"All right, boys, are we ready?" Adam looked behind him at Abel on Miss Betsey and Eric on Buttermilk.

"Yes, Papa," and Adam led the way out of the yard. It was the boys' first time to ride outside the corral, and they were excited. Adam had decided to take them on a picnic down at the lake for their first trailride.

Elizabeth stood just behind the door watching them leave and longing to join them. I'm strong enough to ride, she thought. She thought for a minute. Grandpa and Hop Sing were in with Uncle Joe, changing his bandages. Mama had taken the buggy and was at a church sewing circle. I'll never have a better chance. Elizabeth ran out to the barn. Cochise was in his stall, but no, he was Uncle Joe's - and he was old. Buck was in the next stall, and Elizabeth stroked his nose. He was Grandpa's horse, but he was old and he was big, too big for Elizabeth to manage by herself. She heard a nicker and smiled. Juno. Papa had gotten Juno for her mother. She had a sweet nature, Elizabeth knew. She'd heard Papa and Grandpa say so. It was the work of a few minutes to saddle and bridle the horse. Then she quietly led Juno out of the barn and over to the corral fence. She climbed to the top rail, and, using it as a mounting block, climbed into the saddle. She sat for a moment, thinking. What came next? She tried to remember what she'd seen her father show Abel and Eric. She adjusted the stirrups, and then clicked her tongue. She and Juno walked out of the yard and down the road.

...

Ben helped Joe up. "Let's go find Elizabeth - see if she'd like to take a little walk." They moved out to the great room. Elizabeth's sewing basket was on the low table in front of the fire place, but there was no sign of her. "Maybe she's upstairs," Ben said. He went upstairs and knocked on her door. There was no answer, and he cracked it open. He peeked in. The room was neat, but there was no Elizabeth. He went back downstairs. Joe looked up at him. "She's not in her room."

"Maybe she's outside," Joe said.

He and Ben walked outside and looked around, but there was still no sign of her. "I'll bet she's in the barn. She likes to visit Cochise," Joe said. They headed to the barn, and looked around.

"Juno's gone."

The same thought occured to them at the same moment and they stared at each other in dismay. "Juno's well-trained and has a sweet nature," Joe reminded his father.

"Still - a little girl riding off alone...what was she thinking?" Ben spoke almost to himself as he saddled Buck and led him out of the barn. He looked around in surprise as Joe followed him with Cochise. "What do you think you're doing? Go back to the house."

Joe shook his head. "We'll find her faster with both of us looking, Pa. And I'm not going back inside."

Ben studied his son for a moment, and then nodded. The two of them rode out of the yard.

...

"This is easy," Elizabeth said to Juno as they walked down the road. "I don't know why Mama and Papa were so anxious about my learning to ride. You and I are a good team. I'll bet we can go a little faster." She kicked Juno lightly, clicked her tongue, and Juno moved into a trot. Elizabeth bounced a little in the saddle, but she held on. She so busy trying to remember all her Papa said that she never heard the rattle or saw the snake, but Juno did and reared. Elizabeth tumbled off and lay still as the horse turned and galloped for home.

Ben and Joe were only a short way from the house when they saw Juno galloping towards them at top speed. They moved out of her way, and, as she passed them, urged Buck and Cochise on. They were almost on top of Elizabeth before they saw her and pulled their horses to a stop. Joe jumped down from Cochise and hurried to his niece. He touched her gently. "Beth?"

She rolled over and looked up at him. "Uncle Joe?" Tears started to flow down her cheeks then, and Ben joined them on the ground. "Are you hurt, darling?" he asked.

Elizabeth shook her head. "I don't think so. Grandpa, I was riding Juno, really riding her, but I fell off. Something made her rear, and I fell, but I was riding. I'm strong enough to ride, Grandpa. You know I am, Uncle Joe."

Ben pulled out his handkerchief and wiped away her tears as Joe reassured her. "Everyone has a fall now and then. It's just part of learning. You just get back up and get back on."

"But Juno's run away," Elizabeth wailed.

Ben chuckled as he pulled his granddaughter into his arms. "She hasn't gone far, Beth. Juno's probably in her stall right now."

Elizabeth sniffed. "Really truly, Grandpa?"

"Really truly, dear." He shifted her in his arms, and helped her stand up. "Ready to go home? Do you want to ride with me or Uncle Joe?"

"You, please, Grandpa." She took a step towards Buck, and cried out.

"You are hurt," Ben said, steadying her.

"It's my ankle."

Joe helped her sit down in his lap, and Ben unbuttoned her shoe. Elizabeth winced a little as he removed it. Ben felt her foot and ankle carefully. "Well," he said at last, "it isn't broken. I believe you have a bad sprain. We'll see what Hop Sing and Hop Ling can do." He took her up and carried her over to Buck, putting her in the saddle before climbing up behind her. She leaned back against his chest, and he wrapped his arms around her. She sighed, feeling safe in his warmth and strength.

...

It was late afternoon when Julia drove into the yard just behind her husband and sons. She smiled when she saw Eric straighten up on his mount at the sight of her. The poor little thing looks worn out, she thought, but he doesn't want to show it. Adam came over to the buggy and lifted her down. He tilted her chin up to place a light kiss on her lips. "How was your day, sweetheart?" he asked.

