There was a mysterious sphere at the Ponderosa. The inhabitants of the ranch, the Cartwright family, were busy with organizing something. Since Adam had found his girlfriend Mary Watts back the sphere was completely different. It was cozier. Even though Adam and his younger brothers Hoss and Little Joe had to control themselves concerning the teasing of the youngest Cartwright, Mitch of seven years old. The boy was the son of Adam and Mary. Because Mitch was the apple of the eye of Ponderosa owner Ben Cartwright the boy could get away with almost everything. Grandpa and grandson had a special bond with each other where nobody could come in between. Not even their dog Cody.
In Virginia City there going a lot of rumors about the upcoming party at the ranch. Sophia Paige was the first one who had heard it. On the Wednesday meeting of ladies society Sophia brought the news in the open.
“Have you heard the latest news about Adam Cartwright?”, she asked triumphant.
“And that is?”, asked president Vera Stone.
“He is getting married to an unknown woman”, said Sophia.
All ladies looked at each other amazed.
“That child of him is seven years old already. The mother is unknown. Who wants to marry a man who already has a child of seven?”, asked Kate Miller.
“Adam is a Cartwright so you must always grab that chance. I would say right away yes, I do”, reacted Sophia.
“Adam doesn't even see you standing. Let alone that he will marry you. You won't stand it a second at the ranch”, said Kate.
“His brothers are there too to conquer”, railed Sophia.
She stopped for a second with talking and continued then, “But Hoss eats too much and Joe is still too young. No, Adam is the Prince Charming on the white horse for me. I have a very good relationship with Mitch and the other way around.”
All ladies laughed hard which made Sophia angry. She got up and walked to the door.
“You won't laugh anymore hen not that unknown gal but I will go on the honeymoon with Adam”, said Sophia.
She went away being insulted.
At the yard of the ranch was Mary was busy with the laundry when Sophia arrived. Mary suspected trouble right away. Cody woke up and went to his lady.
“What are you doing here?”, asked Mary.
“I come to pick up my fiancé”, replied Sophia.
Cody groaned at her.
“Which fiancé?”, Mary asked worried.
“Adam Cartwright. We are going to get married on July 1. He has finally asked me”, replied the female visitor.
“I can understand that Adam is very attractive but he has clearly chosen me. Mitch is our son”, reacted Mary.
Sophia became as white as snow.
“Was there anything else?”, asked Mary.
“No, but I will make sure that I will become and stay Mrs Adam Cartwright”, said Sophia.
She turned her carriage and left the yard. Mary had become very insecure about her relationship with Adam. At that moment Little Joe came home. he noticed right away that his sister-in-law was bothering something. He dismounted from his horse Cochise and walked to her.
“Mary, what is the matter?”, asked Little Joe.
“I had just got a visit from Sophia Paige. She claims that Adam will marry her on July 1”, replied Mary.
“Sophia Paige? She is gone for Adam for years but he has hardly exchanged a word with her. Mitch went along for the first time to church just before Easter 1863. Sophia offered Adam to help him raising that little lad. But Mitch saw her and set up a pretty cry. Since then she dislikes him. Believe me, Adam is nuts about you and has only eyes for your beauty”, Little Joe reassured her.
“They mustn't come between us. I have already missed far too much concerning Mitch “, replied Mary.
Little Joe nodded. He looked at the half full laundry basket.
“Must I help you hanging it up?”, he asked.
“Please”, said Mary.
Exactly at the moment that Little Joe was helping hanging up the laundry his elder brothers Adam and Hoss came home.
“Adam, your fiancée has Joe already under her thumb”, laughed Hoss.
“That proves once again that our little brother does everything a woman wants”, Adam said laughing too.”
What are we funny again. I happen to have reassured your wife to be that she is the only one for you and not Sophia Paige”, Little Joe reacted fierce.
Adam and Hoss became serious and dismounted.
“Sophia Paige comes here and claims that I will marry her? Mitch would never forgive me and pa would disown me”, reacted Adam.
Hoss and Little Joe looked at each other laughing.
“Adam, if pa disowns you we get a bigger legacy so what are you doing there standing?”, asked Little Joe.
The reaction of Adam was that he picked up his youngest brother and threw him into the water trough.
“You get no dessert tonight”, Hoss got to hear.
Mary said teasing, “I have heard that Hop Sing has made a delicious strawberry cake for dessert.”
