The day started like each day started at the Ponderosa. The Cartwrights were busy with having breakfast. Unnoticed Adam looked at his children Mitch and Pam aged ten. The uncles of the children were Hoss and Little Joe. At the head of the family stood ranch owner Ben Cartwright.
“Uncle Hoss, shall we swap today? You to school and I to the herd”, Mitch said suddenly.
“In your dreams. And that goes for your sister too”, reacted Hoss.
Pam looked questionable at Little Joe but she too was met with a rebuff.
“Are you coming sis? Then we leave our uncles behind so they can show themselves off at the herd”, said Mitch.
Pam nodded . They got up and went to school. Adam looked at his brothers and started to smile.
Hoss looked at Little Joe and said, “This will become another hard day of work. Especially when you see how our brother looks at us.”
“Indeed. Are you coming?”, Little Joe asked worried.
They got up. Ben and Adam remained behind.
From a few bushes two cowboys were looking at the Cartwright twins.
“Those two can do our chores for us. Let’s grab them”, said Chip Taylor.
His mate Paul Willis nodded.
They sneaked to the twins and knocked them out. They put the children on the wagon and rode away. The schoolbooks and lunch packages remained behind as silent witnesses.
Mitch and Pam got thrown on the floor harsh. They woke up and looked amazed around them.
“Where are we actually?”, asked Pam.
“Not at home or at school anyway”, answered Mitch.
“And where is home for you?”, asked rancher Jack Stone.
“Why do you want to know that?”, Mitch asked distrusting.
“Because I am the boss here and want answers to my questions”, said Jack.
“They come from the Ponderosa”, said Chip.
“So you are the infamous Cartwright twins? You can forget that you will ever see that ranch again because I keep you here as my little slaves. What are your names?”, asked Jack.
“I am Iris and that is Jonathan. We are being called Watts as the family name”, Pam said sneaky.
“And you said that they came from the Ponderosa? They are being called Watts. Alright. Iris, you are going to help in the kitchen and Jonathan is now our stable boy. Get to work”, said Jack.
The children got up and got brought to their working spot.
In the kitchen Violet was swaying the scepter. Or better said: the rolling pin.
“Violet, this is your helper Iris Watts”, said Paul.
“What a little kid. Go do the dishes”, said Violet.
Pam went straight to work.
Mitch got brought by Chip to the stable but didn’t trust the hand.
“You clean the stable”, said Chip.
“And what about you? Mustn’t you work?”, asked Mitch.
“I keep supervision on your working. Go on, get to work”, said Chip.
Mitch began but it wasn’t with joy.
The foreman of the Ponderosa, Candy Canaday, rode to Virginia City and found underway the schoolbooks and lunch packages of the twins. He stopped his horse and dismounted. Candy directly understood that the kids were kidnapped. He picked up the things and put them into his saddlebags. Quickly he mounted on and he rode hurry-scurry home. Ben and Adam saw the foreman coming and suspected trouble.
“Adam, the twins are being kidnapped on the way to school. I found their stuff by the old oak on the way to town”, told Candy.
“This is the very last time that they go to school without guidance. From now on they get brought and picked up”, Adam said worried.
“Candy, say to Hop Sing that he must take care of more food. Adam, go get your brothers. You are going to get them back with Cody”, said Ben.
So said, so done.
Meanwhile Chip had more criticism on Mitch.
“Can’t you work a bit harder?”, snapped the hand.
“If you do something to we are ready sooner”, answered the young Cartwright.
“Shut up little one”, Chip said angry.
He got his rifle and knocked Mitch out cold. Here after he dragged him to the old barn and threw him into the hay. After the door had been closed Chip got a match and he set the barn on fire. Satisfied he went to smoke a cigar. Paul came by and saw the burning barn.
“Done by that little lad. I just could get away”, Chip explained.
“Well done. He dies and we go out free”, laughed Paul.
Then the Cartwrights came riding upon the yard. Cody began to groan against the hands. After that he went to the barn and he barked loud. Hoss opened the barn and saw his nephew lying. Without thinking he picked up the boy and carried him outside. Mitch laid unconscious on the ground and Cody sat by him. In the meantime Hoss took Chip under his hands while Paul got a beating from Little Joe. Meanwhile the barn burned down to the ground totally.
In the kitchen Violet wanted to hit Pam with the rolling pin but exactly at that moment Candy came in with drawn revolver.
“Leave her alone. Pam, come here”, said the foreman.
Pam ran at once to him. Candy put his arm around her for protection.
Violet said snappy, “What are you doing here? I decide what happens!”
“Not if you want to hit children with a rolling pin. To the living room with your hands up”, said Candy.
With reluctance Violet walked to the living room followed by Candy and Pam.
Meanwhile Adam broke the front door open and held Jack right away under gun shot.
“Where are my son and daughter?”, he asked angry.
“There are here no children so you can leave after you have fixed my front door”, answered Jack.
Jack saw how his housekeeper walked and was clearly shocked. Adam looked too and saw his daughter.
“Pam!”, he called.
Pam ran to her father.
“Adam, watch out”, warned Candy.
