It was July 1, 1882. Since years Connie McKee had come to Virginia City again. The most important reason was to see her young love of then again, Joe Cartwright. Only she didn’t know that Joe was already occupied by Cora Williams with whom he was very happily married. They had triplets of 4 years old and their 4th was on the way. Cora was with the children visiting her father-in-law Ben Cartwright. The triplets (Felicia, Marie and Polly) played outside with the little ones of the de Cartwright twins Mitch and Pam.
“I better go home or otherwise Joe thinks that I live here with the girls”, said Cora.
“Matt will guide you home”, said Ben.
Matt was Matthew Walker was married to the oldest granddaughter of van Ben, Pam Cartwright.
“That is fine. Especially now the baby comes soon”, answered his daughter-in-law.
The rancher helped her up and together they went outside.
“Gals, kiss grandpa goodbye because we are going home”, Cora said to her triplets.
That happened and Ben asked his related by marriage grandson Matthew, “Do you bring your aunt and cousins home? ”
“Will do so”, said Matthew.
He hitched his horse behind the carriage and helped the ladies in it. A moment later they drove away, being watched by Ben and outside the yard by Connie McKee.
Connie drove a bit too hard and stopped abrupt on the yard. Without seeing she injured Mitch Cartwright who just came out of the barn. He fell on the ground and remained lying still.
His youngest son Benji saw it happen and screamed, “Daddy!”
Ben came from the porch and ran to his grandson.
“Mitch, wake up”, said the rancher.
Benji had come nearer and grabbed the hand of his father. Slowly Mitch opened his eyes. Connie had come out of her carriage.
“Sorry but I didn’t see you”, she said.
Ben recognized her right away but paid first attention to his grandson and great-grandson.
“Come up carefully”, said the rancher.
With support of Ben Mitch came up but he couldn’t stand on his lame left leg.
“Grandpa, I can hardly walk”, Mitch moaned.
“You lean on me and then you limp home. Benji, tell momma that daddy is injured”, Ben said calm.
The little lad ran across the yard to the big ranch house in the direction of the kitchen. His mother was Polly Cartwright who was a real queen of the kitchen.
“Momma, daddy is injured”, said Benji.
Polly dried her hands and said. “Go on play again. I will look after your father.”
So said, so done.
Mitch laid on the settee with his ankle in ice. Ben and Polly noticed that he didn’t really realize what exactly had happened.
“Candy is already away for the doctor”, said Ben.
Candy was Candy Canaday, the foreman of the Ponderosa. Then there was a knock at the door. Ben walked to the front door to answer.
“Mr Cartwright, is Joe here?”, asked Connie.
She was the one who had knocked.
“He doesn’t live here anymore since 2 years”, said Ben.
Connie was visible hurt and went away. Ben went back to Mitch and Polly.
“Who was that at the door?”, asked Polly.
“That was Connie McKee. She was a young love of uncle Joe and also the one who injured you, Mitch. She lived next door to us but her father ended up on the wrong path”, answered the rancher.
“Why does she suddenly come back? To break up the marriage of uncle Joe and aunty Cora?”, Mitch asked who suddenly had a clear mind.
“Maybe yes but I hope not”, said Ben.
After her departure from the Ponderosa Connie visited the grave of her father Denver McKee.
She kneeled down and said, “Papa, I am back and will make you proud by marring Joe Cartwright. We also will give you grandchildren. I promise you that.”
She got up and went to Virginia City.
Meanwhile Ben and Polly had placed a sofa near the office so that Mitch laid a bit more comfortable. With him laid his 8 month old daughter Melissa. Both were sleeping.
The rancher asked his related by marriage granddaughter, “Aren’t they both sweet this way?”
“Yes, but they are that too when they are not sleeping”, answered Polly.
“His uncles still think about that totally different”, Ben said smiling.
Polly noticed that the rancher was worrying about the visit of Connie McKee.
“If I was you I would tell uncle Joe and aunty Cora that Connie McKee is back again”, said Polly.
Ben went away at once. When he left the yard Candy just came with Doc Martin.
“Doc, the patient lies inside”, said the rancher.
“Thanks Ben”, said Doc.
He drove up till in front of the ranch house and went inside.
“Mr Cartwright, where are you going to?”, asked the foreman.
“To Joe and Cora. Are you coming?”, Ben asked on his turn.