"I enjoyed myself. We got a lot of sewing done, and Mrs. Greer introduced me to the ladies."

Adam smiled. He'd been concerned about Julia's settling into Virginia City and making friends. It was more civilized than when he'd grown up there, but it was a far cry from Philadelphia.

"How was the picnic?" Julia asked.

"We had a good ride out to the lake, fished for a while, and then went swimming. Did we have fun, boys?" Adam turned to his sons.

"Yes, Papa," they answered.

He turned back to Julia. "Go on inside. I'll take care of the buggy."

Julia stood on tiptoe to kiss his cheek, and went inside while Abel and Eric followed their father into the barn.

Elizabeth was lying on the settee with her leg resting on a pillow and her ankle bound up. Ben was seated in the rocking chair next to her, and Joe was sitting on the coffee table, facing his niece.

"What happened?" Julia asked. She hurried over without taking off her bonnet.

"I'm fine, Mama. I sprained my ankle," Elizabeth said.

"Oh, my dear, how?" Julia sat beside her on the settee and carressed her child's cheek.

"I fell." Elizabeth began and then stopped.

"You fell? How? Where?" Julia asked.

Elizabeth looked down at her hands and then over at her Uncle Joe. He looked sympathetic, but he was going to let her tell. She took a deep breath. "This morning while Grandpa was helping Uncle Joe, I took Juno out for a ride. We were doing fine, but then something must have scared her because she reared, and I fell off. Grandpa and Uncle Joe found me and brought me back home. Hop Sing put a poultice on my ankle, and then bound it up. Juno's all right, Mama. She came home on her own, and one of the hands, Curly, took care of her."

Julia stared at her daughter in surprise. Elizabeth had been such a biddable, obedient chlld since her illness. Maybe the Ponderosa air was doing more for Elizabeth than improving her health. She stood up suddenly, and, looking down at the girl, said, "Elizabeth, I'm shocked by your thoughtlessness. You must have frightened your grandfather and uncle when you left without telling them, and you could have caused serious injury to yourself or the horse by riding her without proper instruction. Your father and I will decide on an appropriate punishment for you." She turned and walked out the door as Ben, Joe, and Elizabeth looked after her.

Eric was trying to reach his pony's back with the curry brush when his mother entered the barn. "Boys, go inside. I must speak with your father."

Abel looked around Miss Betsey. "We haven't finished grooming our horses, Mama."

Julia took Eric's brush from him. "Your father and I will finish here. Go inside and wash up. Your grandfather and uncle will help you."

The boys left without another word, and Adam came over to her. "What's wrong, Julia?"

"It's your daughter, Adam. She took Juno out for a ride this morning and fell off. Oh, she's all right," Julia was quick to add when Adam's eyes widened. "She has a sprained ankle, but that's all. It will be better in a week or so."

"How did she..." His eyes narrowed as he had a sudden thought. "Did Joe saddle-"

Julia shook her head. "Elizabeth did this all by herself. She's been watching you teach Abel and Eric to ride."

Adam sat down on a convenient bale of hay. "Elizabeth! I can't believe it." He looked up at his wife.

Julia nodded. "I know. She's regaining her spirit, Adam, as well as her health."

"We'll have to punish her," Adam said.

Julia sat down his knee and kissed him. "Yes, and we'll have to teach her to ride."

...

Elizabeth lay on the settee, her foot propped, looking up at her father as he paced back and forth in front of her. Her mother sat in the rocking chair next to her, and Grandpa and Uncle Joe had gone out for a walk with Abel and Eric.

"Elizabeth, your mother told me that you took Juno out and rode her. You fell off and sprained your ankle. Hop Sing tells me it will be better in about a week." Adam stopped pacing, and turned to face her. "Do you have any idea how lucky you are that you weren't seriously injured – or worse? Don't you know how important your health and safety are to your mother and me? Why do you think we moved across the country?"

He seemed to be waiting for an answer, so Elizabeth murmured, "To help Grandpa and Uncle Joe, and because the air here is better for my lungs."

Adam was a little surprised. He hadn't realized how much Elizabeth had overheard when he and Julia were discussing the move. "Yes, for all those reasons," he said, "but it was mostly for your health. We almost lost you last year, Elizabeth." He sat down on the table and took her small hands between his big ones and stared into her hazel eyes. "We have no choice but to punish you."

Elizabeth bit her lip as Adam continued. "You will help your mother with the mending every day. You will not sew a quilt square or a doll's dress or – or anything until the basket is empty. When your ankle heals, you will help Hop Sing and your Uncle Joe in the garden every day. You will help Hop Sing and Hop Ling in the kitchen."

Elizabeth swallowed. "Is that all, Papa?"

"Not quite." Adam bit back a smile. "When your ankle is healed, you will join Eric and Abel in their riding lessons."

Elizabeth's eyes widened, and she threw herself into her father's arms. "Oh, Papa, thank you. I'll work hard and learn to ride so fast. You and Mama will be so proud of me."

Adam looked at Julia over his daughter's head, and shared a smile with her. "We're proud of you now, Beth, you and your brothers."