It was October 31, 2002. In the class of Mitch Cartwright Juliet Harris was teaching. She was very strict and especially Mitch and his best friend Matthew Walker noticed that.
That morning Juliet said, “Children, later on you get a lesson from a real clown. He will teach you how you can become a clown yourself.”
“What funny. He may stay away for all I care”, Mitch reacted uninterested.
“For me too”, said Matthew.
“Cartwright, just disappear out of the class room. For the rest of this year you are suspended. Walker, you may stay as long as you don’t say anything”, the teacher said strict.
Mitch grabbed his bag and left the class room.
Coco the Clown saw the young Cartwright coming and began to smile. He waited until Mitch walked by and grabbed then the boy tight. The clown grabbed Mitch very tight and pulled him into the toilets. Of course Mitch fought to get loose but Coco was stronger.
“You won’t escape from Coco the clown this time!”, Coco said grim.
“Let me go creep”, groaned Mitch.
The fight with Mitch gave Coco some black bruises but the
the clown took revenge by assaulting the young Cartwright. Just when they heard footsteps Coco stopped. Mitch saw his chance by letting the clown trip. The boy got dressed quickly and ran out of the school building, dragging his rucksack and jacket along. He got followed by Matthew who was also sent out of the class.
“Mitch, wait for me”, called Matthew.
The called stopped and looked around. He waited for his friend.
“What has happened to you?”, asked Matthew.
Mitch told, “That stupid clown assaulted me in the toilets.”
“You must tell this to the sheriff. Come one”, said Matthew.
They ran to the office of the sheriff.
At school Juliet found the unconscious Coco the Clown. She kneeled down by him and made sure that he came round.
“Who is responsible for this?”, asked Juliet.
“Cartwright”, said Coco.
“Then he and his family will pay for it”, said the teacher.
They got up and walked to her class room.
In the office of the sheriff Adam Cartwright, the father of Mitch, sat talking to deputy Clem Foster. They had heard rumors that Coco the clown was again in Virginia City.
“If that clown touches my son he is a goner!”, said Adam.
Exactly at that moment the door went open and 2 boys of 9 and 10 years old came rushing in.
“Mitch, what is the matter? Why aren’t you at school?”, Adam asked while he received the boys.
Matthew told what had happened at school.
“That stupid clown held me tight like you hold mom”, Mitch said upset.
He told what the clown had done to him. Clem wrote down everything the boys told. When everything had been told Adam phoned the mother of Matthew, Laura Walker, and Clem issued an arrest warrant for Coco the clown. Laura was there quickly and heard too what had happened.
“Mitch, first we first go to the doctor and then home. Yu stay at home for the time being”, Adam said to his son.
The boy walked slowly along with his father. Laura took Matthew home.
Doc Paul Martin examined Mitch and after that, “Adam, your son has been assaulted indeed. Let him talk about it if he wants to. But don’t force him to.”
“Alright. Thanks Doc”, said Adam.
On the way home there was nothing said at first between father and son Cartwright.
Just when Mitch looked into the side mirror he said, “Daddy, we are being followed by that scary clown.”
Adam looked into his mirror and recognized his brother-in-law behind the wheel.
“Mitch, hold tight. And don’t say anything to your mother about the speed”, said Adam.
They both knew that Sally didn’t like driving fast and quickly. Adam increased the speeds and drove on faster. Because Adam knew the whole ranch by heart he drove through all the small roads.
Coco wasn’t sitting alone in the car. His fiancée Juliet Harris and their son Jason were driving alone.
“Burt, stop with chasing. You will run over and kill us”, Juliet screamed hysterical.
“Nonsense. Cartwright is the one who won’t survive this chase”, Coco snapped who listened to the name of Burt Watts in real life.
Juliet tried to get away but the clown knocked her down. Jason screamed loud but he too got silenced. Coco looked again on the road and crashed totally against a tree where after the car caught fire and exploded a moment later. From safe distance the Cartwrights watched. Adam phoned directly the fire department and the police. Clem questioned the Cartwrights and got to hear everything.
“Is that stupid clown dead?”, Mitch asked worried.
“He is dead so you don’t have to be afraid of him anymore”, answered the deputy.
He and Adam saw how terrible Mitch looked like and for that reason handled the case quickly.
When everything was over Adam and Mitch drove home.
“You will go to sleep a while when we come home. I tell the others what has happened to you”, Adam said with a quick look at his eldest son.
“Alright”, Mitch said a bit gloomy.
