It was very quiet at the Ponderosa but not for long. The youngest son of ranch owner Ben Cartwright, Little Joe, had treated himself to a new pair of gloves. In the color black to be exact. He came riding up the yard being enthusiastic.
The older brothers of Little Joe, Adam and Hoss, were busy with the youngest Cartwright Mitch on the porch. The brothers taught the boy how to separate the playing cards. Adam had noticed that his son had a lot of trouble with numbers and letters.
“Mitchy, there comes your uncle Joe. So to see he is a good mood”, said Hoss.
“That won’t last long with Mitch around”, Adam remarked sarcastic.
Both brothers laughed.
“He has something with him”, said Mitch.
“You are right. I wonder what it is and for whom”, said Hoss.
“I am more worried about how he got the money for it”, reacted Adam.
Joe dismounted and walked to the porch.
“Are you teaching my nephew now already how he must play cards?”, he asked.
“Yes, he already has beaten us three times with poker”, Adam said with a wink at Hoss.
“I must believe that for sure? Two grown men let them beat with poker by a five year old boy? Don’t make me laugh”, answered Joe.
“Then you don’t believe it. We don’t care”, said Hoss.
“No, we are teaching Mitch how he must separate the cards”, Adam said serious.
“And does it succeed a bit?”, his youngest brother asked.
“Not really”, Adam said worried.
“Say Joe, why are you so cheerful?”, Hoss asked to change the subject.
“I have treated myself to something really nice”, answered Joe.
“On a baseball?”, Mitch asked hopeful.
“No, on a pair of new black gloves”, his uncle said proud as a peacock.
He unwrapped the package which he had with him and showed the black gloves.
“So, that are pretty expensive things. How did you scrape the money together for it? First robbed a bank or so?”, Adam asked mocking.
“Worked and saved for it”, answered Joe.
Again his brothers started to laugh. Joe grabbed indignant and insulted his gloves and went inside with his newest asset.
In the living room sat the father of the 3 brothers, Ben Cartwright, reading the newspaper.
“Hello pa. Can you explain something to me?”, asked Joe.
Ben put down his newspaper and looked amazed at his youngest son.
“Just try to tell me”, said the rancher.
“I come home from Virginia City with my new gloves and my brothers outside there on the porch don’t believe that I have worked and saved to buy these gloves. Are really that my brothers?”, asked Joe.
Ben answered, “I know that you all three had different mothers but I am your father for sure. Hose 2 big boys are truly your brothers for real.”
“I almost wouldn’t believe it. They are just jealous because I have new gloves and they don’t”, answered Joe.
He showed them to en who was impressed.
“Make sure that Cody doesn’t get hold of them. You know how much he loves to gnaw at riding gloves”, said Ben.
Joe nodded.
That evening Joe wore his gloves at the table. That was notable of course so that there soon came comments.
“Uncle Joe, are you having cold hands?”, asked Mitch.
“No, not at all. Why?”, asked his uncle.
“Well, that you are wearing gloves”, answered Mitch.
“I wear them because then the food tastes even better”, was the explanation of Joe.
The others laughed.
“If I wear or don’t wear gloves: the food always tastes good”, Hoss remarked.
He filled his plate again.
“You are just jealous because I have beautiful and new gloves and you don’t”, said Joe.
Now there was a harder laughter by his brothers. But Ben en Mitch found it funny too.
“I can’t wear them anyway so would I wanted them?”, Mitch asked whereby he had a smack at his youngest uncle.
“Mitch, they are very handy when you are making a long ride with your horse. And reins can then cut into your hands. And that hurts”, Ben explained.
Mitch was not very impressed by the explanation of his grandpa because he said, “Then Hop sing will have a cure-all for it.”
Ben sighed and kept silent. He thought though: ‘Why must my grandson always and forever have the last word?’
Then Mitch asked, “Uncle Joe, are you wearing those gloves when you go to bed?”
Again everyone except Joe of course laughed.
But yet before Joe could give an answer Hoss said teasing, “Of course he does that. Then little Joe has lovely warm hands tonight.”
Again there was laughter.
