One morning Mitch Cartwright came outside to play baseball with his dog Cody at the yard. His uncles Hoss and Little Joe were there busy with repair work for a while. The boy went to them and looked silent but amused at them. Of course the brothers noticed that and they stopped with working.
“Joe, don’t you notice too that we are being watched?”, Hoss asked his younger brother.
“Yes, and that is of course that teasing lovable nephew of ours again”, was his answer.
Both looked at the boy who was looking around him.
“What are you looking so stupid around you? You know jolly well that we mean you”, said Hoss.
“Grandpa asked me if I wanted to see if you were working. Not”, answered Mitch.
It didn’t make much difference or Mitch had been thrown into the water trough by his uncles. The young Cartwright ran away already just after he had given his answer. Adam Cartwright almost got ran over by his offspring and he stopped him then too.
“What has happened now again?”, Adam asked while he picked up Mitch.
“Your brothers want to throw me into the water trough because I caught them red-handed with their chores”, his six year old son answered.
“They do can work but only when we don’t see it. Are you coming to town for?”, asked Adam.
“I actually wanted to play baseball Cody but this is fun too. Caramel needs to have new hoofs. Would uncle Hoss like to do that?”, asked Mitch.
“I think so. Go and ask him. Then I prepare the wagon”, said Adam.
Mitch got put down and ran to his uncles.
“Hoss, there comes that little one again”, said Little Joe.
“Uncle Hoss, Caramel needs new shoes. Would you like to give them to him?”, Mitch asked begging.
“Of course I do that”, Hoss promised.
Mitch went back to his father. Ponderosa owner Ben Cartwright just came outside as well.
“Adam, I want that you get some extra booze and give this letter to Roy”, said the rancher.
He gave his eldest son a list and an envelope.
“Will do pa”, said Adam.
“Is grandpa coming too?”, asked Mitch.
“No, I stay at home for the administration”, answered Ben.
“Oh, you are going to spend your time with your hobby”, the boy said lighthearted.
Adam thought it was a funny remark but Ben of course not.
“Come kid. Or otherwise grandpa wants to come as well”, said Adam.
He picked up his son and put him on the box. Here after he got on himself. A moment later they rode away so that Ben could get on with the administration.
It was quiet in Virginia City to great pleasure of sheriff Roy Coffee. He hoped then that it would stay that way but he didn’t have much faith in it. Roy was having a cup of coffee when the door went open. He looked up and saw at once that the peace in town had disappeared.
“Hello Roy. Pa asked us if we could give this letter to you”, said Adam.
“Grandpa cannot do that himself because he is busy with his hobby and that is the administration”, told Mitch.
Roy got the letter and read it.
“Bad news?”, asked Adam.
“No, it is an invitation for a travel next month. Tell your pa that I go along”, answered Roy.
Adam nodded and took his son along. They walked to the shop but didn’t get very far. A loud scream sounded through the street. Jason Harris had pulled away the basket from Polly Miller. Mitch came into action right away by throwing his baseball against the head of Jason where by the young basket thief fell on the ground. The Cartwrights ran to him, followed Roy and Polly.
“Sheriff, arrest that lad because he had stolen my basket”, said Polly.
“You again Jason Harris! Come on”, Roy said while he grabbed Jason tight.
“I want my mother and a doctor. I have a complete brain rebuilding”, he said angry.
“It was only a soft ball which I threw at you”, said Mitch said amazed.
“But one with a big speed”, Adam said amused.
“Mitch, to say thanks for saving my basket I will bake a delicious cake for you”, Polly said when Jason was dragged away.
“That’s alright by me. I love vanilla cake”, the boy said without turning a hair.
“Just come to my house in an hour time”, she said.
“Kid, we still have some shopping to do before you do your next heroic deed”, Adam said proud as a peacock at his son.
After an hour Mitch got his well deserved cake and they went home with the groceries and the cake.
“Daddy, will grandpa be proud of me?”, Mitch asked underway.
“I know for sure that he will be. And your uncles too. You have deserved that cake on your own. And there are now enough witnesses who have seen your pitch talent”, answered Adam.
Arrived at home Mitch told how he had gotten the cake. Of course Hoss Little Joe stood at first row to get a large piece of the cake but Adam prevented that.
“Then you must do your own heroic deed for Miss Miller”, he said.
“They can get a crumb but Cody too gets a piece”, reacted Mitch.
Indignant Hoss en Little Joe went to work again while Mitch shared his cakes with his dog and Ben and Adam.