Together with his wife Mary Adam Cartwright had prepared their seven year old son Mitch well at the coming guests. Like usual the eldest Cartwright boy had taken his offspring for a ride with the horses. They stopped at lake Tahoe and dismounted. Father and son went to sit by the water.
“Kid, you know that we get guests this week?”, asked Adam.
“Yes, you have met them in town”, said Mitch.
“Well, they come from Minnesota and are rich too. They are taking their 2 children with them. I do want that you make sure that you can behave yourself. Even maybe they are spoiled brats”, said Adam.
“I promise”, answered Mitch.
Adam saw that something was bothering the boy.
“Out with it”, said Adam.
“Perhaps they can’t even play baseball and I must play stupid games with them”, Mitch said hesitating.
Adam began to laugh and said, “Then you teach them how to play baseball.”
“When they see uncle Hoss they run away screaming”, Mitch said laughing too.
“It appears that in their village lives a man who looks exactly like your uncle Joe. He is much older though”, said Adam.
“Still older than uncle Joe? And you are already so old”, Mitch remarked.
“A bit more respect for your old father please”, said Adam said teasing.
They began to romp.
After the game of romps Adam took Mitch into his arms, kissed him loving full and said after that, “What do I love you so very much. Even though you are the biggest bully of the Ponderosa.”
“I love you too”, said Mitch.
Together they stared at the water which was lying in front of them.
Of course Ben Cartwright had updated his 2 other sons Hoss and Little Joe of the upcoming visit.
“I want that you try to behave yourselves. So no funny jokes and that sort of stuff”, said Ben.
“Pa, we really don’t do that anymore. We must be the good example for Mitch, mustn’t we?”, asked Joe.
“That must you be indeed but that doesn’t always happen. Unfortunately”, the rancher sighed.
“This time we really will behave ourselves”, said Hoss.
“I may hope so”, answered his father.
“How old are those children anyway?”, asked Hoss.
“Their daughter and son are a bit older than Mitch is I believe”, answered Ben.
He looked at his sons seriously.
“There is also a lot of work to be done at the herd. To cause our guests not to o much trouble I suggest that you keep yourself busy with that. Then Adam, Mary, Mitch and I can entertain the guests”, said the rancher.
“We leave right away”, Joe said cheerful.
Meanwhile in Walnut Grove.
Nels and Harriet had told their children about the ranch of the Cartwrights.
“I wish that you behave very well because they have a big ranch”, said Harriet.
“We always do that mother”, said Nellie.
“I hadn’t thought otherwise”, her mother said proud.
“Are there other children to play with?”, asked Willie.
“One of those sons has a son named Mitch so you have at least one to play with”, said Nels.
“I am not going to play with strange boys”, sniffed Nellie.
“We are guests so he must do what we want”, said Willie.
Nellie liked that idea.
Now his uncles were away Mitch got more attention from his parents and grandpa. But the foreman Candy Canaday also had stayed at home for the other chores.
“Grandpa, I do know that they are guests here but does that also mean that I am their little slave?”, Mitch asked during supper.
“No, it doesn’t. But I do want that you behave yourself well. Just like when other guests come”, answered Ben.
“Mitch, Mrs Oleson is behaving rather posh so I request you to keep your sharp remarks away for the time being”, Adam said seriously.
“I solemnly promise”, said Mitch.
Candy began to smile.
“And that goes for you as well Candy”, Ben said warned.
Now Mitch began to smile and Adam and his wife Mary too.
“Mr Cartwright, if that goes for us mustn´t Adam stick to it as well?”, asked Candy.
“That is surely the case”, answered Ben.
A few days later the visit arrived at the ranch. The Cartwrights saw them coming. Mitch stood by his father but didn’t say anything.
“We are here”, Nels said when he stopped the rented carriage in front of the veranda.
“Welcome to the Ponderosa”, said Ben.
“Thanks. What a beautiful house”, Harriet said full of admiring.
She got out and the others did that too. Adam and Mitch came to them.
“These are Nellie and Willie. Children, this is Mr Cartwright and his son Adam”, said Harriet.
“This is my wife Mary”, said Adam.
“Kids, this is my grandson Mitch”, said Ben.
Nellie took a good look at Mitch and said, “What are you a clodhopper.”
“You ought to say that. Our pigs are more posh that you are”, Mitch reacted directly.
Adam and Mary didn’t know where they had to look and Ben had trouble not to start laughing.
“Mother! Say something about it!”, Nellie said angry.
