Hoss and Joe Cartwright stood watching with the getting ready of the new restaurant Resto Cantina.
“As soon as it open we will go eat here some time Joe”, Hoss said who started to get an appetite already.
Joe began to laugh and said, “We do that. You know what? We take Candy along and let him pay for the meal. Then you will hear him.”
“Sure do”, Hoss said also laughing.
Candy Canaday was the foreman at the Ponderosa was often teased by the brothers Cartwright and their father Ben Cartwright. Though Candy was smart enough to get back at them. Still they came up for each other if one was in trouble.
After a while Hoss and Joe left for home. They didn’t know that their plan would have very bad consequences.
Candy didn’t react on the invitation like Hoss and Joe had expected.
His answer was, “I don’t understand why you go such a new restaurant when Hop Sing can cook delicious too. And for free as well.”
Hoss put his hand on the shoulder of Candy and said, “Boy, it is good to eat outdoors for once.”
“Sorry Hoss, Joe. I know that you mean well but I eat just as good as here”, was het sober comment of the foreman.
He looked with his blue eyes at both brothers.
“Do you understand that now Joe?”, Hoss asked his younger brother.
“Well Hoss, maybe he discovers what such a delicious meals he misses”, was the reaction of Joe.
“I wouldn’t count on it Joe”, said Candy.
Ben Cartwright, who up till now has silently heard the conversation, decided to interfere with it.
“Candy, do you have something against a new restaurant?”, the rancher asked his foreman.
“No, nothing Mr Cartwright. But I have a hunch that it isn’t 100 % okay there”, Candy explained.
“Candy, you really are suspicious”, claimed Hoss.
“Maybe yes. I find it strange that just out of nothing a new restaurant comes in Virginia City”, answered Candy.
No matter how Hoss and Joe talked, Candy remained by his point of view. He wouldn’t change his mind easily.
The news that there came a new restaurant was soon known. The most inhabitants of
Virginia City were very curious about how the food tasted there but there were also ones who remained skeptical. One of those persons was the foreman of the Ponderosa, Candy Canaday.
Via Hoss and Joe Cartwright he was already up to date of the restaurant. But he didn’t share their enthusiasm. Candy found it quite strange that out of nothing came a restaurant in Virginia City. Not only Candy thought about it like that. Sheriff Clem Foster too thought about it the same way. But he did stay impartial to keep the peace that way.
One afternoon the owner/cook Derek Ramsey got a row with the foreman of the Ponderosa in the Silver Dollar Saloon. Candy stood standing at the bar drinking when Derek gave him a push on purpose.
“Can’t you watch out?”, was the question of Candy.
“I watched out. You stood in the way”, Derek said cheeky.
“You are from that restaurant, aren’t you? If you are just as clumsy and act like you just did then it is so gone with that eating spot of yours”, Candy said sarcastic.
Derek Felt that as a very personal insulting and asked, “You won’t get in there boy. You do think that you are someone important, do you?”
The following moment Derek hit the glass out of the hand of Candy. The glass broke and his hand began to bleed. Candy first looked at his injured hand and gave then Derek a treatment. With a hard smack Derek fell to the ground. The cook got up and wanted to attack his enemy. But before he got the chance for that Clem already had caught him.
“You’re the one I must have, Ramsey. Do you always do this? Attacking an innocent civilian? I saw how you started”, said the sheriff.
“That cowboy started. He was slashing down my restaurant. He hasn’t even been there yet”, Ramsey defended himself.
Now Candy began to interfere with it too.
His counter-word was, “I know you from years ago. Then you were also looking for rows and you blamed the others that they had started.”
“Now it is enough Candy. Go and let your hand be treated and then home. Ramsey, you go with me”, said Clem.
Derek went along without letting hear any protest.
Bruno, the barkeeper, said to Candy, “I would watch out for that guy if I was you, Candy.”
“Thanks for the advice”, Candy said and he left the saloon.
While the foreman walked to doctor Paul Martin he wondered how the Cartwright brothers would react at this. They were quite enthusiastic about the restaurant. They probably wouldn’t even believe him. He resolved himself to prove that Derek Ramsey was wrong.
Doc Martin stitched the hand of Candy and said while that happened, “No wonder that he doesn’t like you. Such people are like that. Your hand will be hurting the first few days. So try not to move it too much.”