Hoss got the water in the mouth already and looked disappointed at the ground.
Little Joe climbed out of the water-trough but got sent away by his sister-in-law.
“Joseph Francis Cartwright! You make the clean laundry dirty. This household needs clearly a woman. Get yourself dry and put on clean clothes”, Mary said strict.
Grumbling Little Joe went inside where he got a sermon of the Chinese cook Hop Sing in Chinese. The cook was busy with the floor in the living room.
Outside Adam took his fiancée in his arms and said calm, “You are the only one for me. Mitch is fond of you and has missed you too. Just like you have missed everything of him. But I promise you that we do it all over again. First our wedding, then the honeymoon and then......... “
Mary understood him and said smiling, “Perhaps that one thing is on the way during our honeymoon.”
Hoss couldn't follow it anymore and went to take care of the horses so that Adam and Mary were alone. A passionate kiss followed. Cody walked back to his place at the porch and fell fast asleep.
At the lake of Tahoe Ben Cartwright was fishing with his grandson Mitch. The Wednesday afternoon was always reserved for the youngest Cartwright. If the weather did permit it Ben and Mitch went out for a ride. Mitch was fond of fishing and often caught something. To his hilarity Ben never caught anything. So also that afternoon.
Mitch looked at Ben and asked, “Grandpa, haven't you caught anything yet?”
“No, not yet. Do you?”, the rancher asked on his turn.
Mitch counted his fishes and said, “Yes, seven already.”
Ben felt that a remark as sharp as a knife was heading his way and decided to beat his grandson with that.
“Mitchell, shall we switch places? Perhaps that I catch something then”, said the rancher.
“That is alright”, replied the boy.
They switched places and two fishing-rods got thrown out.
“Grandpa, help me as I have caught something”, Mitch called out a second later.
Ben grabbed the fishing-rod of his grandson and fetched it in.
“That is a big one”, the rancher said admiring.
“Uncle Hoss has enough with this one”, laughed Mitch.
“He surely has”, Ben assented.
“Grandpa, when daddy and mamma are on their honeymoon soon, are we going fishing then each Wednesday afternoon?”, asked Mitch.
“Of course we do that. You know that the Wednesday afternoon is reserved for you. And although your parents are married, we just keep on going with this tradition. ”, replied Ben.
He looked pondering at his fishing-rod and wondered why he didn't catch anything and his grandson did.
“Haven't you caught nothing yet?”, Mitch asked teasing.
“No, may I use your fishing-rod? Perhaps it has to do with my fishing-rod”, said Ben.
“Alright. Good luck grandpa”, Mitch said with laughing eyes.
The fishing-rods got exchanged but this also didn't give no single fish to the owner of the Ponderosa.
“Mitch, it is getting dark. Shall we take the fishes home so that Hop Sing can bake them for supper?”, asked Ben.
Mitch nodded. They packed up everything and went back home.
In the ranch house the others waited for the homecoming of Ben and Mitch. Mary was already in the kitchen busy helping Hop Sing with supper like she each evening did. The brothers and Cody were in the living room.
“It is Wednesday so probably we eat fish tonight”, said Hoss.
“I am curious who has caught the most fish: pa or Mitch”, said Little Joe.
“I have taught Mitch fishing so you mustn't look strange if my offspring have caught all the fish. Since pa goes fishing each Wednesday afternoon with Mitch he doesn't catch anything anymore”, replied Adam.
“Your son will make sure that all fish must swim to him “, reacted Hoss.
They laughed hard. Exactly at that moment Ben came in. Seeing his face the brothers saw that their father had another unsuccessful fish afternoon.
“Pa, how many fish did you catch?”, asked Hoss.
“None”, groaned the rancher.
“And Mitch?”, Adam asked teasing.
“Eight!”, was the answer.
The boys couldn't stop laughing anymore.
Ben said groaning, “This ain't funny!”
“No, indeed not”, Adam said serious.
“It is super funny”, laughed Little Joe.
Again the brothers were rolling on the floor laughing. Ben shook his head and got changed.
Mitch delivered the by him caught fishes in the kitchen.
“Mamma, Hop Sing, I have caught eight fishes and grandpa none. I think he has unlearned it”, said the boy.
He put the fishes on the sink.
“Delicious fish. Did you have a nice afternoon?”, asked Mary.
Mitch nodded.
