Adam Cartwright was deliriously happy with his son but he had both his hands full with raising him. Mitch knew the whole ranch house by heart and took very much advantage of it or even better said disadvantage. The boy got taught at home by Adam until there was a new teacher. Mitch was not welcome anymore by Tilly Taylor and the same went for Matthew Walker. The living room was turned over to a classroom so that the children were very warm during the winter.
Adam let them work as independence as possible. But after school the kids were free so they made the ranch unsafe.
"Shall we play a joke on Uncle Hoss?", Mitch asked one afternoon after school.
"Okay. What did you have in mind?", Matthew asked.
"We say to him that he must pick up the biggest cake at the trading post. Which is not true of course", Mitch said with laughing eyes.
"He will never believe it", Matthew claimed.
"Oh yes he does. Uncle Joe does it all the time at him and he falls for it every time. So then it must succeed with us as well", his friend reacted.
"I don't know from anything and neither do you when he discovers the truth", Matthew said.
They went to play at the oak with Cody until Matthew got collected by his father. Suddenly Mitch saw Hoss coming and he gave Cody a little push. The shepherd began to wag his tail when he saw Hoss.
"Hello Uncle Hoss. I wouldn't get off Chub because you have to go to Virginia City at once because there is a big cake waiting for you at the trading post", Mitch said.
"How big?", Hoss asked amazed.
Mitch looked at Cody and said, "Eighty cm round."
"You mean eighty cm average?", asked his uncle.
The boy nodded.
"Then I better can take the wagon. You go inside and say that I am on my way to the town", Hoss said.
"Good. I go and help Hop Sing", Mitch said. He went inside with the dog. Hoss prepared the wagon and rode in a jolly mood to the town. The water came into his mouth when he thought about the great cake.
Inside Ben asked, "Where is Uncle Hoss?"
"He had to go to town to collect a cake of eighty cm in the middle", Mitch said.
Ben looked at his grandson questionable. Adam, Little Joe and Candy looked laughing at each other.
"He had to go to town to get a cake of eighty cm average in the middle", Mitch said.
"Mitch, keep in mind that Uncle Hoss will get you back", the rancher warned teasing.
"I know that but then he must not try to get my dessert all the time", Mitch said.
Ben had no answer to that.
Meanwhile Hoss rode jolly whistling to Virginia City. The closer he came to the city, how hungrier he got for the big cake. Finally the trading post got into his sight. He stopped the wagon in front of the door and jumped from it. Hoss walked into the shop and walked straight to the counter.
"Hello Hoss. What can I do for you?", Dan Miller, the owner of the trading post, asked.
"I was told that there was a big cake of eighty cm average was waiting here. I have come to collect it now", the strongest of the Cartwright boys said.
Dan looked around amazed but couldn't find a cake.
"I am afraid that someone has been joshing you. I really have no cake for anyone. Who has told you about the cake?", the shopkeeper asked.
Suddenly Hoss saw the light.
"That little rotten nephew of mine. I will get him for this", he said.
He said goodbye and went back to the Ponderosa.
At het ranch Mitch was busy doing his homework but it didn't go very smoothly like always.
"Can somebody help me with this sum?", he asked after a while.
"Read the sum out loud", Ben said.
"Someone had baked a round cake and divided in eight pieces. Five pieces are going to the visitors. How many pieces of cake are there remaining?", Mitch asked.
"How much is eight minus five?", the rancher asked.
Mitch counted on his fingers to eight and then he put five down.
"Three", de boy said.
"Exactly", Ben said.
He and the others saw that Mitch didn't understand it at all and needed more explanation.
Ben drew a cake on a piece of paper and divided into eight pieces. Then he colored five dark. Mitch counted the left over pieces and understood it.
"Mitch, go wash yourself because we are about to eat", Adam said then.
Mitch cleaned up his homework and took his to his room. Fortunately for Mitch Hoss came home at that moment.
"You are just in time because we can get go and eating. Mitch is yet upstairs", Ben said.
"I just have to see that little lad. He sent me all the way to town on purpose for a cake which wasn't even there. I never believe him when he says something like that", Hoss reacted.
Adam, Little Joe and Candy had to do very much trouble for not to start laughing.
"I will go and check where he is. Usually he never takes so much time", Adam said worried after he had looked at the clock.
He got up and walked upstairs. Mitch just came out of the bathroom and looked at his father laughing.
"We have to talk for a moment", Adam said who saw right thorough his son.
They went inside the bedroom of Mitch.
"Have you together with Matthew made Uncle Hoss that there was a big cake for him at the trading post?", Adam asked softly.
"Yes. Cody is in the plan as well. It was actually meant as a joke", the boy confessed.
"I will help you. From Friday Uncle Hoss is away for a week. In that time we make together with Matthew a wooden cake especially for him. Then he always have a cake for himself ", Adam said.
"Do we get a mark for it?", Mitch asked dodgy.
"Of course", his father promised.
They went downstairs together.
During supper Mitch behaved himself very notable honest en respectable. Hoss decided to question his nephew about de cake.
"Mitchy, from whom did you hear there would be a cake for me at de trading post?", he asked during de meal.
"I don't remember", de boy answered.
"Was Matthew with him when he said it?", Ben asked carefully.
"No, he was already picked up by his father. Mitchy was there alone with Cody. But I will question Matthew as well as soon as he gets here", Hoss answered.
Adam knew that his son en his best friend were behind it together. Naturally he didn't say anything about it being wisely. Hoss kept on looking at Mitch during supper.
"Uncle Hoss, are you looking at me because I am so cute or is there another reason?", de boy asked at a certain moment.
