It was a warm summer day when the Cartwright family woke up at the Ponderosa Ranch. As usual that was very early but yet the heat was already able to feel.
While they walked downstairs Joe Cartwright said to his older brother Hoss, “Hoss, do you know what we do? We just go swimming and let the others do the hard work.”
“Nice idea but just how would you like to accomplish that? Especially when pa and Adam are watching us”, said Hoss.
“Well, we just say that we are going to do the work somewhere else”, said Joe.
They walked head to the dining room where Ben and Adam were already eating.
“Pa, we are going to work very hard today so that everything is alright for that cattle market in Virginia City in 2 weeks time”, said Adam.
“That’s indeed the meaning son. There’s a lot of work to be done”, said Ben.
“What about chopping wood? That sounds like a funny chore for Joe to me”, said Candy, the foreman.
He looked with laughing eyes at Ben and Adam who understood him at once.
“Then he can work himself into sweat”, Adam remarked.
“Poor sweat”, reacted the foreman.
They laughed which Hoss and Joe didn’t understand. They sat down and started with breakfast.
“Say Joe, don’t you miss 2 smaller examples of our older brother?”, Hoss asked suddenly.
“Now that you mention it yes. Adam, where are the twins?”, asked Joe.
“In the kitchen. They help Hop Sing with packing their picnic basket. I have given them permission to go swimming. Cody goes with them”, answered the eldest Cartwright boy.
“And you two leave them alone because the twins have vacation and you don’t”, Ben said right away when he saw the looks of his 2 youngest sons.
This was a big disappointment for the brothers.
Then Candy took the word because he said, “The wood must be filled up too. I seem to remember that it was Joe’s turn to do it.”
“That’s indeed so. Joseph can chop them in smaller pieces and Hoss can put them together and pile them up nicely”, answered the rancher.
“Pa, it’s way too hot to do that. Can’t it be happening later in the year?”, asked Joe.
“No, rather today”, answered Ben.
Back at the table the youngest of the twins Pam said, “Hop Sing is busy with a big and good filled picnic basket for us and Cody.”
Now Hoss and Joe became very jealous at all of course.
“Pa, is it alright of we chop wood tonight and later on go along with the twins?”, asked Joe.
Ben answered, “Absolutely not. I already have something planned for tonight.”
This was a big disappointment for the brothers.
After breakfast the twins and Cody left for their private bath. The grownups went to work.
Suddenly Joe said, “Hoss, it’s so quiet that no one will notice that we are gone.”
“Indeed. Let’s get out of here”, said his brother.
In no time they had disappeared.
Half way the morning Ben came home unexpected. Of course he discovered that his 2 youngest sons weren’t working.
“Well damn it. They have taken off”, the rancher said to himself.
First he wanted to become angry but then he made up another solution.
Riding back to the herd he saw his grandchildren. Of course he stopped there to have lunch with them.
“Grandpa, is the barbecue still on for tonight?”, Mitch asked suddenly.
“For us, Candy and your father yes but not for your uncles. They had to chop wood but I suspect that they are swimming”, answered Ben.
The twins understood it and kept silent about it.
“We come to get you for supper. Mouth shut about you know what against you know who”, the rancher said after lunch.
“We just pretend that we don’t know them”, said Pam.
Mitch made it even worse by saying, “We don’t even want to know them!”
Ben smiled, mounted on and went ahead to the herd.
At the herd Adam asked, “Are my little brothers still at work?”
“No, but they will do that tonight. I have had lunch with the twins and they also know about it”, answered Ben.
They went to work again.
By suppertime Ben, Adam and Candy went to pick up the twins and Cody.
“Swimming party is over”, Adam called teasing.
The twins packed everything and went along with them.
“Have you seen or heard the truants?”, asked Candy.
“No”, said Mitch.
Home again Adam said, “Boys, you take a bath because the lake isn’t always very clean.”
With reluctance the twins did what their father said. The others made with Hop Sing the barbecue ready.
“Hop Sing, where are Hoss and Joseph?”,asked the rancher.
“Brothers slipped away when Hop Sing was back of the house”, answered the cook.
The barbecue started when the twins were downstairs again, fresh washed and in clean clothes. Of course Cody got his share too in the food. Suddenly he started barking. Everybody looked at Hoss and Joe who came riding cheerful.
“Where have you been today?”, Ben asked very strict.
“Pa, it was so warm today that we decided to go swimming. Sorry”, Hoss said on behalf of Joe.
They looked eagerly at the biog dish with baked potatoes and the meat which was frying at the barbecue.
“May we also have something to eat?”, Joe asked hopeful.
“You may have that but after chopping wood. It’s not so warm now so go ahead”, answered Ben.
The brothers went to work grumbling while the others ate and watched.
Just when the twins were long fast asleep and the food was gone Ben saw that his 2 youngest sons had finally finished their work.
“Boys, I am satisfied about you. Your meal is ready in the kitchen”, said the rancher.
Hoss and Joe ran to the kitchen and hoped that they would get a big meal.
In the kitchen Hop Sing said to the brothers, “Enjoy your meal Mr Hoss and Little Joe.”
The meal was water and bread.
“Eh Hop Sing, I am not so hungry anyway. I go to bed”, Joe said disappointed.
Hoss said, “Thanks Joe. I just take your share too.”
This day made Hoss and Joe decide to never go swimming illegally again.