“Grandpa said that when you and daddy are married, we still go spend each Wednesday afternoon together. It is allowed, isn't it?”, asked Mitch.
“Of course it is allowed. Your father and I are wanting that. Now you go wash and put on a clean shirt”, said Mary.
Mitch left the kitchen and saw his father and Uncles laughing.
“Is there something to laugh?”, the boy asked innocent.
“Actually not but it is of course strange that you catch eight fish and your grandpa none”, said Adam.
“You can do it or you can't. I belong to the first group and grandpa to the second”, his son replied.
He went upstairs to wash himself and to put on a clean shirt. Cody followed him at once.
After her departure of the ranch Sophia Paige boiled of anger. 'How dares that gal calls herself the fiancée of Adam Cartwright while I am that!. I will make sure that that gal and child of hers disappear for good', she thought.
During supper Ben noticed that there was a pressure hanging at the table.
“Has something happened this afternoon?”, asked the rancher.
“Maybe it is better if Mitch and I leave here”, said Mary.
Everybody looked at her with big amazing looks.
“Why?”, asked Adam.
“So that you can marry that Sophia Paige. Then she is happy too. Mitch, get your stuff. We leave at once “, said Mary.
She got up and Mitch too. The boy ran upstairs and began to pack. Adam got up too and grabbed his fiancée
“Mary, you know that I am fond of you and only want to marry you. That Paige is just jealous at you”, said Adam.
“My decision has been made”, replied Mary.
Adam let her go and watched her go. Mary went upstairs too and packed her suitcase. Adam went to sit at the table confused. Not much later Mary and Mitch left from the ranch. None of the Cartwrights stopped them. But Adam went after them a moment later on.
Mitch saw his father coming and said, “Mamma, there is daddy.”
Mary stopped the wagon and looked behind her. Adam stopped his horse.
“We must talk. I won't let you go before we have talked it all through. If needed we take a hotel room”, said Adam.
“Alright”, said Mary.
Adam tied Sport to the wagon and climbed on the box. Here after they rode to Virginia City. Because Adam had come after her Mary realized that he only had eyes for her.
“Adam, I am sorry that I wanted to leave you”, she said.
“You and Mitch mean everything to me”, reacted Adam.
Mitch felt that everything was alright again between his parents. Adam parked the wagon in front of a restaurant where they went inside. Unfortunately for the Cartwrights Sophia saw them going inside. She vowed for revenge too. Sophia was holy convinced that Adam would marry her. That there had to be two lethal victims couldn't care her. She had her pistol with her to shoot down Mary and Mitch.
The young woman got the scare of her life when she saw Adam passing by with Mitch and Mary. She didn't change her mind and shot down Mitch right away. Mary dived away and Adam drew his revolver to help Sophia to the other world. By the shots sheriff Roy Coffee and deputy Clem Foster came outside. Mary was taking care of Mitch who lied unconscious on the street. Adam put his revolver back in the holster and kneeled down at his son.
“Miss Paige shot at Mitch and I shot her down. First I bring Mary and Mitch to a hotel room”, Adam said to Roy.
Adam picked up the boy and walked with Mary to the International House. Meanwhile Clem warned Doc Paul Martin. Vera Stone had come standing by too and to her dismay the body of Sophia lying.
“Poor sheep. She was so good for her fellow-man. Who has shot her dead?”, asked Vera.
“Adam Cartwright. It was out of self-defense by the way because Miss Paige shot down Mitch”, replied Roy.
“That is impossible. Sophia would never do something like that. She was fond of Mitch” , reacted Vera.
Roy replied, “It is common known that she hated Mitch but was madly in love with Adam.”
Vera was too indignant to say anything else and walked on.
In their hotel room Adam and Mary sat by their son. Slowly Mitch came round and looked confused out of his eyes.
“Where am I? What has happened?”, asked the boy.
“Sophia Paige shot you down. We brought you to the International House. Doc is coming to help you”, said Mary.
“My wrist hurts”, said Mitch.
“That can be right because the bullet is in your wrist”, said Adam.
Then they heard a knock at the door. Mary answered it and let Clem and Paul in.
“The patient lies on the bed”, she said.
“I will treat him right away”, said Paul.
“Adam, Mary, I want to know exactly what has happened”, said the deputy.
He got to hear the whole story and came to the conclusion that Adam had handles out of self-defense. Paul took the bullet out of the wrist of Mitch and wrapped up the injured wrist and hand.
