It was two days before Christmas 1875.
“We can’t keep her because she ain’t our daugther. Besides I don’t want to waste our precious money on that kid”, said Rachel Wilson.
She looked at the four year old girl who sat at the table.
“Then you should have thought of that before you took her away from the ranch!”, her husband Frank replied.
Rachel didn’t react but packed the clothes of the girl Lisa in a suitcase. Here after she grabbed the child tight and took her along.
Frank decided to go to the grave of their daughter but didn’t know that Mitch Cartwright would be there too. Frank made the grave of Lisa Cartwright open and got the coffin. Then the young Cartwright arrived there. He saw what was going on and came into action at once.
“Who are you and what are you doing there?”, Mitch asked coming straight to the point.
“I just come to get the coffin of my daughter. The real Lisa Cartwright is now at the Ponderosa”, replied Frank.
He put the coffin down and grabbed his shovel. Mitch dismounted and looked at the open grave.
“This is the Ponderosa too”, said Mitch.
Frank looked at him annoyed ands snapped, “You are a réál Cartwright! A big mouth to a poor innocent man. I will dislearn you that quickly!”
He hit Mitch with his shovel who fell unconcious in the snow.. Frank left him behind after he had thrown some snow in his face and especailly in his eyes. Frank hoped that theboy wouldn’t survive it. Here after he went away with the coffin.
Rachel rode upon the yard ands stopped in front of the porch. She jumped from the box and put the suitcases down and liften after that Lisa harsh fromthe wagon. Of course the girl started to scream which Adam, Sally, Betsy and Pam heard. They ran outside and saw Rachel and Lisa staan. Rachel wanted to leave but she got stopped by Adam. He grabbed her so heavily tight that the woman couldn’t escape.
“Who are you and what are you and that girl doing here?”, asked Adam.
“This is your daughter Lisa whom I kidnapped. The girl who was killed instead was a stray kid”, confessed Rachel.
“Get lost at once! Or I let Cody loose on you”, groaned Adam.
He let Rachel go where after she left at once. Adam didn’t know what to say when he saw Lisa back again. Though they did recognise each other and the girl ran to her father. Sally and Betsy didn’t understand a thing of it.
“Daddy!”, Lisa said whereby Adam got tears in his eyes.
“Adam, first she has to get inside to get warm”, said Sally.
“I will make some hot chocolate milk”, Betsy suggested.
Adam put Lisa down and grabbed the suitcases. Everyone went inside where is was warm. Pam helped her aunt with the chocolate milk so that Adam and Sally were alone with Lisa for a moment.
“Sally, I réálly can’t believe that she is back again”, said Adam.
“Just believe it because it is true. And seeing that she is the little sister of the twins I am afraid that with her we will have a tough time. And your father and brothers too”, said Sally.
Her husband sighed and knew that she was right.
“Daddy, what is that cat called?”, Lisa asked when she saw ze Lucky.
“That is Lucky. He belongs to your older brother and sister. But you may play with him as well”, said Adam.
Lisa stroked the cat and was good friends with him right away. Cody renewed his friendship with the young Cartwright.
In the kitchen Betsy made the chocolate milk in the company of Pam.
“You know what it means that your sister is back again?”, asked Betsy.
“Yes, that uncle Hoss now will get an even smaller piece of dessert”, replied Pam.
They both laughed.
“Where is your brother anyway? I haven’t seen him all day yet”, said Betsy.
“I dont know. He behaves so strange the last few days”, replied Pam.
“How do you mean?”, her aunt asked worried.
“He is away a lot without Cody and hardly says nothing anymore to me”, Pam explained.
“Mitch will come round”, Betsy reassured her niece.
She grabbed the tray with te mugs with hot chocolate milk and went with Pam to the living room. Cody saw then chance to get outside. He ran away before someone could stop him.
Slowly Mitch woke up but he hardly could see anything. Suddenly he felt a wet tongue going all over his face. The boy looked up and knew that his dog had found him.
“Cody!”, said he said relieved.
The shepherd dog wagged his tail excited and barked loud.
“I can’t see much and Caramel is also nowhere to be found”, said Mitch.
Cody went to lie down close to his little boss so that this one got it a bit warmer.
Meanwhile the other Cartwrights came home too. They didn’t know yet what had all happened.
“Look Lisa, there is grandpa”, Pam said to her sister.
