Very Good News
It was May 11 1878. Adam and Hoss Cartwright were busy unloading the sacks of grain when Adam’s 2nd daughter Lisa came running to them.
“Daddy, you must come at once because mom has just fainted. Grandpa has put her in the guestroom”, said the girl.
Adam jumped off the wagon and ran into the ranch house. In the guestroom laid his wife Sally who looked terrible.
“Little Joe is already away for the doctor”, said Ben, the father of Adam.
Adam went to sit on the bed, grabbed the hand of his wife and said, “Lisa said that you fainted.”
“Adam, I’m so dizzy and also sick”, said Sally.
She vomited in a bucket which the Chinese cook Hop Sing had put down.
Adam asked, “When you expected Rose you were also so sick. Could it be that we are getting a little one again?”
“I think so. With Caroline I felt good and then it went wrong”, answered his wife.
The reaction of Ben was, “All your children are welcome at the Ponderosa.”
“We know that but it will get very busy in the house”, said Adam.
“We will find a solution. First we must know what’s wrong with Sally”, answered Ben.
Sally vomited again.
“I have the same feeling as when I was expecting Rose”, she said tired.
Ben left his son and daughter-in-law alone. Lisa and Rose came to him.
“Grandpa, what is the matter with mom?”, asked Lisa.
“She is very sick. The doctor is on his way and he will examine her. Then w eknow more”, answered the rancher.
Doc Paul Martin came quickly and examined Sally.
“Since a few weeks I am sick and this morning I fainted. Could I be pregnant again?”, asked Sally.
“I will examine you for a moment”, said Doc.
After the examination the heal master said, “Within half a year I certainly must be here.”
“Why then certainly?”, Adam asked amazed.
Doc answered, “Because then your child will come into the world. Sally, you are 3 months pregnant already. Keep enough rest and I come regularly come to see.”
He went away so that the parent-to-be were alone.
Sally said, “Congratulations with your birthday in advance, darling. But you can hold this present in November.”
“Thanks darling. I will get the gals”, Adam said smiling.
He got up and went to get Lisa and Rose. A moment later the threesome were with Sally.
“Lisa and Rose, you get a little brother or sister in November”, said Sally.
The sisters looked at each other glad.
“Great daddy and mom. Mustn’t we let it Mitch and Pam know?”, asked Lisa.
“Well, they will see it by themselves when we are with them in July”, answered Adam.
Lisa asked, “Does that happen to mean that we go on vacation to New York?”
Her father nodded and said, “I had that planned already when Pam announced that she was going with her brother.”
Lisa and Rose flew their father around the neck of happiness. Adam didn’t know if it was about the baby of the twins. Sally suspected the twins because the little sisters missed them very much.
That evening during supper Sally said, “There has to be another chair to be added to this table in November.”
Cora, the wife of Joe, asked, “You mean that you …..?”
Sally nodded and answered, “Three months already.”
Ben said, “Adam and Sally, on behalf of the whole family congratulations.”
“Thanks. And we are in July with Lisa and Rose on vacation to New York to see the twins”, reacted Adam.
“Then we have peace and quiet”, laughed Joe.
Hoss agreed with it but then his sister-in-law came with a counterattack.
“Joseph, you won’t get no peace and quiet at all because our triplets cam walk now and that’s why you must keep an eye on them as well. Betsy and I are helping Hop Sing already in the housekeeping”, she said.
The brothers looked at their father for support but the rancher said, “Unfortunately I have to agree with Cora. The ladies are looking often enough after the children so you may take over their task for a once.”
Then it was silent at the table for a moment.
“The gentlemen can do that tomorrow then. I have bought the piece of land with the house with it next to our spread. Adam en Sally, it’s for you. The house only needs to be cleaned”, Ben said then.
“That is great pa. Thanks”, Adam said smiling.
Betsy said, “My sweet husband Hoss and his little brother Joseph look after the girls tomorrow. Cora, we are going to clean the house of Adam and Sally. Sally, you keep rest until the baby is being born.”
“We do that”, her sister-in-law answered.
“The children can come over here on their own so I hope to see my granddaughters each day though”, said the rancher.
“You certainly will grandpa”, Lisa said on behalf of Rose.
So this day ended with very good news for the whole Cartwright family.