A NEW START

“Put those sticks of dynamite so down that that Cartwright rides across it that he dies by the explosion”, Sylvia Garrison said to her husband and accomplice David.

“Take it easy. I have done this job so many times that I can do blindfolded”, he husband growled. With great care he stuck the six sticks of dynamite together and put them so that nobody could see them. Then he rolled out the wire and he went to his wife who already had found a perfect hiding place.

“Now we only have to wait for Cartwright to pass by with that child and to grab our chance”, Sylvia said.

Adam and Mitch were on that certain Saturday afternoon on their way to Virginia City to get a supply. The sun was shining lovely and they were in a jolly mood.

“Daddy, when we are in town, may I buy an ice-cream?”, Mitch asked at a certain moment.

“When we have bought everything we both buy an ice-cream”, Adam promised.

The road was a bit rocky so that Adam went to ride a bit slower. Suddenly Adam rode across what he thought was a thick stick but it were the sticks of dynamite. A big explosion followed whereby father and son Cartwright both fell off the wagon and got injured. Through the explosion the horses were dead at once. Mitch came down on the ground that he had broken his right wrist. Adam was lying ten meters ahead and unconscious. The youngest Cartwright was also out cold.

Not long after the explosion an elderly couple came riding by.

“David, stop for a moment because there lies an injured child”, Sylvia said who first discovered Mitch.

Her husband David stopped the wagon and jumped from it. He kneeled down at Mitch and examined him.

“His right wrist is broken but our house doctor can set it. We take him home as the wagon is completely destroyed and he is the sole survivor”, the man said.

He lifted the boy up and carried him to the wagon.

Sylvia looked at him and said, “So little and alone on the world. But now he has us to love. But we won’t contact the doctor because he tells the sheriff and then I lose my baby.”

“Have it your way”, David reacted.

When Adam and Mitch didn’t come home from town the others decided to look for them. Not far from the ranch the Cartwrights saw the wrecked pieces of the wagon and the dead horses lying. Ben was the first one to jump from his horse and looked around worried.

Hoss, Little Joe and Candy also dismounted and went looking as well. Hoss was the one who found Adam.

“Adam, wake up. Although it is a lovely weather but that doesn’t mean that you can just lay here and get a suntan”, Hoss said to his older brother who was just getting awake.

“Shut up”, Adam said directly.

He got up careful and looked around.

“Where is Mitch?”, he asked directly.

“We would like to know that as well”, Ben said.

“According to me this had to happen on purpose. Someone had used sticks of dynamite and let them explode as soon as someone rode across those sticks”, Candy said.

Everybody looked at him.

“How do you know that?”, Little Joe asked amazed.

“They use that stuff a lot in the army. I know that because I grew up at an army base”, the foreman explained.

“Candy and I will report the missing of Mitch at Roy”, Little Joe said.

The rancher nodded. Ben helped Adam get up and they went home.

Sylvia took care of him as good as possible but didn’t know what his real name was yet. She and her husband saw the boy as their own son. The couple never had children of their own and now they had Mitch their child wish had come true anyway. Mitch woke up and didn’t know where he was.

“Where am I? What happened?”, Mitch asked confused.

“You are badly injured with an explosion. Your father died within it. We found you and took you home. I am now your mother and that is your father”, Sylvia said.

Mitch looked at his arms and saw that his right underarm was wrapped up in bandages. He came up slowly and looked around.

“What is your name lad?”, David asked.

“Mitch”, the boy said slowly.

He didn’t trust the couple. David saw the walk brace and suddenly he saw the light.

He said, “The grandson of Ben Cartwright is also called Mitch and wears a walk brace. Just like you.”

“Do you mean that you are one of the Cartwright family who lives at the Ponderosa?”, Sylvia asked amazed.

Mitch shrugged his shoulders. He went to lie down again and kept silent. David and Sylvia went to the kitchen to talk.

“David, I don’t want to lose him. He is our baby”, Sylvia said.

“When the Cartwrights find him they’ll come and claim him. They won’t listen to us anyway’, David said.

“If he is a Cartwright. He doesn’t know what his last name is so now he is our son. The Cartwrights are rich enough to pay money for him so they will do that. As soon as we have the ransom we move to another territory so they cannot do anything to us. Finally I have a baby and I won’t let it be taken away from me”, Sylvia said determined.

