As promised Adam and Sally Cartwright took their daughters Lisa and Rose on holiday to New York. The reason for this holiday destination was that the twins of Adam (Mitch and Pam) lived and worked there. The Cartwrights didn’t know yet sort kind of problems the twins had. For the holiday Adam had hired a carriage. Not only he and Sally had missed the twins very much but Lisa and especially Rose too.
George Watts sat in his office looking at the list of his personnel. Behind each name stood the age of the employee. George saw that of his employees, Mitch Cartwright, was only 16. He didn’t like this. The manager of the New York Nuggets decided to do something about it. He got up and walked to his secretary Lori Baker.
“Lori, get that Cartwright over here”, said George.
The blonde secretary got up and went to get the young baseball coach.
Mitch Cartwright was busy at the field training a youth team when Lori came to him.
“Mitch, Mr Watts wants to see you”, said the secretary.
“Alright. I am coming”, Mitch said to Lori.
The team got to hear, “Throw over to each other until I am back.”
The coach went with Lori to the office of their boss.
“Mr Cartwright”, said Lori.
“Close the door, Miss Baker”, George said to his secretary.
She did that and George pointed Mitch to sit down. He already had seen how badly the young Cartwright walked and had already made his decision about his future in his company.
“Mr Cartwright, I am George Watts and the new manager of this club. I will say it to you right away: you are fired. I am a perfectionist and don’t want any people on the payroll who have a handicap. Take your belonging with you and don’t you ever show your face here again!”, said George.
Mitch didn’t know what he heard.
“And the youth team then? They are really good”, he said amazed.
“The youth team has been discontinued due to cutbacks. Steve Johnson is gone too and now you are too. I have brought along my own coaches”, said George.
“I understand”, Mitch said where after he got up and walked away.
“Good riddance”, George said not knowing that Mitch had heard that.
By the door Mitch asked, “Do you happened to be related to Carl Watts from Miles City, Montana?”
“He was my brother. Why?”, the manager wanted to know.
“He was my grandpa. So if you are his brother I can expect something like this”, answered the young Cartwright.
He went away to tell his youth team the bad news.
On the field the little players noticed that something serious had been said to their coach.
“Everyone come and sit down here by the home plate”, called Mitch.
They came and sat down.
“I just got fired and this team has been discontinued. In other words: this team doesn’t exists anymore”, Mitch said seriously.
He looked at his little players piece by piece.
“We have learned a lot from you, coach. What are you going to do now?”, asked David Jones, the captain.
“I don’t know that yet”, answered Mitch.
But deep in his heart he knew the answer all along. He was enormous homesick to the ranch where he had grown up. And he wanted nothing rather than going back. Mitch only had to tell it to his twin sister Pam.
The children said with much difficulty farewell to their coach and vise versa. To play his ex-boss a nasty trick he gave each player 3 balls as a souvenir. What was remained ‘disappeared’ into the bag of Mitch.
Meanwhile Laura Walker got a visit from Virginia City. When she saw Adam and Sally she welcomed them hearty.
“Welcome to New York. How are you?”, Laura asked in the living room.
“Alright. With the girls is everything also alright. Only they miss the twins very much”, answered Adam.
“I see that there’s another little another Cartwright on the way”, Laura said looking at the belly of Sally.
“It comes in November”, Sally said who clearly was a bit tired of the long journey.
“You are going to rest and I will look up Mitch at the baseball stadium”, said Adam.
“May we come?”, Lisa and Rose asked at the same time.
“Of course you may come”, Adam answered smiling.
They went away so that Laura and Sally could be alone for a while.
Soon the Cartwrights had reached the local baseball stadium. They could go in like that because there were no games.
“So Mitch works here?”, asked Lisa.
“Yes. Just go and see if he’s busy on the field”, answered Adam.
He stopped the carriage and got out. Here after he lifted his daughters out. Lisa grabbed Rose by the hand and together they ran to the field, followed by their father. Arrived there they saw their big brother working.
“Mitch!”, Rose called when she saw her brother .
The 3-year old Cartwright ran as fast as she could to Mitch when he amazed heard his name calling. Rose came running with such a speed that Mitch fell down and his little sister upon him. They embraced and kissed each other. A moment later Lisa was with them. Adam watched from the side line enjoying. He looked for a second across the field and noticed that the field was empty.
“What are you doing here?”, Mitch asked after the heavy and emotional greeting.
“We are on holiday for you”, said Lisa.
“Daddy is there but mama is at home”, said Rose.
“At home as at the Ponderosa or with aunty Laura and uncle Dan?”, asked Mitch.
