Ben and Adam Cartwright were in Virginia City for some business and had left the youngest Cartwright, Mitch of 5, behind with the other children who were playing at the square. Ralph Peterson didn’t approve that the children played at the square. That’s why he always chased them away. But he only didn’t hate children but especially the Cartwrights. Ralph was a bully and a drunk for his occupation. The word working wasn’t printed in his dictionary.
That pertinent afternoon Ralph saw Mitch also playing.
“Again that lad of a Cartwright who is playing here while he doesn’t even live in the city. I will unlearn him that nicely”, Ralph groaned.
He grabbed his revolver and shot on purpose at Mitch. All children ran away except the little victim. Cody ran to Ralph and bit him in his backside. Out of fear the bogeyman dropped his revolver where after Adam and Ben ran to the square where in the meantime a lot of people were but no one did something. Adam kneeled down near his son who was hit in his right leg.
“Cartwright, keep your dog near you and on the leash. He bit me in my bottom”, Ralph snapped at Adam.
Now you will have to work because you can’t sit down. By the way, Cody never bites through. Why did you shoot Mitch down?”, Adam asked fierce.
“For several reasons. Namely these: 1) he is a Cartwright and I hate them; 2) he doesn’t live in the city so he may not even play here; 3) He was walking in my way”, replied Ralph.
A firm jaw rebuilding handed out by Adam to Ralph was the result. Ben sat near Mitch who sat up straight again. Cody kept them company.
“Where was that necessary for? My poor jaw. Now I cannot drink for a whole long week”, Ralph complained.
“It is still at the same place. You may be glad that my brother Hoss didn’t do it or otherwise you wouldn’t have a jaw anymore”, Adam reacted sarcastic.
“Adam, Mitch needs medical support”, Ben called while he got up.
Adam also came up on his feet and walked to his father and son. Ben lifted up Mitch and carried him to the practise of Doc Paul Martin. Adam and Cody followed them.
To get revenge Ralph decided to go to the sheriff. He went inside and only found deputy Clem Foster there.
“Isn’t sheriff Coffee here?”, Ralph asked gruffly.
“No, he is on vacation. You will have to deal with me”, replied Clem.
“Before I make my complaint world known first I want to know if you are also friends with those Cartwrights of the Ponderosa ranch. Is that so?”, asked Ralph.
“I am friends with them but my function as deputy has nothing to with that”, replied the deputy.
“Adam Cartwright just sold me a jaw rebuilding”, said Ralph.
“How much did you have to pay for it?”, Clem asked quick-witted.
“Very funny. Nothing of course”, said Ralph.
His mood got worse by the second.
“And where is Adam then? Besides in his skin then”, the deputy wanted to know.
“He had to bring his little son to the doctor because their dog had bitten him”, Ralph lied.
“You mean Cody? That little dog never bites”, said Clem said laughing.
“That beast never bites? Don’t make me laugh. He bit me in my bottom after I had shot at that child”, Ralph said boiling of anger.
“Ralph Peterson, you are under arrest for shooting down an innocent child”, Clem said deadly serious.
Ralph got chained with handcuffs and taken away to the prison.
In the meantime Mitch got treated by their house doctor.
“It is fortunately only a grazing shot. Soon Mitch will be walking around again without crutches”, said Paul.
“Knowing Hoss, Joe and Candy they probably will tease him again with remarks like: a crutch on crutches. Or this one: are you coming to do a running race?”, said Adam.
“You will also do your excellent best to tease your son”, Ben reacted.
He gave his grandson a wink and got one back.
“You can tease me as much as you want but grandpa always defends me”, Mitch said lighthearted.
“Indeed boy”, said the rancher.
Paul wrapped up the wound and said, “Without you Cartwrights I would have a whole lot of more spare time.”
He got a pair of crutches and gave them to Mitch. Ben and Adam said goodbye and went with Mitch and Cody outside again.
Near the wagon Clem came towards them.
“Adam, Ralph Peterson has in his anger confessed that he has shot down Mitch. Have you sold him a jaw rebuilding?”, asked the deputy.
Adam looked up amazed.
“I didn’t sell it to him but just given it. He shot down Mitch because he was playing at that square. He wasn’t allowed to because we live outside the city. Cody bit him in his backside”, he replied.
“He probably will have trouble sitting down but for now we have gotten rid of him for now he”, said Clem.
“Good riddance. We go home again before we cause more commotion”, said Ben.
Not much later it was quiet again in Virginia City but not at the Ponderosa when Ben and Adam told everything to the others in detail.