“Thanks Doc. I go home”, said Candy.
Outside he threw a very destroying look at the restaurant and mounted then on his horse. He could now only hold the reins with one hand. Hereby the foreman rode in an easy pace to the ranch where he lived and worked. The more the ranch got in sight, the more Candy began to get worried about the reaction of his employer Ben Cartwright and those of Hoss and Joe. It would be notable quickly that he was injured at the hand.
Luckily everyone was away when the foreman rode upon the yard. He stopped his horse and dismounted. Here after he hitched the animal and he went inside. Candy walked to the kitchen where Hop Sing was.
“Hop Sing, where is Mr Cartwright?”, Candy asked the cook straight away who was already busy with supper.
“Mr Cartwright be away. What you have done?”, Hop Sing asked on his turn when he saw the hand.
Candy held up his hand and asked, “Oh this? An accident in the saloon. Hoss and Joe not around either?”
The Chinese cook shook of no and said, “Now Candy out of kitchen or no supper. Mr Cartwright be angry then with Hop Sing.”
Candy went smiling outside.
Meanwhile in the office of the sheriff Derek denied with claim that he had started with the row.
“I saw how you bumped up against Candy. He has done nothing to you, has he?”, asked Clem.
He cook in the hope that he would confess anyway. But this didn’t happen.
“I will offer my apologies as soon as I see him. Are you now satisfied sheriff?”, Derek asked finally.
This came over at Clem as a heavy insult.
He reacted a bit fierce and straight to the point, “You don’t mean that anyway. But if you bother him I have a room for you here. The rent is totally free. Get out of here!”
Derek didn’t know how fast he had to get away from the office of the sheriff. While walking to his restaurant he thought with growing hate feelings, ‘As soon as that Candy dares to show himself in my restaurant I blow him away right away. What does he think?’ It was clear that Derek didn’t like Candy and the other way around. Derek didn’t have much time to think about revenge because it was time to start with cooking. Just a while and the restaurant would be full.
Shortly after Candy had returned at the Ponderosa the foreman saw his boss coming. The rancher was alone. He saw quite soon the bandage around the hand of Candy.
He asked, “I thought that you would stay in town for another while? Has something happened that your hand is wrapped up?”
Candy said smiling, “I was intend to do so. But in the Silver Dollar I got a hitting row with that cook from that new spot which he dares to call a restaurant. I stood at the bar drinking something when he gave me a push. I asked polite if he wanted to watch out. He hit the glass out of my hand so I gave him a treatment. It is that Clem came between us because otherwise it would have gotten out of hand.”
“Your hand looks nice with that bandage. How many stitches are in it if I may ask?”, Ben asked while he has come off his horse and held the animal tight.
“Only ten stitches”, the foreman answered looking at the ground.
The rancher went inside.
He walked through to the kitchen and said to Hop Sing, “Hop Sing, Candy and I go to town for a while. We are back before supper time again.”
“Alright Mr Cartwright”, said the Chinese cook.
Ben walked outside again and said, “Candy, mount on your horse. We will look into this case. No one will just injure my staff.”
Candy looked up from this fierce reaction. Silently he mounted on and followed his boss.
On the way nothing was being said between both. In Virginia City they rode straight to the restaurant which was still empty. They dismounted.
Ben said to Candy, “I do the word. He can shoot you now.”
“Alright Mr Cartwright. I wait by the door”, the foreman said calm.
Though Derek already had seen Candy coming and walked to the door.
He said, “We are not open yet. That geezer doesn’t come in here!”
Candy looked at Ben but didn’t say anything.
“Good that you are not open yet because now you can give me reason why you have injured my foreman”, said Ben.
“He started. So he is your foreman? Then you must have a very bad ranch”, Derek said sarcastic.
This answer made Ben angry.
He said, “My ranch happens to be the biggest of the area. You probably have never heard of the Ponderosa? I am Ben Cartwright and if you bother my sons and/or my staff you will have to deal with me.”
“Gosh, what am I now scared”, the cook said mocking.
Candy looked at the cook and kept silent. If looks could kill then the foreman of the Ponderosa wouldn’t have been around anymore. That way Derek looked at Candy.
“Candy, we will return here another time. It’s enough for now”, Ben said who noticed that.
