Tumult

On July 4 it was always festive in whole America. So also in Virginia City. In town there was lots of things to do for every age category. They were busy for months to get everything fixed up.

On the Ponderosa 6 year old Mitch Cartwright said during breakfast, “I can’t enter anything due to my wrist. So I better can stay at home.”

“You don’t have to enter something to enjoy it. Just stay with me”, said his father Adam Cartwright.

The boy nodded. He couldn’t use his right wrist not very well due to a recent fall off a horse.

Not everyone was in a festive mood. Sheriff Roy Coffee and deputy Clem Foster had heard that there was an infamous child kidnapper in town. They knew how he looked like and what his name was. But it was not known when or how he would attack.

This infamous child kidnapper was the outlaw Greg Lowe. He had come to have stab at something. The reason for his arrival was to earn a lot of money in a very short time. Greg knew that there was a festive day and so also many children. Kidnapping children was his specialty. He always did that in disguise. His plan would provide extra much. His accomplish Ray Miller had told him about the nephew of his ex Lucy Watts, Mitch. By kidnapping that lad they could demand extra much ransom because they knew how rich Ben Cartwright was.

On the market square Greg was busy with his clowns act. He did that with the children. They had the biggest fun with the clown who kept an eye on the area constantly.

The Cartwrights watched from a little distance but it couldn’t appeal to Mitch.

His uncle Hoss asked him, “Don’t you like it?”

“Why would such a dressed up man interest me? It’s not even a real clown because he just wears ordinary boots and a revolver. I don’t trust him”, answered Mitch.

He wasn’t the only one because Adam and Joe also had their distrust against Greg.

Clem came to stand with the Cartwrights and asked Ben, “Are you having a great time, aren’t you?”

“We do but ‘Mitch doesn’t. Not even that clown can make him laugh”, answered the rancher.

“He is just fake”, said the youngest Cartwright.

“Try to prove it then”, said Clem.

“You do help me when it goes wrong, don’t you?”, Mitch asked for the security.

Ben and Clem nodded.

Mitch walked to the clown and asked right away, “Is that a real revolver of are you just using a water pistol?”

“That wasn’t said to me”, Hoss whispered to Adam who found it also amusing.

“Of course that’s a real revolver. You do talk back for your age”, said Greg.

“Yes, but you do that too”, the boy reacted quick-witted.

“Just come and sit with me for a moment. What’s your name?”, asked Greg.

“Mitch”, said the boy.

Mitch pretended that he was very shy which Greg believed. Meanwhile Adam, Joe and Clem went behind the stage so that they could keep an eye on Greg and Mitch. The children went away quickly. Mitch wanted to go away as well but the clown stopped him.

“You stay with me Mitch”, said Greg.

Then Mitch pulled the wig off of the head of Greg.

“Hands up Greg Lowe!”, called Clem.

Greg pushed Mitch off the stage and tried to flee. But a bullet out of the revolver of Clem stopped him. The bullet hit him in the arm. He fell on the ground but was conscious. The deputy hand chuffed him and took him to prison. Adam and Hoss cared about Mitch who had broken his right wrist. Joe had gone for the doctor already.

When Clem was with the Cartwrights again he said to Mitch, “Mitch, thanks to you another outlaw has been caught. But you must testify against him though.”

The boy didn’t say anything. Doc Martin had come nearer and examined the broken wrist.

“Just you come with me for a moment. Then I will set your wrist into plaster”, said Doc.

Mitch and Adam got up and latter said, “Keep a table occupied for us in the Silver Dollar.”

Ben nodded and went with his sons to the relevant saloon.

On the way to the practice the boy asked, “Shall I will be able to pitch, shan’t I?”

“I think so because you are left-handed”, said his father.

It was a warm day so many men sat in the saloons. Here by it was difficult to find a seat but the Cartwrights had no trouble with it. In a corner of the saloon was yet a table free for 5 persons. Ben and his sons just took the table and chairs in occupation.

After half an hour the wrist of Mitch was set in plaster. When father and son Cartwright stood outside again they went into the direction of the Silver Dollar Saloon. Everybody looked at the broken wrist of Mitch. On the way Adam and Mitch saw that at 4 o’clock a cake contest was being held. All women in Virginia City had baked a cake and someone had to choose the most delicious one.

“Daddy, that is really something for uncle Hoss. After all he is our cake specialist”, said Mitch.

Adam nodded. Mitch resolved himself to say it to his uncle.

In the saloon Ben ordered the 1^st round for him, his sons and grandson.

