It was Friday 26 November 1993. At the Ponderosa Mary Cartwright prepared herself to go to Virginia City. Her husband Adam Cartwright had given her enough money and his credit card for Christmas presents.
“Have fun honey. I will look after Mitch”, Adam said on the porch.
“You better do that. He is your son too. Last year around this time I hardly could sit behind the wheel by the little one”, answered Mary.
They gave each other another passionate kiss and Mary left for town Adam went inside to look after his 11 month old son Mitch.
The road from the Ponderosa to Virginia City was well to be ride. Mary could drive on well until she came to the exit to Virginia City. Suddenly a ghost driver came towards her with a high speed whereby Mary lost control over the wheel. The Mercedes flew twice over the head whereby it came to standing still by a few trees. Meanwhile the ghost rider had taken off already. But Mary hadn’t survived the accident. The black Mercedes of Adam Cartwright laid at the side of the road to Virginia City as a silent witness of a serious accident.
At the ranch Adam was with his son Mitch. The little lad had just woken up and got bathed by his father.
“This afternoon we are home together because mama is off to town to do Christmas shopping for us”, said Adam.
“Mama?”, Mitch asked meanwhile splashing joyful with the bath water.
“Yes, mama does that”, answered Adam.
He wiped away some drops which he had gotten from dear son. Mitch laughed and splashed again. But now a bit harder. Adam sighed deep and decided to make an end to the washing party. He grabbed the baby out of the bathtub and dried him. A moment later father and son came into the living room. Because Adam wanted to do some administration he put his son into the playpen.
In Virginia City the wreck of Adam’s car was discovered. Sheriff Roy Coffee and deputy Clem Foster indentified the victim as Mary Cartwright.
“Clem, this is a hard blow especially for Adam. I go to the ranch to tell. You take care that she comes in the morgue”, said Roy.
So said, so done.
Roy rode upon the yard and saw as first the owner of the ranch, Ben Cartwright. The sheriff stopped his car and got out.
“Ben, is Adam home?”, he asked coming straight to the point.
“Yes, it’s his turn to look after Mitch. Mary is off to town. Why?”, he asked worried.
“Just come inside for a moment because it’s also concerning you what I have to say”, answered Roy.
They walked to the front door and Ben opened it.
“Adam, Roy is here for you”, called the rancher.
Adam stopped right away with working and got up. The men took place in the living room and both Cartwrights looked questionable at Roy.
“Ben and Adam, I don’t know I must bring this but Mary has had an accident. She has had a serious accident and was probably dead at the spot. She was away with your black Mercedes?”, asked Roy.
Adam nodded like he was stunned by the very bad news.
“Well, your car is a complete wreck. Would and could you identify Mary?”, asked the sheriff.
“Yes, but then someone has to babysit Mitch”, said Adam.
“I will get Hoss”, Ben said also deeply shocked.
He got up and went outside. Near the stables he found his 2nd son.
“Hoss, would you like to babysit Mitch because Adam and I have to go to the morgue to identify your sister-in-law”, said the rancher.
“Of course I will babysit that little one. How did it happen?”, Hoss asked while he and Ben walked to the ranch house.
“By a car accident”, Ben answered deeply shocked.
Hoss didn’t know what to say for a second.
By entering Hoss saw right away how terrible his brother looked like.
“Adam, are you coming? The sooner it’s over”, said Ben.
His eldest son nodded. He got up and kissed his son goodbye who of course didn’t understand it at all. Mitch was about to start crying but Hoss stepped in by keeping him occupied by reading.
In the morgue Adam recognized his dead wife.
“It’s her”, he said softly with tears in his throat and eyes.
Ben confirmed the identification.
Home again Adam took Mitch over and he went to sit with the baby in the nursery. On request of Mary Adam had bought a rocking chair so she could feed their son while sitting there. He held the little one beside him and kissed him tenderly.
“Mitch, from now on we must go together ahead”, he said softly.
“Mama?”, asked Mitch.
“Mama is gone and she isn’t coming back anymore. But daddy stays with you”, answered Adam.
He tried to swing the boy to sleep but one way or another Mitch stayed awake.
Again the little one said, “Mama.”
Again Adam got tears into his eyes and pushed his son against him. For a while there was nothing said. Slowly he realized that now he had to raise Mitch alone.
During supper there was a very sad sphere.
