At first sight it was a normal day in Virginia City. But not for long. Sheriff Roy Coffee had gotten a visit from Ponderosa ranch owner Ben Cartwright.
From earlier experiences Roy knew that when there was a Cartwright in town something was about to happen. When the rancher came in the sheriff had frightened suspicions. Roy sighted deep and looked at Ben.
“Good day Roy”, said Ben.
“Same to you Ben. What can I do for you?”, asked Roy.
“Nothing actually. I just came by before I pick up the twins from school”, the rancher answered.
“Oh so, that way”, said Roy.
“How do you mean: that way?”, Ben asked amazed.
“I only mean: when there are 1 or more Cartwrights in town something always happens. You are now here and even though your grandchildren are at school but it soon goes out and then they are here too”, the sheriff explained.
He looked at Ben for a long time and with distrust.
“Are the twins your only reason to be here or was that just an excuse to avoid someone?”, asked Roy.
“Adam wants that someone picks up the children from school and I decided to that today. He is away himself for business”, answered Ben.
Roy pretended that he believed it and poured in 2 coffee. He gave Ben one and kept the other for himself. Meanwhile Ben was sitting down and looked at his friend.
“Has something happened which we don't know yet?”, asked Ben.
“No, nothing at all. And I want to keep it that way too”, answered Roy.
Meanwhile the school went out and the twins Mitch and Pam Cartwright walked to the office of the sheriff where their grandpa waited for them like they had arranged.
“I would never like to be sheriff”, said Mitch.
“Why not?”, asked his sister.
“Then you must set an example for everyone and keep yourself to the law”, was the answer.
“Are you going to use that for your essay?”, asked Pam.
Mitch nodded and asked, “What would you never like to be?”
Pam kept silent for a moment to do some thinking.
“Bank manager. All that money I would have to keep then”, she said after a while.
They walked past the bank and noticed that two strangers were looking. The twins looked at each other and they thought the same thing. The cowboys stepped in and grabbed the children.
“Let us go”, Mitch and Pam said at the same time.
“No way! You help us with our bank robbery ”, Jake Miller said who was holding Mitch.
“Which bank robbery?”, Pam asked amazed.
“Well, that bank over there. We have heard that there is a lot of money in it”, said Lee Jones.
He had Pam tight. The twins began to laugh hard which made the bank robbers nervous.
“That bank over there? Well, good luck then”, Mitch laughed.
He pulled himself loose and Pam kicked Lee against his shin-bone whereby she got loose too.
The children ran to the office of the sheriff. Jake and Lee stayed behind amazed.
Roy and Ben looked at each other amazed when they saw the children rushing in.
“Boys, what is the matter?”, Ben asked worried.
“Sheriff, outside there are two cowboys who want to rob the bank”, Mitch said gasping.
“Why does this always happens when you are in town?”, Roy asked while he ran outside.
The Cartwrights looked amused how Roy arrested the two cowboys. Mitch waited for a second to make his announcement known until Roy was there too.
“Grandpa, I have good news for you”, Mitch said cheerful.
“I may hope that”, Ben reacted teasing.
He knew his grandchildren far too well.
“I don't want to become a sheriff later because then you are obliged to behave yourself”, the young Cartwright said.
Ben had very much trouble not to start laughing and Roy wanted to arrest Mitch for insulting a sheriff in duty.
“Mitch, I know that you will play baseball anyway as soon as you have left school and Pam, you remain at the ranch after your school time”, said the rancher.
“Working at the ranch is better than becoming a sheriff and bank manager”, reacted his granddaughter.
“For school we must write an essay about an occupation we don't want to have after school. Grandpa, will you help me with it?”, asked Mitch.
Ben nodded.
“Ben, I am very glad that your grandchildren don't want to follow me up as sheriff”, said Roy.
“Well, like you caught those two cowboys, that was very easy, wasn't it?”, asked Pam.
“In this case yes but otherwise it is harder. Ben, you have your grandchildren and take them home straight away. Then I have rest too again”, said the sheriff.
“Come boys, we go back home”, said Ben.
They did that and Roy had the rest again like he did before the Cartwrights came by.