Ponderosa owner Ben Cartwright was alone at home with the dog Cody when one afternoon there was a knock at the door. The rancher got up and walked to the door. Ben was very amazed when he saw the woman standing.
“Am I here at the Ponderosa, the ranch of the Cartwrights?”, asked the woman.
“Yes sure. I am Ben Cartwright, the owner. Come in”, said Ben said inviting.
He took the woman by the hand and led her inside. Cody walked to the female visitor and browsed at her fully.
“This is our dog Cody”, said Ben.
“I am Cora Wilcox. I was on my way to Virginia City when a wheel of my wagon broke off. Two cowboys tried to rob me but I knocked them off me by hitting them with my handbag. Hereby they were so amazed that I could get away”, said Cora.
She began to cry from fear and Ben took her into his arms. Exactly at that moment the front door went open again. Mitch and Pam Cartwright came in and saw their grandpa comforting a strange woman. The children were outside at once again.
“Mitch, I didn't know that we would be getting a grandma again?”, Pam asked amazed her twin brother.
“Me neither”, answered Mitch.
“What do we do? If we tell it to Uncle Hoss and Uncle Joe they will order straight away the wedding-cake and eat it too”, said Pam.
“That is true. You know what? We just ask grandpa”, said Mitch.
So said, so done.
The children knocked polite at the door and waited until the door went open. Ben saw his grandchildren standing and looked at them questionable.
“What are you up to?”, the rancher asked worried.
“We already had been inside but then you had that woman there in your arms. Will she become our grandma?”, asked Mitch.
Ben and Cora didn't know what they had to say or where they had to look.
“Come in boys”, said the rancher.
In the living room Cora sat on the settee and she had calmed down again.
“Cora, may I introduce you to my grandchildren Mitch and Pam of eleven years old. They are the children of my eldest son Adam. I do have two younger sons Hoss and Joseph. Their greatest pastime is teasing these two”, said Ben.
The twins gave the female visitor nicely a hand.
“Why did you ask if I will become your grandma?”, she asked.
“Because we don't have a grandma”, answered Pam.
Cora thought for a second and said then, “I already know something. As soon as your Uncles come home for supper we tell them that your grandpa and I are getting married.”
“Uncle Hoss always eats at least three portions and then he also wants to eat our pudding”, said Mitch.
“Uncle Joe tries that too”, his sister reacted.
“From now on that will be changed. I just give them adjusted portions and they will have to deal with it then!”, the female visitor answered.
Ben and the twins agreed.
By supper time Hoss and Little Joe came home.
“Boy, I am hungry. I can eat a whole pig on me own”, said Hoss.
“You can always do that”, his younger brother reacted.
They dismounted and took care of their horses in the stable. Hereafter they went inside the ranch house.
“Sit down boys. I have something to tell you”, Ben said seriously.
The brothers went to sit next to each other on the settee. They looked at their father questionable.
“I have finally met someone who wants to share the rest of her life with me and my family. She is called Cora Wilcox and is in the kitchen with the twins”, said Ben.
Hoss and Little Joe looked at each other amazed.
“Congratulations pa”, they said at the same time.
The following moment they went to wash themselves to be at the table then.
Just before supper the brothers got introduced to Cora and the other way around. They got on right away.
Cora said to Hoss and Little Joe, “From now on you get adjusted portions what food concerned.”
The brothers didn't know what they heard. Cora got up and walked to the kitchen. A second later she came back with two plates with a modest meal on it. Hoss and Little Joe each got a plate in front of them.
Hoss looked at his food and said with a miserable voice, “Miss Cora, if I have eaten this then my stomach is still empty.”
“That is then your problem and not mine. Your father and I are getting married and then you and your brother must adjust to that then”, she answered.
The twins were rolling on the floor laughing.
“You can get some more on your plate but then you must promise Mitch and Pam something”, said Cora.
“We promise them everything”, the brothers begged.
“You promise the kids that you will never eat their pudding again. They still must grow from it and you not anymore”, Cora decided.
Ben looked amused at his sons and winked at his grandchildren. After Hoss and Little Joe had solemnly promised it they got to hear the truth.
“It is fine to hear that you have so much over for your nephew and niece but still your father and I are not getting married. I happen to be the new teacher at school. I start on Monday”, said Cora.
A loud protest followed from the gentlemen H. and J. Cartwright followed but it was no use. Though the brothers realised that they had learned their lesson by now.