“Mary loved horse and carriage so her last trip will be on a horse and carriage to our private cemetery. No cars and I keep her funeral private”, Adam said who wasn’t hungry.
He was feeding his son even though this was a lot of trouble.
“After supper the undertaker comes”, said Ben.
“I bring Mitchy to bed”, Hoss offered.
“Of course”, said Joe.
That evening Kevin Albertson dropped by for the funeral of Mary.
“The mortal remains of your wife has been given free so what about tomorrow?”, asked Kevin.
“That’s alright. Ten o’clock early enough?”, was the question of Adam.
“I don’t mind. I am here with your wife in the coffin at 9o’clock. Is your son also coming? It’s already quite cold for such a little one”, said Kevin.
“He is already playing the whole day outside sometimes. Mitch is just coming too. He doesn’t understand it yet but Mary would wanted to have it this way”, reacted Adam.
They worked out all the details and after that Kevin left.
Before he went to sleep Adam checked with Mitch who was sleeping quietly. Suddenly the little one woke up and he looked laughing at his father.
“You must sleep little rascal”, Adam said softly.
Mitch looked at him like he wanted to say, “You too.”
Adam tucked him in where after Mitch fell asleep again so that he could go to bed too.
The next morning it was a tough day for the Cartwrights, but especially for Adam and Mitch. Like they had arranged Kevin was with the coffin with Mary at 9 o’clock at the ranch.
When Mitch saw the horses he heavily resisted to go along.
Adam said, “Kid, you must come too. Mama wanted that.”
“Scary animals there”, said Mitch.
“Mitch, do you mean the horses?”, Ben asked worried about the answer.
His grandson nodded.
“Adam, just leave Mitch here. I will babysit him”, Candy Canaday offered.
He was the foreman at the Ponderosa.
“Alright. Mitch, listen to Candy”, said Adam.
Mitch nodded. Together with the foreman the young Cartwright watched them go.
The funeral was sober and simple. Only the Cartwrights and Kevin were present.
Arrived at home Adam held Mitch close to him for a while. But quite soon the little one went to play again.
“Pa, how must I raise that little lad totally alone for peace sake?”, Adam asked desperate.
“Adam, you really don’t have to do that because your brothers and I are also here to help you”, answered Ben.
Adam knew that too but he didn’t want to think about that. Not yet at least.
After a quiet lunch Adam brought Mitch to bed for his midday nap.
When he was downstairs again Adam said, “Pa, I go for a ride with Sport.”
“I look after Mitch when he wakes up”, Ben said who understood that his son wanted to be alone with his sorrow.
Adam saddled up his horse sport, mounted on and left the yard.
Adam stopped at the lake of Tahoe. He dismounted and sat down. By looking at the beautiful area the eldest Cartwright boy realized that his dead wife made him clear just to stay at the Ponderosa and to build up a new future together with their son Mitch.
A few weeks later.
In Virginia City a special Christmas dinner was organized. An invitation went also to the Cartwright family. The youngest Cartwright brother Joe came home with it.
He said enthusiastic, “Pa, an important letter has come for you.”
His father Ben Cartwright said, “Just give here directly Joseph.”
Joe gave the letter and the rancher opened it. First he read it in silence.
“Boys, listen. We are invited to a Christmas dinner. The proceeds go to the orphan age”, said Ben.
His 2nd son Hoss already became hungry and asked, “When is it being held?”
“On December 17th. The tickets cost 50 dollar each. But that does mean that you may eat as much as you want or in the case of Hoss; as much as you can eat”, answered Ben.
His 2 other sons Adam and Joe looked at each other laughing.
“Well, it does cost me 50 dollar but I will go deliciously gorge well there. What about you Joe?”, asked Hoss.
“Me too. Adam, you are going too, aren’t you?”, asked Joe.
His eldest brother answered, “If I can find a babysitter for Mitch yes. Otherwise I stay at home with him.”
Mitch was son of nearly 1 year old.
“Well Adam, maybe he just can come along”, reacted Ben.
“Then he might get too much attention from especially women”, Adam said worried.
“I will ask it tomorrow”, promised Ben.
Ben came into the dining hall and saw reverend Nick Wilson. He walked to him.
“Nick, thanks again for the invitation for the Christmas dinner. I had 1 other question: is it alright if my grandson also comes?”, the rancher asked coming straight to the point.
Nick answered, “Of course he is also very welcome.”
“Adam actually don’t want to take him along because the boy then might get too much attention from mainly women”, said Ben.