He was worried about how especially his eldest uncle Hoss would react about what had happened to him. Hoss was thrilled with his eldest nephew and was always there for him. But that also went for the other family members of Mitch.
Once at home the others noticed that a whole lot has happened to the oldest grandson of Ponderosa ranch owner Ben Cartwright.
“Mitch, mustn’t you be at school now?”, asked the rancher.
“No, I may stay at home for the rest of the year. Daddy will tell the rest though”, his grandson answered shy.
Ben noticed right away that the boy wasn’t alright. He decided not to ask any further. Mitch went straight to his room, followed by his loyal shepherd dog Cody. Adam came inside and told everything that had happened to Mitch.
“Mitch has been assaulted by his uncle?”, Sally asked amazed.
Sally was the 2nd wife of Adam and so the stepmother of Mitch.
Adam answered, “That is what had happened to him. On the way home we got chased by him. Fortunately he died by an explosion. Juliet and Jason Harris too died. The assault already has been reported at the sheriff.”
“He off to his room with Cody”, said Hoss.
“Just leave him alone. He has to get over himself. We only can be there for him”, said Adam.
Mitch came to sit at the table during lunch but didn’t eat anything. The grownups noticed that boy had it difficult with what he had been through in the morning.
In Virginia City Sheila Jenkins waited in vain for the homecoming of her lover and the father of her twins (Patrick and Patty). Finally she went to the sheriff. Clem was busy there to process the witnesses of Adam and Mitch.
“Deputy, I come to report the disappearing of my boyfriend Burt Watts. He would pick me up for lunch at 11 o’clock”, said Sheila.
The deputy looked at her amazed.
“You are the partner of Burt Watts?”, he asked.
“Yes, and he is also the father of my sweet little children”, answered Sheila.
“Miss Jenkins, I’m sorry that I must say it but Mr Watts has died at 11 o’clock by a serious accident. Together with his fiancée Juliet Harris and their son Jason”, said Clem.
Sheila didn’t know what she heard.
“Where have they died?”, she asked a bit upset.
“At the spread of the Cartwrights. Mr Watts was already wanted due to assaulting a minor”, answered the deputy.
“The eldest of Adam’s for sure?”, sniffed the woman.
“Yes”, said Clem.
Sheila went away at once.
After lunch Mitch remained downstairs because the little ones (Lisa, Benji, Inger and Petra) were sleeping. The men went to work while Sally and her sister-in-law Betsy helped the Chinese cook Hop Sing in the kitchen. Mitch sat in the living room drawing near the open fire place.
By 3 o’clock Mitch came into the kitchen.
“Mom, can you come to look at my drawings for a second?”, the boy asked shy.
“Of course I can and will do that”, said Sally.
She walked along with the boy and saw the drawings he had made.
“Is this your way of coping with it?”, Sally asked carefully.
Her stepson nodded and looked at her with wet eyes. Sally went to sit with him on the settee and let him cry. Slowly Mitch calmed down.
Later that afternoon Adam saw the drawings. He understood what his eldest son had gone through that morning.
“Mitch, tonight you go with Matt and Cody celebrate Halloween in Virginia City. Uncle Hoss and Mr Walker go along for protection”, he said to his son.
“Alright. But today it’s the birthday of uncle Joe, isn’t it?”, asked the boy.
“That is so but I give you permission to go away anyway. We will save a piece of cake for you. Or do you want it now?”, Adam asked on his turn.
Mitch reacted at once with, “Just give it now.”
They walked to the kitchen where the boy got a piece of cake.
“Ladies, Hop Sing, this boy wants to pre taste a piece of cake”, said Adam.
Betsy cut off a piece of cake and gave it to her nephew. Mitch ate it at once to satisfaction of the others.
When Matthew had come with his parents (Dan and Laura Walker) Hoss got to hear some for him unnecessary instructions what Mitch was concerned of Adam.
“Adam, don’t you worry because we keep an eye on your son”, said Dan.
“Alright. Just go then”, said Adam.
They went away. Mitch was dressed up as a cowboy and Matthew as a vampire. Cody remained by his friend for company and protection.
At a certain moment Mitch stopped.
“Mitchy, what is the matter?”, Hoss asked worried about the answer.
“There lives those awful twins of a Patrick and Patty Jenkins. They always pester Mitch at school”, answered Matthew.
“Jason Harris lives there too”, said Mitch.
“Shall we ring the door?”, asked Matthew.