Both girls looked at the front door where behind Ben was. When the rancher saw his granddaughters he wa sspeechless.
“Pa, it is really Lisa. She got kidnapped on the day that Mary, Lily and Amber got killed”, said Adam.
Lisa ran to Ben and with her too Ben had closed a contract for life.
“It is a very long story”, Adam just said.
“She is just as welcome here at the ranch. Where is my beloved grandson?”, Ben asked looking around him.
“We would like to know that as well”, said Sally.
“Cody just ran away. Maybe something has happened to him”, Hoss said who had come in with Joe.
“We are gonna look for him”, said Ben.
A moment later the men including Adam had left the yard.
“He probably will be at the grave of Mary. Mitch is there often when he wants to be alone”, Adam suggested.
“Then we go there first”, replied Ben.
They rode to their private cemetary where indeed Mitch and Cody were. Adam saw them as first and jumped from his horse. He ran to the couple and kissed his son full of love.
“What has happened?”, Ben asked when he and his other sons had come nearer.
“I wanted to be alone with mamma and Lisa when a strange man was breaking the grave of Lisa open. Of course I said something about it and as reaction I got a smack of his shovel. He also threw snow in my eyes. I can hardly see anything”, Mitch told.
“First we take you home and then you and Lisa go to the doctor in Virginia City”, said Adam.
“Lisa is at home?”, Mitch asked amazed.
“Yes, the girls were switched by the couple Wilson. Your sister is at home already”, his father replied.
He helped the boy on his feet and guided him to the horses. Strange enough Caramel stood there too. Adam and Hoss helped Mitch on his horse where after the others also mounted on.
“Come on Cody”, called Hoss.
The shepherd ran along being in a jolly mood.
Meanwhile Lisa felt more and more at home at the ranch. That was mainly due to Pam and Lucky. But also by the delicious hot chocolate milk.
“Does he sit in the tree sometimes?”, asked Lisa.
“He has done that but then Mitch and I had to buy new balls of grandpa. Since then Lucky doesn’t do it anymore”, replied Pam.
Both sisters stroked the cat whom liked that very much.
“Lisa, shall I show you your room?”, Sally asked then.
They got up and went with the suitcases upstairs. Sally noticed that Lisa felt at home at the ranch quickly too. They went into a room.
“Your father said to me that this was your room when you were just born. So from now you sleep here”, said Sally.
In the bed room stood a big bed.
“I didn’t even had a bed and had to sleep on the floor”, Lisa said suddenly.
She began to cry where after Sally took her into her arms and let her cry for a while.
“Everything is over now. Your father and I will take good care of you, your brother and your sisters so that you will have no shortages of anything”, Sally said comforting.
Lisa soon calmed down and asked then amazed, “Do we have another sister?”
“Yes, she is called Rose and is born in May. Do you want to see her?”, asked Sally.
Lisa nodded. They went to the nusery where Rose and Inger laid. Both babies were awake ands started to laugh when they saw Sally.
“Lisa, this is your sister Rose and that is your cousin Inger. She is the daughter of uncle Hoss and aunt Betsy”, said Sally.
The young Cartwright didn’t know what to say but already had stolen the hearts of both babies and vica versa.
“You go fetch aunt Betsy and say that the girls are awake”, Sally said to her stepdaughter.
Lisa ran straight downstairs to pass on the message.
“No running in this house!”, riep Sally called after her but it didn’t help.
“She really is a child of my Adam”, she said smiling to herself.
When the men rode upon the yard Mitch could see a bit better but Adam was determined to ride to Virginia City with his son and daughter to let them both examined by Doc Martin.
“Mitchy, we are home again”, Hoss said while he helped his nephew on the ground.
“Daddy, my eyes hurt so much”, Mitch said with tears in his eyes.
“We go with the wagon to the doctor. Here is my hand”, Adam said worried.
Mitch got the hand of his father and didn’t let go anymore. Adam took his son into his arms.
“I miss mamma so around this time. She used to make such delicious cakes”, Mitch said almost sobbing.
“I understand it boy. But Sally can’t and won’t replace her. Though she loves you also very much”, said Adam.
Mitch nodded and said, “I love her too.”
Meanwhile Ben had made the wagon ready and Hoss and Joe were taking care of the horses.
Lisa came running downstairs when Ben came in.
“Aunt Betsy, the gals are awake”, Lisa said to Betsy.
“Then I am upstairs”, said ze.
She went upstairs.