“How is your son?”, asked Nick.
Ben said a bit concerned, “Alright. Of course he misses Mary each day very much. But by Mitch Adam has distraction. Besides are Hoss, Joe and I there also for him. Mitch is looking for Mary each day.”
“Wish them strength”, said Nick.
Ben nodded and went home satisfied.
For not having a babysitter Adam decided to take his son along to the Christmas dinner. It saved him money and this way his brothers had to behave themselves anyway.
On the day of the Christmas dinner Mitch slept quite long. Around 3 o’clock Adam came into the nursery. His son was already awake and playing with a soft baseball. Suddenly Mitch threw the ball out of his bedstead. Adam caught the ball and knew then already that his son had baseball talent.
“Young man, you are having a bath. Because you can hardly appear dirty and sleepy at the Christmas dinner”, Adam said while he gave the ball back.
He grabbed the baby and walked with him to the bathroom. Mitch got washed and got to wear a black jeans with a yellow shirt.
The other Cartwrights also put on their Sunday clothes. Hoss and especially Joe got some wise advises from their father. But Adam too had trouble to keep Mitch in control. The boy was very busy and couldn’t wait to go.
“Boys, we better can go because 1 person wants to go eagerly”, Ben finally said.
They grabbed their coats and went away. Fortunately it was dry and there was no snow yet on the road.
The hall was beautiful decorated and even the Christmas tree was showing. Mitch was staring his eyes out which his family members noticed. He was a bit more silenced than usual.
“Daddy, look”, he said with a clear voice pointing at the tree.
“I see it son”, said Adam.
The Cartwrights walked to the table with their name plate stood. Fortunately for Hoss it was close by the walking buffet.
Hoss and Joe went to take a look at the food and the oldest of the 2 said, “That will be a great gorge party soon.”
“Hoss, leave also something behind for the others. And then I also mean myself”, said Joe.
Hoss looked at his brother and asked amazed, “Since when are you so modest?”
“I always have been modest. But you have never noticed that”, reacted Joe.
They walked back to their table where Adam had put the little one into the high chair.
“Pa, we can go with the food the whole evening if Hoss here controls himself”, Joe said while he sat down.
“Then that goes for you as well, Joseph”, was the reaction of Ben.
Adam and Hoss could laugh about it but of course Joe couldn’t.
Slowly the eating hall became fuller and fuller. The wife of the reverend, Valerie, opened the evening.
“I want to welcome everyone. The generous gifts are being appreciated. We hope that the food taste well and that everyone will have a pleasant evening. First we are going to have a moment of silence and then some singing”, she said.
There was a prayer and singing. To Adam’s big relief Mitch behaved himself nicely during the welcome, the prayer and the singing.
In turns the Cartwrights went to get food so that there was always someone staying with Mitch. Ladies were walking around with drinks which also felt good with the eaters.
During dinner first Mitch ate with his spoon until he by accident looked at his big uncle Joe. Joe at a piece of meat with his fingers. Right away Mitch dropped his spoon and ate his potato pieces with his fingers. Ben saw that and stepped in.
“Joseph!”, he said stern.
“What is the matter?”, Joe asked amazed.
“Use your cutlery”, answered his father.
With reluctance Joe used his cutlery.
Though he asked, “Pa, why may Mitch eat with his fingers and I don’t?”
“Because you, Joseph, are grown up and knows manners and Mitch also has a example at you”, answered Ben.
Joe nodded understanding. Hoss went to get a clean spoon for his nephew and fetched right away a bowl of scrambled eggs for him. That too disappeared into the tummy of the youngest Cartwright.
By the time all buffet tables were empty Mitch was already sleeping on Adam’s lap.
“I think it’s about time that we go back home. The tables with the food dishes are empty and Mitch is already asleep”, said Ben.
They got up. Adam carried his sleeping son outside. Hoss and Joe followed them.
Ben spoke for a second with Nick and Valerie, “Thanks for the delicious food. Even Mitch ate more than usual.”
“You’re welcome. We probably won’t see you during the church service on Christmas Day, will we?”, asked Nick.
“No, because then it’s my grandson’s birthday. Merry Christmas”, said the rancher.
“You too”, said Valerie.
Ben went after his offspring to go home. It had been for everyone a very well good evening. Even Hoss went to bed with a well filled belly.
Also by this evening a little bit ray of sunshine came to shine again at the Ponderosa ranch.