A NEW START

“Put those sticks of dynamite so down that that Cartwright rides across it that he dies by the explosion”, Sylvia Garrison said to her husband and accomplice David.
“Take it easy. I have done this job so many times that I can do blindfolded”, he husband growled. With great care he stuck the six sticks of dynamite together and put them so that nobody could see them. Then he rolled out the wire and he went to his wife who already had found a perfect hiding place.
“Now we only have to wait for Cartwright to pass by with that child and the grab our chance”, Sylvia said.

Adam and Mitch were on that certain Saturday afternoon on their way to Virginia City to get a supply. The sun was shining lovely and they were in a jolly mood.
“Daddy, when we are in town, may I buy an ice-cream?”, Mitch asked at a certain moment.
“When we have bought everything we both buy an ice-cream”, Adam promised.
The road was a  bit rocky so that Adam went to ride a bit slower. Suddenly Adam rode across what he thought was a thick stick but it were the sticks of dynamite. A big explosion followed whereby father and son Cartwright both fell off the wagon and got injured. Through the explosion the horses were dead at once. Mitch came down on the ground that he had broken his right wrist. Adam was lying ten meters ahead and unconscious. The youngest Cartwright was also out cold.

Not long after the explosion an elderly couple came riding by.
“David, stop for a moment because there lies an injured child”, Sylvia said who first discovered Mitch.
Her husband David stopped the wagon and jumped from it. He kneeled down at Mitch and examined him.
“His right wrist is broken but our house doctor can set it. We take him home as the wagon is completely destroyed and he is the sole survivor”, the man said.
He lifted the boy up and carried him to the wagon.  
Syvlia looked at him and said, “So little  and alone on the world. But now he has us to love. But we won’t contact the doctor because he tells the sheriff and then I lose my baby.”
“Have it your way”, David reacted.

When Adam and Mitch didn’t come home from town the others decided to look for them. Not far from the ranch the Cartwrights saw the wrecked pieces of the wagon and the dead horses lying. Ben was the first one to jump from his horse and looked around worried.
Hoss, Little Joe and Candy also dismounted and went looking as wel.Hoss was trhe one who found Adam.
“Adam, wake up. Although it is a lovely weather but that doesn’t mean that you can just lay here and get a suntan”, Hoss said to his older brorther who was just getting awake.
“Shut up”, Adam said directly.
He got up careful and looked around.
“Where is Mitch?”, he asked directly.
“We wouwld like to know that as well”, Ben said.  
“According to me this had to happen on purpose. Someone had used sticks of dynamite and let them explode as soon as someone rode across those sticks”,  Candy said.
Everybody looked at him.
“How do you know that?”, Little Joe asked amazed.
“They use that srtuff a lot in the army. I know that because I grew up at an army base”, the foreman explained.
“Candy and I will report the missing of Mitch at Roy”,  Little Joe said.
The rancher nodded. Ben helped Adam get up and they went home.

Sylvia took care of him as good as possible but didn’t know what his real name was yet. She and her husband saw the boy as their own son. The couple never had children of their own and now they had Mitch their child wish had come true anyway. Mitch woke up and didn’t know where he was.
“Where am I? What happened?”, Mitch asked confused.
“You are badly injured with an explsion. Your father died within it. We found you and took you home. I am now your mother and that is your father”, Sylvia said.
Mitch looked at his arms and saw that his right underarm was wrapped up in bandages. He came up slowly and looked around.
“What is your name lad?”, David asked.
“Mitch”, the boy said slowly.
He didn’t trust the couple. David saw the walkbrace and suddely he saw the light.
He said, “The grandson of Ben Cartwright is also called Mitch and wears a walkbrace. Just like you.”
“Do you mean that you are one of the Cartwright family who lives at the Ponderosa?”, Syvlia asked amazed.
Mitch shrugged his shoulders. He went to lie down again and kept silent. David and Sylvia went to the kitchen to talk.
“David, I don’t want to,lose him. He is our baby”, Sylvia said.
“When the Cartwrights find him they’ll come and claim him. They won’t listen to us anyway’, David said.
“If he is a Cartwright. He doesn’t know what his last name is so now he is our son. The Cartwrights are rich enough to pay money for him so they will do that. As soon as we have the ransom we move to another territory so they can not do anything to us. Finally I have a baby and I won’t let it be taken away from me”, Sylvia said determined.
Mitch heard everything his fosterparents said to each other and knew enough.

Adam was at his wit’s now Mitch had disappeared without a trace.
“Adam, we will find Mitch. Roy and Clem are also looking for him”, Ben said but it was no use.
Adam became very dismal and tretreated from the others. Cody remained by his side so Adam still had someone to talk to. The shepherd also missed the little boss. The atmosphere at the ranch was totally different. There was less laughter and it looked like a big black cloud hung over the Ponderosa.   

Mitch recovered very quickly from his injuries. After a few days he was walking around the house.
He went to Sylvia and asked begging, “I want to go to Virginia City. May I go please?”
“Not alone yet because you are way too little for that. I will join you nicely”, was her answer.
They grabbed the carriage and rode to Virginia City
By coincidence Ben was also in Virginia City for some business. He was talking to the sheriff when Sylvia and Mitch rode into town.

