Final answer:
Connor did not want to take Bess to the festival at Stagecoach Pass due to his fears of the dangers posed by rustlers, riders, and Mormons, as well as concerns about the judgment from the outside world, and a general foreboding about their impending future.
Step-by-step explanation:
Connor did not want to come to the festival at Stagecoach Pass for several reasons, mainly centered around protection and fear for Bess. His deep feelings for her, knowledge of her pure and sweet life, and sense of belonging to him built a powerful emotional barrier against exposing her to potential dangers. Connor was concerned about various threats, including rustlers, riders, and Mormons.
These fears extended beyond the immediate perils to concerns about the scrutiny and gossip from the outside world, and the overarching problems of existence they would face there. At a deeper level, an unnamed, fate-like element also played a part in his reluctance to leave, hinting at some impending future that preoccupied his thoughts and appeared inseparably linked with decisions about their future.