Mitch heard everything his foster parents said to each other and knew enough.

Adam was at his wit’s now Mitch had disappeared without a trace.

“Adam, we will find Mitch. Roy and Clem are also looking for him”, Ben said but it was no use.

Adam became very dismal and retreated from the others. Cody remained by his side so Adam still had someone to talk to. The shepherd also missed the little boss. The atmosphere at the ranch was totally different. There was less laughter and it looked like a big black cloud hung over the Ponderosa.

Mitch recovered very quickly from his injuries. After a few days he was walking around the house.

He went to Sylvia and asked begging, “I want to go to Virginia City. May I go please?”

“Not alone yet because you are way too little for that. I will join you nicely”, was her answer.

They grabbed the carriage and rode to Virginia City

By coincidence Ben was also in Virginia City for some business. He was talking to the sheriff when Sylvia and Mitch rode into town.

“Adam is desperate because Mitch is still unfindable. He even thinks that the boy is dead”, Ben said.

“Mitch is a tough cookie and will not die very soon”, Roy said.

Unnoticed they watched the unknown carriage. Both recognized the youngest but didn’t say anything about it being wisely. At the trading post Sylvia stopped the carriage.

She said ,“Mitch, you stay here waiting until I get back.”

The boy nodded. His foster mother got out and walked into the shop. Mitch climbed out of the carriage right away and looked around.

Ben and Roy saw the young Cartwright and the rancher yelled, “Mitchell Cartwright, come as the hell over here.”

Mitch saw his grandpa and the sheriff and ran to them. Ben caught his grandson and embraced him while he lifted him up.

Mitch asked amazed, “I am now at the house with my parents. At least that’s what they say. But I do live on the Ponderosa, don’t I?”

“You certainly do. I am your Grandpa. Your father is Adam Cartwright and he misses you very much. Roy, can you write out an arrest warrant for Mrs…?”, Ben asked.

“She is called Sylvia Garrison and her husband is called David”, Mitch said quickly.

They went inside and Roy wrote out two arrest warrants right away. Then he went to the trading post.

“Are you Mrs Sylvia Garrison? I have an arrest warrant for you for keeping a minor child in your custody”, the sheriff said.

Sylvia walked along with Roy. Ben waited with Mitch for them at the office of the sheriff.

Sylvia said to Ben, “You must make a mistake because Mitch is my son.”

“Mitch is my grandson and the son of my eldest son Adam”, the rancher reacted.

“Bullshit. His father is dead and that’s why my husband and I are taking care of him now”, Sylvia said snappy.

“Come to my ranch then you can see that Adam is still alive”, Ben said.

“I go home with Mitch”, the woman said furious.

She dragged the boy along so that Ben and Roy couldn’t do anything. Mitch tried to get away and took off his jacket. He fell down on the ground where after Ben saved him. He picked him up and carried him to the sheriff’s office. They went inside.

“Tell first what happened since that fatal Saturday afternoon”, Ben said calm.

Mitch swallowed and began to tell, “I woke up in a strange bed in a strange house with strange people. I told them who I was and then they said that I was their son. But in the kitchen they said that you had to pay money for me and that they would move to another territory.”

In the meantime Roy wrote it all down.

Then he said after Mitch had told everything, “Ben, take that boy home.”

“Are you coming lad?”, the rancher asked his grandson.

Mitch nodded shy.

“My wrist hurts since the accident”, the boy said.

“Then we first go to the doctor’s to let you examined”, the rancher said.

They left the office and walked to the practise of Paul Martin. Ben noticed that his grandson had become very affectionate since his return. He walked very close to Ben and kept silent.

“Paul, Mitch is found but his right wrist hurts. Can you examine him completely?”, Ben asked directly while entering.

“Come over here”, the doctor said.

Mitch let himself examined and his wrist got set into plaster.

“Ben, your grandson is physical alright except that broken wrist of course but mentally he has had a knock on the head. Let Adam spend spent time with him as much as possible”, Paul said.

“That will happen. Are you coming, Mitch?”, the rancher asked after the treatment.

Mitch nodded and walked along. They walked to Buck, the horse of Ben. The rancher lifted Mitch up and put him upon the horse. Then he dismounted himself. In an easy pace the Cartwrights went home.