“Look how beautiful my wrist now is”, Mitch said triumphant.

Proud as a peacock he showed the plaster.

“Mitchy always knows how to attract the attention to himself”, Hoss said teasing.

“Jealous uncle Hoss?” , asked his nephew.

“Yes sure, little nephew of mine”, was the answer of the relevant Cartwright.

“At 4 o’clock there is a cake contest. They are going to taste which cake is the most delicious. Isn’t that something for you, uncle Hoss?”, asked Mitch.

“To tell you the truth: my stomach is quite empty. So that is an ideal way to answer that request”, said Hoss.

The Cartwrights looked at each other laughing. When Hoss was thinking about food there couldn’t be any other thought get in.

The cake contest attracted a lot of attention. Jenny Wilson had baked a carrot cake and besides she had an eye on Adam.

“You do make sure that your brother likes my carrot cake the best. That way I make at least chance to become your wife”, she whispered to Adam.

“I don’t want you for my wife. And what your cake is concerned: that depends on Hoss”, answered Adam.

He didn’t say that his younger brother didn’t like carrots at all. The choice was very difficult but yet after tasting for 2 hours the jury had decided it. The cake of Mrs Green of the sewing atelier was the most delicious. It was a combination of strawberry and raspberry.

After the contest Hoss asked, “Shall we go home because we can’t let Hop Sing waiting with this over delicious meal of course?”

“You must have a rotten stomach. I can’t understand that you are still have an appetite after all those caken”, said Mitch.

“It is cakes Mitch”, Adam said correcting.

“What does it matter. As long as they taste well”, reacted his son.

After this reaction the Cartwrights rode back again to their trusted ranch.

A few days after the arrest of Greg Lowe his mates Ray Miller en Tom Davis arrived in Virginia City. They had heard that their mate was arrested. They also knew who the cause was of that: Mitch Cartwright! The outlaws decided to kidnap the boy and in exchange the Cartwrights got Mitch back in a coffin. Besides they had taken along the sister of Tom, Tina, along as part of their plan.

“You know what the plan is?”, Tom asked Tina.

She nodded and said, “I go to the Ponderosa, take that child of Adam Cartwright along to our shelter. Cartwright gets a letter for ransom and when he comes to deliver the money we kill him and the kid.”

Tom nodded and said, “Meanwhile we are going to release Greg.”

Tina went away.

On the Ponderosa Mitch played near the oak on the yard in the company of the shepherd dog Cody. It was their playing spot and nobody came there what grownups was concerned. Suddenly Cody began to bark.

“Cody, what is the matter?”, Mitch asked amazed.

The dog kept on barking and looked at the corral. Mitch looked too and saw an unknown woman standing. The woman was Tina Davis.

“I must have you, lad”, she said extremely friendly.

Now Mitch and Cody really didn’t trust it. Tina came closer and at that moment Adam and Hoss came outside. They saw the woman and ran to the youngest couple.

“Who are you and what are you doing here?”, Adam asked fierce.

“I come for my son. That lad there”, Tina answered pointing at Mitch.

“He isn’t your son at all. I don’t know you and demand that you leave straight away!”, answered Adam.

Tina saw in that her plan was failing and went over to plan B. She drew her revolver and pointed it at the youngest Cartwright.

“If you don’t go away that child gets a bullet into his head”, Tina said threatening.

The brothers saw that foreman Candy Canaday had pointed his rifle at Tina but Tina didn’t see it herself. A shot followed and the commotion was big. The brothers laid on the ground and so was Tina.

“Daddy, what has happened?”, Mitch asked scared.

Adam looked around him and saw a dead Tina Davis lying.

“The woman who wanted to take you with her is dead”, answered Adam.

Candy came nearer and recognized the woman.

“That is Tina Davis. She belongs to the gang of Greg Lowe. Her brother is Tom Davis and a wanted outlaw”, said Candy.

“Hoss, you babysit your nephew and we go and bring her to Virginia City”, Adam said determined.

“Adam, he is your son so you babysit him. He needs you now harder than ever”, reacted Hoss.

With reluctance Adam admitted that he was wrong. He picked up his son and kissed him.

“I believe that Hop Sing has baked something delicious. Shall we go and try that?”, asked Adam.

Mitch nodded and said, “Bye uncle Hoss, Candy. Come Cody.”

They went inside and Hoss looked at Candy questionable.

“You know that since Mitch is here Hop Sing always makes delicious things”, the foreman said smiling.

