It was October 20 1879 when Jason Young arrived in Virginia City. He knew that his old youth love Polly Miller was still living here and he had decided to propose to her. After that they would move to Boston where Polly would become mother. Jason had decided to let her expect 6 children. He owed that ho his state of important person. As 1st he looked up his parents-in-law to be, Jack and Cathy Miller.
He knocked at the door and Jack answered.
“What can I do for you?”, he asked.
“Mr Miller, It’s me Jason Young. I have very good news for you and your wife what Polly is concerned”, said Jason.
Of course Jack didn’t understand it so he asked, “Jason, what do you want with my daughter Polly?”
“Very soon she will become my wife and mother of my 6 children”, answered Jason.
Cathy came nearer and heard too what Jason said.
“Does Polly know this already?”, she asked.
“No, but as soon as I see her she does. We go to live in Boston”, said Jason.
Jack said, “I’m sorry that I must tell it you but Polly is already engaged to Mitch Cartwright. She lives with him since September.”
Jason was deeply shocked by this news. He apologized and left quickly.
Mitch Cartwright and Polly Miller had just been at the doctor’s for the check-up of Mitch. Because he was very lame he remained under control at the doctor’s.
By very coincidence Polly, Mitch and Jason ran into each other.
“Jason Young!”, Polly said worried.
“Miss Miller”, Jason said extremely polite.
“Do you know each other?”, asked Mitch.
“Mitch, this is an old youth love of mine, Jason Young. We had something like going steady when we were 4 years old. It meant nothing. Jason, this is my fiancé Mitch Cartwright”, Polly explained.
Jason saw how Mitch walked and asked Polly, “You are not going to tell me that you go with him, are you?”
“I do that indeed. And I do it with love”, was her answer.
“Mr Young, it was nice to meet you. Polly, are you coming to eat somewhere?”, Mitch asked who didn’t trust Jason.
“I go with you. Bye Jason”, said Polly.
They walked away from Jason who was heavily insulted. He thought: ‘Well. If Polly lets herself in with such a lame boy she surely isn’t good enough to put my offspring on the world.’ Though his curiosity had been woken up about where she did live and he went to find out. As 1st he went into the Silver Dollar Saloon. Because Jason wore very neat clothes he got noticed right away between all the other visitors.
“Where can I find information about a certain Cartwright?”, he asked barkeeper Sam.
“Which Cartwright do you mean? There are more than enough”, answered Sam.
“I mean Mitch Cartwright. Who is so lame and a shame for human and”, said Jason.
He looked triumphant around him until Hoss Cartwright got up and walked up to him.
“What do you want with my nephew, piece of shrimp?”, asked Hoss.
“I give him back his freedom by marrying Polly Miller. I am an important person in Boston so here too”, answered Jason.
Everybody laughed which made Jason angry.
He called out angry, “I am a citizen and you all are farmers!”
Hoss grabbed him tight by head and tail and threw him into the water trough which stood outside the saloon.
“So, now you taste our delicious farm water”, Hoss said laughing.
He went back into the saloon. Jason climbed out of the water trough and vowed for revenge. But not only on him.
A bit later on Mitch and Polly drove home when Mitch suspected something strange at their wagon. He stopped and jumped off the box.
“Mitch, what is the matter?”, Polly asked worried.
“Someone has been messing around with our wagon”, he answered.
The young Cartwright checked the whole wagon but couldn’t find anything suspicious. While he looked under the wagon suddenly he heard a scream and a false laugh. Mitch came up and saw how Jason held Polly under gunshot. He had pointed his pistol against her head and laughed false.
“Cartwright, just say goodbye to your lover because now she’s mine!”, said Jason.
“I rather die than to have to marry you”, said Polly.
She fought to get loose but Jason held her too tight. Mitch drew his revolver and pointed a second later at his enemy. Then Mitch let his weapon down.
“Well done little boy. Now go home nicely to help your mother with the dishes”, Jason said laughing.
He too let his weapon down. Polly gave him a kick so that she got loose and fled away. Mitch found a stone and saw his chance clean. The stone got grabbed and ended up a moment later against the head of Jason. Jason hadn’t counted on this and was for good out of the lives of Polly and Mitch.
“Is he dead?”, Polly asked whispering.
“As dead as a doornail”, answered Mitch.