“Adam is desperate because Mitch is still unfindable. He even thinks that the boy is dead”, Ben said.
“Mitch is a tough cookie and will not die very soon”, Roy said.
Unnoticed they watched the unknown carriage. Both recognized the youngest but didn’t say anything about it being wisely. At the trading post Sylvia stopped the carriage.  
She said, ,“Mitch, you stay here waiting until I get back.”
The boy nodded. His fostermother got out and walked into the shop. Mitch climbed out of the carriage right away and looked around.
Ben and Roy saw the young Cartwright and the rancher yelled, “Mitchell Cartwright, come as the hell over here.”
Mitch saw his grandpa and the sheriff and ran to them. Ben caught his grandson and embraced him while he lifted him up.
Mitch asked amazed,“I am now at the house with my parents. At least that’s what they say. But I do live on the Ponderosa, don’t I?”
“You certainly do. I am your Grandpa. Your father is Adam Cartwright and he misses you very much. Roy, can you write out an arrest warrant for Mrs…?”, Ben asked.
“She is called Sylvia Garrison and her husband is called David”, Mitch said quickly.
They went inside and Roy wrote out two arrest warrants right away. Then he went to the trading post.
“Are you Mrs Sylvia Garrison? I have an arrest warrent for you for keeping a minor child in your custody”, the sheriff said.
Sylvia walked along with Roy. Ben waited with Mitch for them at the office of the sheriff.
Sylvia said to Ben, “You must make a mistake because Mitch is my son.”
“Mitch is my grnandson and the son of my eldest son Adam”, the rancher reacted.
“Bullshit. His father is dead and that’s why my husband and I are taking care of him now”, Sylvia said snappy.
“Come to my ranch then you can see that Adam is still alive”, Ben said.
“I go home wíth Mitch”, the woman said furious.
She dragged the boy along so that Ben and Roy couldn’t do anything. Mitch tried to get away and took off his jacket. He fell down on the ground whereafter Ben saved him. He picked him up and carried him to the sheriff’s office. They went inside.
“Tell first what happened since that fatal Saturday afternoon”, Ben said calm.

Mitch swallowed and began to tell, “I woke up in a strange bed in a strange  house with strsnge people. I told them who I was and then they said that I was their son. But in the kitchen they said that you had to pay money for me and that they would move to another territory.”
In the meantime Roy wrote it all down.
Then he said after mitch had told everything, “Ben, take that boy home.”
“Are you coming lad?”, the rancher asked his grandson.
Mitch nodded shy.
“My wrist hurts since the accident”, the boy said.
“Then we first go to the doctor’s to let you examined”, the rancher said.
They left the office and walked to the practise of Paul Martin. Ben noticed that his grandson had become very affectionate since his return. He walked very close to Ben and kept silent.
“Paul, Mitch is found but his right wrist hurts. Can you examine him completely?”, Ben asked directly while entering.
“Come over here”, the doctor said.
Mitch let himself examined and his wrist got set into plaster.
“Ben, your grandson is physical alright except that broken wrist of course but mentally he has had a knock on the head. Let Adam spend spent time with him as much as possible”, Paul said.
“That will happen. Are you coming, Mitch?”, the rancher asked after the treatment.
Mitch nodded and walked along. They walked to Buck, the horse of Ben. The rancher lifted Mitch up and put him upon the horse. Then he dismounted himself. In an easy pase the Cartwrights went home.

At the ranch Adam was looking into a photoalbum with pictures of him, Mary and Mitch in. The longer he looked at them the more tears came into his eyes. Hoss came unnoticed into the living room and saw his older brother. He saw how miserable his brother looked and decided to cheer him up.
He went to sit on the settee and asked carefully, “Are those pictures of your family?”
Adam nodded and said, “First  I lose Mary and now Mitch.”
He showed them to his younger brother.
Hoss  said teasing, “Mitchy looks like a lot like Mary. Now I know who gave him the handsomeness. His mother did.”
“Very funny Eric Haas Cartwright”, Adam reacted.
Though he had  to smile a bit sour because that rotten remark.
But because he knew that he couldn’t handle Hoss physically, Adam grabbed him back on the mental way, “You know that you may not tease elderly people, so why do you do it then?”
“Older brother, you are only six years older than me so what’s that suppose to mean?”, Hoss asked indignant.
“That you must have respect for your older and wiser brother”, Adam sid fierce.
 
When Ben came inside with Mitch Adam didn’t know what to say. Hoss was also speachless.
“Come here kid”, Adam said with tears in his throat and eyes.
Slowly Mitch came to his father. Adam lifted his son up and kissed him. Mitch began to cry. Ben beckoned Hoss to go outside which he did.
“An elderly couple named David and Sylvia Garrison found Mitch and they reckon that mitch is theirs. So there is a big chance that they come over here to claim Mitch. Besides Mitch knowd very well who we are”, the rancher told.
Hoss said, “They won’t get Mitchy. Adam is so happy now.”
“Mitch has reported everything already at Roy so he also knows about it. They had told Mitch that Adam was dead. Fortuantly I was in town so that he could escape. But she nearly got him again but Mitch managed to escape again”, Ben answered worried about the near future of his eldest son and only grandson.