"I am going to keep a great eye on you de next few days", his Uncle said.
"Then I cannot get into mischief either", Mitch remarked dry.
"You will do that anyway", Adam reacted sarcastic.
After supper Mitch went to sleep very quickly. Adam had tucked him in when Hoss came upstairs.
"Adam, I need your help", he said at the stairs.
"You know that I am always willing to help my little brother", Adam said smiling.
"I know for sure that Mitchy is behind this trick and that mate of his too. Will you help me to catch them red handed?", Hoss asked hopeful.
Now the smile of Adam's face disappeared and a serious look came in its place.
"I would like to but as the chore of the raiser of Mitch is weighing much heavier on my shoulder than my relation to you as being my brother I have to decline to your request. I am sorry with the whole of my heart", Adam answered like he was performing in a play of Shakespeare.
Hoss looked at his elder brother with a very amazing look.
"I thought you were standing by me", he said.
Adam looked at his brother and reacted, "Normally I stand by you but not in this case. Mitch is my child and counts on my support. Nobody can get way past you because like now you are blocking the way."
They went downstairs.
"I will help Mitchy with his homework", Hoss said begging.
"I already do that. He won't tell it voluntary. And I don't want that you force him to it", was Adams reaction.
Hoss nodded.
In the living room Little Joe and Candy were looking at Hoss laughing.
"Joe, you will probably help me with tricking our nephew?", Hoss asked.
"And then to get even by his living teasing? No way man", Little Joe said.
"What about you Candy? I will do your chores for a whole week if you help me" Hoss tried to bribe the foreman.
"I better watch out", was the reaction of Candy.
Ben was the only one who said nothing but thought of something. The whole evening Hoss thought about how he could get Mitch back but couldn't think of anything.
The following morning Hoss went away to treat cattle at the other part of the ranch. Mitch had difficulty to hide his tears.
"Mitchy, I come back as soon as possible. Then we go fishing together", Hoss said to his nephew.
"Okay", the boy said with tears in his eyes and throat.
Hoss looked at Adam and he nodded.
"If you do good your homework each day I come home very soon", Hoss said to his nephew.
Adam held his son by his shoulders while Hoss mounted on. Adam took his son back inside while Hoss and the others rode away.
When Matthew had come as well the long lesson of cavity began.
"We are going to make a big round cake for Uncle Hoss. I will saw the circles and you do the rest", Adam said.
"Did your Uncle believe your story?", Matthew asked.
"Totally. Fortunately he is away for a week", Mitch said laughing.
"He will question you also but as soon as he sees that cake it won't happen", Adam remarked.
Each day the boys worked on their project. Because Cody and Hop Sing stayed with the boys Adam could lend a helping hand at the ranch.
On the day when Hoss came home again Mitch and Matthew put the cake together. Adam put the cake on the drawing-room table. On Ben's request Hop Sing had baked a real cake. Mitch stayed for the night and played with Mitch and Cody near the stairs.
Hoss came riding home in a jolly mood because now he could tease his nephew again. Candy and Little Joe were outside when he arrived.
"That will be a great laugh", Little Joe whispered to the foreman.
Hoss saw them whispering and said, "You may not whisper in neat company."
"You do that also all the time", Little Joe reacted.
"Has our nephew been into mischief?", Hoss asked while he dismounted.
"No, he has been very good. No matter how strange that might be", Candy said.
"Indeed", Hoss reacted.
"He has missed you like we already thought", Little Joe said.
No matter how young Mitch was he was very attached to his family which he counted Hop Sing and Candy to. Hoss brought his horse to the stable and took care of it. Little Joe and Candy were back inside again.
"He is busy at the stable", Little Joe said.
"May Matthew and I say hi to him?", Mitch asked.
"Go. But keep your mouth shut about the cake", Adam said.
The friends ran to the stable where Hoss just came outside.
"Hi Uncle Hoss. How great it is to see you again", Mitch said laughing.
Hoss lifted him and gave him a hug. Matthew got a stroke over his head. Then they went to the porch.
"Uncle Hoss, you must close your eyes now. We will guide you", Mitch said.
Hoss closed his eyes and the friends grabbed his hands.
"Mitch, your Uncle has very big coal-scoops", Matthew said teasing.
"Just bring me inside", Hoss reacted direct.
Mitch did open the door and nodded to Adam.
"Open them again and look directly at the drawing-room table", Matthew said.
Hoss opened his eyes and saw the cake.
"There you are Uncle Hoss. Your cake", Mitch said exaggerated polite.
Adam, Little Joe and Candy were rolling on the floor laughing. Ben had also very much trouble looking serious. Hoss walked to the cake and looked at it carefully.
"How delicious. I will munch it and you and that mate of yours may watch without getting half a crumble of it", Hoss said to his nephew.
"I didn't know that you liked to eat wood", Little Joe remarked.
"Hoss eats almost everything", was the reaction of Candy.
"How do you mean?", Hoss asked Little Joe.
"Hoss, you will never be able to eat the cake because it is uneatable. The boys have made it especially for you", Adam explained.
"That is now the second time that your son and his friend play such a trick on me. But that doesn't surprise me because Mitchy takes after you a lot", Hoss reacted indignant.
Everybody began to laugh. At that moment Hop Sing came into the living room with a real cake.
"Cake made especially for Mr Hoss baked by Hop Sing", the Chinese cook said.
Fortunately Hoss could laugh about it now too.
"Mitchy en Matthew, thank you very much for the fake cake. I will put him in my room so that when I wake up with an empty stomach at night I can look at it", Hoss said to Mitch en Matthew.