It was the evening of July 17 when Mitch and Pam Cartwright came sneaking silently into the kitchen of the Ponderosa ranch where they let the Chinese cook Hop Sing jump into the air for 1 meter. Mitch pointed at him to be silent though. The cook nodded smiling. The twins went to sit at the kitchen table and Hop Sing went to the living room.
“Mr Cartwright come to kitchen”, said the cook.
Ben Cartwright, owner of the Ponderosa ranch, got up and walked along to the kitchen.
“Surprise!”, Mitch and Pam called at the same time.
A big smile appeared on the face of the rancher who closed his 2 eldest grandchildren in to his arms. He kissed them at the same time.
“Grandpa, we haven’t been away that long”, Mitch remarked.
“For me you have”, answered Ben.
“Pam, are you going along back?”, Mitch asked teasing.
His sister nodded. But the rancher had the twins too tight.
“Tomorrow it’s Saturday and then we will give a party because you are home temporary again”, said Ben.
“Grandpa, we are not home temporary but for good. Even though we live now next door”, said Pam.
“Matthew now lives with us so now you have 2 grandsons”, said Mitch.
The rancher looked up from these messages.
“We have a whole lot to catch up. That’s why you and Matthew stay the night here tomorrow night”, said Ben.
“Just like then when I had to write that essay for school about staying with?”, asked Mitch.
“Just like then”, answered Ben.
The twins left the ranch house again like they had come in and Ben walked back to the living room where his sons Hoss and Joe with their wives Betsy and Cora were.
“Pa, why did you have to come to the kitchen so suddenly of Hop Sing?”, asked Hoss.
“There was a little bird who told me that we have a party here at the ranch tomorrow evening”, answered Ben.
“A party? In whose honor?”, asked Joe.
“Well Joseph, it appears to be going about 2 persons who not only are going to make the Ponderosa unsafe but also Virginia City. Rumor goes that a little friend of them has come too”, was the bit cryptic answer of Ben.
Betsy and Cora looked at each other laughing because they understood what their father-in-law meant. Their husbands still didn’t get it.
“We take care of the food and drinks”, said Cora.
“That is a deal. Hop Sing will be glad with your help. Hoss and Joe, you are responsible for the dressing up or in other words the decoration of the party together with Candy, Griff and Dusty”, said the rancher.
“And what are you going to do for the party?”, Hoss wanted to know.
“I go invite some guests for the party”, answered his father.
Ben didn’t say anything further about the visit and went to read the newspaper again.
When the twins came into their new house Sally, Lisa and Rose were already off to bed.
“Nice little house”, Pam said when she came inside with Mitch.
“Beautiful planks. I would build a house from it”, Mitch remarked.
Adam got regrets right away that he had taken his son back.
“I haven’t missed this. Those discerning remarks of you, Mitch”, answered Adam.
They laughed. The twins noticed that Adam was deliriously glad that they were home again though.
Then Adam said seriously, “I do want that you help along at the ranch and in the house. Sally has it tough enough with the baby already and I want that she can it as easy as possible.”
Pam answered, “We promise that. We had to help in New York as well. Aunty Laura toughed us how to cook and bake.”
“And we are still alive”, Matthew remarked.
Again they laughed.
“It’s late already and tomorrow we must get up early just like every morning at the Ponderosa. I will show you your rooms and for now goodnight”, said Adam.
They went upstairs and not much later everyone was asleep.
The next morning Ben rode quite early to Virginia City to invite some friends for the party that evening. As first the rancher went to Jeff and Susan Williams, the parents of his daughter-in-law Cora. Ben dismounted and hitched his horse Buck. Here after he went inside.
The owner, Jeff, recognized the visitor and asked, “Welcome Ben. What can I do for you?”
“Thanks. Could you and Susan come to the Ponderosa to help the girls and Hop Sing with the preparations for the party tonight?”, Ben asked on his turn.
Susan, who had come nearer, said, “Of course we come to help.”
She looked at Ben so the rancher had to tell the reason.
“The twins have come home again. For good. They came by last night for a second and I have promised them a welcome home party”, told Ben.
“Why don’t we have a barbecue? That’s fun for everyone”, said Jeff.
“Deal. I will go and invite some more friends”, Ben said where after he went away.
Not much later Jeff and Susan went to the ranch to help the others.
Quite soon the news about the return of the Cartwright twins spread like a wildfire through Virginia City.
One said, “Want to bet that those Cartwright twins look down even more at us than before? Especially because they have lived in the big city.”
“Adam Cartwright really hasn’t raised them as snobs”, reacted another one.