The foreman went along with reluctance. Now his distrust had become bigger. But not only his.
By the evening Hoss and Joe arrived at the restaurant. They didn’t know what had happened earlier that day around the restaurant. The brothers dismounted and hitched their horses.
“Come on Joe. I am hungry”, Hoss said when Joe kept on looking a bit longer.
Joe smiled and walked along then. He knew the appetite of his brother only far too well.
At the door they got gratefully received by the hostess Mary Ramsey.
“How is the name gentlemen?”, she asked.
“Cartwright”, said Hoss.
“Let’s see. Cartwright. Yes. Here it is. Come along because your table is ready”, said Mary.
She went the brothers ahead to a table by the window.
“Sit down. Would you like to drink something?”, she asked.
“Two beer”, said Joe.
“Coming up”, said Mary.
She walked to the bar.
“Are those two by accident of Cartwright? Then I will give them a special treatment”, said Derek.
No one could suspect how sly he was.
Mary brought the beer and said, “The cook has made a special meal for you. We hope that it tastes you.”
“Knowing Hoss it will taste well”, Joe said laughing.
Mary laughed too but not for the same reason.
She walked to the kitchen and announced to Derek, “Those two are quite enthusiastic about this restaurant. We must make sure that it stays that way.”
“That will succeed too”, Derek said with the meanest smile of the country.
The meal tasted Hoss and Joe uncommonly well. When Derek made the dessert he stirred in both half a teaspoon salt combined with red peppers and pepper.
At the moment that Mary brought the dessert to the Cartwright brothers the sheriff just came in. Clem knew that Derek was not to be trusted. That’s why he walked to Hoss and Joe.
“Does it taste gentlemen?”, asked the sheriff.
“Yes, it is delicious Clem. A bite too?”, Hoss asked laughing.
“No, thank you. I have already eaten. By the way, I am not very popular in this restaurant anyway. Just like Candy. What has happened to him you will hear at home”, answered the sheriff.
“It won’t be Candy once again. Pa will like that”, reacted Joe.
“I haven’t spoken to your father yet but I can almost guess whose side he is on. Have a nice evening Hoss, Joe”, said Clem.
He left the restaurant.
Mary asked, “What did the sheriff want from you?”
“It was about the foreman of our ranch”, said Hoss said quickly.
“If he is just as attractive as you or maybe even more attractive I surely would like to meet him”, Mary said challenging.
“He is very ugly and besides he doesn’t like restaurants like this one”, said Joe.
“I really don’t believe a word of it. You are just joshing me”, Mary said smiling.
She left them alone.
“Why did you say that Candy is very ugly? You know that a lot of women and girls fall for him”, Hoss said amazed.
“A little teasing is allowed, isn’t it? Candy doesn’t come here anyway”, his brother explained.
When the brothers asked for the bill Derek came to them.
He said, “For you it was free. I hope that it tasted and that you come soon again to eat.”
“You can count on that. Are you coming Joe?”, Hoss asked excited.
Joe nodded and got up.
Still enjoying the meal the brothers rode to the Ponderosa where Ben and Candy were. Candy had gotten the order to keep himself calm concerning the restaurant.
When Hoss and Joe came home the foreman was already sleeping.
“Hoss, Joseph, how did the food taste?”, Ben asked at once.
“Very good pa. Why?”, Joe asked amazed.
“That cook has injured Candy this afternoon. He has 10 stitches in his hand”, Ben explained.
“Clem meant that when he said that something happened to Candy”, said Hoss.
“Didn’t he start it himself?”, Joe asked carefully.
“According to Candy self not. Besides the sheriff saw everything that happened. Candy is asleep now so leave him alone. I don’t trust that cook”, answered Ben.
His sons noticed that their father thought very different about the restaurant. They were so sensible not to go into further discussion.
Mary asked Derek, “They were talking about their foreman Candy. Is that by co incidence the same guy who you have trouble with this afternoon?”
“I think so. The name Candy doesn’t hear much here. Everywhere I come in Virginia City I hear that creep his name saying. I will get him into my hands. Those two Cartwright brothers are on our side. You then try to get that Candy all your je charms”, said Derek.
“He will fall for me just like that”, Mary said rejoiced.
“He has a quick temper. I just warn you on forehand”, said Derek.
