On a certain day Adam Cartwright had met Melanie Baker in Virginia City. She was straight away smitten with him but it wasn’t really the other way around too. Though the eldest Cartwright boy decided to try it with her. He kept silent about that he had been married before and had a 4 year old son Mitch.
Excited Melanie Baker came to her mother.
“Mother, finally I have found the right Prince Charming. He is rich, very attractive and has very good manners”, she shouted with joy.
Valerie asked, “Does he have a name too?”
“He is called Adam Cartwright”, answered her daughter.
“That is indeed the perfect man for you. Have you asked him already?”, she asked.
“Mother, he has to ask me, not I him. And if he doesn’t come quickly with that question I say that I am in the family way. Then he will have to marry me so that Frank has a good father”, answered Melanie.
She was very underhand and selfish but the poor Adam Cartwright didn’t know that yet.
During a tea party Valerie heard several things about Adam Cartwright which she didn’t know yet.
“My daughter finally has found her man. Since then she is the 7th heaven”, said Valerie.
“And who is your son-in-law to be? Joe Do?”, asked Daisy Miller.
The others began to laugh but Valerie silenced them with the reaction, “He is called Adam Cartwright!”
“Adam Cartwright goes to marry your daughter?”, Laura Walker asked carefully.
“Yes, it will be the wedding of the century. Melanie is going to get married for the first time and that also goes for Adam of course”, answered Valerie.
“Well, shall I open your eyes by telling you that Adam has been married before and that he has a four year old son? I was also the brides maid of his wife”, said Laura.
“Adam Cartwright has been married before? And he also has a child? Do you know what he does for a living? He probably is a lawyer or an accountant. Because my daughter deserves a good man with a good profession!”, Valerie said shocked.
Laura answered, “He is a baseball coach in Virginia City and works besides that at the ranch of his father.”
This news also felt wrong by Valerie.
“Well, as long a she takes good care of Melanie and Frank I won’t mind it. But he mustn’t think that his child may call me grandma!”, she said.
Once at home asked Valerie, “Melanie, do you know that your boyfriend has been married already, has a 4 year old son and is a baseball coach?”
Melanie looked shocked at her mother.
“So I am not good enough to become his first wife? I won’t let show that I know it”, she said.
Melanie had planned to get married to Adam quickly to get pregnant with his child soon after that and then to kill him and run off with his money. Valerie would help her with this diabolical plan.
Melanie was convinced that Adam was the one for her. She also knew that soon she would become and stay Mrs Adam Cartwright. That her boyfriend had a child from his previous marriage didn’t matter to Melanie. As soon as they were married Mitch went to a home for difficult raising children anyway. Her son Frank went before everything.
The getting acquainted date with her family-in-law didn’t really go smooth for Melanie. Carefully Adam had told his son about the upcoming visit to the ranch.
“Mitch, I want that you behave yourself well when Miss Baker is here”, Adam said serious.
“I will do that and so will Cody. But doesn’t that also goes for uncle Hoss and uncle Joe?”, asked Mitch.
“That certainly goes for them as well. Miss Baker means a lot to me”, answered his father.
“Will she be my new mother?”, Mitch asked careful.
“I don’t know yet. Your mother and I were dating for 5 years before we got married. First we have to get to know each other better before our wedding cake gets cut”, answered Adam.
Together with his big uncle Hoss had Mitch had given the shepherd dog Cody a bath and brushed him too. Therefore they had been in the wash room where after the youngest Cartwright could use a bath himself too.
Hoss saw how dirty his nephew was and said, “Mitchy, you may take a bath yourself too.”
Mitch first looked at himself and then at Hoss.
“Do you think I am dirty? This is nothing compared as when I have played in the sand box all day”, was the cool answer of his nephew.
“I know for sure that your father and grandpa won’t like it when you appear like this at the table when Miss Baker comes for supper”, reacted Hoss.
“You may control yourself with what you put on your plate when she is there. I will ask Hop Sing if he cooks the same portions food for everyone”, Mitch said whereby he gave Hoss quite a smack.
Of course Hoss didn’t say anymore but he grabbed his beloved nephew and put him into the bath. Cody saw that and jumped cheerful into it as well so that Hoss became wet too. Ben happened to came by and went inside. He saw what was going on an knew enough.
“Hoss Cartwright! It was your chore to wash Cody. Not your nephew too. And with all his clothes on”, said the rancher.
