulder to guide him. They climbed the stairs and then Uncle Adam and his cousins continued down the hall while Aunt Bronwen guided Josh into a large room with a big bed and then into a littler room with a crib in it.

“Jesse is sleeping in the crib,” she said softly, “and there’s bedroll on the floor for you.” Josh smiled at that. “I hung the clothes for you to wear to church tomorrow on the pegs on the wall; your nightshirt is hanging there, too. The chamber pot is in the corner.” She bent down and kissed his cheek. “Goodnight, Josh. Uncle Adam will be here soon to hear you say your prayer.”

When Josh woke the next morning to find himself sleeping on the floor in a strange room, he was frightened and confused. “Mama!” he wailed, waking up Jesse, who immediately began crying for his mama. In just a few moments, Uncle Adam in his robe and Aunt Bronwen in her nightgown, both barefoot, came hurrying into the room. Josh remembered where he was and managed to stop crying, but Jesse continued screaming for his mama. Aunt Bronwen picked Jesse up to comfort him but he continued crying so hard that he had to gasp for breath. The four sisters appeared in the nursery doorway in their nightgowns and nightcaps, barefoot like their parents. When Penny saw her mama holding Jesse, she pushed through her sisters to tug on her mama’s nightgown. Aunt Bronwen looked imploringly at Uncle Adam. He picked Penny up and said to the older girls, “You need to get dressed so you can do your chores.” Then he looked down at Josh and said, “You need to take care of Blackie so grab your clothes and dress in our bedroom. Okay?”

“Okay,” Josh said, getting his clothes while his older cousins hurried to their rooms. Uncle Adam closed the door as he left with Penny.

While they were mucking the stalls, Miranda suddenly said, “Daddy, we forgot to take our baths!”

Uncle Adam closed his eyes for a moment and then said, “As soon as you and Betsy are done, go take a bath together.”

“I wanna take my own bath,” Betsy said indignantly.

“There isn’t time for that,” Uncle Adam snapped. “Now do as I say or we’ll have a necessary talk.” Betsy and Miranda wore identical sullen expressions, but they knew better than talk back to their daddy. As they left the barn to take their bath, he called after them, “Don’t dawdle! As soon as you’re finished, Mama has to give Gwyneth and Penny a bath.” Then he looked down at Josh, asking, “Does Jesse like taking baths?”

“No, sir,” Josh replied and his uncle pinched the bridge of his nose.

“I was afraid of that. Well, your aunt can give him a sponge bath while I give you yours,” he said.

By the time everyone bathed and dressed in their Sunday clothes, they were late to breakfast and Aunt Bronwen only had time to fix toast and scrambled eggs. Uncle Adam brought the surrey around to the front and everyone hurried out the door and down the verandah’s steps. Aunt Bronwen held Jesse and a sulky Penny sat between her parents in the front seat while Miss Brooks sat between Josh and Gwyneth in the second and Betsy and Miranda sat in the third.

When they reached their church in Virginia City, Uncle Joe was just pulling up in his brand-new two-seat surrey, with the Pollard sisters occupying the second seat. “Thought you and Annabelle were attending church in Carson City,” Uncle Adam said as he drew his rig up beside his brother’s.

“We are,” Uncle Joe said, “but Annabelle isn’t feeling well and since Miss Turner is taking care of her, my presence is not required. I decided to come to church here so I could see my pretty nieces and give Lily and Rose a chance to see their family.” He smiled after the Pollard sisters who had already jumped down and were hurrying off in search of their mother and siblings. Then he suddenly noticed his nephews and his smile widened. “Claire’s having the baby?” he asked excitedly.

“Probably had it,” Bronwen replied, handing Jesse to Adam so Joe could help her down.

About the same time they all alighted from the surrey, Josh saw his daddy and grandpa drive up.

“Daddy!” he hollered and Jesse squealed, “Daddy!” Josh started to run toward the surrey but Uncle Adam’s large hand came down on his shoulder, keeping him motionless.

“Let your daddy stop the horses,” he said, smiling kindly at the impatient little boy.

“Howdy, buckeroos!” Daddy said as he jumped down and took the squealing Jesse from Aunt Bronwen and then scooped Josh up in his other arm.

Uncle Joe managed to wait a few moments, but then he demanded, “Well, is it a boy or a girl?”

Daddy grinned broadly as he announced, “Josh and Jesse have a new baby brother, John David.”

“Three Cartwright brothers,” Uncle Adam said with a big dimpled smile. “Seems just like old times.” Then he, Daddy, Uncle Joe and Grandpa laughed.

End Notes:

References:
I used the following for Joe and Annabelle’s house:
http://www.sherwin-williams.com/do_it_yourself/paint_colors/ideas/palettes/color_themes/ (Historic Collection)
http://architecture.about.com/cs/housestyles/a/queenanne.htm
http://www.fredbecker.org/News%20Letter/Q%20Anne%20Arch.htm
http://www.antiquehome.org/House-Plans/1903-Radford/03r-141.htm
http://www.loggia.com/designarts/architecture/styles/american/queenanne.html

I used the following site for information on making soap: http://www.alcasoft.com/soapfact/history.html

I used McGuffey’s Third Reader found at http://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/14766/pg14766.txt

For the lyrics to “Jesus Loves Me” I used http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesus_Loves_Me

I used lyrics for “Pop Goes the Weasel” found at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pop_Goes_the_Weasel (I grew up with the American version and thought the Cartwrights and Miss Brooks would know it rather than the original British version.)

For the lyrics to “Yankee Doodle” I used http://www.usa-flag-site.org/song-lyrics/yankee-doodle.shtml

I used http://www.bycitylight.com/cities/us-mo-kansas_city-history.php for information about Kansas City, Missouri.

I used http://www.doctortreatments.com/SURGICAL-DISEASES.html to learn how broken bones were treated in the 19th century, and http://www.scienceclarified.com/Al-As/Anesthesia.html to learn about the use of anesthesia in that century.

I found information about Errand Boy and other popular Victorian games at http://www.literacycommunity.com/grade3/pioneercontent/games.html

I found The Lady’s Receipt-Book: a Useful Companion for Large or Small Families online at Google books. It was published in 1848 so Bronwen, Claire and Miss Perkins would be familiar with the recipes.

I also made use of http://www.examiner.com/dessert-in-san-francisco/the-history-of-strawberry-shortcake-a-brief-overview-of-its-history-recipes

Jesse’s birthday cake came from http://www.lonehand.com/Cake%20Recipes.html and if you’re wondering why they didn’t sing Happy Birthday, it’s because the song didn’t exist in the 1880s.

I got info on a Victorian ice box at http://www.harpgallery.com/html/print.php?prod_id=9261

I found info on popular songs in the 1870s and 1880s at http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/smhtml/smessay0.html