It was the time of year that Ponderosa owner Ben Cartwright went to a cattle market to buy a new cattle of cows. His three sons (Adam, Hoss and Little Joe) knew this and hoped all three that they were allowed to come along. That's why they behaved at their very best.
A week before the rancher would leave the flattery started. Adam began with it as first because he was also the eldest.
“Pa, are you sure that you will go alone? Your grandson Mitch surely will miss you and you him. It seems a more than excellent idea to take me and Mitch along”, said Adam.
“Adam, I have already decided to take someone along but I am not saying who that is. Besides, your son is only four months old and yet too little to be taken along to a cattle market. So Adam, you stay at home comfortably to look after your son and to do the administration”, replied Ben.
Adam was clearly disappointed to great enjoyment of his younger brothers.
The following day Hoss appeared with a large package for his father.
“Pa, sit down. I have a present for you”, Hoss said with his sweetest voice.
Ben didn't trust it but did what him was told. Hoss gave the present and looked at his father with full expect ion. Ben unwrapped it.
“Hoss, it is fine to get pipe tobacco but I still had more than enough. Or do I get this to get you as company to the cattle market?”, Ben asked with suspicion.
“Of course not. I am not like Adam and/or Little Joe”, replied Hoss.
“No, if it comes to it you are a degree or two worse. You stay at home as well because there is enough to be done. The chicken-run must be repaired after our dog Cody has demolished it completely”, said Ben.
“Cody is the dog of Adam. so he must make it, not me”, reacted Hoss.
“Adam is already responsible for the administration and Mitch. You are very well in the repair work of fences and so also the chicken-run”, said Ben.
Hoss nodded and went outside. Adam sat with his son Mitch of four months old on the porch.
“Is there thunder and lightning on the way or has pa said to you that you must stay at home?”, asked Adam.
Hoss came to sit and replied, “I bought extra delicious pipe tobacco for pa to try and let me come along. But I must repair the chicken-run while your dog had demolished it. Little Joe might come along for sure.”
“I don't know. Perhaps Little Joe must round up the herd and count them one by one”, reacted Adam.
Meanwhile the brothers played with Mitch.
“One thing is for sure: pa will probably miss him”, said Hoss.
Adam nodded.
Little Joe came into the ranch house and walked straight to his father. Ben saw his youngest son coming and suspected the worst. Though the rancher did as he was working hard which was reading the newspaper.
Ben was right because the new bought cows gave the Cartwrights so much milk that now they had too much instead of too less.
“Pa, I have taken totally care of Buck and polished your saddle. It shines like it is brand new”, said Little Joe.
“Little Joe, my saddle is brand new! Fine that you have taken care of my horse but I am not yet that old and worn out that I cannot do it myself. Is this your way to be wanting to go to the cattle market?”, asked Ben.
“Err yes pa”, said Little Joe.
“You stay at home and help your brother Hoss with the repairing of the chicken-run. I will announce in a moment who comes along with me”, said Ben.
Little Joe went disappointed outside where his brothers and nephew were.
“Let me guess: you must stay at home too”, said Adam.
“Indeed. And that after I had taken care of his horse Buck. I had also polished the brand new saddle of pa. No, I must help Hoss with repairing the chicken-run”, Little Joe replied indignant.
Adam and Hoss couldn't stop laughing anymore which made Little Joe more angrier. Then foreman Candy Canaday came to them. He looked with laughing eyes at the three brothers.
“What are you a bunch of boot-lickers”, he said dry.
“How do you mean?”, asked Hoss.
“Well, Adam tries to soothe your pa by taking the little one to that cattle market. Hoss, you bribe him with pipe tobacco and Joe shows himself off with the taking care of the horse and saddle of Mr. Cartwright. I am not like that. I just do my work and do not nag to go to that cattle market”, Candy explained.
The brothers realized that Candy was right but none of them admitted it.
“Candy, good that I see you because I just wanted to invite you to go with me to the cattle market. Do you feel like going?”, asked the rancher.
“I would love to Mr. Cartwright. That is better than to listen to the booth-licking of your sons”, replied the foreman.
Ben laughed but his sons didn't.
“Pa, imagine that Candy ends up in trouble? What then?”, asked Hoss.
"Then I get him out of trouble again. I must do that with you all the time. Even though you are all grown up and one of you is even a father", replied Ben.
Now the brothers knew nothing more to say do they went back to work again. Except Adam.