“Sorry pa. I know that but that little thing was teasing me so that I had to do something. He wants to ask Hop Sing if he wants to cook the same portion of food for tonight”, Hoss explained.
“Well, I find that an excellent idea of my grandson. I will arrange at right away”, Ben said amused.
“Grandpa, say then too that it is forever”, said Mitch.
“Because Mitch came with it Hop Sing will adjust it to his portion”, was the answer of Ben.
He left laughing the wash room so that Hoss was still stuck with a soaking wet Mitch and Cody.
“You really are a son of Adam’s. What must I do with you now?”, Hoss asked sighing.
“Wash me so that I am available for showing tonight for the visit”, Mitch said dry.
He kept silent for a moment and asked then seriously, “Would she be just as sweet and beautiful as mama?”
Hoss understood at once that the boy still missed his mother, kneeled down beside him and answered,
“We know that until we see her. But knowing your father she must be something special. When your parents were dating your mother dropped by quite soon.”
“Drop by but not coming in?”, Mitch asked innocent.
“Mitchell Jonathan Cartwright, if you ask one more stupid question I put you into the bath so long toil you are spotless!”, Hoss said very indignant.
“Do you put me into the washing machine too like Hop Sing does that with our clothes?”, asked Mitch.
“No, first I make you dry and Cody after that. You go into the bath in the bathroom”, said Hoss.
He put the act to the word and after 2 hours Hoss finally had a spotless nephew. The little Cartwright was wearing his shirt of the Anaheim Angels because it was his shirt for special occasions. Cody too looked nice.
Melanie had taken care of a babysitter for her child. For herself she had bought a light blue dress and she had been to the hairdresser’s for a new hairdo. The woman wasn’t really beautiful although she thought she was. Besides she came from a good family. When Adam came to get her Melanie introduced him at once to her son. To her annoying it didn’t really click.
“So you will become my father?”, Frank asked extremely polite.
“It could be. Time will tell. Your mother will have to get on well with my son too”, was the answer of Adam.
This answer hurt Melanie already but she didn’t let it show. Quite soon she went with Adam to Ponderosa.
“Who is his father?”, Adam asked underway.
“James Willis. He was our butler at the time who seduced me. I didn’t know about anything until it became clear that I was pregnant. My mother fired him at once”, answered Melanie.
Her heart was beating full of expectation because she knew that her conquest was rich but didn’t where he lived. She expected that he was living in an expensive mansion with a lot of servants.
“Do you have a lot of staff?”, Melanie suddenly asked.
“We have a few hands working for us. Aside of that we also hire temporary hands. Our Chinese cook Hop Sing is responsible for the meals and housekeeping”, told Adam.
“Are there no women living there with you?”, Melanie asked shocked.
“No, she can’t stand the sight of us for very long. My wife Mary lived there for 4 years”, answered Adam.
This news made Melanie even worse. She was raised like a strict feminist and now she would go and have dinner by someone where hardly women were around.
“Couldn’t your ex take your son along when she left you?”, asked Melanie.
Adam swallowed and reacted a bit cold, “Mary didn’t leave me but she got killed in a crash and left me behind with our 11 month old son.”
“I am sorry”, Melanie apologized.
Adam drove upon the yard of his ranch and parked the Mercedes in front of the porch.
“Welcome to the Ponderosa”, he said.
The couple got out and went inside. Melanie didn’t feel comfortable, especially not when she saw Mitch and Cody.
“Cannot that dog stay outside? He will probably bite me”, she said.
“Cody doesn’t bit people. He only bites in a piece of meat”, reacted Mitch.
“You must really keep your mouth shut because no one asked you anything!”, Melanie said stern.
All Cartwrights looked at Melanie who became red. Adam introduced Melanie to the others but she ignored Mitch who quickly brought Cody to the bunkhouse.
“Candy, Cody has to stay here of daddy due to the visit”, Mitch said to foreman Candy Canaday.
“We will look after him”, Candy said where after the little Cartwright went back to the others.
During supper Melanie let clearly show she had very good table manners. Hop Sing had fried chicken with baked potatoes and spinach. He had specially for Mitch cut the chicken in small pieces. The boy grabbed some potatoes and spinach where after he mashed it all together and ate it.
Melanie saw that with horror and said correcting, “Mitchell, you don’t like that when there is a guest and she dines with you!”
“Mitch always does this with his supper”, Adam explained.