The next morning it was a lovely weather.
Hoss suggested, “Adam, are you coming for a ride with our little brother? Then he can try out this little new gloves while we go without it.”
“That’s alright. Pa, would you like to babysit Mitch today?”, asked Adam.
Of course Ben had no objections to that and Mitch neither.
The brothers prepared themselves for the trip and got from the loyal Chinese cook Hop Sing enough provisions.
Adam said to his son, “Be good and listen to grandpa.”
“I promise”, answered the boy.
“Boys, control right away the fences”, said the rancher.
The brothers promised to do that.
During the ride Adam and Hoss noticed that the prints of the reins got into their hands. Though at first they didn’t let it show to Joe.
After riding a few hours a lunch break got taken. This was of course on request of Hoss.
While they ate Joe asked teasing, “And do you have the prints of your reins tattooed in your hands?”
Adam and Hoss checked their hands.
Adam gave as answer, “We do have that but that separates us the men from the boys.”
“Then you should have worn my beautiful gloves”, answered Joe.
“Like Mitchy said already last night: they don’t fit me anyway”, reacted Hoss.
Joe hit back with, “Can Adam and I help it that you have such a coal scopes?”
Hoss didn’t react to it and took another sandwich.
After lunch and rest break the brothers went further. Adam sometimes looked worried at the sky which became more and more dark. Suddenly it began to pour. Quickly the Cartwrights looked for a shelter. Luckily it was found quickly so that the brothers and horses were dry.
“What a mean trick. Adam, your little boy will be behind this again”, Hoss said indignant.
“And how must Mitch have that made up then? He is at home with pa and we are 4 hours riding away from them”, reacted the eldest Cartwright boy.
Joe suggested, “Mitch has just pulled on a long rope so that we got this rain upon us.”
Then he looked at his new gloves and the scolding book got added a few pages again. Adam and Hoss looked at each other amazed.
“Joe, what is the matter?”, Adam asked careful.
“My black gloves have totally become purple with white dots by the rain”, Joe answered upset.
Now his brothers laughed at him.
The rain shower lasted 2 hours and the brothers decided to go back home.
Joe mumbled all the way until Adam said, “Pa will solve it for you.”
This helped because Joe kept his mouth shut. Wisely his brothers did that too.
At the Ben had just put his grandson to bed when the brothers rode upon the yard.
“Boys, be quiet because Mitch might be asleep already”, said Adam.
Hoss and Joe promised to be that. They brought their horses to the stable and took care of them.
Ben just came downstairs when the brothers came inside.
“Welcome home gentlemen. How was the trip?”, the rancher asked curious.
“It was very nice until we ended up in that rain shower. Luckily Hoss and I had nothing but our little brother did. Or better said: his new gloves. First they were black but now purple with white dots”, answered Adam.
“The latest fashion”, Hoss said laughing.
“Joseph, show me your gloves”, said Ben.
With reluctance Joe showed his gloves. Ben looked at them for a long time and had trouble for not to start laughing.
“How much have you paid for these?”, asked the rancher.
Joe looked embarrassed at the ground. Ben repeated the question but on a bit more stern tone.
“A hundred dollars. They were for sale at Troy Baker’s”, confessed Joe.
“Tomorrow I will demand your money back and then I buy for us and Mitch good riding gloves”, answered Ben.
“Now that you mention him anyway: How has Mitch behaved himself?”, Adam wanted to know.
Ben answered, “Your son has behaved himself very well like always. He has helped me well in the flower garden. He ‘s asleep now.”
Adam was satisfied.
The next morning after breakfast Ben went with the gloves to Virginia City. He stopped at the store of Troy.
Troy saw him coming in and asked, “What can I do for you?”
Ben threw the gloves on the counter and said stern, “My youngest son has bought here 2 days ago these so called black gloves. Though yesterday in the rain they became purple with white dots. I demand the money back!”
Troy didn’t say anything and gave shy the money back.
Ben went to another store and bought there very good riding gloves which were also waterproof.
By arrival at home the Cartwrights got the new riding gloves and especially Joe was happy with it.