"Where are you thinking of son?", the rancher asked serious.
"About how this lad will grow up at a ranch. There is already so much danger in the area and he is a Cartwright. So there always will be people who will try to make capital out of it", Adam said seriously.
"That will be so but as long as we and especially you is there for Mitch and he gets what he needs he is satisfied. It seems to me it is about time that Mitch goes to sleep for a while", said Ben.
Mitch slowly fell asleep which father and son Cartwright found softening. Adam picked up the baby and carried him inside.
The whole week Candy got teased with rotten remarks of the brothers.
“He might advice pa to buy the wrong cows. They come home then with sheep instead of cows”, Hoss remarked.
Adam and Little Joe laughed hard.
“That you never land on your feet I cannot help. I do happen to know the difference between a cow and a sheep.”, reacted Candy.
“Let's hope it. Or we will have more than enough sheep meat”, laughed Little Joe.
“I don't mind that. Sheep meat sounds to be delicious”, said Hoss.
His stomach began to rumble already by hearing food.
“You love all kinds of meat”, replied Adam.
“Can I help that?”, Hoss asked indignant.
“As long as Mitch doesn't eat steady food Hoss can do what he wants what food concerns”, reacted Adam.
“And I will do that too”, replied Hoss.
It didn't cost Ben much trouble to say goodbye to his sons but it did to his grandson. Adam had Mitch tight and together they watched Ben and Candy go.
“Adam, take good care of my grandson while I am away”, said Ben.
“That will surely happen. Have fun and watch Candy well”, Adam said teasing.
Mitch got another kiss and then Ben and Candy left.
Arrived at the cattle market Ben and Candy didn't know what they saw.
“Mr. Cartwright, I think that you will succeed here with buying cows”, said the foreman.
“I am afraid not because I leave the choice to you. That's why I wanted you to come along. My sons often mean well but I know exactly how they are”, replied Ben.
They walked across the cattle market until Candy stopped by a healthy cattle of cows.
“Do these cows give a lot of milk?”, asked the foreman.
Farmer Jones said, “They give very much milk. So much that you can drown in it. I sell them because the work is getting too hard for me. For $ 350 you may have them all ten.”
Candy said, “350 divided by 10 is 35 dollars. no bad deal. I take them. that gentleman over there will pay for me.”
He pointed at Ben who paid smiling.
“That boy is very sharp. Just be good friends with him. He can make you very rich”, said Jones.
“That is for sure. Come Candy”, said the rancher.
They walked on.
“Why did you actually chose those cows?”, the rancher asked when they were alone.
“Well, who drinks the most milk at home?”, asked Candy.
“Mitch. Why?”, asked Ben.
“Recently Adam complained that there was once again too less milk for Mitch. So I thought why don't we buy milk cows for that little heart breaker? That's why I took that choice”, Candy explained.
“You have made an excellent choice. We take the cows home later on”, said Ben.
they walked across the cattle market for a long time but the gentlemen missed the youngest Cartwright too much to stay any longer.
So said, so done.
Adam was busy bringing Mitch to bed when Hoss and Little Joe saw the market visitors
coming.
“All cows ran hard away as soon as they saw Candy”, laughed Little Joe.
“They were sold out all along”, was the remark of Hoss.
The brothers couldn't stop laughing. Ben and Candy stopped their horses near the laughing brothers.
“I don't know what is so funny”, Ben said serious.
“Didn't you succeed at the cattle market that you are back already?”, Hoss asked amazed.
“We have made a very good choice and buy. That is: Candy did that”, said the rancher.
He stopped with talking for a second.
“The true reason why we already back is Mitch. Where is the apple of my eye?”, asked Ben.
“I am here the apple of your eye”, replied Little Joe.
“Very funny Joseph. I mean your nephew and my grandson”, reacted Ben.
“Adam is busy bringing him to bed. Mitchy was all day not really himself”, said Hoss.
Ben dismounted and said, “Candy shall bring you to the new cows and then you will milk them.”
Hoss and Little Joe didn't understand nothing of it but did what their father had said. Ben went inside to see his grandson. Adam had just put the baby in bed and looked at him.
“Hello pa. There was again too less milk for Mitch”, Adam said worried.
“From now on that problem is solved. Candy had bought ten very good milk cows.
Especially for that little boy who sleeps here”, replied Ben.
Ben was right because the new bought cows gave the Cartwrights so much milk that now they had too much milk instead of too less.