“My son does not do something like this”, said Melanie.
To make it even worse Hoss began to gnaw at his chicken leg loudly. Melanie didn’t say anything about it because she was scared of Hoss.
Hop Sing had made strawberry water pudding for dessert.
“Geeh, you can look through this”, said Mitch.
Joe did that and remarked, “You are totally red.”
“This is no dessert! Do you not have bavarois cream?”, asked Melanie.
“No, Hop Sing has made this. If you don’t like it here I must request you to leave”, answered Adam.
“I leave at once. I demand that you call a cab for me”, said Melanie.
Adam did that and Melanie waited outside.
Inside Mitch felt very uncomfortable which the others noticed.
Ben said, “Mitch, you are not the cause of it. From what your father has told us about Miss Baker she is from a very good and rich family. That means that she has a lot of money and lives in a big house.”
“But that goes for us as well, doesn’t it? Or is it because we live at a ranch?”, asked the boy.
“That could ne. Let’s eat the dessert”, answered the rancher.
He shared the pudding into 5 equal pieces. Quite soon Adam came inside with Cody.
After the failed diner with her family-in-law Melanie locked herself and her son Frank up for a few day. She didn’t understand how her boyfriend who was so decent an kind could have such rude brothers. And then that child of his. Fortunately her child was raise well decent and he had good manners.
After the isolation Melanie phoned up Adam.
“Darling, I am sorry about my behavior at your place. Can I make it up by inviting you and Mitch for supper tonight?”, she asked suave.
“That’s alright. We come in the course of the afternoon”, answered Adam.
She put the phone down and looked at her son.
“Son, this afternoon we get an important visit. Mr Cartwright comes with his son”, she said.
“So that lad must play with my toys too, mustn’t he?”, asked Frank.
“No, he may not even touch it. He is just living on a little ranch”, answered Melanie.
Frank was relieved.
Adam said to Mitch, “We go to visit Miss Baker. She has a son of your age.”
The face of the little Cartwright fell by hearing this news. Adam saw that and understood why.
“I also must sometimes do something which I don’t want to. But I do it anyway”, said the eldest Cartwright boy.
“I rather go wash the cage of the pigs than to go visiting your girlfriend”, reacted Mitch.
Though he didn’t want to disappoint his father and he said a second later, “I will take my drawing stuff along.”
“That’s alright. And you really don’t have to wash the cage of the pigs because there we have your uncles for”, said Adam.
Mitch fully agreed with that and he went to announce that cheerful to Hoss and Joe. Of course they weren’t glad with that.
When Adam came with Mitch at Melanie’s place there was already a heavy sphere in the air.
“Mitch, this is my son Frank. Frank, this is Mitch, Adam’s son”, Melanie said to the boys.
It was clear right away they didn’t like each other.
“You must not think that you may play with my toys because it’s all mine!”, Frank said right away.
“I don’t even want to play with your toys. I will draw something”, reacted Mitch.
He got his drawing stuff out his rucksack and went to draw. Frank went to lay in another corner. Meanwhile Melanie went to make coffee. Adam had heard and watched everything being silently and knew that his relationship with Melanie wouldn’t last long.
Suddenly Frank asked Mitch, “When is your birthday?”
“Christmas Day. And you?”, was the counter-question of Mitch.
“On June 25. I am already 5”, Frank answered proud.
“I become that with Christmas”, Mitch said dry.
“So you get more presents then? That’s not allowed of Santa”, said Frank.
“Do you still believe in Santa? I don’t anymore. You still believe in the Easter Bunny too, aren’t you?”, Mitch wanted to know.
“Of course the Easter Bunny exists and that’s why I believe in it”, Frank reviled.
Adam gestured Mitch to keep silent which the boy did too.
It turned out that Melanie couldn’t cook at all and that’s why she let the Chinese take away come. She put the portion son the plates and in that of Mitch Melanie did extra hot sambal.
Mitch behaved himself nicely until he took a bite of his meal.
“Yak, I am on fire”, he said.
The full plate got shoved away and a can of water disappeared into his throat.
“Isn’t it good enough again? I work myself to death and you refuse to eat it. Ungrateful brat that you are”, Melanie snapped.
Adam took a bite of the ‘hot’ plate and knew exactly what Mitch meant.
“Melanie, what have you done in his portion?”, Adam asked stern.
“Only half a liter of extra hot sambal. That’s all”, confessed Melanie.
