It was a nice day for a ride. Ben Cartwright thought that too. He left his ranch, the Ponderosa, early in the morning though. Even though it was a bit chilly, the air made it clear that it would become a clear winter day.
Suddenly the rancher heard screaming and yelling close to him. He rode to it and found 2 women in panic. Ben dismounted off his horse Buck and walked to the women.
“Ladies, can I help you?”, he asked.
“You certainly can help us. We have had an accident with our carriage. And only because my sister didn’t want to pick us up in Virginia City”, answered the oldest woman.
“Your sister? Who is that then?”, Ben asked amazed.
“Sally Baxton. We have heard that she gets married soon to Frank Taylor. I am Charlene Baxton and that is my daughter Esmeralda”, answered Charlene.
“The name is Ben Cartwright and I am the owner of this spread. I will help you with the carriage and then you can come to my house to recover your breath”, said Ben.
So said, so done.
Still Ben hadn’t said that since a couple of weeks Sally was his daughter-in-law. Sally was married to Adam, the eldest Cartwright son. Together they took care of the up till now only grandchild of the rancher and Adam’s son, 8 year old Mitch.
On the yard of the ranch house Mitch and his shepherd dog Cody played. The dog started to bark when he saw the women.
“At ease Cody. Grandpa is with them”, said Mitch.
Cody calmed down and went to warn the others with his little friend.
“Grandpa has 2 women with him. So they will be coming for you, uncle Joe”, said Mitch.
As young as Mitch was he already knew that his youngest uncle was popular with the ladies.
“Let’s see then who grandpa has taken along”, said Joe.
They went outside where Ben and the ladies were already standing on the ground.
“You don’t know them, do you?”, asked Mitch.
“No, I haven’t seen them before. The oldest is too ugly for me and the youngest is too young for me. She is more something for you”, answered Joe.
“Girls are stupid”, reacted his nephew.
Ben saw his sons and grandson and walked with the 2 women to them.
“Gentlemen, these are Mrs Charlene Baxton and her daughter Esmeralda. Ladies, these are my sons Hoss, Joe and Adam and my grandson Mitch”, said de rancher.
The Cartwrights looked at each other amazed.
“Daddy, mom is also called Baxton, isn’t she?”, Mitch asked worried.
“Yes, that is so. But she will stay with us anyway”, Adam answered in an attempt to put his son at ease.
The boy ran to the kitchen where his stepmother helped the Chinese cook Hop Sing with the lunch
“Mom, a woman has come who is called Charlene Baxton with her daughter Es something”, said Mitch.
Sally looked at her stepson and said, “That must be my sister Charlene with her daughter Esmeralda.”
She went outside with Mitch where Charlene walked towards them.
“Sally, why are you here while you ought to be with your fiancée Frank Taylor?”, asked Charlene.
“Because I live here with my husband Adam Cartwright and his son”, answered Sally.
Charlene didn’t know what to say anymore and realized that she was told a lie by Frank Taylor in Virginia City. Sally went to Ben and Adam.
“Can we talk for a moment in the office?”, she asked.
“Of course”, said Ben.
They went inside. Hoss and Joe received Mitch who didn’t understand anything of it anymore. Charlene looked after her daughter.
In the office said Sally, “I left home 17 years ago for not having to solve the problems of Charlene. About 3 years later I ran into her in San Francisco. She was homeless and pregnant. I made sure that she went to live at home again. Then I broke all contacts with my family. I know for sure that Charlene will cause problems here too.”
“Sally and Adam, they may stay until their carriage is repaired. But as soon as there come problems by them, I call for a taxi right away. Your happiness and that of my sons and grandson go before everything”, said Ben.
His son and daughter-in-law nodded.
“Mitch is afraid that you will leave us for your sister”, said Adam.
“That will never happen. I love you too much to do something like that”, his wife reacted.
“Then tell our son that”, said Adam.
Sally kissed him and went outside where she told Mitch that she always would be there for him.
The next commotion started at the end of the afternoon. Hoss was babysitting his nephew while the other Cartwrights were away. Charlene noticed that her plan had failed and vowed for revenge on the in-laws of her sister. Her daughter Esmeralda played a big part in that. She went to Mitch who played at the big oak.
“Is the little child playing so sweet?”, Esmeralda asked hateful.
“Just go and play with your Lego”, answered Mitch.
Esmeralda didn’t take this answer and kicked against the left wrist of the young Cartwright. Here after she went to stand on his left hand. Mitch screamed it out due to the pain which Cody, Hoss and Charlene heard. Cody ran to the 2 children and took a bite out of the dress of Esmeralda. After that the dog walked away with it so the girl fell down on the ground. She also screamed but then very hysterical.
“My baby! Cartwright, you pay for a new dress for my sweet Esmeralda”, Charlene snapped at Hoss.
Hoss didn’t care at all about troubled himself about his nephew. Mitch sat up and held his injured hand and wrist tight.
Hoss looked at the injured body parts and said, “We go to the hospital. I think that your hand and wrist are broken.”
“First send those 2 away”, Mitch said fierce.
Hoss phoned for a taxi which came a bit later on and had asked for a certain driver. Charlene and hear daughter got in, being angry with the Cartwrights.
“Just bring them as far as possible away from here. Miss Baxton pays for the ride. Take the long route, Jack”, Hoss said who was friends with the taxi driver.
“Will do, Hoss”, said Jack.
The taxi drove away in full speed.
“Mitchy, are you coming?”, asked Hoss.
The boy nodded. They walked to the car of Hoss and got in. Slowly the youngest Cartwright calmed down.
At the hospital Mitch got treated.
De plaster doctor asked, “Which color plaster do you want?”
“Purple”, answered Mitch.
Hoss didn’t say anything but his face spoke volumes. Purple plaster got put around the broken hand and wrist. Mitch had to wear a sling though.
In de hall Hoss helped his nephew with his coat and asked the boy in the meantime, “Shall we go together to McDonald’s for a delicious meal?”
“Alright. Mustn’t we phone home first?”, was the counter-question of Mitch.
Hoss said, “Yes, but we do that in the car.”
They left the hospital and went to the car of Hoss. Before he drove away Hoss phoned home. Ben took the message.
At McDonald’s Mitch occupied took a table while Hoss went to get the food. The boy kept an eye on who sat there and came in. When Hoss came with the food the festive meal finally could start. Of course this ended with a delicious ice cream.
Once at home Hoss and Mitch told what had happened.
“Mom, are you angry with me and Cody?”, Mitch asked worried when everything had been told.
Sally pulled him near her and answered, “Of course I’m not angry with you. My sister always had been a source of problems and that is her daughter too. I don’t think that they will ever come here.”
“Mitch, show the color of your plaster”, said Ben.
His grandson showed the purple plaster. Of course the others thought it was very apart.
Frank Taylor had picked up his stolen carriage and left for town again.
That day was the 1st but also the last time that the Cartwrights got a visit from the sister and/or parents of Sally. Not that anyone minded that but Sally now knew for sure that the Cartwrights were her family too.