Mitch nodded. They walked to the front door and rang the bell polite. Sheila Jenkins saw the bys coming and got then for a her idea brilliant plan. When the boys rang at the door Sheila pulled Mitch inside quickly and threw then the front door shut. Matthew looked amazed at his father and Hoss.
In the living room Mitch got thrown harsh on the settee. Sheila threw herself upon him like a wild beast on its prey. Mitch fought back and got hereby the needed smacks but Sheila too didn’t get off without a scratch.
When his assailant was away for a moment Mitch saw his chance to call in help. To get the attention of Hoss and Dan Mitch grabbed an expensive Chinese vase and he threw that through the window. The window and vase broke which the men saw and heard.
“Matt, you and Cody warn the sheriff”, Dan said to his son.
The boy and dog ran away at once. Hoss broke the front door open and with Dan he ran into the living room. Dan gave Sheila a good-talking while Hoss cared about his nephew.
“Let me go”, snapped Sheila.
“I let you go until the sheriff arrests you for mistreating an innocent child”, answered Dan.
“By him I lost my girlfriend this morning”, said Sheila.
Hoss looked up and asked, “Which girlfriend?”
“Juliet Harris. We lived here together and loved each other”, was the answer of Sheila.
“Dan, just let her loose because then I can put beautiful bracelets on her”, said deputy Clem Foster.
That happened and the ambulance for Mitch came too.
“What’s your name?”, asked the male nurse Hank Williams.
“Mitch Cartwright”, Mitch said softly.
Carefully Mitch got placed upon the bran card and brought to the ambulance.
“Dan, do you bring Cody home?”, asked Hoss.
“Of course. I also will tell what has happened”, promised Dan.
“Thanks”, Hoss said where after he went along with his nephew.
At the hospital Mitch came round slowly. Hoss sat with hem.
“Where am I? What has happened?”, the boy asked confused.
“You have been mistreated badly by miss Jenkins. Mr Walker and I have rescued you and took care that you have come into the hospital. You have a broken wrist and a head wound. Cody is already at home”, answered his uncle.
Mitch looked at his wrist which was in white plaster.
“We didn’t know which color plaster you wanted”, said Hoss.
The boy fell asleep again but Hoss remained with him anyway.
Dan parked the car in front of the ranch house and got out with Cody and Matthew. He knocked at the door and Ben answered it.
“Hello Ben. Are Adam and Sally there too?”, asked Dan.
“Of course. Come in”, answered the rancher.
They came inside and Adam asked right away worried, “Where is Mitch?”
Dan told everything that had happened.
“I will pack a bag for him”, Sally said shocked.
She did that and quite soon Adam and Sally were with their eldest son.
“What is the connection between Juliet Harris and Sheila Jenkins? Apart from that they had such a rotten child and have?”, asked Adam.
“They loved each other. Sheila has confessed that”, answered Hoss.
“There must be more that than alone”, Adam said looking at his son.
“The boys said the children live there too. Two women who love each other and their children have the same father? Strange”, said Hoss.
Sally said, “Women may love each other and have children for sure. But those 2 women are not normal and their children neither. Then our s are little angels.”
Of course Adam and Hoss couldn’t deny that. They didn’t get the chance for it because Sally looked at the 2 stern.
While Hoss and Mitch were at the hospital Sheila sat by the sheriff and deputy.
“Why was Mitch Cartwright so badly mistreated?”, asked sheriff Roy Coffee.
“That spoiled child pesters my twins always at school. Each day they come home upset”, answered Sheila.
Roy asked, “Who is the father of your twins?”
“Burt Watts. And yes, he is also the father of Jason Harris. His mother, Juliet Harris, is my lover”, snapped Sheila.
Roy and Clem looked at each other and they thought the same thing. Sheila got dragged off to the jail.
“This morning Adam told me that his 1st wife Mary had a brother who was called Burt Watts. By that explosion Burt died after he had assaulted Mitch at school. I have handled the charge myself”, said Clem.
“I go to the Ponderosa to tell everything and perhaps a piece of cake is still left over, said Roy.
He went away and Clem made up the record.
At the Ponderosa the birthday party of Joe had been cancelled after it had become known that a Cartwright had been admitted to the hospital. Roy stopped his car in front of the ranch house and got out. Here after the sheriff rang the bell. Ben answered and had a vague suspicion why Roy had come.
“Hello Ben. I have news about the mistreating of your grandson”, said Roy.
“Come in. Coffee and cake?”, asked the rancher.