“He is only 4 years old damned. Mitch, grab your stuff in your bag because we are leaving”, groaned Adam.
Mitch did what him was told to do and they were away quickly, leaving Melanie angry behind.
“Daddy, I am hungry”, Mitch said in the car.
“Me too. Shall we drop by at Burger King then?”, asked Adam.
Mitch found that an excellent idea of course.
“Daddy, are you going to see her more?”, the boy asked careful.
“I don’t know yet. But you go before everything”, promised Adam.
Mitch knew that too.
At Burger King the Cartwrights took a delicious meal and Mitch got an extra big cola.
In the evening Adam told everything that had happened.
“Soon she wants you to spend Christmas with her but without Mitch”, said Joe.
“Then she can get lost”, answered Adam.
“You mean get lost with Christmas”, reacted Hoss.
Everybody laughed.
“I will never celebrate Christmas without having that sweet little son of mine there. It’s bad enough already that he has to grow up without Mary. He is missing her so already”, Adam said slowly.
“And you still to so to hear”, answered Ben.
Reluctantly Adam confessed that.
“I am just not ready yet for a new and long term relationship. Mary was so fond of Mitch”, Adam said with tears in his eyes.
“Who isn’t?”, asked the rancher.
“Well, I can think of a whole lot of moment whereby I can stick that little thing behind the wallpaper”, said Hoss.
“Or I do. He always ruins my plans”, was the reaction of Joe.
“Joe, your plans only have 1 guarantee”, said Adam.
“And which guarantee is that?”, his youngest brother wanted to know.
“The guarantee to failure”, was the dry answer.
Ben and Hoss laughed but Joe looked very sour. Though he was also thrilled with his only nephew.
Melanie decided to take her boyfriend to the vacation house of her family.
“Adam, I take you along to the vacation house of our family. It’s just outside of Denver. The whole family comes together there for Christmas. You surely will be appreciated”, she said on an afternoon.
“Celebrating Christmas with your family in Denver? And I assume that you want that Mitch stays home?”, Adam asked amazed but also worried about the answer.
“You know that our sons don’t like each other so it’s really for everyone the best thing that yours stays with your father”, answered Melanie.
This was a smack in the face for Adam.
“You know that Mitch is having his birthday with Christmas. Besides we also go to the grave of his mother then”, he said.
“He is an easy child so you just do that when you are home again. Frank counts on it that you go with us”, reacted Melanie.
“I go along on condition that Mitch may come too”, said Adam.
Not to lose her relationship Melanie said sighing and with reluctance, “Alright then. Your son can come too. I do hope that Mitch can behave himself. My family is very rich and has good manners.”
Adam asked amazed, “Do you mean that we are very poor and rude?”
“I don’t mean that at all. But the partners I had before you came from good families. They didn’t live at a ranch”, Melanie said hurt.
“Why didn’t you marry one of them? Or are you going with me because I live on a very big ranch?”, asked Adam.
Melanie didn’t give an answer whereby her boyfriend knew enough.
During supper Adam suddenly said, “Gentlemen, Mitch and I aren’t home with Christmas. Melanie takes us to the family vacation house to celebrate Christmas there with her whole family.”
All Cartwrights looked at him stupefied.
“So we celebrate my birthday there?”, asked Mitch.
“You may come but I fear that we don’t celebrate your birthday. Melanie isn’t fond of your company anyway”, answered Adam.
“And where is that house?”, Ben asked carefully.
“Just outside of Denver. But I will go with my own car. Then I know for sure that I get there and I can leave when I want that. And that also goes for Mitch”, was the answer of his eldest son.
“So you celebrate Christmas with your son and her family in Denver? It’s your decision but I don’t like it”, said Ben.
“Well grandpa, Hop Sing bakes pancakes anyway with Christmas”, was the dry remark of Mitch.
Everybody laughed but Adam and Mitch weren’t looking forward to it.
During the coffee suddenly Melanie said, “Adam and I have decided to get married on upcoming Valentine’s Day.”
Everybody looked surprised at the couple. Adam even choked in his coffee.
“How nice. Now Frank finally gets a father and you a good husband”, said Valerie.
“Melanie, you haven’t asked if I want to marry you”, Adam said after he had recovered himself.
Mitch made it even worse by saying, “I don’t want you as my mother at all!”
Melanie didn’t take this and hit him hard in the face. Of course Adam didn’t take this and took her outside.