“Come Nellie, that boy doesn’t mean it”, said Harriet.
“He does! All boys are the same”, Nellie protested.
“We go inside because Hop Sing has the coffee ready”, said Ben.
They did that but Mitch didn’t trust the guests of his own age. He resolved himself not to cause any problems.
Soon the children played outside while the adults remained inside.
“Why are you actually wearing a walking-brace?”, asked Nellie.
“Because I am lame. Why are you so arrogant?”, was the counter-question of Mitch.
“I am just better than you”, Nellie railed.
“Mitch is a lamely”, Willie said pestering.
Mitch grabbed him tight and dragged the boy to the water trough.
“Say sorry or I immerse you”, Mitch said fierce.
“Never!”, said Willie.
“Don’t say that I haven’t warn you”, said Mitch.
A moment later he pushed the head of Willie into the water. He came up again floundering.
“I am sorry”, said Willie.
“You better”, answered the young Cartwright.
Quickly Willie dried himself.
“Do you have horses too here?”, asked Nellie.
“Of course we have horses here. I have a brown one”, said Mitch.
“You lie”, said Nellie.
“Do you want to see him?”, Mitch asked challenging.
“Yes”, said Nellie.
They walked to the stables where Candy happened to be working.
The children stood still with Caramel.
“This is Caramel and he is mine”, said Mitch.
“Show off”, Nellie sniffed and she walked away.
Willie followed her.
“Mitch, I am glad that you are not as spoiled as those two are”, said Candy.
“If you ask me they may leave straight away again”, said the young Cartwright.
“Do you feel like helping me? We go fishing after that”, the foreman suggested.
Mitch agreed.
“Everything is better than ordered to be playing with those two”, he said.
Then the friend of Mitch, Matthew Walker, came riding
“Hey Cartwright! Must you show Candy everything how he must do it?”, he called laughing.
“Very funny”, Candy said teasing.
Matthew dismounted and said, “My parents that I was allowed to stay the night here. They must go away.”
“We have guests from a village. But those children are rather spoiled so……..”, said Mitch.
Matthew helped Candy too where after they went fishing.
Inside it was just as cozy as with the children.
“Is Mitch your only child?”, Harriet asked Mary.
“Still yet but you never know”, she answered.
Quickly Mary looked at Adam and they both win ked at each other.
“Mother, I want to go horseback riding”, Nellie said who suddenly came inside with her brother.
“Let Mitch saddle then a horse you”, said Harriet.
“He was with that cowboy”, said Willie.
“Cowboy? Which cowboy?”, Ben asked amazed.
“The one who works at the stables”, Willie explained.
“You mean Candy? Then I am afraid that you can’t go horseback riding today. After is work Candy often goes fishing with Mitch”, said Adam.
“Then someone goes and get them”, said Nellie.
“I go and look for them”, said Adam.
He got up and went away.
Adam Candy and the two friends at lake Tahoe.
“Adam, have you fled too?”, Candy asked teasing.
“No, I have come to look for you. Suddenly there has come more work so go home”, said the eldest Cartwright boy.
Candy and the boys got up to go home.
Mitch hadn’t dismounted or Willie was bothering him already.
“Nellie says that you must saddle her horse”, said Willie.
“Tell her that she can sit up in the highest tree with her orders”, answered Mitch.
“We are guests here and that means that you must do what we say”, Willie said indignant.
Mitch gave Matthew a wink and said smiling, “Then I shall do what madam wants.”
“I come along”, said Matthew.
“I heard from Willie that Nellie wants that I saddle a horse for her. Which one shall I take? Cyclone or Muley?”, asked Mitch.
“Just do Muley”, Adam said smiling.
Mitch and Matthew dismounted and Candy rode ahead to the stable to get on with work. Adam dismounted too and itched his horse. After that he went inside.
“Muley is very sweet to girls”, Mitch said to Willie and Matthew.
They walked to the stables and Mitch stood still at the door.
“Willie, it is better if you keep waiting outside. Muley might get a shock of you”, said the young Cartwright.
“I am not that scary!”, the boy called out.
He ran straight back to the ranch house. The friends couldn’t stop laughing anymore.
“Let’s just saddle Muley just in case that tea-cozy comes back”, Mitch said still laughing.
“Muley is not a horse, is she?”, Matthew asked while they walked into the stable.
“No, she is a mule but they don’t know that”, answered Mitch.
They began to laugh again.
“Why are you laughing now?”, asked Candy.
