It was a heavy trip through the snow which Adam Cartwright made with his six year old son Mitch. They had been away for a few days together and now on their way back to their familiar ranch the Ponderosa.
The snow began to fall harder whereby the sight became very difficult for the 2 experienced riders. Adam saw how cold his son was becoming and decided to step in.
He saw a cabin standing and said, “Kid, I see there a cabin with a stable. There we are going to take shelter.”
“Alright”, Mitch said with a shivering voice.
Quickly they rode to the cabin.
Adam dismounted as first and lifted then Mitch off his horse Caramel.
“You go inside at once. I will look after the horses”, said the oldest Cartwright.
Mitch walked as quickly as he could inside while his father brought the horses Sport (Adam’s horse) and Caramel to the stable. In the stable Adam hitched both horses and went then to his son in the cabin.
Mitch tried to make it warm by putting on the open fire place but that failed.
“Daddy, I don’t get the open fire place warm”, the boy said when Adam came inside.
“I will give it a try”, answered Adam.
He did his best and after a few tries he got the open fire place warm.
“Kid, it’s warm so just sit by it. Then you get warm quickly. I look if there’s something to eat”, said Adam.
Mitch unbuttoned his coat and sat down near the burning open fire whereby he came round somehow that way. Adam looked in all the cupboards and found to his relief some can food and some bread. He went to prepare the food and ate it then together with Mitch near the open fire place.
“Must we stay here tonight?”, Mitch asked suddenly.
“I am afraid so kid. Nothing can happen to you because I am with you”, answered Adam.
“I know that but Cody will miss me”, was the reaction of Mitch.
“When we are home again you can tell him where you were”, said Adam.
Mitch nodded. He began to get sleepy which Adam saw.
“I make a bed for us and then we are going to sleep. Hopefully we can go home tomorrow”, he said smiling.
Adam got up and found 2 pillows and 2 blankets. He put the blankets on the floor and the pillows near it. Then he looked at his son.
“Bed time son”, said Adam.
Mitch crawled down underneath a blanket and was almost right away off to Dreamland. Adam looked outside for a moment where the snow was still falling down. He thought, ‘Let it stop for goodness sake so that my son and I can come home safe and sound.’ After having a look at the cold white blanket which surrounded the cabin Adam went to sleep as well.
Adam and Mitch woke up late in the morning because fierce sun light was shining into the cabin.
“Daddy, the sun is shining”, Mitch said excited.
Adam squeezed his eyes together and said, “Indeed kid.”
They got up and looked via the door outside. The snow was melting so that the Cartwrights could go home.
“Ready to go home?”, asked Adam.
“Yes, you too?”, Mitch asked on his turn.
Adam nodded. Adam went to get the horses while Mitch put the blankets and pillows away. The Cartwrights put on their coats and closed them. Not much later they rode in the direction of their familiar ranch. Both Cartwrights knew that nobody would believe their story. But they had gotten another new life experience.