It was Christmas Eve, the house was decorated and full of friends, the Cartwrights were throwing their annual Christmas party. All of their friends and closes neighbors were there. Everyone was in the Christmas spirit especially Adam this was the first Christmas with his daughter, all they needed was the official papers.
Like every year Ben read a story, Ben was in the middle of his story when the judge and sheriff Coffee came into the house. Everyone got quiet and stared at them. Ben got up out of his sit and made his way over to them. No one said a thing, Coffee handed Ben some papers. Ben read the first sentence out loud.
"The territory of Nevada is proud to announce the official adoption of Samantha Jones to Adam Cartwright of the Ponderosa." Everyone gave a shout for joy; the whole town had been waiting for this.
Later that night as Adam was tucking in Samantha she asked him, "I am a Cartwright, right daddy?" "Yes, my little princess."
"And no one can take me away from you right?"
"Right, I'm not going to let anyone take you away from me." He said then gave her a kiss on her forehead.
"Daddy?" Samantha asked as Adam started to cover her up.
"Yes, my little princess."
"Daddy, can I sleep with you tonight? Please." She said giving him the puppy dog face.
"Can you sleep with me? Hummm…" Adam asked then started to tickle her.
Samantha giggled and Adam laughed, they stopped when they heard the door open, Joe was standing just inside the room.
"You know older brother some of us are trying to sleep." Joe laughed as he walked over to the bed. "But I can't refuse a good tickle fight." Adam and Joe looked at each other; Samantha knew that look they were going to gang up on her. Samantha crawled out of the bed and ran from them while laughing. Joe and Adam laughed as they chased after her. Samantha fled down stairs, to her grandfather who was reading a book by the fire.
"Grandpa, grandpa save me!" she yelled as she crawled up in his lap.
"Save you? From whom?" he asked.
"From daddy and Uncle Little Joe." Adam and Joe had appeared at the bottom of the stairs with big grins on their faces.
Adam and Joe sat down on the settee and gave a laugh, the tickle fight was over. Ben gave a laugh, "Well you three I think it's time we all go to bed." He said standing up with Samantha in his arms.
"I think you're right, Pa." Adam said as he stood up and took Samantha out of his arms. Samantha laid her head against Adam shoulder and gave a yawn. As Adam made his way upstairs a very sleepy Samantha asked, "Can I sleep with you?"
"Of course you can my little princess." With that they went to bed for Christmas morning was only a few hours away. And this was going to be a very special Christmas for the Cartwright family.