He went to make a plan to eliminate his enemy.
“I will get him”, Mary reacted determined.
The next morning Candy appeared very cheerful and awake at breakfast.
Ben asked him interesting, “How is your hand? Do you think that you can work?”
“It still hurts but I do think that I can get to work. Why Mr Cartwright?”, asked the foreman.
“Well, today I wanted to ride to Carson City to get more information about Derek Ramsey there. You remain at the ranch as long as your hand isn’t better yet”, said the rancher.
Candy nodded and started quickly with his breakfast. The foreman wasn’t really looking forward in seeing Hoss and Joe. The new restaurant was a very knotty affair in the Cartwright household. To talk about that so early in the morning wasn’t something Ben and Candy were pleased to do.
After their breakfast Candy went to work and Ben to Carson City. Candy made sure that he stayed away from Virginia City. Ben rode in an easy pace to Carson City. There he visited the sheriff.
“Mr Cartwright, what can I do for you?”, asked the sheriff.
“Recently there a new restaurant has been opened in Virginia City. The owner of it is Derek Ramsey. Yesterday afternoon he has injured my foreman on purpose. I don’t trust that Ramsey. Has he also been here?”, asked the rancher.
“Yes, he has been here for a while. But then several people have died due to a certain food poison. But before we could get him he has gone away already. How does Clem Foster think about it?”, asked the sheriff.
Ben said, “I haven’t spoken to him about it yet but as far as I know Clem he will have distrusts about it too. Only my foreman knows that I am here. Thanks for the new information.”
The rancher went to Virginia City. He stopped in front of the office of the sheriff. He dismounted and hitched his horse. Here after the rancher went inside. Clem had nothing to do and sat playing a game of solitaire to kill the time.
“Boy Ben Cartwright. Long time no see”, reacted the sheriff.
“I can say the same about you too, Clem Foster. I have news that you will find interesting for sure”, Ben said calm.
Clem put down his cards right away and looked with a curious look at the rancher. Been told what he had heard in Carson City about Derek Ramsey.
“That is very interesting what you tell me there. I don’t trust that Ramsey either. Has Candy told you what has happened to him?”, asked Clem.
Ben nodded and said, “I have forbidden him to interfere with that restaurant. But that will be difficult for him. You know what he is like.”
Clem smiled and said, “I know that indeed. Hoss and Joe do think positive about the restaurant, don’t they. At least they were enjoying their meal last night.”
“They agree about it in harmony. When I went away they were still sleeping. I go and see how it is with the sweet peace at the Ponderosa”, answered Ben.
He left the office where the sheriff continued with his card game.
At the Ponderosa Hoss and Joe had come out of bed . But they didn’t feel themselves 100%.
In the living room asked Hoss, “I think that we have eaten a bit too much at the restaurant. Don’t you think so Joe?”
“Or something wrong”, reacted his brother.
Hop Sing came to have a look and said, “Mr Hoss and Little Joe look white. More white than white bread.”
“We don’t feel good either, Hop Sing”, answered Hoss.
“Outside air good for you”, sounded the advice of the Chinese cook.
“Come Hoss, then we keep Candy company”, Joe said with a painful smile.
Outside they found the foreman somehow clumsy at work.
“Morning Hoss, Joe. Do you feel alright?”, Candy asked when he saw the brothers.
“No! Just keep your comments for yourself”, said Joe.
Candy shrugged his shoulders and went on with his work. He didn’t really feel like having a conversation with Hoss and Joe. It would end up in a row anyway and he didn’t look forward to that.
After Hoss and Joe were left alone by Candy they went back inside. But before they had reached the front door Hoss was the first one to throw up followed by his brother. Candy came rushing but didn’t know what to say. He saw the vomit lying and went finally to the kitchen to tell Hop Sing what had happened.
“Hop Sing, Hoss and Joe have vomited at the porch”, Candy said in one piece.
“Hop Sing come along at once”, said the cook.
They walked to the front door and the foreman opened it. The brothers sat at the table getting round from vomiting.
“Mr Hoss and Little Joe to bed. Candy warn Doc”, ordered Hop Sing.
Candy straight to Virginia City. On the way he thought, ‘Damn Ramsey is behind this!’
