On the Ponderosa: knock at the door. Six-year-old Joe walked\u00a0to the door and opened it. Nobody. As he wanted to close the door, he noticed there was something on the flour. A paper. Like a newspaper. He took\u00a0it and had\u00a0a look on the first page. What he saw\u00a0let him speechless. But not for a long time. \u00ab\u00a0Pa, you’re in the Gazette\u00a0\u00bb. Joe yelled with excitment in the voice and run in the house. The three Cartwright were enjoying the end of the afternoon. Ben was\u00a0riding in his chair and his sons were\u00a0playing on the settee. As they heard Joe, they stopped and looked at the youngest child. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u00ab\u00a0Pa\u00a0? In the gazette\u00a0? Let me see that\u00a0\u00bb Adam was\u00a0the first up\u00a0. He took\u00a0the paper and put\u00a0his eyes on the picture. \u00ab\u00a0Oh yeah, Pa\u00a0; they got you perfectly\u00a0\u00bb Adam exclaimed. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben looked up and came\u00a0close to his sons, impatient to see what was \u00a0going on. Then he stopped and asked : <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u00ab\u00a0Drawing or picture\u00a0?\u00a0\u00bb<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n -Not drawing, pa\u00a0; a picture, a true picture. And wait a minute, Hoss is on the picture too\u00a0\u00bb Joe replied taping the paper with his fingers. Ben knew\u00a0exactly the day, when\u00a0a photograph had come\u00a0in town. That had been\u00a0two month ago on July, the fourth. There had been\u00a0a big party in town. A man Preston Lodge had had a wonderful idea to bring excitment in town. For a charity concert he had invited a group of singer. As he \u00a0had told about it, the whole town council had agreed. Virginia Citys theater was\u00a0famous and that would have been\u00a0a big honor having International Singer.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n FLASHBACK\u00a0: In Virginia City <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Everybody was\u00a0very enthousiast and the town had \u00a0prepared everything to welcome the stars. As the stage coach arrived\u00a0, the surprise was\u00a0big. Men were\u00a0excited and women cancouldn’t\u00a0\u00a0believe it.. Five young Spice Ladyes, five little storm, excited and full of\u00a0life. They appeared suddenly out from the stagecoach. Impatient to moove after the long trip, they opened their arm and sprang\u00a0and run to the first man in front of them. It was the poor Ned, the telegraphist. He lost his glasses, turned on himself, didn’t know what to do. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u00ab\u00a0Hey Ned, did you enjoy the dance ,\u00a0\u00bb Men around were\u00a0teasing him. The poor man was\u00a0blushing. Never before he had had \u00a0a woman in his arms, so five at the same time, it was too much. Ben and Roy exchanged a look and decided to step in. Both of them walked to the girls and grabbed them. Ben dared to have a look on the young girl he just \u00a0had caught\u00a0: \u00a0straight hair and pigtails , a lovely tiny nose, nice innocent smile and pink round cheeks. Ben wondered how old she might be\u00a0; she seemed to be so childisch. He didn’t\u00a0have any time to think about it\u00a0; she just put her lips on his cheek., close to his lips. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u00ab\u00a0But Miss\u00a0; I….\u00a0\u00bb were\u00a0the only words Ben could\u00a0say. For the first time in his life a girl had managed to silent him. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n People around them were\u00a0clapping their hands and shouting with joy… Women were\u00a0crimson. Mrs Woodpecker let her voice speak for the other. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u00ab\u00a0Mister Cartwright, Mister Coffee, you have to do something. We can’t accept those- those \u00ab\u00a0ladies\u00a0\u00bb in our town. We have children, and young boys and it’s not a good example. I’m sure, Mr Reverend will agree with me\u00a0; Oh just there is. Reverend, please\u00a0; don’t let those impertinent person staying in our little quiet town.\u00a0\u00bb At that moment one of the \u00ab\u00a0impertinent person\u00a0\u00bb sticked out her tongue at the respectable woman. The shock almost made\u00a0her faint. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u00ab\u00a0I won’t stay any longer here. I hope, Gentlemen, you’ll do something.\u00a0\u00bb and she turned her back and left. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben just caught\u00a0the young impertinent and gave\u00a0her a dark look. The tongue came\u00a0back in the mouth and the young lady calmed\u00a0herself. The other, the first one he \u00a0had caught, seemed to appreciate the stern look and hugged him with sensual manner. Ben turned his head and scolded : <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u00ab\u00a0keep your distance, Miss. Or I promise, there will be a very short distance between you and my knee, you see what I mean\u00a0?\u00a0\u00bb\u00a0. Everybody in town knew\u00a0that tone, but not the girl. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u00ab\u00a0hey, that’s exciting. Hey girls, we found a great charming town with great handsome men. That’ll be a great great recital…\u00a0\u00bb<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben took\u00a0them away, Roy took\u00a0the two others and the last one followed her friends\u00a0. Roy and Ben put them in rooms in the hotel and left\u00a0them. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u00ab\u00a0So Ben, I wish, I could leave for a chase against Broners brother. I’m better with outlaws than with those girls.\u00a0\u00bb Roy replied with a mix of desperation and anger in his voice. Ben laughed. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u00ab\u00a0for sure, that will be a big challenge. The truth is, I do’nt know, how we’ll manage to handle that. We can’t stop now, charity concert must be kept. Orphans count on us. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n ***********saturday evening in town. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Ben arrived with Adam and Hoss, even if he was regretting it. But that was a promise he \u00a0had made to Hoss, unfortunately he didn’t have known about the girls as he had made that promise\u00a0; But a promise was a\u00a0promise and Ben knew\u00a0what that meant for a kid. So he had \u00a0let him come\u00a0. The whole town, ladyes and gentlemen were\u00a0here\u00a0; The room was\u00a0full, so many people had come\u00a0to see the \u00ab\u00a0spicy ladies\u00a0\u00bb. What had happened in town at their arrival , mix of provocation and excitment had attracted men and some women, impatient to see the lady and ready to keep control about husbands. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Hoss, wearing a a dark blue two-piece suit and tie, guided by Adam, found a safe place close to the cakes table while Ben started greeting people in the room. Girls were\u00a0there, in a corner. They came\u00a0near to him and his boys and stood\u00a0by him as a flash lighted. Ben was\u00a0glad, maybe those girls would\u00a0behave and gave\u00a0a nice recital. People counted on that, they gave a lot of money.. But hope wasn’t\u00a0enough and everything could change after a few cups of\u00a0champagne. The girls were\u00a0quick to include everybody in the fun, with three of them fussing around them while Sporty Spice kissed and hugged mens cheeks. Adam promised to be a good boy, the warning his father had made before leaving the ranch had been\u00a0clear \u00ab\u00a0young boy, you better behave or else…\u00a0\u00bbSo he would be\u00a0a good boy, he just smiled and winked. That was \u00a0enough to attract the spicy ladies. As Ben saw\u00a0his boy with two ladies in his arms, he walked \u00a0to him\u00a0; but he stopped as he felt someone was pinching\u00a0his bottom. He turned and with stern look slapped the hand of Baby spicy. She was about to gently swat him. \u00ab\u00a0Oh no young lady,\u00a0 you won’t. Nobody ever laid a hand of me, it won’t start tonight.\u00a0\u00bb \u00ab\u00a0 That is just so typically me\u00a0\u00bb\u00a0; she replied with her finger on her lips. \u00ab\u00a0 It might seem like a crush, mister Cartwright,\u00a0\u00bb and she kissed him on the cheek, letting a spur with lipstick.\u00a0\u00bb Innocently she took\u00a0a tissu in her pocket and wipped it. Ben pushed her hand and made\u00a0it alone. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u00ab\u00a0Little girl, I remember, I told you something when we first met, didn’t I\u00a0? <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u00ab\u00a0Oups, I did it again,\u00a0 does it mean, you’re angry with me\u00a0? I can’t believe it.\u00a0\u00bb Ben sighed\u00a0deeply, looked up and pinched his nose. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u00ab\u00a0oh you’re impossible.\u00a0\u00bb<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Everybody looked at him, impatient and excited to see what would \u00a0happen\u00a0 next. Ben slowly took\u00a0his hat away and kept\u00a0silence. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n ***********the next scene, 10 minutes later<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n The whole town saw\u00a0that Ben had come\u00a0back with the girl. He took\u00a0her in his arms and put her slowly in the water bucket near the door. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u00ab\u00a0that will be good for a warm behind, young lady. I won’t let you driving me and this town crazy\u00a0\u00bb. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u00ab\u00a0Hurrah for Ben, Hurrah for Ben, the girl had it, very good, Ben\u00a0\u00bb a man in the crowd yelled. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u00ab\u00a0Shut up, Lars. Mind your own business. Enough humiliation for tonight. I don’t want to hear anything about it. Now recital is over. I’m sorry, it did happen that way. We’ll give you money back, if you will. But don’t forget, orphans are not responsible for the trouble here. They still count on you.\u00a0\u00bb Ben explained with enough persuasion in his voice to silent the crowd. Just a few sobbing coming from his right side. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u00ab\u00a0orphans, you said\u00a0? But how\u00a0?\u00a0\u00bb A soft voice interrumpted him. Baby Spicy was\u00a0now a sorry young lady with tears in her beautiful eyes. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u00ab\u00a0Yes, young lady, we organised a recital for orphans. And people gave money to listen at music, not to have such a ridiculous show made by provocative young ladies.\u00a0\u00bb he added with more severity in his voice. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u00ab\u00a0but the advert told about ORGAN\u00a0; so we thought we could have a little bit fun.\u00a0\u00bb she replied seriously. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u00ab\u00a0so ,\u00a0 all that because of a wrong tiping. And who’s responsible\u00a0? Ned\u00a0? NED\u00a0? Come in…\u00a0\u00bb<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Ned arrived, but not alone. He brought a big birthday cake with candles and music from the violin and the clarinett. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u00ab\u00a0HAPPY BIRTHDAY BEN CARTWRIGHT\u00a0\u00bb the whole crowd yelled and clapped hands. Ben was\u00a0speechless. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u00ab\u00a0but but, but it’s it’s not my BIRTHDAY\u00a0?\u00a0\u00bb he managed to reply,\u00a0; he was\u00a0so surprised. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u00ab\u00a0We didn’t know about your birthday, so we decided to celebrate here and now , with a surprise. And those ladies are\u00a0special guest\u00a0; from France. Coming from a Cabaret. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u00ab\u00a0I don’t know what to say.\u00a0\u00bb He just can smile and laugh. The five young ladies come around him and give him a big kiss. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n ***********later after the party<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u00ab\u00a0 more champagne, Emma\u00a0?\u00a0\u00bb Ben asked. She replied no. They just came back from outside, fireworks were\u00a0over, they had been\u00a0fantastic. There were confettis on the floor and ballons all around. End of the party. People left and congratulated Ben once more time for the birthday. Now he was\u00a0alone, his boys were\u00a0in the wagon. Hoss was\u00a0sleeping and Adam was\u00a0, maybe flirting with one of the lady. He didn’t\u00a0care\u00a0; exceptionnaly. Because he had\u00a0something else in mind. Having a few minutes privacy with the young lady. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u00abEmma, I just want to say, I’m sorry. I feel so ashamed for what I did. I shouldn’t have done that, that’s all.\u00a0\u00bb he apologized sincerely. The surprise was beautiful\u00a0; so now he was sorry, he had been\u00a0\u00a0so rude with the girl. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u00ab\u00a0No need to be sorry, after all, you warned me. You see\u00a0; Ben\u00a0; orphan, is what I am. They didn’t told the whole story, we just had to surprise you. I’m sorry too Ben. I’ve never had a father or a mother around me, I guess my friends played a r\u00f4le perfectly, I was just in reality, unable to stop the game. That was pleasant and funny\u00a0; you resisted and I wanted to test my power on you. That’s a good lesson you taught me, Mister Cartwright. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n *****************on the Ponderosa. Epilog<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n On the last morning Marie put\u00a0her eyes on the gazette. After she read the whole article , she walked to Ben. He was\u00a0near the fireplace enjoying his morning coffee. Adam was\u00a0in the barn, working with Hoss and baby Joe was\u00a0sleeping. Without any warning she swatted his behind gently and asked :<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
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