Adam turned around and shot down Jack. Pam looked for protection by her father which she got at once. Violet walked to her boss and got the revolver. She wanted to shoot down Adam but Candy was faster. With a scream she went travelling to the other world. Adam sat down and kissed Pam loving full.
“We were so worried about you. Where is your brother?”, asked Adam.
“He had to work as a stable boy. She constantly hit me”, said Pam.
She began to cry where after Adam let he cry out.
“I am going to look for your brother”, said Candy.
He went outside and saw quite soon two hands lying on the ground and two brothers by a dog and a boy. He walked up to them.
“Pam is alright and with her father. I see that you had a great time with those two”, said Candy.
“Those two hands worked out on our nephew. They had set barn on fire with that lad still in it. I took Mitchy out of it. After that we have worked out on them. They won’t be working anymore”, said Hoss.
“Their boss tried to blow Adam away but your brother was a ahead of him. Then the cook tried it but I killed her. Shall we go?”, asked the foreman.
Hoss lifted up Mitch and they walked to the ranch house where Pam had calmed again. Adam was deliriously glad to see Mitch again and Cody greeted Pam enthusiastic and the other way around.
“We go to town to tell the sheriff everything and to let the doctor have a look at Mitchy. He was almost burned in the barn which was lit by those hands”, said Hoss.
“They took us along”, said Pam.
“It is now over”, said Adam.
Hoss put his nephew in the wagon and Adam went to sit by him. Cody got put into it too and after that Pam followed. Candy climbed on the box and the others mounted on their horses.
Virginia City was not far away and soon the Cartwrights rode into town. They stopped at the Palace Hotel.
“I take a room with the kids. Just let the doctor come here. Hoss, you go with Pam to the sheriff to tell what had happened?”, asked Adam.
Hoss nodded and picked his niece and nephew from the wagon. Adam climbed from it and got Mitch. Little Joe went to get the doctor and Candy stayed with the wagon, the horses and Cody.
In the Palace hotel stood Potts behind the desk. Like with each visit of the Cartwrights at his hotel he wasn’t pleased this time either. Especially not when he saw that were Adam and his twins.
“What can I do for you?”, he asked extremely friendly.
“A room for 3 because my son is injured”, said Adam.
“Sign here. How long will it take before the joyful fact can be celebrate?”, asked Potts.
“Which joyful fact? We use the room as long as necessary. Just send the bill of the hotel to my pa”, Adam said while he signed.
Potts said, “That you leave here!”
Angry he gave the key where after Adam and the twins went to their room.
Just in the hotel room Mitch Came round.
He looked a bit hazy around him and said with a pale smile, “Daddy!”
“Your sister gave me a much more grateful greeting. We have eliminated your kidnappers and went then to town. Cody had found your tracks. Uncle Joe is getting the doctor” , told Adam.
“I was outside the barn. That’s all I remember”, said Mitch.
“We stay here until you are well . You, Pam and I”, said Adam.
He went to sit on the bed and got the hand of Mitch. The boy began to cough which made Adam worry. At that moment the door went open. Little Joe and doctor Paul Martin came in.
“Adam, Doc is here”, said Little Joe.
Paul examined the young Cartwright carefully.
Then he looked at the brothers and he said seriously, “Mitch had gotten some smoke inside himself but he is further alright. Keep him in bed for a few days. I drop by in a week’s time again.”
He went away. Adam and Little Joe looked at each other.
“I stay here with the children. You go home and let pa come with our stuff and their schoolwork”, Adam said serious.
“I will have to wait for Hoss and Pam”, answered Little Joe.
Mitch fell asleep. Little Joe noticed how concerned his brother was.
“Adam, they are found and with us again”, he said.
“That is so but what if it happens again and we notice it much later?”, asked Adam.
Little Joe had no answer to that.
“They just get home schooling”, was the decision of his brother.
Then the door went open and Hoss and Pam came in.
“How is Mitchy?”, asked Hoss.
“He had gotten some smoke inside and has to stay in bed for a week. You and Joe go back with Candy and Cody. I stay here with the twins to celebrate a vacation”, answered Adam.
“Are you coming Joe? Then we have a whole week of rest”, said Hoss.
“Where are you now?”, Little Joe asked teasing.
They went away. Adam took Pam into his arms and kissed her loving full.
“You watch your brother, then I go and get something to eat for us”, he said after a while.
Pam nodded. Adam went away so that the twins were alone. Suddenly Mitch woke up and noticed that only his sister was there.
“Where is daddy?”, he asked sleepy.
“Getting food for us. Uncle Hoss, uncle Joe and Candy have gone home with Cody”, answered Pam.
She came to sit on the bed.
“The hands who have kidnapped us are dead. Just like their boss and the cook”, Pam said slowly.
“Serves them right”, Mitch remarked.
His sister shared that opinion.
Then she said, “Uncle Hoss and uncle Joe think that they get a week of rest because we are away. Grandpa will prevent that for sure.”
“Our sweet uncles may, no, they must show off at the herd. And we have the rest here”, reacted Mitch.
They laughed. Mitch coughed again and got a glass of water from his sister.
