While Ben Cartwright and his 2 youngest sons Hoss and Joe were holding a vacation in San Francisco the eldest son Adam was busy with the ins and outs at the Ponderosa ranch. He enjoyed thoroughly of the peace and quiet.
But one day it was over with the rest again. Luckily for Ben, Hoss and Joe Adam was at the herd when they all with a black eye came home from their vacation.
“Boys, we just say that we all 3 walked against a door. And no word about that fight in the Barbary coast. This also doesn’t get told to my grandchildren. If I may ever get them”, Ben said in the living room.
“Which fight and where was that?”, Joe asked amazed.
“I mean that Joseph”, answered the rancher.
Quickly they went to unpack and the Chinese cook Hop Sing wasn’t allowed to tell Adam anything about what happened in a certain neighborhood of San Francisco was.
In the evening Adam came home and he saw 3 very familiar horses standing in front of the ranch house.
“It is were done with my evening peace and quiet. The gentlemen are home again”, he said to himself.
He dismounted and guided his horse Sport to the stable. After taking care of him Adam went into the ranch house. First he looked amazed at the black eyes of his father and brothers but quite soon the eldest Cartwright boy showed a smile.
“Welcome home gentlemen. Had a nice time in San Francisco?”, Adam asked sarcastic.
“Thanks Adam. We had a very nice time. Only the doors there are a very bit hard”, answered Ben.
“And you all have walked against the same door, haven’t you?”, Adam asked now on a careful tone.
Ben, Hoss and Joe nodded.
“Then I will have to travel to San Francisco anyway”, said Adam.
“And why must you do that?”, Joe asked fierce suddenly.
“Well younger brother of mine, just to check if that door isn’t damaged very much”, was the dry answer.
None of the Cartwrights with a black eye thought this was a funny answer but yet they decided not to tell Adam how they had gotten it.
“Adam, because you have worked during our vacation it’s now your turn to go on vacation for 2 weeks”, said Ben.
“Thanks pa. It seems most safe to me to keep my vacation here at the Ponderosa. Then at least I can enjoy how my 2 little brothers try to work hard”, answered Adam.
This answer again touched especially Hoss and Joe on the raw.