At the ranch Adam was looking into a photo album with pictures of him, Mary and Mitch in. The longer he looked at them the more tears came into his eyes. Hoss came unnoticed into the living room and saw his older brother. He saw how miserable his brother looked and decided to cheer him up.

He went to sit on the settee and asked carefully, “Are those pictures of your son?”

Adam nodded and said, “I miss Mitch so much.”

He showed them to his younger brother.

Hoss said teasing, “Mitchy looks like a lot like Mary. Now I know who gave him the handsomeness. His mother did.”

“Very funny Eric Haas Cartwright”, Adam reacted.

Though he had to smile a bit sour because that rotten remark.

But because he knew that he couldn’t handle Hoss physically, Adam grabbed him back on the mental way, “You know that you may not tease elderly people, so why do you do it then?”

“Older brother, you are only six years older than me so what’s that suppose to mean?”, Hoss asked indignant.

“That you must have respect for your older and wiser brother”, Adam said fierce.

When Ben came inside with Mitch Adam didn’t know what to say. Hoss was also speechless.

“Come here kid”, Adam said with tears in his throat and eyes.

Slowly Mitch came to his father. Adam lifted his son up and kissed him. Mitch began to cry. Ben beckoned Hoss to go outside which he did.

“An elderly couple named David and Sylvia Garrison found Mitch and they reckon that Mitch is theirs. So there is a big chance that they come over here to claim Mitch. Besides Mitch knows very well who we are”, the rancher told.

Hoss said, “They won’t get Mitchy. Adam is so happy now.”

“Mitch has reported everything already at Roy so he also knows about it. They had told Mitch that Adam was dead. Fortunately I was in town so that he could escape. But she nearly got him again but Mitch managed to escape again”, Ben answered worried about the near future of his eldest son and only grandson.

Inside the ranch house Adam and Mitch were talking on the settee.

“They are very good to me but they wanted that Grandpa paid money for me and then they would move with me to another territory”, Mitch said careful.

“I missed you so much. I even thought that you were dead”, Adam said smiling.

Mitch kept silent.

“The others were worried about you as well”, Adam said.

Adam spent very much time with Mitch. He had become more protective than he usually was.

“If you are my father, where is mamma then?”, Mitch asked one morning.

“Mamma died when you were just born. I was born in Boston on May 18 1830 and you on December 25 1862”, Adam told.

Mitch was quiet for a moment.

The he asked the following question, “Why do I not have any brothers or sisters?”

“It just didn’t happen. I am also very happy with you. Maybe it will come in time but I am not sure”, Adam said.

He got hold of his son and held him tenderly. Suddenly Cody came running hard towards them. In his hurry he walked Mitch over. The youngest Cartwright fell with his head on the porch and was out cold for a moment.

Adam said strict, “Cody, to your place!”

The shepherd went to lie down at his place at once with his ears in his neck.

Mitch came around after a while and asked confused, “What has happened?”

“You got walked over by Cody”, Adam explained.

Ben came riding up to them and noticed directly that something was going on. He dismounted and walked to his offspring.

“Pa, there is nothing the matter. Cody just walked over him. Shall we play a joke on Hoss, Joe and Candy?”, Adam asked teasing.

“Do you mean that we pretend that Mitch has lost his memory?”, asked Ben.

His eldest son nodded with laughing eyes.

“I play it along”, said the rancher.

“Despite the fact that Mitch is better again he goes to bed early. Tomorrow I am going to train with him in running fast. He has quite a difficulty with that”, said Adam.

“I think that Hoss, Joe and Candy also want to help. It is still quiet and nice weather so why don’t we make a pick nick of it? We use that open field near the herd”, said Ben.

“What do you think about that?”, Adam asked Mitch.

The boy nodded.

During supper Mitch played his role more than excellent. He was obvious very tired and almost reacted at nothing. Hoss, Little Joe and Candy saw that the boy was very tired. That’s why they left him alone.

“Adam, do you for sure that Mitchy ever will become like he was?”, Hoss asked after a while.

“I hope so but I don’t know for sure of course. But I do know that he goes to bed straight after supper”, his brother replied.

They looked at the same time at Mitch who looked very tired.

“Who are you again?”, the boy suddenly.

“We are your relatives”, said Ben.

“Never knew that I had them”, Mitch reacted dry.