“Nellie wants to go horseback riding and now I must saddle Muley for her. I said to Willie that he had to wait outside or maybe Muley would get a shock of him”, Mitch explained.
Now Candy began to laugh hard.
“That way you will never get a girl. I thought that your father wanted to match you to Nellie”, the foreman said laughing and teasing.
“Candy! I can’t help it that you can’t get a girl because they all fall for me”, reacted the young Cartwright.
“Mitch, we just match Nellie to Candy”, Matthew suggested.
“That’s alright. Her mother is the ideal mother-in-law”, Mitch said laughing.
This was not a good idea for the foreman because he said, “Just go saddle Muley now so that I can get on with my work.”
They did that and they walked with the mule to the yard.
“You wait here with Muley”, said Mitch.
Matthew nodded. Mitch went inside where Harriet raved at him straight away.
“Why do you say to Willie that he is shocking to Muley?”, she asked.
“It was meant as a joke. Muley is very sensitive to strangers”, answered the boy.
Nellie rushed outside but only saw Matthew and Muley. Just as quick she rushed inside.
“Where is my horse?”, she asked angry.
“I had to saddle Muley for you so I did that. She stand outside with Matthew”, said Mitch.
Adam and Mary tried to stay serious because they understood what was going on. Nellie took her mother outside and she too saw the mule standing.
“Ooh”, Harriet said shocked and she put her hands before her mouth of disgrace.
Here after she went inside and let Adam have it.
“Adam Cartwright! Why don’t you teach your son the difference between a horse and a mule? To saddle a mule for my daughter”, she said angry.
“Why? Mitch does know the difference but it is his way to get back at someone”, Adam answered calm.
“Nellie does get what she deserves. Mitch is much nicer to him than Nellie is to him”, reacted Nels.
Nellie went outside to ride Muley anyway. But she had hardly mounted on or Nellie Oleson was flying. With a terrible scream she fell in the mud near the pigs. Everybody ran outside and saw what had happened.
Adam, Mary, Nels, Mitch and Willie though it was very funny but Harriet and Nellie of curse didn’t. Harriet decided to take her daughter out of the mud but she fell off the gate and ended up in the mud too. Matthew brought Muley back to the stable.
“Daddy, now the pigs have visitors too”, Mitch said light-hearted.
“Nels, we go home at once”, Harriet said poisoning.
“Good but then Adam, Mary and Mitch go with us to spend a vacation there”, said Nels.
“Alright then”, sighed Harriet.
The rest of the day Harriet, Nellie and Willie avoided Mitch as much as possible.
The next day the Oleson family went back again to Walnut Grove but now in the company of Adam, Mary and Mitch Cartwright. Since the revenge of Mitch Nellie didn’t speak to him anymore but Willie was good friends with him. But this didn’t last long.
“As soon as we are home again I shall show you how well I can play baseball”, said Willie.
“I am curious”, Mitch said smiling.
Adam looked at is son and knew enough.
“You cannot even play baseball”, said Nellie.
“Why not? Willie always can serve as bat”, Mitch reacted whereby the war had started again.
The rest of the trip was spent in silence.
Arrived in Walnut Grove the children went to play at the school yard. Of course Mitch attracted all the attention to him to big annoying of Nellie.
“Who are you?”, asked Laura Ingalls.
“Mitch Cartwright and I am on vacation here with my parents”, answered Mitch.
“They are our guests so you may not interfere with them”, said Nellie.
“Must I tell them how you and your mother together ended up between our pigs?”, asked Mitch.
“No, you keep your mouth shut about that or I will do something to you”, Nellie threatened.
“Alright Miss Oleson”, Mitch said extremely polite.
They went to play like they had know each other for years.
In the meantime Harriet showed Adam and Mary their shop and house.
“So here we live. It is totally different than at your place but we have luxury too”, she said.
“We are also very common. That we happen to have a big ranch isn’t quite our fault really”, said Adam.
“Mr Cartwright, you are far too modest”, Harriet said giggling like a teenage girl.
“Like he always is”, Mary reacted smiling.
“What is the name of the man who appears to resemble my youngest brother?”, Adam asked smiling.
“Charles Ingalls. He has a small ranch outside the village. His daughters play on the school yard with your son”, said Harriet.
Mary recognized the smile of her husband and said, “We will meet him soon enough.”
Mitch got to know the other children better including Mary and Laura Ingalls.
“Can you play baseball?”, asked Laura.
“Can I play baseball? Isn’t Nellie Oleson very much spoiled?”, was the counter-question of Mitch.