She came to him and kissed him of relief.
“Promise me that you will teach our children to throw so well too. But only with baseballs”, Polly said after the kiss.
“I promise it. And also that they only may hit with a bat”, Mitch added to it.
Despite the seriousness they both had to laugh.
Mitch put his arms around her neck and said, “Pol, I love you so very much.”
“I love you too”, said Polly.
They kissed each other again.
Then Mitch said very seriously, “You are the very first woman for me. So I have no experience at the serious area.”
“That doesn’t matter because I teach you everything you need to know”, answered Polly.
Mitch was relieved.
They brought the body of Jason back to Virginia City and went after that back home.
When arriving home the father of Mitch, Adam Cartwright, asked his son, “What did the doctor say?”
“No change. It hasn’t become better or worse. I have to return again in December for a check-up. In town we ran into an ex of Polly. But he won’t be bothering us anymore because fortunately he is dead”, answered Mitch.
“When we were 4 we were something like going steady. But it meant nothing”, Polly explained.
Adam noticed that the relationship between Mitch and Mitch and Polly was very seriously.
He said then too, “Go and plan your wedding day on 1 condition that I’m your best man, Mitch.”
“I already wanted that”, said Mitch.
A few days later Kate Young knocked at the door of the house where Mitch lived. He answered it but didn’t trust it.
“Are you Mitch Cartwright, the little lame lad who has killed my brother?”, she asked snappy.
“He kept my girlfriend under gunshot so I had to do it”, answered Mitch.
Meanwhile he got company of the dogs Cody and Skip. Just like their master they didn’t trust the female visitor and the dogs remained alert.
“Your girlfriend was destined to become my sister-in-law! Is she inside?”, asked Kate.
She pushed Mitch aside and saw Polly with her sister-in-law Pam in the living room.
“What are you doing here?”, Polly asked at once.
“I come for answers like why is my beloved brother being killed?”, asked Kate.
She looked around for a second and noticed that Polly had it well done now she lived with the Cartwrights.
“Does Mitch actually know where you were on November 18, 1877?”, Kate asked then smiling mean.
The twins (Mitch and Pam) looked at each other amazed. Polly didn’t know where she had to look and kept silent.
“I thought so already. Do you tell it him or must I let your secret out?”, asked Kate.
Polly began to tell, “About 3 years ago I was raped by Marcus Young and the consequence was that 9 months later I gave birth to a son Jake and daughter Emma. They were born on November 18, 1877 in Carson City. We lived there as a married couple for the obvious. I had the twins all alone.”
Mitch was silent for a second. Pam also didn’t know what she had to say.
“Together we pick up Jake and Emma and raise them. Do you know where they are now?”, Mitch asked a moment later.
“Marcus kidnapped the baby’s and went to San Francisco”, answered Polly.
“Together we go look for your son and daughter and bring them here. We know a lot of people there and they surely will help us”, said Mitch.
“Marcus was also my brother but he has died now so I look after the twins now and not you!”, snapped Kate.
“No way! You stay away from my children!”, Polly said fierce.
Skip supported her and began to groan at Kate. At that moment the father of the twins, Adam Cartwright, came in. At the groaning of skip he noticed that there was a whole lot going on.
“What is the matter?”, Adam asked calm but worried.
Polly told everything.
“You pack a bag and I bring you to the station in Virginia City. And don’t come back before my grandchildren are with you”, said Adam.
Mitch and Polly accepted this offer right away. Kate left angry but not before she gave Polly harsh a push so that she fell down. Kate went away laughing. Mitch cared for his fiancée right away who began to cry due to the pain. Skip and Cody ran after Kate and made sure that she fell down outside on the ground. Matthew Walker came in, saw what had happened and went to get the doctor for his sister-in-law. Adam and Mitch brought Polly to bed and remained by her.
“Daddy, I want that those 2 little ones come here”, Mitch said determined.
“They will come here. If Polly can’t come you just take Matt with you”, answered Adam.
“Mitch, I’m in such a pain”, Polly said sobbing of pain.
Mitch went to sit by her and grabbed her hand.
“Just remain lying quiet. I’m with you”, he said calm.
Polly calmed down and noticed that the pain went away. Adam left the couple alone and went downstairs.