“I am going to bring you to bed because you fall down of sleep”, Adam said fatherly.

Without any protest Mitch let himself bring to bed.

“Pa, will Mitch ever remember who we are?”, Little Joe asked worried.

“I really wouldn’t know that”, the rancher replied.

He looked from the one at the other. He waited till Adam was downstairs again. that didn’t take long.

“I don’t know what Mitch will become later: baseball player or actor”, Adam said lighthearted.

“How do you mean?”, Hoss asked amazed.

Little Joe and Candy also didn’t understand a thing of it.

“Cody walked Mitch over this morning. He fell with his head on the porch whereby he became like he used to be. To tease the three of you pa and I discussed this with him”, Adam explained.

A loud protest followed but Ben held up his hand and said, “You are to blame yourself. Then you shouldn’t have teased Mitch so much.”

The next day it was quite a stir in the Cartwright household.

Mitch was enormous busy and got through that all the attention of his relatives.

Meanwhile Hop Sing prepared a big pick nick basket.

Mitch asked Ben, “Are Hop Sing and Candy also going?”

“If you want them to come along, then it is fine by me”, the rancher replied.

“They are also part of the family, aren’t they?”, asked the boy.

Ben nodded and went to his foreman and cook to say that they had to come along as well of Mitch. Of course they couldn’t refuse that.

Adam threw a ball at Mitch who hit him away right away. Hereafter he ran to Candy who stood at first base. What nobody saw was that David was standing watching at the bushes to take Mitch along. Suddenly he appeared and he grabbed the boy.

“Everybody stand back or else you can bury my son”, David screamed at the Cartwrights.

“Let Mitch go. You are not entitled to have him because he is my son”, Adam reacted.

“He was your son but he ran away from my wife but we will unlearn him that soon”, David snapped.

He was so busy with holding Mitch tight that he didn’t notice that Cody was stealing upon him from behind. The shepherd did bite a piece out of his trousers whereby the man had to let Mitch go but that didn’t take long. David dragged the young Cartwright along to his horse and threw him on it. He mounted on himself too and he rode away. Adam ran to Sport, mounted on and called his dog. Cody came and followed his boss to Reno. Caramel got taken along as well. Somewhere Adam had the feeling that the Garrison family was living there.

On the way David rode so fast that Mitch slipped from the horse and remained lying still. Cody found his little master as first. He barked loud and licked then the face of Mitch so that he woke up. Adam rode to the couple and dismounted.

“Kid, what am I glad that I am the one who found you instead of that geezer. We go with Cody to Reno to deal with them”, said Adam.

Mitch got up and stood up. Hereafter they mounted on and together they rode down to Reno.

In Reno the Cartwrights happen to run in to David and Sylvia by co-incidence.

“Mitch, come here at once. You belong with us and not with that fellow”, Sylvia said snappy.

Mitch looked from the couple to Adam and back. The boy didn’t know for whom he had to choose. With David and Sylvia he had two parents but Adam was his biological father and Mitch loved him the most. Cody looked begging at his little boss and ran then to him.

“Mitch, you may only stay with us if that bunch of fleas goes away”, said David.

“Then I stay with Adam Cartwright. If my dog isn’t welcome at your place, then I ain’t that either”, Mitch said fierce.

Adam sighted of relief but knew from experience that the troubles weren’t out of the way yet. David got hold of the boy and threw him then against the water trough. Hereby Mitch damaged his lame leg very badly. Adam drew his revolver and shot first David dead and then he did the same to Sylvia.

Sheriff Tom Watkins came towards them and asked, “Mister, I won’t prosecute you because this couple tries to con rich people for a long time. May I offer you and your son a cup of coffee?”

Adam nodded and put his revolver back in his holster. Hereafter he picked up Mitch where after they went to the sheriff’s office.

Mitch had enormous much pain in his lame leg. Slowly he started to cry while Tom and Adam were talking. Adam pulled the boy on his lap. Hereby Mitch calmed down very quickly.

“Adam, if you want to have a job here you can become my deputy. I can really use an assistant. I saw how well you can handle your revolver”, said Tom.

“Daddy is the fastest with his weapon”, said Mitch said directly.

“I have seen that. The salary is fifty dollars a day”, said the sheriff.

“Mitch, do you want that daddy is a deputy while you are recovering?”, Adam asked his son.