Meanwhile Adam came back again with 3 meals. Mitch went to sit and Pam sat by her brother on the bed.
“Kids, this is a good hotel so I request you to behave yourselves. The bill goes to grandpa”, Adam said while he handed out the food.
“We always do behave ourselves, don’t we?”, Pam asked amazed.
“Most of the time yes but sometimes….”, answered her father.
He noticed that the twins had trouble with coping with all the happenings earlier that day.
“Kids, you are with me again and those folks can never kidnap you again. You get lessons taught at home now until I have found a solution”, said Adam.
“Have they kidnapped us because we are Cartwrights?”, asked Mitch.
“I think so. There are always people who try to profit from what we own. But we are always there for you”, his father explained.
The twins were very impressed and ate silently.
Underway Hoss, Joe and Candy were making up of every excuse to explain the stay of Adam and the twins in Virginia City to the rancher. Of course they couldn’t think of anything so they decided to tell the truth.
“They are having vacation at the Palace Hotel while there is enough to do here? No way”, Ben said furious.
“Adam asked me to take along some stuff of him and the twins for their stay there”, said Hoss.
“I will do it and tell my eldest son right away that a vacation for him is unthinkable for a while”, answered Ben.
He went inside to pack 2 bags where after he left the Ponderosa to go to town.
Ben rushed into the hotel and Potts felt the worse coming up already.
“Not another Cartwright!”, said the clerk.
“In which room are my son and grandchildren?”, asked the rancher.
“Room 4”, said Potts.
Ben went straight to the mentioned room. Without knocking he went inside.
“Hello pa”, Adam said cheerful.
“Hello Adam, kids. Why are you here?”, asked Ben.
“Because your grandson is injured and needs a week of bed rest. Order of Doc Paul Martin”, answered Adam.
“And who pays the rent of this room?”, asked Ben.
Adam said, “I said to Potts that he must send the bill to you.”
“So the bill goes to me so that means that I may stay here”, said Ben.
“But I don’t leave my children alone. Plus we have some bank business to handle”, reacted Adam.
Ben smiled and said, “Adam, you know as good as I do how Potts thinks about us Cartwrights. So we just stay here until this young man is completely recovered again.”
“I already had planned that”, said his son.
“Then I will go and negotiate about the price of a hotel room”, Ben said where after he went downstairs again.
Potts saw him coming and said with a elated face, “So to see are you going to leave my nice hotel again Mr Cartwright.”
Ben went to stand by the reception desk and said, “No, I am going to please you with a long stay from me at his hotel. Is it possible that we get a group discount if we stay here a while? There are two children under twelve included.”
“Discount for groups? We don’t do that. Then everyone would like to stay here. And then I must work harder than I already must”, answered Potts.
“So we just must pay the full price? Scandalous! Especially when an injured boy lies in a hotel room”, said Ben.
“Can’t you Cartwrights just go to your own place instead of spoiling everything here?”, asked Potts.
“There is no way to negotiate with you. No wonder that you are just a poor hotel clerk. And I hope that we are a big bother for you”, said Ben.
“Your grandchildren stay here for free so I only have to charge you the price for 2 grownups”, said Potts.
“That’s nice to ear. But I do want to have a room next to that of my son and grandchildren. It might be handy to keep 2 rooms free just in case my other sons come here too. They were very fond of their nephew and niece and can’t be without them”, reacted the rancher.
Ben shouldn’t have said this because Potts became a little bit very mad.
“If one more Cartwright comes to stay here then I go emigrating to Greenland”, he said fierce.
“Have a nice trip”, said Ben.
He went back upstairs.
Adam helped Mitch with reading which went very difficult.
“Just let it be because I will never learn it as good as you can”, Mitch said after a while.
“You just have more trouble with it than we do. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t learn to read”, said Adam.
Mitch sighed and got the book again. He started to read anyway but it was with reluctance. Then Ben came in.
“May we stay anyway?”, Adam asked cheerful.
“We do but if Hoss and Joseph come to stay as well Potts will be emigrating to Greenland. I have wished him a nice trip on forehand”, answered Ben.
“Has he left already?”, Adam asked smiling.
“No, unfortunately not”, answered his father.
“That will happen when we are here a few days”, Adam remarked.
Ben knew that too.
That the Cartwrights happen to be staying in his hotel noticed Potts the whole week. Especially when he was lazing around and the Cartwrights caught him red-handed.
On the last day Potts got quite a smack. He saw that the Cartwrights were about to leave and thought to make a smart remark.
“So now the peace and quiet returns finally again in my hotel”, said Potts.
“Grandpa, it is just as well that Potts is no hand at our ranch”, said Mitch.
“And why is that so?”, asked the clerk worried.
“Then he must work harder than he does here”, answered the young Cartwright.
The Cartwrights laughed but Potts became angry where after the Cartwrights left the hotel amused.
“Well kids, your vacation ends here and at home a whole lot of school work awaits for you and the usual work for your father”, said Ben.
He put the luggage on the wagon and helped the twins on it. Adam and his father climbed on the box whereby Mitch and Pam knew that they really were going home.