“No, as super snobs. That Mitch really thinks that he’s super special and only because he is a bit cripple and can throw a ball”, was the reaction of a 3rd person.
They laughed. But not for long. The 3rd person named, Jake Simpson got quite a smack in his face from Ben Cartwright personal.
“You don’t dare to say that in his face”, the rancher said at a stern tone.
Jake said while he massaged his painful jaw, “I really dare that. But then I must go pass your dogs. And I’m scared to death for dogs. Why else do you think that lame Labrador-retriever has been dumped at your place? I have done that.”
Ben said, “You mean Skip? He doesn’t live with me anymore and neither does Cody anymore. Adam has taken them to his house.”
“And we must believe that. Not”, laughed Jake.
“Then you don’t believe it. It doesn’t bother me”, Ben said where after he went away.
“Jake, why would Adam Cartwright go live in another house? That Chinese cook does everything in the house”, said person number 2 who listened to the name of Pete Willis.
Jake answered, “Pete, that wife of Adam is pregnant again and quite well too. I saw them last night at the station. So that’s why Adam does need a place of his own. And that twin sister of that lame lad is also a darling. She becomes my wife and then she has a roof under her head. Then she can look after my children.”
“You don’t even have them”, said Pete.
“She doesn’t either but in a year’s time yes and so do I”, reacted Jake.
They laughed.
On the 1st morning after his home coming Mitch got woken up very early by Skip. The Labrador-retriever, who now had become a lot bigger, jumped jolly on the bed of the boy and licked his little master awake.
“Stop it”, Mitch said sleepy while he tried to push the dog away.
Skip played rough with him until the young Cartwright said sighing, “Okay Skip, you win.”
The dog barked loud. Mitch got up and went to wash and got dressed. Here after he went to walk with Cody and Skip. Skip ran but Cody walked a bit slower. They stopped at the water which was close by their house. Mitch went to sit down and Cody licked him.
“I have missed you also very much, Cody. And as long as you are still around I stay around you”, Mitch said to the old shepherd.
At that moment Skip ran over Mitch and a little romp began between the boy and 2 dogs. Of course Mitch got the worse of all. But this time he didn’t mind that.
“Boys, we go home because I want to have breakfast. And you probably too”, Mitch said after a while.
He got up and walked home with the dogs.
In the kitchen Sally and Pam were already busy with breakfast.
“Mom, we won’t be home tonight because grandpa wants that we, and then I mean Matthew, Mitch and I, spend the night with him in the ranch house”, said Pam.
“That’s alright”, said Sally.
“Sis, does mom know already about the party which grandpa gives in honor of our homecoming?”, Mitch asked who had just came into the kitchen.
“Which party?”,Sally asked amazed.
The twins told quickly about what Ben had said to them the previous evening. Of course their mother agreed.
During breakfast Lisa and Rose heard about the party.
“Mom, may we go too?”, asked Lisa.
“Of course you may go. Your father and I are going too”, answered Sally.
Adam asked amazed, “Which party?”
“Grandpa gives especially for us a welcome home party and for Matt too. We stay the night there because grandpa wants to catch up with us”, answered Mitch.
“Then we also have a quiet night”, his father remarked teasing.
Not much later the Cartwrights went to the big ranch house. Cody and Skip went along too so that the cat Lucky had the whole house and garden to himself.
Mitch saw quite soon his uncles pegging away at the lights, walked to it with Pam and said sarcastic, “You haven’t changed nothing at all!”
Hoss and Joe first looked at each other amazed and the eldest said, “That can only be that little miserable nephew of us who said that!”
They took the twins into their arms and welcomed them at the ranch.
“That’s why pa was doing so secretive last night”, Joe said laughing.
Betsy saw the twins and said excited, “If that aren’t my favorite nephew and eldest niece? Come here you!”
Mitch and Pam ran to their aunt and got a loving full greeting.
“Aunty Betsy, I don’t want to say much but I am your only nephew”, Mitch said dry.
Pam said, “And I’m your eldest niece.”
“That’s why I said it. Welcome home boys”, said Betsy.
They went inside where Cora was busy but abandon that to greet the twins.
Mitch and Pam also got a hearty greeting from their cousins (Inger, Petra, Marie, Felicia and Polly).
Cora said, “They have missed you very much. But we too.”
“Are there any people who haven’t missed us?”, Mitch asked dry.
“Daddy and our uncles”, said Pam.
“Do you keep an eye on the little ones? Then we can get on with the preparations”, said Betsy.
Mitch nodded and with his twin sister he took the girls outside.