Of course Roy didn’t refuse that offer. Hop Sing gave him a cup of coffee and a piece of cake. Roy congratulated Joe with his birthday and told then why he had come.
“Must Mitch testify against Miss Jenkins?”, asked Ben.
“Probably yes. We don’t know yet how it is with him”, answered the sheriff.
He noticed that all happenings had a great impact on the Cartwrights. Because the very youngest were already sleeping the grownups could talk in full.
At the hospital Adam said, “Hoss, just go home and tell the others what has happened. We stay here tonight.”
“Alright”, said his brother.
He left the hospital and went back to the ranch.
“Do you stay with Mitch? Then I will arrange that we can sleep here tonight”, said Adam.
Sally nodded where after Adam left his wife and child alone. She went to sit by Mitch and grabbed his hand.
The boy woke up, saw Sally and said, “Mom!”
“Hello son. Your father is here too and he arranges that we can sleep here tonight by you”, said Sally.
Mitch looked around him and asked, “Where is uncle Hoss?”
“Your father sent him back home. Just go to sleep again”, answered Sally.
Yet before Adam was back again Mitch was already sleeping again.
“We can sleep here tonight by Mitch”, said Adam.
Sally said, “Fine. Your son was awake for a second but fell asleep again.”
Adam sighed and said, “When Mitch was a baby he slept a lot and often when I was with him. So he still does that now too.”
On Monday November 4 Mitch was allowed to go home again. Ben came to pick him up because the rancher had to be in Virginia City anyway. First he dealt with is business and went then to the hospital.
“Ben, your grandson may go home ”, said Doc Paul Martin.
“Fine. Mitch, are you coming?”, asked the rancher.
“May I have a different color plaster around my wrist? White is so common”, said Mitch.
Ben asked carefully, “Which color plaster do you want to have around your wrist?”
“Green”, was the answer of his grandson.
“Just let it change. Return in 6 weeks time for a check-up”, said Doc.
In the plaster room Mitch got green plaster around is right wrist. After the change Ben helped Mitch with his jacket and they went back to the ranch together.
Underway Mitch heard all what had happened and what was about to happen around the dealing of his abuse.
“I will cooperate but I don’t want that the Smurfs are being or getting bothered with it”, the boy said finally.
With the Smurfs Mitch meant his younger brother, sister and cousins.
Ben reassured him by saying, “That won’t happen either. You are a bit older and better to be able to understand it.”
Arrived at home Mitch got a warm and hearty greeting form his family members. Of course everyone saw the green plaster.
Adam said to his eldest son, “You do everything to be noticed.”
“At least then I get attention”, reacted Mitch.
Adam took him into his arms and said smiling, “You will get that anyway.”
“I know”, Mitch said smiling.
Hoss asked teasing his nephew, “Do you have green fingers now?”
“No, but a temporary green wrist”, answered Mitch answered quick-witted.
He saw his little brother, sister and cousins and went to play with them. Of course they liked the color and admired the plaster. The grownups decided to let the subject court case rest till after lunch.
At 2 o’clock Ira Minton, the family lawyer, came to the Ponderosa to go through everything with Mitch. Hoss, Joe and Betsy went away so that their nephew was alone with his parents and grandpa.
Ira knew the young Cartwright already since his birth and asked teasing Mitch when he saw the green, “You have a nice wrist to go into the garden.”
“Very funny Mr Minton. Uncle Hoss asked me also if I had green fingers”, Mitch said laughing.
They went to sit in the living room for the meeting.
“Mitch, They will ask you questions about what had happened on October 31 in the house of Miss Jenkins. Just give an answer and then it will be over”, Ira said serious.
Mitch asked then, “Who was that stupid clown who assaulted me that morning at school?”
“That was your uncle Burt Watts. He was the brother of momma”, answered Adam.
Mitch had to assimilate this for a moment.
Then he said, “Then I’m glad that he’s dead.”
Adam asked, “Ira, Mitch has fear of failure. Also he doesn’t like crowds of people. Can’t you ask the judge if the case can be handled without audience?”
“Judge Jackson handles this case and he’s very reasonably. I will hand in your request”, answered the lawyer.
“When is the court case?”, Sally wanted to know.
Ira looked at the subpoena and answered, “On Wednesday November 13. It starts at 10 o’clock.”
He gave the needed papers to Adam, said goodbye and went away. Ben let him out.
Outside Ira asked, “How is it really with Mitch?”
The rancher answered, “Reasonably. He is holding up for the little ones. But when his parents and/or other adults are with him Mitch is like a little lad. We are all there for him.”