At the ranch Hoss and Joe went to bed. They didn’t know how their father would react to this.
While Candy rode to Virginia City Ben was just on his way to the Ponderosa. Halfway they ran into each other.
“Candy, what have I said to you?”, Ben asked directly.
It was for him a complete surprise to see his foreman.
“I know Mr Cartwright. But eh…..Hoss and Joe have become ill. Hop Sing sent me to Virginia City to warn Doc Martin”, he explained.
“You go to the ranch and I go to get Doc Martin. Dismissed!”, said the rancher.
They turned their horses and rode to where they came from.
Candy saw the first few days at the ranch very dark in. He decided to keep himself as calm as possible and to try get himself angry.
In Virginia City Ben went straight to Doc Martin. He dismounted and rushed into the practice.
Doc looked up and amazed, “Ben, what is the matter?”
“Candy said to me that Hoss and Joseph have become ill at the ranch. Are you coming?”, asked the rancher.
That happened.
At the ranch Hoss and Joe didn’t feel much better. Though they had vomited but it hadn’t help much.
Hop Sing didn’t have any rest and grumbled in his mother language at the brothers. Fortunately for the cook Ben and Doc Martin arrived at the Ponderosa.
They went upstairs and the rancher said, “Hop Sing, Doc is here.”
“Finally Mr Cartwright. Mr Hoss and Little Joe be troublesome now”, Hop Sing complained.
Ben had trouble not to smile because he knew that his cook sometimes could quite exaggerate.
After he had examined both brothers he asked at the hall Ben and Hop Sing, “They both have eaten something which was very wrong. You don’t know what it was?”
“No, last night they have been eating in the restaurant of Ramsey. Do you think that it has something to do to with it? Candy also has been injured by it”, said Ben.
“I think so. Does Clem also think about it that way?”, Doc asked while they walked downstairs.
“Yes. He has given Derek Ramsey a big treatment already. I have also been introduced to him but I don’t like him at all”, answered the rancher.
“Make sure that Hoss and Joe get enough rest and that Candy doesn’t use his hand too much. Next week the stitches can be removed”, Doc said before he left the ranch.
A week long it remained quiet around the Cartwrights. Hoss and Joe recovered remarkable fast from their food poisoning. The hand of Candy healed also very quickly from the cutting wounds.
That week the foreman stayed away from both Cartwright brothers as much as possible. Here by a row could be avoided. There was enough pressure at the Ponderosa. It was noticed by Ben that his foreman was very quiet since the accident with his hand. Candy didn’t say much about himself. First he had to get over it and tried this to do by working as hard as possible.
When Joe felt good again he went to Virginia City one afternoon. First he didn’t know that Candy was there too. The youngest Cartwright was in the Lucky Nuggett when Candy came riding by. Nobody knew what the consequences were of their presence in town.
Mary Ramsey stood outside the restaurant and saw the foreman coming. Her heart began to beat harder and she totally became warm inside. She was determined to get Candy. To reach this she decided to throw all her charms in the battle to win the foreman for herself. But she hadn’t counted on his willful.
Mary went inside and said to Derek, “That Candy dares to show his face again here. He just came riding by.”
Derek looked up and said grinning, “He walks into his own trap. I can’t wait till it is time. You seduce him as soon as you get the chance for it. Then you bring him to the back room where I will deal with him. The world will be grateful for me for releasing Candy!”
“You bet darling”, laughed Mary.
She went to change to seduce her new love.
After Candy had unstitched his hand he didn’t know that he would pay a visit again soon. Outside he went to the Silver Dollar Saloon to smooth his throat.
When Candy came in Mary looked notably at him. She walked to the bar and went to stand next to him.
“Hello cowboy”, she said very tempting with a sultry voice.
“Hello miss”, Candy said a bit polite but he didn’t pay any further attention to her.
Mary did a new attempt to seduce him.
“May I offer you something to drink? What’s your name anyway? I am Mary”, she said.
At the same time she looked at him with her brown eyes.
“No, I still have some. By the way, I am going away in a minute”, answered the foreman looking at his glass.
“I fall for men with brown hair and blue eyes like you”, she said tempting.
“Tough for you because I don’t fall for women who push themselves to others”, Candy reacted resolute.
He drunk his glass empty and left the spot at the bar where he stood.