Mitch said a still bit sobbing, “Ever so much! That means of course that we will keep on living here.”

“Indeed kid. Maybe for good. first we are going to look for a room so you and Cody can sleep”, said Adam.

“Go first to the doctor with your son and the you can go with him and Cody to this house. Here you can live. there is already a housekeeper”, said Tom.

He wrote the address on a piece of paper and gave it to Adam.

Doctor Larson examined the lame leg of Mitch and said after that, “You must rest a week in bed and then slowly trying to start to walk again.”

“That will happen”, Adam said smiling.

The Cartwrights left the practise of the doctor. Mitch leant on crutches.

When they arrived at their new house the front door was ajar. Adam and Mitch looked at each other being amazed. Adam drew his revolver where after he went inside as first. The quite new deputy got an enormous surprise. The house keeper was busy at the kitchen and heard the visitors coming. She walked to the front door but kept standing when she saw the eldest and recognized him at once.

“Adam Poindexter Cartwright!”, the woman said amazed.

“Mary Lisa Watts!”, Adam said also amazed.

He put his revolver back into his holster and took her into his arms.

“Mary, is it really you?”, Adam asked amazed.

She said smiling, “Yes, it is really me. I have a lot to explain.”

Adam took her into his arms and kissed her. Then Mitch and Cody came in. The heart of the boy began to beat heavily when he saw the woman.

“Err daddy, I am also here and Cody too”, Mitch said after a while.

“Sorry sweetheart. Mary, this is now our son and dog Cody”, Adam said a bit shy.

“Hello darling”, Mary said while she took Mitch into her arms.

Cody got stroked too.

Mary went to sit opposite of Adam, held Mitch closer to her and began to tell, “I have an identical twin sister called Lucy. After a big row with my parents about Mitch my father brought him straight after the birth to your ranch. I have never seen the baby. Lucy took my place in when you came for the custody. When I was recovered of the delivery my parents to a mental institution and took Lucy my place in. Soon they found out that I was normal and I got a job in the kitchen. Recently I got released from that institution and I went looking for you. But I couldn’t find you. That’s why I got here this job as a housekeeper for the deputy. Adam, I am so sorry and I missed you so.”

“Darling, I missed you also very much. I thought that you were dead so I went steady with other women but no one was so good for me as you were”, Adam said.

“Are you staying with us mamma?”, Mitch asked hopeful.

“I will never leave you again. Adam, what happened to Mitch?”, Mary asked.

“Two weeks ago we both got injured during an explosion. An elderly couple found him and took care of him. They have also told him that he is their son instead of ours. But they are dead. He threw Mitch against the water trough whereby our boy injured his lame leg. He needs a week of bed rest. I work as a deputy”, Adam told her slowly.

“Now I will look after you again”, Mary said determined.

“First Mitch goes to bed”, Adam said.

Reluctantly Mitch went to bed but as soon as he hit the sheets he was already sleeping.

In the living room Adam said, “We have taken no stuff of us along. Tomorrow morning I got to the Ponderosa to tell my father and brothers everything and to pick up some clothes and stuff. I will also tell about you.”

“Good. I really can’t believe that I have found you back again”, Mary said with tears in her eyes.

“Believe me, it is real. We are going to get married as soon as possible. I have to work so I am home a bit later on. Come on Cody”, her finance said.

The shepherd got a stroke from his misses and went then along with his master.

Meanwhile at the Ponderosa men had become very worried over the welfare of Adam, Cody but especially that of Mitch.

Ben said:“I don’t know what you will do but I go to Reno because Adam and Cody went up that direction.”

“We come along”, Little Joe said on behalf of Hoss and Candy.

Quickly the horses got saddled and they went to Reno.

Adam has just finished his round when he saw four familiar figures coming. Cody recognized them too and to them. Ben ride as first to Adam and looked at him.

“So you hang around here nowadays instead of at the Ponderosa? And where is my grandson?”, asked the rancher.

“At his mother. She works as housekeeper for the deputy which I am now. It is a long story but come in for a cup of coffee. I am ready with my round”, Adam answered.

The Cartwrights dismounted and hitched the horses tight. Hereafter they went into the sheriff’s office. Adam poured in coffee for everyone and went to sit comfortable. Then he told everything.