Ben saw his eldest son and daughter-in-law and walked to them.
“Welcome. I assume that the twins already have told everything”, said the rancher.
“They have done that indeed. And also that they stay the night here tonight. That also goes for Matt. He and Pam are now officially a couple”, answered Adam.
Sally took place on the porch and kept so an eye on the children. Quite soon she got the company of her sisters-in-law.
“The twins were enormous home sick to the ranch and us. Pam wanted to go back at once when she saw me and Mitch also didn’t need much conviction. But that came by Rose. I find it great that they are back. The couple and Matt are already so independent whereby I can rest more”, told Sally.
Cora advised, “Just take advantage of such helpers.”
“I will do that too. The baby keeps on growing more and more”, said Sally.
When all guest had arrived Ben went to speak, “This party is in honor of the homecoming of Mitch and Pam Cartwright and Matthew Walker. They had been in New York for about half a year but choose to be here anyway. There is plenty to eat and to drink. But first a toast to the twins and Matthew.”
The 3 mentioned didn’t like all the attention and nodded a bit smiling. After the speech of Ben the party and the barbecue began.
Halfway the party Mitch and Matthew noticed that Pam was inside. They went inside as well. They found Pam lying on the settee.
“Sis, what’s the matter?”, Mitch asked worried.
“I’m so sick of that smell of meat”, answered Pam.
“You never have that“, said Matthew.
“But now I am. I do know that grandpa means well but now it doesn’t have to for me”, she said.
“I don’t find it smelling very delicious either”, Matthew remarked.
Mitch looked around him and asked then worried, “Where are the dogs?”
“I miss them also”, said Pam.
She came up carefully. Together with the boys Pam went to look for Skip and Cody.
Mitch asked, “Grandpa, do you know where the dogs are?”
The rancher looked at him questionable.
“I saw them with the girls half an hour ago”, said Ben.
Mitch walked to his sisters and cousins and found only the collar of Cody. Now the boy became totally worried. Adam came to his son and saw the collar too. Then Pete Willis came to them with a dish of meat.
“Mitch, have a delicious piece of dog meat. Jake is roasting it on the barbecue”, he said.
Yet before Mitch could react Adam hit Pete down.
“Where are Cody and Skip?”, Mitch asked fierce.
“On your dish with meat”, Pete answered laughing.
Mitch hit him a black eye until Hoss went to interfere with it.
“Just let me, Mitchy”, said his uncle.
Mitch got up and got received by Adam. Hoss hit Pete black and blue. Ben and Joe gave Jake a good talking to.
Jake confessed, “We saw Cody and decided to play a joke on Mitch. We threw some old boots on the barbecue and said after they had been roasted that it was that dog.”
Joe hit Jake so hard that the cowboy fell with his head against the barbecue and was unconscious. Hereby he could get arrested easily.
Meanwhile Matthew and Pam had found Skip in the stable near the horses. The dog laid scared under the hay.
“Come here Skippy. You are safe with us”, Pam said softly.
Matthew trapped him with a piece of sausage and that helped. Skip ate the sausage and got leashed. Arrived at the yard Pam and Matthew discovered that the party had been cancelled at once. Sally, Betsy and Cora had brought the girls inside. Matthew brought Skip inside while Pam heard everything from Ben and Joe. She also began to cry and got received by Ben.
Hoss had worked at Pete so that he too could get arrested. Adam had taken his son to a silent place of the yard. They went to sit on the ground.
“Daddy, it’s so unfair what they have done to Cody”, sobbed Mitch.
“That is so but now they are getting their well deserved punishment”, said Adam.
Suddenly Mitch felt a wet nose in his neck. The boy looked up of who that wet nose was and couldn’t believe his eyes.
“CODY!”, Mitch called out.
He took his old friend into his arms and kissed him loving full. Adam too gave the shepherd dog a loving full greeting.
“We go inside”, Adam said after a while.
They got up and with Cody father and son Cartwright went to the ranch house. When the shepherd saw Ben and Pam he ran to them.
“Cody!”, Pam called deliriously happy.
Cody got from her and Ben also a hearty greeting.
Inside the ranch house Ben brought everyone up to date about the faith of the dogs. Meanwhile they got pampered by the children.
“Grandpa, can’t we keep the party here inside, can we?”, asked Mitch.
“If you want that we keep it here inside”, answered the rancher.
Of course everyone agreed with this.
Although the welcome home party was in the 1st instance planned differently the whole Cartwright family thought the 2nd part was nicer. Mitch, Pam and Matthew knew that they really had come home now.