When his youngest daughter Rose went to school for the first time at the beginning of January 2014 Adam Cartwright could not suspect that her teacher would be a very old acquaintance. Of course, the mother of Rose and wife of Adam, Sally Cartwright, went along.
The teacher was about Rose and her parents already waiting. She got a big shock when she recognized the father of her new student. But that was also the case for Adam who also the teacher recognized.
“Honey, shall we bring our daughter to another school?”, he asked in a whisper.
“Why?”, Sally asked amazed.
“The teacher of Rose happened to be Abigail Jones. She is in love with me for years”, Adam quickly explained.
“Pity for her because you are mine now. And that stays that way”, Sally said determined.
Rose had also heard the words of Adam and looked smiling at her father.
“Rose Cartwright, you do not tell this story to anyone”, ‘said Adam.
“No daddy”, promised the girl.
Abigail walked towards the Cartwrights and said, “Welcome at school.”
“Miss Jones, this is my wife Sally and this little girl is our daughter Rose”, said Adam.
“Rose, are you coming to the class rooms?”, asked Abigail.
Rose waved to her parents and then went with the teacher. Adam and Sally watched them and went then back home.
When the turn of Rose was to tell something about her family Abigail could not suspect that the young Cartwright would be talking long.
“I live with my parents, brother and sister on the Ponderosa ranch. Its owner is my grandpa Ben Cartwright. Our uncles Hoss and Joe also living there with their families. The only one not with us on the ranch lives is my oldest brother Mitch. He lives with his husband Matt in a large House what their Bed & Breakfast. They live and work there with the parents of Matt”, said Rose.
“So your brother and brother-in-law own that Bed & Breakfast?”, asked Abigail.
“Partially. Grandpa remains the main owner and there is also often”, replied Rose.
Abigail quickly gave the turn of another child because she already had heard too much about the Cartwrights to her way.
On the way home Adam told everything about Abigail Jones.
“So she had taught Joe too? Paula would like to hear that too”, said Sally.
Joe was the youngest brother of Adam who was married to Paula Cooper.
After the great conversation Rose stuck her finger on to ask something.
“Yes, Rose?”, asked Abigail.
“Is it true that you are in love with my father for years?”, Rose asked without turning a hair.
The teacher became red up to her neck and said, “Rose Cartwright! To the hall!”
The young Cartwright went to the hall. Abigail realized that she would get a very heavy school time till the summer vacation now there was another Cartwright in her class. And she knew the whole family very well too.
Meanwhile the other Cartwrights got to hear who the teacher of Rose was.
“What will Miss Jones get it heavy until the summer holidays”, said Ben.
He was the grandfather of Rose and owner of the Ponderosa ranch.
“And your granddaughter doesn’t?”, asked Adam.
“Your daughter talk herself out of there. You and Sally have her brought up empowering enough”, answered his father.
“Her brothers and sister have also contributed to that”, reacted Sally.
Sally thus referred to Mitch and the twins Lisa and Benji.
The rest of the day Rose behaved herself nice to big relief of Abigail.
Though the young Cartwright got to hear, “Rose, I want that you stay behind so that I can talk to your father.”
Rose clearly got the gift of the gab because she asked, “And what if someone else besides my parents come to get me?”
“In that case I give along a letter”, said the teacher.
She sat down and wrote the letter.
Adam stopped the Mercedes for the school to the Cartwright children to pick up. Apart from Rose were that the 2 twins Lisa and Benji and Inger and Petra. The 4 elders came but Rose does not.
“Benji, where is your little sister?” asked Adam worried.
“Certainly still in the classroom”, replied his son.
“You wait here for us,” said Adam.
He went in to his youngest daughter. Adam knocked politely on the door and then went inside.
Abigail forgot that Rose there was and said as a teenage girl in love, “Adam Cartwright!”
“Miss Jones, why does Rose have detention time?”, he asked.
“Rose, go out. I would like to talk with your father”, said the teacher.
Rose picked up her bag and ran outside. Of course Adam understood nothing of it.
“Adam, your youngest daughter is a bit too candid and spontaneous. I had to send her already after an hour the gang because she asked if I am in love with you for years”, said Abigail.
“My wife and I have raised our children as honest and spontaneous as possible. Unfortunately Rose to something spontaneous. They mean the otherwise good”, Adam replied.
“I can understand but still I find it hard to have her in my class,” said the teacher.
“If you refuse to teach my daughter I get her immediately from school and her brother, sister and nieces as well. Then they get home-schooled”, said Adam.
“Then it should be so ”, said Abigail.
Then she realized she would never see less or Adam.
They bond in and said, “Good. They may continue. Provided that Rose is quiet.”
“I will say to her. Have a nice day, Miss Jones”, said Adam.
He went away to be with the children to go home. But the oldest Cartwright boy knew already that he very often on call should come to Abigail Jones as long as his youngest daughter would sit in her classroom.
Abigail said to herself, “it is only to June.”
To this school day hung at Abigail Jones a shame that they would rather forgot. But also the Cartwrights would never forget this day.