“Good luck”, Ira said where after he left.
To get his attention and to distract him Sally said to her stepson, “Mitch, I need your help. You know that your little sister and brother are having their birthday on Wednesday. Tomorrow we will make cupcakes together. So now we are going to get everything for it together.”
“Alright”, said Mitch.
A moment later they went away together.
When Ben came inside again Adam said, “Pa, I want that Mitch gets as distraction as much as possible until the trail. He won’t let it show but Sally and I know and notice that he is worried about it.”
“That will happen. He will have to do his school work too anyway”, answered Ben.
Meanwhile the sheriff and the deputy did in Virginia City an awful discovery. Yet before Sheila Jenkins mistreated Mitch Cartwright she had brought her twins Patrick and Patty to bed and murdered them by mixing a fast working poison in a glass of water. After drinking it the children died at once. Roy and Clem had heard that the children hadn’t been at school since October 31. In their room they found the bodies.
“That will be a very long cell punishment for miss Jenkins”, said Clem.
“Phone the doctor and after that the funeral undertaker”, said Roy.
Clem went to handle everything. Roy went to pay the Cartwrights a visit to tell them everything what he and Clem had found.
On Wednesday November 13 Adam, Hoss and Mitch went very early to Virginia City. The brothers noticed how nervous Mitch was. The boy was very busy. But how closer they came to town, how more quiet the youngest Cartwright became. Especially Adam was glad with this because getting Mitch calm down was a tough chore and that cost a lot of time and trouble. Just like Hoss Dan and Matthew Walker also had to testify. At least that was the planning. But when the Cartwrights and Walkers came at the court hall Roy let them in via the back entrance. In a room they saw Ira Minton sitting.
“Ira, what is the matter?”, Adam asked amazed and worried about the answer.
The lawyer answered, “Early this morning Sheila Jenkins has been found in her cell. She had taken an overdose sleeping pills.”
“So the case has been dismissed?”, asked Dan.
“Indeed”, said Ira.
“What does dismiss mean?”, asked Matthew.
“That means that the court case doesn’t get handled anymore. The sheriff phoned me and it seemed us better to tell you in person than over the telephone”, answered the lawyer.
Hoss said, “I hope that we will be left alone now for the time being.”
“Daddy, are we going home?”, asked Mitch.
“I will handle it further. You just go home”, said Ira.
“Then we go back home”, said Adam.
On the way home Hoss suggested, “Adam, why don’t you go away for a while with Mitchy? Just away form everything.”
Mitch heard that and said directly, “Daddy, are we going to Disneyland? Please daddy.”
“Adam, that’s fun for everyone. Just listen to your eldest son for now” Hoss said to help his nephew.
Adam sighed deep because he knew that he couldn’t refuse Mitch anything and also that he couldn’t up against Hoss. Even though he was 6 years older.
“Alright, you win. Mitch, we go together to Disneyland in Los Angeles for a week”, Adam said finally.
“Great daddy”, Mitch said as nothing serious had happened to him in the last 2 weeks.
That afternoon Adam booked their vacation and the next day Adam and Mitch were already on their way Disneyland. Because Matthew had been involved too the boy was also allowed to come along. The short holiday did everyone well because especially Mitch came back as reborn at the ranch.
Just when the Cartwrights thought that everything was over an elderly couple threw a spanner in the works.
Two weeks before his 10th birthday (25/12/2002) Mitch got an invitation of Carl and Sharon Watts to come and stay with them. The staying would take place form Friday 19/12 till Sunday 21/12 in Carson City.
When Adam read the invitation he had his doubts about the staying with them. His ex-in-laws had never taken the trouble to get to know him. They had gotten an invitation for their wedding (01/06/1990) but the card had been returned unopened. The same thing had happened with the birth announcement card of their grandson Mitch and the card of death announcement of his wife
Mary.
“Mitch, do you really want to stay with grandpa and grandma?”, Adam asked serious.
The boy nodded and looked at his father hopeful.
“Alright, you may go of me. You get my old cell phone along. If it isn’t fun call then. I come to get you right away”, answered Adam.
“Alright daddy. But I will go on the bike. Carson City isn’t so far after all”, said Mitch.
“Alright then”, reacted his father.
Sharon stood already waiting for her yet unknown grandson. Mitch came with his rucksack and bike to her.
“Hello boy. Just put your bike in the hallway. Grandpa and I will take good care of you this weekend”, Sharon said suave.