“Grandpa, where is Mitch?”, Pam asked directly.
“He is outside with your father”, replied Ben.
She ran outside at once putting on her coat. She saw her twinbrother and father and went to them.
“Mitch, I have to see you for a moment”, Pam said coming straight to the point.
“Just say it”, said Mitch.
“Now we have presents for everyone but Lisa gets nothing. How do we solve this?”, she asked.
Now they both looked at their father.
“I go straight with you, Lisa and grandpa to town and as soon as Mitch is examined by Doc Martin I leave you and grandpa behind at the the General Store so you can buy something for your little sister there. Pam, will you go and get your grandpa and sister?”, asked Adam.
“Don’t forget to say that grandpa must take his full wallet along”, said Mitch.
“Why?”, Adam asked amazed.
“Well, then grandpa can finally pay his annual doctor’s bill”, his son replied dry.
Adam and Pam thought it was a funny remark. She went inside to pass on the message. Adam lifted the chin of Mitch up and looked at him with love.
“I am glad that you are raised so nicely by me and your mothers”, he said.
“It could have end up worse with us”, said Mitch.
“Now you make me worried”, said Adam.
“Uncle Hoss and uncle Joe also could have raised us. But then we wouldn’t have ended up so well”, the boy explained.
“You are right about that too. I will put you upon the wagon now”, said Adam.
They walked to the wagon and Adam helped his eldest on the wagon. Cody jumped near his master.
“Down Cody”, Mitch said which the dog did at once.
Inside Ben got to hear from his granddaughter, “Grandpa, you must come along with us to town and Lisa too.”
“Why must we come along too?”, the rancher asked amazed.
“Daddy wants to have Lisa examined by the doctor and you must come to pay the annual doctor’s bill”, Pam replied without turning a hair.
At that moment Ben wished that he didn’t have grandchildren who were so light-hearted. Pam helped her sister in her coat and went with her outside. Ben followed the girls.
Adam helped his daughters upon the wagon and Ben climbed on the box next to his son.
Both Frank and Rachel rode so fast away the the horses couldn’t take it anymore and tripped. The couple flew through the airt and ended up on the hard and cold ground where by they died. They rolled down to a dry river where they ended up lying.
The Cartwrights rode fast on and found the dead horses and couple.
“Daddy, he knocked me out”, Mitch said who recognised the man.
“That were my parents”, riep Lisa.
“It is now réálly over because you just stay with us”, replied Adam.
They quickly rode on.
It was as usual very busy in Virginia City but still the Cartwrights could deal with their business very quickly. Adam took his son and daughters along to the doctor but Ben had to come as well to pay the bill.
“Paul, can you examine Mitch and Lisa? Mitch has had snow in his eyes and Lisa has been kidnapped from us by a couple which doesn’t live anymore”, said Adam.
Doctor Paul Martin said, “I will examine them. First Lisa.”
“Why may she go first?”, Mitch asked amazed.
“Because ladies always go first”, replied Adam.
Mitch clearly disagreed but let his sister go first anyway.
“She is in perfect sound health. Now her brother”, said Paul.
“Doc, my eyes hurt due to the snow”, said Mitch.
Paul examined the eyes of the young Cartwright but couldn’t find anything.
“Try to avoid fierce light or otherwise you come back”, was the advice.
“Thanks Paul. Pa shall pay his bill for this year”, Adam said where after he went outside with his children.
Paul was pleased with this but Ben of course not.
Outside Adam said to the twins, “You go to the General Store to buy something for your sister and we wait for you at the restaurant on the corner.”
“There where the wagon is standing?”, Mitch asked for the security.
Adam nodded. The twins and Cody ran straight away through the snow. Adam picked up his daughter and went into the restaurant to stay warm.
There was enough to buy in the shop but the twins couldn’t choose.
“Can I help you?”, Dan Miller, the owner of the shop, asked.
“We hope so. We want to buy something special for our little sister Lisa. But we can’t make a choice”, said Pam.
“How old is she?”, asked Dan.
“Four”, replied Mitch.
The shop keeper went away and came back a moment later with a beautiful doll.
“Would your sister like this one?”, he asked.
The twins looked at each other and they thought the same thing.
“We buy this one”, said Mitch.
“We do have enough money with us, don’t we?”, Pam asked her brother.
“I hope so. Or otherwise we put it on the bill of daddy”, replied Mitch.