“What is he a cold frog”, Mary said insulted.
She went to the restaurant and said to Derek, “That Candy is smarter than we thought. He doesn’t fall for me. Now you may try it.”
Derek got an idea straight away to deal for good with Candy. He decided to send the foreman a special invitation. If this was accepted, then the last hours of Candy were counted. Derek enjoyed the idea already on forehand. But the new chance to deal with him came sooner than expected.
Mary said, “Derek, I don’t love you anymore!”
“Well, leave then my restaurant”, Derek yelled at her.
“Fine!”, she said crying and upset she ran out of the restaurant.
She bumped into Joe who calmed her down.
“Mary, what is the matter?”, he asked calm.
“Derek has put me out because I said that I didn’t love him anymore”, she still sobbed.
“Just come along to drink something in the saloon. It won’t be so bad after all”, Joe said and took her into his arms.
In the Silver Dollar Saloon Candy was still standing. He almost dropped his glass of amazing when he saw Mary with Joe. He shrugged his shoulders and pretended like he hadn’t seen them. Mary went to sit at a table while Joe went to get something to drinks.
“Hello Candy. Is that lady at that table over there not something for you?”, asked Joe.
“No, not my type Joe. She is more something for you”, Candy said a bit absent.
He wasn’t in the mood for a cozy chat.
“What are we cozy”, reacted Joe.
“Just leave me alone”, said Candy said a bit moody and he left the saloon.
Since that restaurant has been opened he felt the pressure at the ranch. He walked pass the restaurant and stopped then. His look fell on the sign which hung outside. It said, “EAT HERE GOOD AND CHEAP!” The sign hung right above the entrance of the restaurant. Candy knew what Ben Cartwright had forbidden him with explicitly. Somewhere he couldn’t resist the temptation. Even though he knew very well that his employer had said to him.
Candy knew that he was walking on thin ice. He wasn’t so popular at the restaurant. It was still quiet when the foreman went inside. Derek saw him coming and thought, ‘There is that busybody again. I will deal with him right away. His final hour has started.’
He got his revolver and walked to the foreman. Meanwhile Candy had walked to the bar and looked amazed around him. He put his hat a bit backwards and leaned at the bar. Although now he saw the restaurant from the inside on his own that wasn’t the motive to change his mind about it. The look on his face told more than a thousand words. He wanted to leave but then suddenly….First Candy didn’t see that the cook stood behind him. He noticed this when a revolver got placed strongly between his ribs.
A voice said, “Walk busybody! You will not be able to tell this further.”
The foreman got forced to walk to a dark room. Wisely he shut his mouth.
Derek said laughing mean, “You thought to be smarter. No way. I don’t like fellows like you.”
Derek removed the revolver to open the door with both hands. Candy didn’t think differently for a moment and used the situation to knock the cook out cold. Before this happed the revolver went off and Candy got a bullet just passed his right eye. For a moment the foreman was off the world and walked stumbling outside. By coincidence Clem came by. He saw Candy coming out stumbling. The sheriff caught the foreman just in time. Fortunately Doc Martin just came by. Together they brought the foreman to the practice of Doc.
“Candy, what has happened?”, asked the sheriff.
But the sheriff didn’t get an answer.
“I take care of him and bring him home then. So Clem, ….”, said Doc.
Clem nodded and went away. Outside he decided to question Derek Ramsey. But he was still unconscious.
The sheriff walked in to the notorious restaurant and saw him lying. He kneeled down and hit the cook softly so that he woke up.
“Sheriff, you must arrest that Candy. He gives our restaurant a very bad name. He knocked me out without any reason”, Derek said who slowly had come round.
“I just brought Candy to the doctor with a shot wound by his right eye. He couldn’t say how e got it. Do you happen to know more about it?”, Clem asked impartial.
“Who do you think? I would ever shoot anyone”, Derek answered insulted.
Clem knew for sure that Candy would never shot anyone without having a good reason for that was.
“Come Derek. I take you to my office. Then you make a statement”, said the sheriff.
He confiscated the weapon. Derek got up and walked along with the sheriff.
In the meantime Candy was being operated whereby Doc removed the rest of the bullet. The shot wound had hadn’t touched the seeing of the foreman fortunately. When the treatment was over Doc wrapped up the head and right eye with bandage. Slowly Candy came round again.