“Alright. Do you want to marry me on February 1 880?”, Polly asked then.
“Of course I want to marry you then”, Mitch said smiling.
When doctor Paul Martin had come he examined Polly right away. She had a broken right arm.
“Polly, keep enough rest to get better”, said Doc.
“That will happen”, said Polly.
The doctor went away again. Polly got kissed by Mitch.
“Mitch, do you go with Matt get the children? This is the address”, Polly said while she gave him a letter.
“If you promise to stay in bed until I’m back with the children ”, said Mitch.
“I promise that”, promised Polly.
Mitch was at ease.
In San Francisco Mitch and Matthew first took a hotel room. They got refreshed and went then for a bite to eat. Matthew noticed that his brother-in-law was nervous.
“Mitch, it might not be so bad. You saw your twin sister after 10 years and it clicked right away. Jake and Emma will be loving you”, he said.
“They probably will be so big already. Polly has missed so much of them”, answered Mitch.
“At least they have enough playmates at home”, reacted Matthew.
Mitch couldn’t deny that.
Sometime later the couple went to the address of the parents of the late Marcus Young, James and Patricia Young. In the front yard played a little boy and girl with a ball. Mitch and Matthew looked at each other and thought the same thing.
Then an elder woman came outside and she said, “Jake and Emma, come inside.”
“Alright grandma”, said the little lad.
Then the children looked at Mitch and Matthew.
“Grandma, visitors”, said Emma.
Patricia came to them.
“Mrs Young? I am Mitch Cartwright, the fiancée of Polly Miller. She got this letter from you about Jake and Emma. This is my brother-in-law Matthew Walker”, said Mitch.
Hands got shaken and inside they got to know the husband of Patricia, James. Jake and Emma became curious to the visitors and came at a certain moment to Mitch and Matthew. Jake and Emma looked at Mitch. Over the heads of the children Mitch looked at James and Patricia. They nodded.
“I am your father. We live at a big ranch. A lot of animals are there. And also other children to play with”, said Mitch.
“Are we going home?”, asked Jake.
“We go home tomorrow with you”, answered Mitch.
James asked, “You are staying for supper, are you?”
“Of course we stay for supper”, answered Matthew.
Patricia went into the kitchen so that James, Mitch and Matthew remained by the twins.
“Mitch, what do you actually do for a living?”, James wanted to know.
“I am a baseball coach and I also work at the Ponderosa. That’s the name of our ranch. It’s the biggest ranch Nevada. My grandpa is Ben Cartwright and owner of it”, told Mitch.
“It is hard work, isn’t it?”, asked James.
“Often yes but it’s also fun. I often get favored by grandpa because I’m his only grandson and also the eldest grandchild”, answered the young Cartwright.
Meanwhile Jake and Emma checked the walking brace which their father wore.
Mitch saw that and said, “I can’t move left leg very well. That’s why I must wear that brace.”
In brief Mitch told how he became lame.
“You said that you are a baseball coach. Here in the neighborhood is a youth team but without someone who can teach them it well. Interested?”, asked James.
“That sounds like music to my ears. A cousin of mine, Alexander Cartwright, has written down the rules of baseball. Can I take a look at that team?”, asked Mitch.
“I will bring you to it”, answered James.
Mitch got up and walked to the kitchen.
“Mr Young and I are going away for a while and the twins are coming too. We will be back later”, he said.
“Have much fun”, said Patricia.
Jake and Emma held nicely the hand of Mitch.
On a field of grass played some children with balls and sticks.
“Do they play here?”, asked Mitch.
“Yes. Just let’s see what you can do”, said James.
Mitch left the twins with him and walked to the children. First he looked until he saw a ball coming. Mitch caught it so that the children came to him.
“Sir, may we have the ball back? We play baseball”, a boy of a year of 8, 9 said.
“Of course you may have the ball back. Just show what you can do”, said Mitch.
He gave the ball back and got to see a shaky game of baseball.
Then another boy said, “Now you let show what you can.”
“Alright. Just go stand in a line and hold a ball”, said Mitch.
That happened and they got the following assignment, “If I stand opposite you throw then the ball at me.”
What the children saw then they hadn’t expected. Mitch hit each ball into their glove.
“Do you want to help us to get better? There is also a team in the expensive neighborhood and they always pester us because we are so bad”, said the 1st boy.