Dan walked to the counter to wrap up the doll and the twins followed him to pay for the present.
“That is then 10 dollars”, said Dan.
Pam gave the money and got even something back. Mitch got the present and they left the store. Outside they ran into their friends Matthew Walker and Jenny Wilkins.
“Is that for me?”, asked Jenny.
“No, for Matthew”, Mitch reacted quick-witted.
All four of them laughed.
“No, it is for our little sister Lisa. She got kidnapped from us and now she is back again”, Pam explained.
“What will your uncles and aunt and parents get a hard time”, Matthew remarked.
“Are you coming to our birthay party on December 27 as usual?”, asked Pam.
Matthew and Jenny both nodded.
“Mitch, daddy and Lisa are waiting for us”, said Pam.
“Come on Cody”, said haar brother.
They said goodbye and the Cartwright twins walked with the dog to the restaurant.
Home again the 3 eldest Cartwright children and Cody played outside until it became twilight. By dinner time Adam came outside to get them inside. Pam, Lisa and Cody came right away but Mitch hesitated if he would come. Adam knew right away that there was something the matter. On the porch he stopped his son.
“Kid, what is the matter?”, he asked worried.
“I don’t feel like celebrating Christmas anymore”, Mitch said slowly.
Adam sighed deep. They sat down.
“Mitch, I know that you miss mamma and can understand that too. But I also know that she doesn’t want that you are so down like you are now. Your sisters are looking forward to Christmas and I believe that you do that as well”, said Adam.
Reluctantly Mitch agreed because he said, “That is true but why must you always be right?”
“Because I am your father”, replied Adam.
Once inside the next commotion began. By the upcoming Christmas party the children were very busy and they ran through the whole room, encouraged by Cody and Lucky.
Joe tried to contribute his mite by behaving himself like an adult but that ruined by Cody and Lucky. Joe stood tóó close near the big tree when he got ran over by Cody. With a loud yell the young the Cartwright ended up in the tree where by it fell down.
“Grandpa, the Christmas tree has eaten uncle Joe”, called Mitch.
“Well, then there is more food for us”, reacted Hoss.
Everybody laughed. Adam, Hoss and Candy Canaday (the foreman of the Ponderosa) helped the tree up so that Joe could get up.
“Adam, you must keep your aninals quiet and your kids too”, he said insulted.
“You make them just as busy”, replied Adam.
“Well Adam, the Christmas tree is not the only one with fir-neeldes in itself. Your brother has them too and at a very painfull spot as well”, Sally said laughing.
Of course Adam and Hoss looked and they couldn’t stop laughing anymore.
“Mr Cartwright, do you have some Christmas decoaration left?”, asked Candy.
“Of course. Why?”, the rancher asked amazed.
“Then Joe can be decorated too”, was the laughing answer.
“Come Joe, then we are gonna release you from the needles”, Betsy said kind-hearted.
She gave her sister-in-law a wink and she understood it too.
With distrust Joe walked along into the guest room. Of course his brothers kept listening at the door.
“That is a nice one”, Sally said suddenly.
“This one is a long one”, replied Betsy.
They both laughed out loud which insulted Joe even more. After half an hour operation Fir-needles was over.
“Joe, just stay away from the Christmas tree from now on”, said Sally.
“Why?”, her brother-in-law asked.
“Because then the tree will get bare and we have more to do than get the needles out of you”, she replied.
“Do you want to have the needles as a souvenir?”, asked Betsy.
She didn’t get a reply because Joe rushed out of the guest room.
When it finally had become Christmas the Christmas tree was still a bit bare but there was a cozy phere to be tasted. Hop Sing had baked 2 big cakes and 3 piles of pancakes. Because a lot of snow had fallen the children were outside the whole day.
After the over delicious Christmas dinner the whole family sat together near the burning open fire.
“Grandpa, Are you gonna read Scrooge again?”, asked Mitch.
“Of course”, said Ben.
He got up and got the book from the book cupbaord. Here after he went to sit again and the reading hour began. Unnoticed Adam looked at his son and that one looked back smiling. Hereby the eldest Cartwright boy knew that Mitch was enjoying himself too.
The smallest children fell asleep by themselves and the twins got sent to bed at 10 o’clock. Adam came to check on his offspring.
With Mitch he asked, “And how was Christmas?”
“Great daddy”, was the answer.
Mitch fell asleep satisfied and Adam knew enough. He now knew that all his children had come home.