“So Mary is babysitting Mitch now if I understood well?”, asked Ben.

Adam nodded. He noticed that his father didn’t like the idea very much.

“I want to meet my sister-in-law”, Hoss said spontaneously.

“So am I”, said Little Joe.

Candy looked at his employer with a look like he said, “Wouldn’t you go land look up your grandson?” Finally Ben succumbed for the tempting looks of his sons and foreman.

He said, “Adam, introduce me then to the mother of your son.”

Adam took the others to his temporary address. Cody stayed behind at the sheriff’s office. Mary looked up strange when she saw her finance.

“Mary, may I introduce you to my father and brothers and also to our foreman? Pa, this is my finance and the mother of Mitch. Mary, this is my pa, Ben Cartwright”, said Adam.

“Pleased to meet you Mr Cartwright”, the young woman said.

“Same here Miss Watts”, Ben said courteous like he always was.

“These two galoots are Hoss and Little Joe and that is our foreman named Candy Canaday”, Adam said smiling.

Hands got shaken. Ben noticed how big the love was between his eldest son and finance.

“We want to get married as soon as possible and raise Mitch together. Would it be possible to let our wedding take place at the Ponderosa?”, Adam asked hopeful.

“I don’t want it any other way. Just say when and you can arrange everything”, Ben answered.

“Mitch needs a week of complete bed rest and he holds himself to that”, said Adam.

“What about April the first?”, asked Mary.

Hoss and Little Joe were rolling over the floor laughing at once.

“Nobody will believe that”, Candy said smiling.

“That doesn’t matter because then it will be our wedding day”, said Adam.

“Do you know that joke about the wedding on April 1 at the Ponderosa?”, Little Joe asked laughing.

“Well?”, Hoss asked curious.

“It didn’t take place”, Little Joe laughed.

“Adam and Mary, I will ask Hop Sing if he wants to bake an enormous cake and then Hoss and Joseph will not get a crumb from it!”, Ben replied.

“They may not even come anymore”, said Adam.

By hearing the words of his father Hoss was speechless.

“Adam, Mary, I am sorry. I will do anything if I may come”, Hoss said begging.

Candy gave Adam a wink and asked, “The cake will be a carrot cake, won’t it?”

“Indeed. And maybe Hop Sing will bake a cheesecake as well”, said Adam.

“Adam Poindexter Cartwright! You know dadburnit well that I don’t like carrots and cheese! Why do you let Hop Sing bake such cakes for your wedding?”, Hoss asked indignant.

“Because it is our wedding and Hop Sing bakes the most delicious cakes. Can we help it that you like everything except cheese and carrots?”, asked Adam.

Mary asked whispering to Ben, “Are they always going on to each other?”

“This is actually still very nicely. They often fight with each other but teasing each other is more favorite. Their biggest hobby is teasing your son and my grandson. That is also the hobby of Candy. So you are warned by this”, the rancher answered.

“If any of those four or more teases Mitch and I see or hear that they will have to deal with me”, said Mary.

“And with me”, said Ben.

He noticed that Mary got accepted very quickly by himself and the others.

That evening Mary let notice that she could cook very well. But also that she didn’t like snoopers. The delicious smells came into the living room where at Hoss came into action. He got up and walked to the kitchen. Mary heard her brother-in-law coming and walked towards him with the ladle the hand.

“Mary, I want to know what we will eat”, Hoss said out of proportion friendly.

“You will notice that when it is standing on the table. Perhaps it are mashed carrots covered with cheese sauce. Who knows”, Mary reacted.

“But……”, Hoss began but he didn’t come much further.

Mary prevented him harsh out of the kitchen. He came into the living room again being indignant.

“The women nowadays are so sneaky as the plague. Especially when they are marrying Adam Cartwright”, he said while he sat down.

“How do you mean?”, Ben asked amazed.

“Mary didn’t even let me into the kitchen to see what we are eating. She said that we might be eating mashed carrots covered with cheese sauce”, was the answer of Hoss.

Everybody except Hoss was rolling on the floor laughing.

When Mitch was awake Mary said, “Your father and I have decided to get married on April 1 coming up.”

“Fine mom. Where?”, the boy asked excited.

“At the Ponderosa. Your grandpa, Uncles and Candy are here too. I must say that your Uncles and Candy are nice but I have heard of grandpa too that they love to tease you”, said Mary.