“Where am I? What has happened?”, the foreman asked confused.
“You are at my practice. Someone shot you down. Must I take you to the Ponderosa?”, Doc asked calm.
Candy nodded and got up slowly and carefully. With difficulty he could keep himself standing because dizziness wanted to master him. Candy blinked a few times with his eyes. Hereby he became a bit clearer of mind. Doc helped the foreman in his carriage and rode in the direction of the Cartwrights.
In the office of the sheriff said Derek, “I file a complaint against that fellow for mistreating an innocent man.”
Clem looked at him and said, “I would like to know how Candy has gotten that shot wound that is by his right eye. I hoped that you could tell me that.”
“I don’t even know that he was shot down till you told me. I can only vaguely remember that eh knocked me down. Since we started with the restaurant Candy is the only one who has been announcing loudly that it must be closed”, said the cook.
The reaction of the sheriff was something which made Derek angry.
Clem said, “I know Candy much longer and he wouldn’t do something like that.”
“That is because you are the sheriff bent. He is so polite against to the sheriff”, Derek said angry and he left the office.
Clem watched him go and had his own thoughts about the restaurant. But he wasn’t the only one. Ben Cartwright thought about it the same way. The sheriff decided to go to the Ponderosa to question Candy about what had happened in the restaurant.
Candy came out of the carriage and said, “I was in het restaurant to see how it looked from the inside. Suddenly I got a revolver pushed between my ribs. I had to walk to dark room. Suddenly I got the chance to knock him out cold which I did. Unfortunately he shut me down. I feel good Mr Cartwright.”
“I must say that you look nice”, Ben said chuckling.
Candy gave a sour smile which hurt him.
“Ben, keep an eye on him and what he wants to do, make sure that he remains at the ranch for the time being. Otherwise perhaps you will have to hire a new foreman”, Doc said as advice to the rancher before he started with the back journey to Virginia City.
Ben nodded and watched him go with Candy.
After that he asked Candy, “You know what I have said. Have you forgotten that already?”
Ben Cartwright had the last word at the Ponderosa and if someone who didn’t stick to that that really wasn’t accepted by the rancher. A bit ashamed the foreman looked at the ground. He felt like a schoolboy who hadn’t done his homework.
“No Mr Cartwright, I hadn’t. But I couldn’t resist the temptation”, he confessed.
“That injury is a bit your own fault. I hope that you have learned your lesson Candy”, said Ben.
“Yes Mr Cartwright”, said the foreman.
“You may be glad if Ramsey doesn’t sue you. There is a chance to”, said Ben said before they saw the sheriff coming.
“Mr Canaday, I must have you. Ben, can we talk without getting disturbed?”, asked Clem.
“Just come into my office”, said the rancher.
The three went inside. Candy realized that he was wrong somewhere.
The foreman told what he remembered from the shooting in the restaurant. Ben and Clem knew that he spoke the truth.
“You are needed as a witness for an eventually court case against Ramsey. I assume that you want to testify?”, asked Clem.
Candy nodded.
The sheriff got up and said, “I know enough. With the testimony of Candy, the food poisoning of Hoss and Joe plus the claim of Doc about that I have enough evidence to shut down that joint. Best wishes with your recovery Candy. You look great.”
Candy couldn’t really laugh about it but Ben could. The sheriff went back to Virginia City.
Meanwhile Ben said to his foreman, “Candy, you are going to rest now. It will go on without you too. Now your health is more important.”
“Good Mr Cartwright”, said Candy.
He got up and went to his bed room. Ben watched him with worry. He didn’t like this situation.
In Virginia City Clem wrote an arrest warrant for Derek Ramsey. That gave him much pleasure. The restaurant was a thorn in his side. If it was up to him the building would never be open. Then the peace wasn’t disturbed either! The sheriff left his office and walked to the telegram office. He decided to send a telegram to judge Jackson. In het telegram stood,
Request for court case – stop – to shut down restaurant - stop –
Sheriff C. Foster, Virginia City.
He got an answer straight away which was positive. This made Clem very satisfied. In the answer was also a date for the court case mentioned. The sheriff went to his office and poured himself a cup of coffee. He knew that Ramsey would commit resistance but the sheriff prepared himself well at it.