“You may not play baseball for a while”, Paul said to Mitch.
“I can hear the rotten remarks of daddy, Uncle Hoss and Uncle Joe already”, the boy reacted.
“Knowing you will say something back that makes them silent. Your wrist and hand must rest in a sling until the wound is shut.”, said Paul.
He tied the sling on and left again with Clem.
Outside the hotel Ponderosa foreman Candy Canaday ran into Paul and Clem.
“Why is there always something the matter with the Cartwrights?”, asked Clem.
“How come?”, Candy asked amazed.
“Sophia Paige has shot down Mitch after she had tried to drive Adam and Mary apart. Adam shot down Sophia”, replied the deputy.
“They are in room 17”, said Paul.
Candy ran into the hotel at once and went straight to the mentioned room. Polite he knocked at the door. Adam answered it and saw the foreman standing.
“Paul and Clem told me what had happened. How is it with Mitch?”, Candy asked worried.
“Come in. He has been hit in his wrist but is alright”, said Adam.
Candy came in and saw his little friend sitting on the bed.
Mary asked, “Candy, would you like to be my best man at our wedding?”
“Of course. Why shouldn't your wedding go on?”, asked the foreman.
“If it was up to that Sophia Paige I had disappeared with Mitch. Maybe dead in a ditch”, said Mary.
“She is dead and we stay together. Mitch, tell Candy how many fish grandpa caught this afternoon”, Adam replied smiling.
“Grandpa had caught zero fish and I eight. Maybe you must give him fish lessons”, Mitch told.
Candy rolled on the floor laughing.
“Would there be anything left?”, asked Mitch.
“Knowing your Uncle everything will be gone. We did have a great meal, didn't we?”, asked Adam.
Mitch nodded and did cast his eyes down. The three grown-ups looked at each other and knew enough.
“We go back home and there you go straight to bed”, said Adam.
So said, so done.
At the Ponderosa had Little Joe had told his father everything that had taken place that afternoon at the yard.
“So that explains the sudden departure of Mary and Mitch. I rather have one hundred times that Mary becomes my daughter-in-law then that Miss Paige marries a Cartwright”, replied Ben.
“She is in love with Adam for years”, said Hoss.
“Abigail Jones too but Adam mustn't know anything of her. for understandable reasons”, reacted Little Joe.
Silently they ate on not knowing what had happened in Virginia City.
Though Ben had become so worried about the current place of abode of his eldest son and his family the rancher made a decision.
“Hoss, Joseph, we go to Virginia City to look for your brother, sister-in-law and nephew”, he said.
In a jiffy they had left the ranch.
Adam put the luggage of his fiancée and son into eh wagon and thereafter the young Cartwright. Mary climbed on the box and Adam next to it. Candy took Sport along and rode on his own. Big was their amazing and that of Ben, Hoss and Little Joe too when they ran into each other.
“Adam, Mary, what happened? Where is Mitch?”, asked the rancher.
“It is a long story but Mitch lies in the wagon behind us. We will tell everything at home. Candy is with us too”, replied Adam.
“I am curious”, said Ben.
He and his two youngest sons turned their horses.
Home again Hop sing made sure that there was coffee for the grown-ups and hot milk for Mitch. The boy sat near the open fire and stroke Cody loveable. Adam and Mary first brought the luggage to their bedroom. The Cartwrights noticed that Mitch had trouble with everything that had happened in the previous hours. He said nothing and just kept on stroking his little friend. Ben stroke his grandson over his little pate like he wanted to say, “Nothing can happen to you anymore as we guard over you.”
Adam en Mary came downstairs and the latter said, “Mitch, when you have finished your milk you go to bed.”
“Alright mom”, he said.
Hop Sing poured in and disappeared again to the kitchen. When everyone sat down Adam and Mary told what had happened in Virginia City.
Ben said, “The wedding will take place right here at the ranch.”
“We want to keep it in private. Just with you and the hands”, said Mary.
“Mary, because you have no best men yet Hoss and I suggest that we are your best men”, said Little Joe.
“That would be a great honor for us”, Hoss said hopeful.
Mary ignored the request of her brothers-in-law and looked at her father-in-law.
“Pa, would you like to give me away?”, asked Mary.
“I would love to do that”, replied Ben.
“Hoss and Joe, you cannot be my best men because Candy is that already. but we do have an important task for you at our wedding day”, said Mary.