With this remark their friendship was sealed. He went to stand on the mount and threw easily 3 strikeouts. The sisters were very impressed of his pitching talent.
“But can you hit too?”, Nellie asked insulted.
“Just throw up a ball”, answered the young Cartwright.
“You may have this one if you hit outside the field”, said Willie said and he showed a brand new baseball.
“Say that is a nice one. Laura, just throw it”, said Mitch.
Mitch went to stand ready and Laura pitched it with a nice hit Mitch hit the ball away. Everyone looked where the ball remained and suddenly everyone heard glass shattering.
“That is my room window. You will pay for that!”, Nellie said snappy.
“But it is my ball though”, reacted Willie.
They ran to the house of the Oleson family. Nellie, Willie and Mitch went inside and found indeed the ball in the bed room of Nellie.
“The ball is in my room so it is mine”, Nellie said determined.
“But it is mine”, reacted Willie.
“Willie, you said that I would get it if I hit the ball out of the field. That happened so…”, said Mitch.
“Is that true Willie?”, asked Nels.
“Yes father but…”, Willie started but he didn’t come any further.
“Then the ball is for Mitch”, said Nels.
He picked up the ball and gave it to the young Cartwright.
“Then you and your parents can leave at once!”, Harriet said snappy.
The Oleson children went outside. Adam and Mary looked at their hostess but didn’t say anything.
“Come Mitch, then we will stay somewhere else”, said Adam.
They grabbed their suitcases and left the house. Nels came after them.
“Adam and Mary, I apologize on behalf of Harriet. I fear that she had another impression of you”, the shop owner said.
“I understand. Women, we will never really quite understand them. We stay at the hotel”, answered Adam.
Mary didn’t say anything but she knew what Adam meant. They walked to the hotel but didn’t come very far. At the sawmill Charles Ingalls was just about to go home.
“You must be Adam and Mary Cartwright for sure. I am Charles Ingalls”, he said.
“That’s right. I met Nels and Harriet Oleson in Virginia City together with my pa and youngest brother. We invited them for a vacation at ranch but that only lasted one day. So now we are on vacation with our son Mitch here”, said Adam.
“What has happened that you are now standing here with your luggage?”, asked Charles Ingalls.
“Eh, by dearest son we are temporary homeless. Willie challenged Mitch by hitting a ball outside the field. He did that and broke a window of the house of Harriet Oleson. Then she threw us out”, Adam explained.
“You can stay at our place. My wife Caroline cooks excellent and my daughters can get on well with Mitch”, Charles suggested.
“I can imagine that. At home he also causes a lot of commotion. But we accept your offer”, said Adam.
“Adam, we can’t bother them for a sleeping place, can we?”, asked Mary.
“We take a hotel room but come tomorrow to you for dinner”, answered Adam.
“Deal”, said Charles.
The Cartwrights walked to the hotel and got two rooms.
“Adam, that Charles Ingalls does resembles a lot like Joe but then much older”, said Mary.
“Now at least we know how Joe looks like when at an older age”, her husband reacted.
“Maybe daddy has a double walking around somewhere but ten much older. Even though I can hardly imagine that”, Mitch remarked.
Mary thought it was a nice remark but Adam didn’t.
“Young man, this is your last vacation with your parents”, said Adam said to his son.
“Well, then grandpa will take me along”, Mitch reacted light hearted.
Adam didn’t know what to say anymore by this reaction.
The next day Adam rented a carriage for the vacation.
“Would Mary and Laura like fishing too?”, Mitch asked hopeful.
“I don’t know but it could be for sure”, answered his father.
They rode to the ranch of the Ingalls family where they got received welcome.
“Mitch, are you coming fishing?”, asked Laura.
“Of course I come along”, her new friend answered.
Jack, the dog of the Ingalls family, went along too. The sister of Laura, Mary went along to fish as well and their little sister Carrie was also allowed to come.
To great annoying of especially Harriet Oleson the Cartwrights spent a lot of time with the Ingalls during their vacation in Walnut Grove.
After a week the Cartwrights went home again by train.
On the way asked Mitch, “Those people of the shop, they will never drop by for us at the ranch, won’t they?”
“I don’t think so. After what you have done to them they will stay away for good”, answered Adam.
“Fortunately”, his son sighed.
Adam and Mary shared the opinion of their son.
“Going somewhere on vacation is nice but staying home at the Ponderosa is vacation too”, said Mitch.
“For you and your mother it is but not for me. Soon I have to work hard again”, reacted Adam.
But he found it a good comparison.