Candy nodded. He knew that the triplets were bonkers about him and Ben.
When Doc had arrived Polly put her daughter into the playpen and Mitch got woken up.
After Doc had heard everything and examined Mitch he said, “Mitch, I subscribe you 3 weeks of complete rest. After that you may learn to walk you again carefully.”
“Melissa soon walks better than I do”, Mitch said dry.
“She will do that anyway”, reacted Polly.
They laughed and Doc also thought it was funny.
Joe saw Ben coming and suspected that there was something serious.
“Pa, do you miss your grandchildren already?”, Joe asked teasing.
“Joseph, I miss them every day. No, I come now for something more seriously. Candy, do you keep the gals occupied in their room?”, was the counter-question of the rancher.
“I will, Mr Cartwright”, said Candy.
Ben and Candy dismounted, hitched their horses and went with Joe inside. Candy took the triplets to their room.
“Pa, what is the matter?”, Joe asked concerned.
“Connie McKee is back. First she drove over Mitch and came later on asking for you. I haven’t said anything about Cora and/or the triplets”, answered Ben.
Joe was just totally transfixed. They went inside and Ben told his daughter-in-law what was going on. Of course Cora wasn’t pleased with this news either.
Joe reassured Cora by saying, “Connie has had her chance with my. I stay by you and the gals.”
Ben suggested, “Let the girls stay with me and tonight you go out to dinner and stay over with the parents of Cora.”
Joe and Cora of course didn’t have to think long about this suggestion and accepted it right away. Joe packed a bag for his daughters and a bag for him and Cora.
“Daddy, I’m going to marry Candy later”, Marie suddenly said.
“Me too”, her sisters said.
“Wait a minute. You all 3 marry him? No way!”, was the reaction of their father.
“I have already said yes so Joe, over 14 years you become my father-in-law”, said Candy.
“Cora is then your mother-in-law. Remember that”, said Joe.
“I don’t mind because she is a darling of a woman and a great mother. And you are of course a great father” , said the foreman.
“Fine that you say that. But it doesn’t give you the right yet to marry my daughters”, reacted Joe.
“Ladies, are you coming?”, asked Candy.
This didn’t have to be asked twice.
Joe and Cora left their daughters with Ben behind and drove to Virginia City. Both weren’t at ease because they knew that they could run into Connie.
Arrived at the restaurant of the Williams family Joe helped Cora out of the carriage.
“You go inside for now. I take care of the rest”, said Joe.
Cora went inside and saw her parents, Jeff and Susan Williams.
“Pa has the girls too stay and we come to eat and sleep here by you”, said Cora.
“How cozy. You sit down”, said Susan.
Cora went to sit down carefully and got not much later company of Connie who introduced herself. They sat opposite each other.
“Why have you actually come back after all so many years?”, asked Cora.
“For Joe and to continue where our relationship stopped”, was the answer of Connie.
“Joe has told me everything about you. I know how much he loves his and my daughters and now that he becomes a father again soon Joe really won’t leave us for you”, said Cora.
Connie hit back with, “Joe and I were together from a young age. I know for sure that I have a better future with him and you and your children with him.”
She got up and walked to the door. Joe just happened to come into the restaurant. At that moment Cora noticed that she was going to deliver.
“Hello Joe. Shall we go and eat somewhere else?”, Connie asked suave.
“Joe, the baby is coming”, Cora said while she held her belly tight.
Joe ignored Connie at once and asked his father-in-law, “Can you get the doctor?”
Jeff went away at once.
“Cora, you go straight to bed. Your room is ready”, said Susan.
Joe and Cora went upstairs.
Cora laid in bed and said, “Joe, stay forever with me and the children.”
“How can I leave you when you are everything to me? Connie has left me, not the other way around”, answered Joe.
Cora knew enough and concentrated on the delivery. This had effect because 3 hours later laid the 4th daughter of Joe and Cora in the arms of her mother.
Doc Martin asked, “How will the young lady be called?”
“Natalie Cartwright”, said a proud as a peacock father.
Although she was just born Natalie Cartwright already had stolen the hearts of Jeff and Susan Williams right away.
Connie realized that her chance for a future with Joe Cartwright had flown away when she saw him with his daughter standing in front of the window. She looked at him for a moment and walked then away silently for to not return to Virginia City ever again. Joe on his turn pointed all his time and attention to his family.