Her grandson came inside and Sharon turned the door locked right away. Mitch put his bike in the hallway and looked around. He didn’t trust it but didn’t let that notice. His rucksack got put upon the banana saddle and the boy walked to the kitchen. His amazing was big when Mitch saw that the house was completely empty and his grandparents weren’t there either. He walked ahead to the living room and saw that his grandparents driving away laughing and waving.
After 2 hours the young Cartwright realized that his unknown grandparents wouldn’t return. Because it was already dark outside Mitch decided to spend the night in the empty house without warning his family.
At the Ponderosa everyone was up to date about the staying with of Mitch with his unknown grandparents. Ben noticed that Adam was very worried about the welfare of the boy.
“Adam, get your car keys”, said the rancher.
The mentioned son looked at him amazed and questionable.
“We go to pick up that little lad. If his grandparents are there or not”, Ben explained.
This hadn’t have to be said twice. A moment later Ben and Adam drove to Carson City. Quite soon they had found the address. Ben parked the car in front of the house and got out with Adam. Looking through the front window they discovered that their sweetheart was sleeping on the shabby floor. They tried to open the front door but that failed. “Then we just break the back door open”, said Adam.
They walked around and broke the back door open. Mitch woke up by the noise and got scared of the visitors at first. But when he saw who is were the boy was relieved. He ran to his father and began to cry.
“It’s alright son. We take you home right away”, Adam said after a while.
Meanwhile Ben already had loaded the bike and rucksack into the car. Adam came with Mitch who still had some wet eyes.
“Daddy, I never want to see them ever again. Then I just have 1 grandpa and 1 grandma”, Mitch said still with some tears in his throat and eyes.
“You will never see them again”, answered Adam.
They got in and with Ben they drove back to the ranch.
When coming home the Chinese cook Hop Sing made a mug of hot anise milk for Mitch. While the boy drank it he told everything that had happened.
“Mitch, we make a nice staying party of it anyway for you because for a change you stay as a guest here at the Ponderosa”, Ben suggested.
Everyone but especially Mitch thought that it was a fun idea and agreed with it..
“Mitch, first you take a shower and after that sleep well”, said Sally.
After he had finished his anise milk Mitch went upstairs to shower and to sleep.
After his shower Mitch came downstairs and he asked the question, :“Where do I sleep?”
The grownups first looked at him questionable but then Adam began to smile.
“Grandpa, I mean Mr Cartwright, will show you where you sleep this weekend. Pa, you have said yourself that Mitch is a staying guest here this whole weekend”, said Adam.
Ben got up and went with his grandson upstairs. They walked to the room where Mitch always was sleeping.
“This is your room. Just lie down and then I will tuck you in”, said the rancher.
Mitch crawled into bed and had fallen right away asleep. Ben tucked him in. He remained sitting by the boy for a while though.
The next morning Mitch behaved like a real guest. Of course the Chinese cook Hop Sing played the game along. He gave the boy the most delicious breakfast dishes someone could imagine. When Mitch got flapjacks with jam his uncles Hoss and Joe became a bit very jealous.
“Hop Sing, why do we never get flapjacks with jam?”, Hoss asked amazed.
“Flapjacks with jam only for young guests. Not for Cartwright brothers”, answered Hop Sing.
Of course the 2 twins took advantage of the staying breakfast of their brother and cousin.
After breakfast Ben took Mitch for a ride per carriage. The rancher showed the boy some beautiful spots of the Ponderosa. Mitch hadn’t seen all of it for a long time of their spread. Now it looked like it was a bout to start snowing everything was even more beautiful.
At a certain moment Ben looked tat het sky and said, “Mitch, I think that we better can go home before the snow shower takes place.”
“Okay. But are we going here again to when it’s Spring?”, asked Mitch.
“I promise you that”, said Ben.
He turned the carriage around and drove back home. The Cartwrights were at home in time because not much later it began to snow. For Mitch this was the perfect ending of the staying with party.
While he was watching with Adam at night to the still falling snow Mitch asked, “Daddy, will those awful weeks getting washed away by the snow?”
“Nice said son. I know for sure that you are right”, answered Adam.
He took his eldest into is arms and together they kept looking at the falling snow for a long time. When Mitch looked up suddenly he saw a big bright shining star.
“Daddy, it’s momma over there. She takes care of that it snows”, he said pointing at the star.
Adam looked up too and saw the star as well. Father and son Cartwright both got tears in their eyes because the star was the one they both still missed very missed. Also this was for them a sign that there would come better and more cozy times at the Ponderosa.