Inside the ranchhouse Adam and Mitch were talking on the settee.
“They are very good to me but they wanted that Grandpa paid money for me and then they would move with me to another territory”, Mitch said careful.
“I missed you so much. I even thought that you were dead”, Adam said smiling.
Mitch kept silent.
“The others were worried about you as well”, Adam said.

Little Joe and Candy happened to be in Virginia City when the stage arrived. They watched and saw an attractive lady get out.
“That is now a real pretty lady”, Little Joe said mocking.
“Do you know wheren I can find Adam Poindexter Cartwright and Mitchell Jonathan Cartwright?”, the woman asked the boys then.
Little Joe and Candy looked at each other questionable.
“Adam is my brother and Mitch his son. Why do you want to see them”, Little Joe asked.
“I am his wife Mary Cartwright”, the young woman said.
“I am Joe Cartwright and this is the foreman of the ranch, Candy Canaday”, Little Joe said quickly.
“Is Poindexter the second name of Adam?”, Candy asked amazed.
“Yes. Why?”, Mary asked.
“I work now almost five years for the Cartwrights but this is the first time that I hear that name”, the foreman replied.

Adam spent very much time with Mitch. He had become more protective than he usually was.
“If you are my father, where is mamma then?”, Mitch asked one morning.
“Mamma died when you were thirteen months old. She got pushed off the stairs by her brother. Two months later we moved to here”, Adam told him.
“Where did we live first then?”, Mitch asked.
“In Boston. You were born there on December 25 1862 and I on September 25 1830”, Adam told.
Mitch was quiet for a moment.
The he asked the following question, “Why do I not have any brothers or sisters?”
 “It just didn’t happen. I am also very happy with you. Maybe it will come in time but I am not sure”, Adam said.
He got hold of his son and held him tenderly. Dreamingly Adam looked ahead of him.
Mitch broke the silence by saying, “There come Uncle Joe and Candy with a strange woman.”
Adam looked up and let loose of his son. The three rode to the porch.
“Adam, we have here a woman for you”, Little Joe said.
His eldest brother saw and recognized his wife Mary.
“Mary, is that really you?”, Adam asked amazed.
She dismounted and said smiling, “Yes, it is really me. I have a lot of explaining to do.”
Adam took her into his arms and kissed her.
“Er daddy, I am still here and so is Cody”, Mitch said after a while.
“Sorry darling. Mary, this is now our son and dog Cody”, Adam said.
“Hello sweetheart”, Mary said while she took Mitch into her arms.
Cody got stroked too. Little Joe and Candy dismounted too and tied the horses.

Mary went to sit opposite of Adam, held Mitch closer to her and began to tell, “I had an identical twinsister called Lucy. After a big row with my parents about Mitch my father brought me to a mental institution and took Lucy my place in. Burt threw her down the stairs whereafter my parents let you and Mitch think that it was me. Soon they found out that I was normal and I got a job in the kitchen. Rencently I got released from that institution and I went looking for you. Adam, I am so sorry and I missed you so.”
“Darling, I missed you also very much. I thought that you were dead so I went steady with other women but no one was so good for me as you were”, Adam said.
“Are you staying with us mamma?”, Mitch asked hopeful.
“I will never leave you again”, his mother said.
“Now Uncle Hoss will get a much smaller piece because mamma has joined us”, the youngest Cartwright remarked. Everybody laughed. Mitch went to play with the dog near the oak.
L:ittle Joe and Candy left Adam and Mary alone and went back to work.
“Adam, what happened to Mitch? He is so quiet and affectionate”, Mary said.
“Two weeks ago we both got injured during an explosion. An elderly couple found him and took care of him. They have also told him that he is their son instead of ours. I am still afraid that they will come back to claim him”, Adam told her slowly.
“Then they will have to deal with me. Your father, brothers and Candy will also try to prevent that”, Mary said determined.

When Ben and Hoss came home for lunch they saw right away that they had company.
“Pa, Adam has rummaged out a woman”, Hoss said laughing.
“Indeed”, Ben reacted chuckling.
They rode upon the yard and dismounted.
“Pa and Hoss, may I introduce you to my wife Mary?”, Adam asked.
“Welcome to the Ponderosa”, Ben said while he gave his daugther-in-law a hand.
Mitch came closer but didn’t say anything.

During lunch Mary saw that Hoss was indeed eating very much.
“Daddy, may I eat a bit earlier than Uncle Hoss?”, Mitch asked Adam.
“Why?”, he asked amazed.
“Then I have at least enough to eat”, his son explained.
Everybody except Hoss laughed.
“Hop Sing will just have to cook more because you also eat like a dog”, Ben said.
He looked unnoticed to his eldest son and saw that he was enormously happy. By the return of Mary back into Adam’s and Mitch’s life the sun shone again at the Ponderosa.



THE END

February 2002


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