That evening during supper Joe asked his father, “Isn’t Candy here?”
“Yes, but he is not alright. This afternoon he got shot down in the restaurant by Derek Ramsey. Why?”, was the counter-question of Ben.
“Well, I ran into Candy in the Silver Dollar Saloon this afternoon. He was moody”, said Joe.
“The reason why he behaves so strange is due to that restaurant”, his father said calm.
“What does that restaurant has to do with it?”, Hoss asked amazed.
He even stopped with eating for a moment.
“Well, Candy has been injured for the second time by Derek Ramsey. He gave him a shot wound by his right eye. Clem knows about it so you mustn’t look strange if that restaurant of Ramsey is soon closed for good”, answered his father.
Hoss and Joe looked up very strange when they heard that their foreman had been shot down by Derek Ramsey without any god reason. Hereby they had to review their opinion about the restaurant.
In the meantime it went very bad with the restaurant of Derek. They had heard rumors about what the owner had done to Candy and the Cartwright brothers as a joke. The inhabitants of Virginia City knew them better than Derek Ramsey. Hereby Derek got approached with much distrust. The sheriff kept more than ever the restaurant and mainly the owner. His distrust against him became bigger each day. That this distrust was real turned out the next day.
Very early in the morning there was an enormous noise to be heard. It looked like if in the whole town was all windows had broken. The sheriff ran out of his office and the bullets flew him around the ears. Quickly he looked for cover. With the revolver in the hand Clem went carefully to the spot of calamity. Arrived there he saw what had happened. Out of pure boredom Derek had put a few sticks of dynamite in is restaurant and had brought these to explosion. Mary fired the bullets off at the lawman but missed totally. When her weapon was empty Clem saw his chance and he shot her dead right away. With an awful scream the waitress hit the ground. Unfortunately she had fallen for her country. The sheriff came closer and saw that Derek had been killed by the explosion. A very big burden fell off the shoulders of Clem.
Quite soon the damage taken noted and the sheriff went to the Ponderosa. He was very curious about how the Cartwrights would react at the news about the restaurant. Soon At least he hoped that the peace would return soon in Virginia City.
At the ranch of the Cartwrights they were busy with having breakfast. When Hoss and Joe saw how Candy looked like they had to admit that they were wrong about Derek Ramsey.
“How do you feel Candy?”, asked Ben.
“Quite well Mr Cartwright. I still have a bit of a headache”, answered the foreman.
Despite his injury Candy looked reasonably cheerful.
“Well, if Hoss and Joseph feel good enough to work at the ranch they can do your chores as well. When they were ill you took over their work”, Ben suggested.
“If we can make it up this way; I don’t mind. What you Joe?”, asked Hoss.
“Fine by me. Do you agree with it Candy?”, asked Joe.
The foreman nodded and said teasing, “I will make sure that my pain will continue for a very long time.”
This reaction delivered comments from both brothers.
Hoss said, “He is quite recovered so to hear.”
His brother added a little something to it with the remark for Candy, “Soon he is commanding us again.”
“I never do that”, the foreman said like he knew of nothing.
At that moment there was a knock at the door. Hop Sing came out of the kitchen and answered the door.
“Hello Hop Sing. Is Ben still there?”, asked the sheriff.
“Mr Cartwright busy with breakfast. Just walk through”, said the cook.
Clem walked to the dining room and said to the four at the table, “Morning gentlemen. I have news about the restaurant of Ramsey. This morning there was an enormous explosion in their joint to be seen and heard. I got a treat of bullets when I ran outside. It turns out that Mary was shooting at me. When her weapon was empty I shot her dead. Derek was killed by the big explosion. If he hadn’t ended that damned restaurant, then I had done it.”
It was quiet for a moment at the table.
Then the rancher took the word and he asked, “It is quiet again now in Virginia City, isn’t it?”
“Indeed ad I truly hope that it stays this way for the time being. I thought that you would like to know this”, said Clem.
“Is my testimony now not longer needed?”, asked Candy.
“Just drop by today for the record. I will add it. Have a nice day”, answered Clem.
He left the ranch and returned to Virginia City.
By this history there came no new restaurant in town for a very long time. Here by it became quiet again in Virginia City, Nevada. This to great satisfaction of the sheriff and the Cartwrights.