“Like you lock my son outside I leave you here in the snow alone. Mitch and I go to the Ponderosa and celebrate Christmas and his birthday there with everyone who cares about him. Don’t think that I will ever want to see and/or speak you again”, Adam said cool.
Melanie looked at him stupefied and shocked.
“How dare you to dump me so just before Christmas? And that in my condition”, she snapped.
“Condition? What condition?”, Adam asked amazed.
“I am 3 months pregnant with our baby”, was the answer.
“You are 3 months pregnant and we only know each other for a month yet. So it can never be mine”, reacted her ex.
He went inside where Mitch in solitary sat crying. Adam walked up to him and picked the boy up.
“Mitch, just calm down because we are going home. We never see Melanie and her family again”, said the eldest Cartwright boy.
Together they went to their room to pack. Mitch didn’t even ask why but was glad that they were going.
On the way home the weather became much worse. Near Mainville Adam saw a small B&B and drove to it.
“Kid, we stay here until the storm is over. I am not taking any risk with this weather”, he said.
The B&B owner and his wife (Harold and Peggy Stevens) saw them coming and opened the garage door. Adam parked his Mercedes an got out with Mitch. Harold and Peggy came to them and introduced themselves.
“I am Adam Cartwright and this is my four year old Mitch. Can we stay here until the snow storm is over?”, asked Adam.
“Of course you stay here. Just give me the little one”, said Peggy.
Mitch went along at once and Harold helped with the baggage. Adam told what had happened and where he and Mitch were going to.
“This is just a small and simple B&B but very cozy indeed. Swank doesn’t come here”, said Harold.
They went inside where Mitch in the meantime was enjoying a hot chocolate milk.
“Adam, your son told me that he celebrates his birthday on Christmas Day. And also that your cook bakes then pancakes for Christmas dinner. So we do that too”, said Peggy.
Adam said smiling, “Then Mitch feels at home already. This B&B can use some repair work. I want to do it in exchange for a room.”
“Deal”, said Harold.
The men arranged everything.
Because Adam had his laptop with him he and Mitch sent a long email to Ben. A moment later they got a reply but Mitch wasn’t allowed to know everything about the content.
After the Cartwrights had left Melanie boiled of anger. She ran to her room and packed her stuff. Here after the young woman rushed out of the house. At her car she threw her suitcase on the backseat and she grabbed a crate of dynamite.
“I have no future anymore and so you don’t either”, she said laughing.
The dynamite got put on an thrown inside. Melanie didn’t even hear the hard explosion anymore because she rode away at once. The vacation house of the rich Baker family was made at the same time with the inhabitants equalized.
The snow storm had been calmed down but it was still slippery here and there. Melanie rode after Adam. At the B&B she slipped and lost the power of the wheel. The car drove into the porch of the B&B and came to standing still. Mitch happened to be laying there and got squeezed with his left ankle.
“Daddy!”, he shouted loudly.
Adam, Harold and Peggy came running and saw what had happened. They also saw the mortal remains of Melanie in the wreck of the car. The men first helped the young Cartwright so that Peggy could take care of him. She also called the doctor and the police who came at once.
“That’s Melanie Baker”, said detective Dick Cooper.
“Do you know her?”, Adam asked amazed.
“’Together with her mother Valerie Baker she is being wanted for conning”, said Dick.
“She is my ex. She wanted to marry me but I am not ready for that yet”, answered Adam.
He couldn’t care less that she was dead now. Now Mitch was his first priority.
The little Cartwright laid silently on a settee with his ankle in ice on a pillow. He didn’t really realize what had happened but enjoyed a mug of hot chocolate milk.
At the Ponderosa Ben brought Hoss, Joe and Hop Sing up to date about the plans of Adam and Mitch. Then the telephone rang.
Ben answered it and said, “With Ben Cartwright.”
“Pa, it’s me Adam. Mitch and I are in a small B&B which is about to be breaking down. That’s the work of Melanie who is now dead. Because only we are here I request you to come here to help with the reparations. I had to say of Peggy that she loves to have assistance of Hop Sing in the kitchen”, said Adam.
“We will come. Is Cody also welcome?”, asked the rancher.
Adam asked Harold if his dog was also allowed to come and that was alright. Ben got the address and put the phone down.
“Gentlemen, we are going to help to repair a B&B and celebrate Christmas there. Hop Sing, you go along as well because you must make your famous pancakes. And Cody may come too”, said Ben.