“Yes, especially for that little thing”, Hoss said indignant.

They grabbed the body and put it onto her horse. After that they mounted on and they rode to town.

In the ranch house Adam noticed that Mitch felt unsafe. The boy sat close by him and didn’t say anything Adam knew that there was something the matter because normally Mitch had drunk up 100 bottles of chatter and now not even 1.

“Mitch, you are safe here for strangers. That woman was really not your mother. Otherwise I would have known”, said Adam.

Mitch looked at him and asked, “So we stay together?”

“We stay together”, answered Adam.

“You said that Hop Sing had baked something delicious”, Mitch said to change the subject.

“Is that so?”, his father asked teasing.

Mitch nodded.

“Let’s go and have a look then”, said Adam.

They got up and walked to the kitchen.

Hop Sing had indeed baked delicious muffins so that Adam and Mitch could foretaste them.

“Hop Sing, they are really delicious”, said Adam.

“We say to uncle Hoss that there are cheese and carrots in it”, answered his son.

“Her doesn’t believe that anyway”, reacted Adam.

“Just in 2 muffins. Hop Sing keep separately for Mr Hoss”, spoke the cook.

Adam and Mitch looked at each other laughing and decided not to say anything to Hoss. After the spoiling Adam went to read to his son and to help him that way to learn to read better.

Meanwhile Hoss and Candy were underway to Virginia City with the mortal remains of Tina Davis. They were alert because they knew that her gang members could be everywhere.

Tom and Ray suddenly saw 2 cowboys with an extra horse passing. On the 3^rd horse laid a mortal remains.

Ray looked again good and said then, “That one is Hoss Cartwright, the uncle of the nephew of my ex. I don’t know the other one. Tom, then the other on that extra horse must be your sister.”

“It wouldn’t surprise me because she’s just as thick as a brick. Come on, then we are going to rob the Ponderosa ranch”, answered Tom.

They gave their horses the spurs and rode to the ranch.

Cody stood by the front door which the Cartwrights saw.

“Daddy, Cody wants to go outside. Shall we go for a ride on our horses?”, asked Mitch.

“That is a good idea. I will saddle up the horses”, said Adam.

They went outside. Quickly Adam had saddled the horses. Cody ran ahead, followed by father and son Cartwright. Adam had taken a loaded rifle along for the security.

“That is a surprise. It must be our lucky day”, Tom said laughing.

He and Ray stood face to face with Adam, Mitch and Cody.

“So you are that miserable nephew of my ex”, Ray said to Mitch.

“Dismount both”, Tom said with a drawn revolver.

That happened and Cody walked around the 2 outlaws. He did that so often that they became nervous by it.

“Call that dog back”, Tom said angry.

“We could do that but he has 1 problem”, was the answer of Adam.

“And what is his problem then?”, asked Ray.

“He doesn’t listen to us”, Adam answered smiling.

He drew his revolver and shot down Ray. With a scream the outlaw fell off his horse. Mitch threw a stone to Tom who by the stone and fall off his horse died. Adam took Mitch into his arms and kissed him.

“We bring the bodies to Virginia City and after that we go to drink something”, said Adam.

So said, so done.

Hoss and Candy had delivered the mortal remains of Tina Davis at the sheriff and told what had happened. Ben en Joe were too with the sheriff.

“Is Mitch alright?”, Ben asked concerned.

“Adam is with him and Cody too”, answered Hoss.

He hadn’t said it yet or his brother and nephew came riding with the bodies of Tom and Ray.

“Sheriff, here is the rest of the gang of Greg Miller. They kept us under gunshot but with help of our dog the gentlemen died”, said Adam.

He dismounted, just like Mitch did.

“Thanks gentlemen”, said Roy.

Adam, Hoss and Candy brought the bodies to the undertaker while Ben looked after Mitch and Cody.

Mitch directly misused the situation by saying, “Grandpa, daddy said that we were going to drink something when we were in town.”

De rancher understood it right away and said, “Mitch, we go together to the restaurant of Louise Taylor. Come Cody.”

They also had disappeared quickly.

The sheriff went to his prisoner and said, “Lowe, your gang members are all dead.”

“Then I have got rid of them finally. They forced me to join in their crimes. I am the son of a reverend and a nun. Tina had seduced me to join her gang”, Greg said hypocritical.

Of course Roy didn’t believe this. He left him alone then though.

By the action of the Cartwrights and Candy had Virginia City wasn’t bothered anymore by Greg Lowe and his gang.