“With aunty Laura. Daddy will tell you why”, answered Lisa.
They got up and walked to Adam. Again Mitch got a hearty greeting and hug. But now from his father. Though Adam noticed that there was something .
“Mitch, what is the matter?”, he asked seriously.
“Steve is gone and the youth team has been discontinued due to money shortage. So I am fired. There is a new owner and he has taken his own coaches with him. What must I do now?”, asked Mitch.
“Why don’t you go back and you set up at home in Virginia City an own youth team? You have gotten enough experience to get something like that done”, answered Adam.
“First I want to discuss it with Pam”, said Mitch.
He grabbed his baseball stuff and went along with his father and little sisters.
At home Pam was there already too. She was deliriously glad to see Sally again.
“Mitch misses everyone more than he wants to admit”, confessed Pam.
“And you?”, asked Sally.
“I also miss everyone very much. Especially you”, Pam said with tears in her eyes.
Sally said, “We have bought the house next to the spread and there we live since last month. The house is within a stone’s throw from the big ranch house.”
Pam asked, “When does the baby come?”
“In November”, answered Sally.
Underway Adam said, “Mitch, I must warn you though that you and Pam are getting a little brother or a little sister in November. Sally is 5 months pregnant.”
“So we are needed again as babysitters?”, Mitch asked teasing.
“Indeed”, answered his father.
“Soon I can form a team from all my little sisters and cousins”, Mitch remarked.
Do I mean to hear that you already have decided to go back with us?”, Adam asked carefully.
Mitch nodded and said, “Everything that I have learned here the last half year can nobody take away from me anymore.”
“That’s also true”, confirmed Adam.
“Mitch, are you coming back to the ranch?”, asked Lisa.
“Yes, but I won’t leave Pam here behind”, her brother answered.
Adams reaction was, “I think that Sally has turned her around by the baby.”
“Do I get a room for myself?”, asked Mitch.
“there are enough rooms for all of you. Sally of course sleeps with me”, his father answered.
In the kitchen Laura said to Sally, “The twins like it here but they miss the ranch too much. Matthew doesn’t miss Virginia City not at all. He has it very busy with his study which goes well fortunately.”
“We miss the twins too. Especially Rose. But pa misses his 2 eldest grandchildren too. Though he doesn’t admit that anyway”, said Sally.
Meanwhile Dan and Matthew Walker had come home too. They were surprised to hear that Adam and Sally were there with their 2 youngest daughters too.
Matthew asked his girlfriend, “Pam, are you going back with your parents?”
“I think so. The big city is nothing for me”, she answered.
“Then I go with you. Now I won’t leave you alone again. If necessary I also go working at the Ponderosa. If Mitch comes too we might be able to teach the children in Virginia City how to play baseball”, said Matthew.
“If you had to choose between your study and me: what would you choose?”, asked Pam.
“I would really choose for you and our future together”, her boyfriend answered.
“Also if I am you know what?”, Pam asked carefully.
Matthew asked, “Then totally. You aren’t it, are you?”
“No, as far as I know not. It seems a bit strange and weird when first mom gets a baby and a few months after that me”, said Pam.
Matthew nodded.
When Adam, Mitch and the girls came home Sally got a very hearty greeting from her son.
“Hello mom. Here is your regular babysitter.
They laughed. Sally did notice that there was something but didn’t let anything show.
Then Lisa said by accident, “Mitch goes with us back home.”
Everybody looked at Mitch and Dan asked, “Mitch, is that so?”
“Yes, I just got fired by the new manager. The youth team has been discontinued and Steve is also gone. The manager is George Watts and is a brother of grandpa, the father of mama. He doesn’t want any people in his service who have a handicap. I am going to set up and train my own youth team in Virginia City”, answered Mitch.
“Then I help you with it”, said Matthew.
“And your study then?”, Laura asked amazed.
“Pam asked me before if I would choose for her or my study. And I choose for her. My future is with her”, her son answered.
“It’s your choice”, said Dan.
When Lisa and Rose were sleeping Mitch and Pam told how bad their homesickness to the Ponderosa was.
“Life is so hasty here. Totally different than at home”, Mitch said at the end of his story.
“Then we stay here for 2 weeks and after that we go back home with you”, said Adam.
The twins and Matthew agreed with this plan.
The Cartwrights showed the other especially the town. But the Cartwrights spent very much time in a park close by their house.
The grownups discussed all further details about the new future of the twins and Matthew.
“Matthew just lives with us like the twins lived with you”, said Adam.
“We come over at the end of October for the birthday of Matthew and the arrival of the baby”, said Dan.
“Deal”, said Adam.