“There are some day I think Adam is a raging lunatic.” Sophie Cartwright said to no one in particular as she stared out the front window at her husband.

The Cartwright man was attempting to break one of the wild horses he and Joe had brought back from the canyon. Joe was working better with Adam and Candy. Sophie still often saw her Sarah cast resentful glances at Candy but all-in-all the Ponderosa and its inhabitants had settled down for a somewhat peaceful existence. Oh there were intervals of anger and outright fights. But for the most part life was quiet.

Sophie felt the life growing within her move more every day now. Meanwhile Sarah had to more careful as the day drew nearer to when her own baby came into the world. Sophie watched over her friend carefully as she knew what could happen. But she was sure the baby would be born healthy and strong.

“You know what I am pining for?” a voice behind Sophie caused her to jump and she turned to look at Sarah.

“What?” Sophie asked with a smile, fully understanding pregnancy cravings.

“That drink my Pa used to make.” Sarah answered. “What did he call it? Oh, moonshine!”

Sophie started laughing. “You can’t drink that stuff, Sarah, not with the baby.”

Sarah smiled. “I know. I was just thinking about it.”

The two women were interrupted by the sound of a female’s voice outside and a horse being stooped in front of the ranch house. Sophie looked back out the window. A strange woman was leaping gracefully off the horse’s back. Her short brown hair was almost hidden by the straw hat hiding her features. Her riding habit was dark green and her gloves were black. She had a look of self-confidence as she walked lightly up the steps and knocked on the door.

When Sophie answered the door the woman had removed her hat. What the Cartwright woman saw was a woman of about 22 or 23 with a beautiful face and a familiar smile. “Yes?” Sophie asked pleasantly trying to remember where she had seen the smile before.

“Does Sarah Cartwright live here?” the woman asked.

Sophie nodded. “Who is calling?” she asked as she admitted the girl.

The stranger smiled. “My name is Catherine Thomas.” She replied. “I am Sarah’s older sister.”

Sarah just coming into the living room heard the name and saw the girl. “Cathy!” she exclaimed running to the stranger.

For a minute the two hugged each other. Then Sarah smiled at Sophie. “My brother-in-law-s wife.” She told her sister. “Cathy, this is Sophie.”

“Nice to meet you, Mrs. Cartwright.” Catherine said.

“Sophie.” She answered. “Catherine.”

The girl smiled.

“How was your trip?” Sarah asked eagerly. “Come on over to the settee and tell me all about it. What happened in Europe? Did you learn much? How about that young man? Did you marry him?”

Catherine laughed and let her sister lead her over to the settee. Seated between the two Cartwright women Sophie learned more about this older sister of Sarah’s that she never knew about.

“After Pa sent me back East for my secondary education he decided I needed more.” Catherine explained as much to Sarah as to Sophie. “So he sent me to Europe. It was great, Sarah, but it was not Virginia City.” Sarah smiled. “I got pretty bored after awhile. Especially with everything I had to learn. And parties, there were parties every night. I started to get tired of it. But then at one party I met him…Charles Swanson. He was young, handsome with a winning smile and dashing ways. We started going together and he even asked me to marry him. Pa was so pleased and he urged me to go through with it. I did not marry him Sarah because I could not marry a man I did not love. I don’t care how many estates he owned or how many vineyards he oversaw. Pa was furious, of course, but there was nothing he could do. Now I’m back in Virginia City and I’m here to stay. I’m going to play with your baby, be a socialite of society.”

Sophie and Sarah smiled at her. “You’re welcome to stop by anytime, Catherine.” Sophie told the girl immediately welcoming her as a friend. “There is never a need to knock.”

Catherine smiled gratefully and stood up. “Thank you.” She replied. “But I must be going now. Thank you so much. I wanted to see Sarah.”

“Will you be back tomorrow?” Sarah asked a wistful look on her face.

Catherine nodded. “Of course I will, Sarah. Bye.”

“Bye.” Sophie and Sarah waved.

“She’s a nice girl.” Sophie closed the door.

“She’s my sister.” Sarah replied. No further explanation was needed.