She gave her son a hug.

“That is generally known but daddy loves to it as well. They didn’t say that, did they?”, the boy asked.

“Grandpa warned me already for that. But if that happens then they will have to deal with me now. And with grandpa”, Mary replied.

“Grandpa always chooses my side anyway”, Mitch reacted.

Then Ben came into the bedroom of his grandson.

“Grandpa!”, the boy called out loud enthusiastic.

“Hello lad. How is it with you?”, asked the rancher.

He went to sit on the bed.

“Fine. When are we going to go home?”, Mitch asked on his turn.

“That depends on you. Daddy said that you need a week of complete bed rest. But if you feel so good to go to the Ponderosa I am willing to take you and your parents along”, said Ben.

“So Hoss, Joe and Candy stay here?”, Mary asked teasing.

“Do that because then I only have one big tease and that is daddy”, said Mitch said directly.

Ben laughed and said, “I would like to that as well but I can use their working powers very well. Especially when I want to spend more time and attention to you.”

“Adam has to give up his job as deputy then. But I think that he is willing to do that”, his daughter-in-law said.

“May I leave the bed?”, the youngest Cartwright asked begging.

Mary nodded and helped with getting dressed. On crutches Mitch limped to the living room. The boys had set the table in the meantime. Adam looked at his son and noticed that he was now very happy. Cody was also very pleased to see his little master. They went to sit at the table.

“I hope that you haven’t bothered Mary”, said Adam.

“We didn’t but Hoss did”, Little Joe said quickly.

Adam looked straight at his younger brother.

“Confess it now Eric Haas Cartwright!”, he said strict.

“I only wanted to know what we were going to have for supper. Your finance said that it might be mashed carrots covered with cheese sauce. She kept me very harsh out of the kitchen”, Hoss replied.

“He tries that also always by Hop Sing, our cook. But only Mitch may come into the kitchen and Hoss always tries to take disadvantage of that”, Adam reacted smiling.

“That always fails”, said Mitch.

“That doesn’t surprise me”, said Little Joe.

“Your plans always fail. What about your failed bank robbery and your adventure as a detective whereby you got hold of Clem and pa?”, Adam asked frowning.

Little Joe kept silent at once.

“So to hear Adam and I must save Mitch for a whole lot of trouble if he keeps in touch with Hoss and Joe”, Mary said dry.

“Indeed but Adam has gotten his share as well. Remember that racehorse which Hoss had gambled and you asked me money for?”, asked Ben.

“That was a little misstep of me. I was young and innocent as a newborn lamb. Now I must take care of my family so that they won’t miss a thing”, Adam answered.

“Mitchy is nice lad. Only pity that Adam Cartwright his father is”, Hoss said teasing with a wink at Little Joe.

Adam looked at Mary and she at him.

“Just wait until you have children yourself. Then I will tell them a whole lot about you”, said Adam.

“If they all become like Mitch is then I wish you a lot of luck with it”, Ben reacted teasing.

“Good, Mitch is not always like a choirboy but he loves to get into mischief. Especially with Cody around”, said Adam.

Now Hoss and Little Joe couldn’t stop laughing anymore.

“Adam, how can a dog get into mischief?”, Little Joe asked laughing.

“Then Cody gets dressed up as a cat I suppose”, Hoss suggested.

He and his younger brother yelled it out of pleasure. Mitch showed his tongue and Cody barked loud.

“I do hope that the children of Hoss don’t inherit his musical talents because that would be a disaster for them and the music world”, said Ben.

“And not to speak about his flying talent”, Adam laughed.

“Don’t forget not his personal performance as Easter bunny for Mitch in his bedroom. That was really super funny”, Candy said grinning.

“They mustn’t touch Mitchy because then they will have to deal with me!”, said Hoss.

The others thought the same way.

“Daddy, may I eat a bit earlier than Uncle Hoss?”, Mitch asked Adam.

“Why?”, he asked amazed.

“Then I have at least enough to eat”, his son explained.

Everybody except Hoss laughed.

“Hop Sing will just have to cook more because you also eat like a dog”, Ben said.

He looked unnoticed to his eldest son and saw that he was enormously happy. By the return of Mary back into the life of Adam and Mitch the sun shone again at the Ponderosa.