“I want to do that but then I have to move to herewith my fiancée”, said Mitch.
“You don’t live here??”, asked another child.
“No, we live in Virginia City, Nevada”, answered Mitch.
Then Jake came to them, grabbed the hand of Mitch and said, “Grandpa wants to go home.”
“I promise you nothing but I will let my decision know to that old man over there. Alright?”, asked the coach.
The children nodded where after everyone went home.
During supper Emma suddenly said, “Daddy can hit very well.”
Now everyone looked at Mitch who told what had happened at the play field. He realized that he had a difficult choice: or to stay coach in Virginia City or become it in San Francisco.
After they had brought the twins to bed Mitch and Matthew went back to their hotel.
“I would love to help them but at home they also need us hard. Besides I want that Jake and Emma learn to know the beauty of the Ponderosa”, Mitch suddenly said.
“I want that the twins grow up with us at the ranch. But I also understand that you want to help those children”, answered Matthew.
They went to sleep not much later and woke up early the next day. After as heavy breakfast they went back to the Young family.
Yet before Mitch and Matthew were inside Jake asked them already, “Daddy, uncle Matt, are we going to the ranch today?”
“We go to the ranch with you today indeed. Mr Young, will you pass on to the children that I will take care of a good baseball coach?”, asked Mitch.
“Of course I will do that”, said James.
Patricia first made coffee and helped then Mitch with packing with the clothes and stuff of the twins.
“I will miss them but I also know that you will take good care of them”, said Patricia.
“We certainly will do that”, answered Mitch.
The foursome went to Virginia City by train. The twins listened notably well to their father and uncle and behaved themselves very well too. The closer they came to Virginia City the more Jake and Emma questioned Mitch about the ranch.
After a long journey Mitch, Matthew and the twins finally came home. Mitch introduced Jake and Emma to everyone. Especially Adam and Sally were thrilled with their grandchildren at once.
Mitch took the little ones to his bedroom where Polly laid. Softly he opened the door and let the children in.
“Pol, look who we have here?”, he asked smiling.
Polly looked up and there came a big smile on her face.
“Jake and Emma, come to mama”, said Polly.
The twins climbed on the bed and got a warm greeting from their mother.
“What have you grown. I missed you so”, Polly said deliriously happy.
“We came by train”, said Jake.
“Together with daddy and uncle Matt”, Emma added.
“Just go downstairs to play with the others. Mama needs a lot of rest”, Polly said after a while.
“Are you ill?”, asked Jake.
“No, but I have to stay in bed of your father”, answered his mother.
“Grandma is expecting a baby soon”, said Emma.
They gave their mother another little kiss and went downstairs again. Not much later a deliriously happy Polly fell asleep.
After she had brought her 4-year old daughter rose to bed the extremely pregnant Sally went to take at look at Polly. Polly had just woken up.
“Mitch already has brought the twins to bed. How are you?”, asked Sally.
“I am so tired. If this stays this way the upcoming time I’m worth nothing to Mitch and the children”, answered Polly.
“Is there a wedding day being set?”, Sally wanted to know.
“Our wedding day in on February 1, 1880”, was the answer.
“How nice. Congratulations”, said Sally.
“Thanks”, said Polly.
When everyone except Adam and Mitch were off to bed father and son sat outside on the porch.
“Daddy, I must tell you something”, Mitch suddenly said.
“Tell”, said Adam.
“Polly and I are getting married on February 1, 1880”, told Mitch.
Adam first didn’t know what he heard and had to get the message through to him.
When that finally had happened Adam said smiling, “So I must congratulate you and Polly.”
Mitch nodded and told all what had happened in San Francisco.
Finally he said, “I think that I have made the right decisions by taking the little ones to here.”
“I think that too and I know for sure that your grandpa will be crazy about Jake and Emma too”, reacted Adam.
Then Mitch asked a bit unsure, “Now I’m responsible for 3 persons: Polly and the twins. Do you find me grownup enough for that?”
“It is a big responsibility but I find you grownup enough for it”, said Adam.
Adam was right what Jake and Emma concerned because the next day they got to know Ben Cartwright. It clicked right away. Hereby Mitch was totally convinced that he had made the right decision. He arranged a good baseball coach for the children whom he had met in San Francisco.