The brothers looked dat each other excited. Adam and Mary too and winked at each other.
“And that is?”, Hoss and Little Joe asked at the same time.
“You are responsible for Cody that day. Make sure that he behaves well”, said Adam.
“First you use us as cheap baby-sitters for your son and now we are good enough as baby-sitters for your dog”, Little Joe reacted indignant.
Everybody except Hoss and Little Joe laughed.
When Mitch was sleeping Adam said, “Mitch stays at home from school until we are married.”
“I ran into Vera Stone and she did reproach me that you are raising Mitch too free”, said Candy.
“What does that monster know about how to raise a child? She was one of the first ones who wanted to ban Mitch out of church because he is crippled”, reacted Adam.
“She isn't invited to our wedding anyway”, said Mary.
Everybody agreed with her.
As April 1 came closer Mary became more nervous. The boys decorated the ranch. Hop sing was very busy to bake a few delicious cakes. Of course Hoss stood in front to pre taste the cakes. But the cook knew to prevent that by saying that it were cheese and carrot cakes. Candy and Mitch took care that Cody got washed.
Finally the day had come. Laura Walker had come early to help Mary with her wedding dress. Dan, the husband of Laura, had come along too with their son w Matthew.
Dan said to Adam, “Remember that when you are married that you must do certain things.”
“Then you just may do certain things”, reacted Adam.
They laughed. Adam put on his wedding suit.
“So. Now let's see how far Mitch is”, said Adam.
They walked to the bedroom of the young Cartwright. Mitch and his friend
Matthew were in the bedroom of Mitch.
“Must I help you with getting dressed?”, asked Adam.
Mitch nodded.
“Come Matthew. We wait downstairs”, Dan said to his son.
They went downstairs so that Adam and Mitch were alone.
“Are you nervous already?”, Mitch asked teasing.
“A bit but mamma is that too”, replied Adam.
“I am not getting married later”, said Mitch said resolute.
“Why not?”, Adam asked amazed.
“Because my wife makes then all decisions. Then I cannot go fishing and play baseball whenever I want to”, was the answer.
Adam laughed.
“Mitch, who has told you that? Your Uncles?”, he asked still laughing a bit.
“No, but it could have been. Matthew said that”, replied Mitch.
“I see. But we men only do that to let the ladies think that they have everything to say. That way we keep them satisfied”, Adam explained.
He helped his son with getting dressed so that they could go downstairs.
At ten o'clock the wedding solemnization began. Just before that Mary came down the stairs in her wedding dress. Adam looked breathless at his wife-to-be and his heart began to beat harder.
Reverend Jack Ward did the wedding solemnization.
He started, “We are here together to bind these two young people together. Their love has known very much problems and also much absence but their invisible bond brought them together though to be bind together forever. If anyone has objections against this marriage, he or she speak now or silence forever.”
It remained still so the reverend continued, “Do you take, Adam Poindexter Cartwright, Mary Lisa Watts to be your legal wife for better and worse until death do you part?”
“Yes, I do”, said Adam.
“Do you take , Mary Lisa Watts, Adam Poindexter Cartwright, to be your legal husband for better and worse until death do you part?”, the reverend asked Mary.
“Yes, I do”, said Mary.
Mitch and Cody came with the rings.
“Then I declare you husband and wife. Adam, you may kiss your bride now”, said Jack.
That happened with much love and passion. Ben had Mitch with him and saw that his grandson was now really deliriously happy. The married couple got congratulated by all present. Then Hop Sing came in with two big cakes.
“Hop Sing baked two big cakes for married couple”, said the cook.
Mary cut both cakes where after everyone got a piece. Even Cody wasn't forgotten.
“Gees’, those cakes tastes delicious”, said Hoss.
“And not even like cheese and/or carrots”, Mitch remarked.
Everybody laughed.
“Hop Sing made peach cake and whipped cream cake”, said the cook.
“Why did you say then that you were going to make a cheese- and carrot cake for the wedding?”, Hoss asked amazed.
“To keep Mr. Hoss out of kitchen. Or he would foretastes cakes”, was the answer.
Again everybody except Hoss laughed.
The rest of the day men celebrated the party at the ranch.
Other than any other recent married couple Adam and Mary decided not to go on their honeymoon because they didn't want and couldn't to miss their son Mitch and dog Cody. Instead of that Adam took a month off to spend that time with his new family.