Quickly they prepared themselves for departure and after 2 hours they finally could go.
The doctor came an examined the ankle of Mitch.
“For the security I will set the ankle in a plaster cast because it’s sprained”, said Doc.
So said, so done.
Quite soon Mitch sat to draw with his left ankle in yellow plaster. Peggy saw his sketches and was very impressed.
“You can draw really well”, she said admiring.
“Daddy can do it as well”, Mitch answered who began a bit more speak able again.
“I put you in the salon because there is the Christmas tree too and the open fire is burning”, said Peggy.
That happened and the young Cartwright again got something to drink. Mitch went to sit so that he felt the warmth of the open fire and also sat near the Christmas tree.
Harold and Adam began with the reparations of the porch.
“Adam, if you are looking for Mitch, he is in the salon near the Christmas tree”, said Peggy.
“That’s alright. My father and brothers plus our cook are underway to here”, answered Adam.
“They are very welcome”, Peggy said who quickly went to prepare a few rooms.
“Can your son entertain himself?”, asked Harold.
“He can do that excellent. At our ranch there are no other children so he will have to. Mitch also plays a lot with our dog Cody”, answered Adam.
The mortal remains of Melanie got taken away and at that moment Dick got to hear that she had killed her whole family too. When he told Adam that the eldest Cartwright boy said, “Good riddance.”
He didn’t even feel sorry for it. Mitch was for Adam the most important thing in the world and not his stately ex girlfriend.
When the Cartwrights came at the B&B the weather was good and that was also for the roads. They were quite in the Christmas mood because underway Christmas carols were being sung.
“So my son and grandson are staying here?”, Ben asked when he had parked the car.
“Apparently yes. Let’s get out and help”, said Hoss.
So said, so done.
Quickly everyone got introduced and Cody remained by Mitch who was deliriously glad to see him again. That also went for the dog of course. Adam told what had happened.
Joe saw the plaster ankle and asked teasing, “Mitch, o you feel like running against me?”
“If Cody may run in my place instead yes”, answered his nephew.
Now Mitch had done it with Joe of course. Hop Sing directly took gold of the kitchen so that Peggy could serve her guests.
That evening Mitch slept quite soon so that the grownups could discuss the filling of Christmas Day.
“How does the birthday of Mitch normally get celebrated?”, asked Harold.
“That starts very early by that he and Cody come into my room at 4 o’clock with the announcement, “Get up because it’s my birthday!” After that an extended breakfast made by Hop Sing. Just when that is all gone he gets the presents for his birthday an Christmas. And we only for Christmas. He also plays together with Cody the whole day outside. The Christmas dinner is pancakes with an ice cream cake for dessert”, answered Adam.
“Then we also eat pancakes with ice cream cake this year”, said Harold.
By the extra working powers of the Cartwrights the B&B quickly got recovered in its old glory.
Christmas day 1997.
Everyone was up early and Peggy helped Hop Sing with preparing of the extended Christmas breakfast. Adam helped Mitch with getting dressed.
“Now grandpa still can celebrate Christmas with us”, said Mitch.
“That is true but we can’t go to the grave of mama. We do that when we are home again”, promised Adam.
Mitch didn’t mind.
“It’s your birthday today but yet after breakfast you get your presents”, Adam said while they walked downstairs.
Everyone had a good time while having breakfast. Even Hoss ate more than he had thought.
In the salon all presents were waiting for the little birthday boy.
“Mitch, you get this for your birthday form us all”, Adam said after there was a big singing for Mitch.
Cody made an end to it at once by beginning to bark loud. Mitch unwrapped it and saw that it was a silver colored game boy.
“Thanks. Exactly the one I wanted”, the boy said excited.
Then he got 6 little presents. He un wrapped them and saw that it were games for his game boy.
“Again thanks everyone”, he said.
Although Mitch couldn’t read yet but he could look at pictures. Adam helped him with the games which the boy understood very quickly.
Hop Sing had baked a mocha cake which got served with the coffee. Then the other Christmas presents got exchanged. Even though it was a simple Christmas party everyone had the cozy, warm and sphere full feeling of Christmas.
On December 28 the Cartwrights said goodbye to Harold and Peggy. Especially Adam and Mitch were pleased to go to their familiar ranch. Cody even rode along with them in the car. Adam decided to point his attention at Mitch and Cody and to ignore women for the time being.