Summary: Category:  Bonanza Genre:  Western Rated:  PG Word Count:  3844 Runaway Sleigh [Adam Encounters A Special Christmas Eve Visitor]   The sun had only just set, but the trail through the woods was already growing dark. Adam Cartwright urged his mount to a brisk pace through the light dusting of snow that covered the path. Sport … Continue reading Three Christmas Cards (by Debra P.) →

Summary:   (With appreciation to John T. Dugan who wrote ‘The Crucible’)  Category:  Bonanza Genre:  Western Rated:  PG Word Count:  6600   PART 1 - THE ENCOUNTER   The noisy bustle of San Francisco’s streets was bittersweet music to the ears of Adam Cartwright as he walked from his hotel to the stage depot, his traveling … Continue reading Encounter with the Past (by Debra P.) →

Summary:  (With acknowledgement to Laurence Mascott who wrote the original episode)  Category:  Bonanza Genre:  Western Rated:  PG Word Count:  1560 Previously:    For those who might not be familiar with this episode, I will summarize very briefly: Sam Bryant is the boss of a group of thugs who are terrorizing Virginia City and extorting protection money … Continue reading The Night After “Death at Dawn” (by Debra P.) →

Summary: Category:  Bonanza Genre:  Western Rated:  PG Word Count:  2943   I knew that new jewelry store in town, Maxim’s, was gonna be trouble right from the start.  It’s a shame too, ‘cause Virginia City really needed something like that.  A lot of folks around here have been goin’ pretty far away to find an … Continue reading A Gem Without Price (by Debra P.) →

  Summary: Category:  Bonanza Genre:  Western Rated:  PG Word Count:  2212   It was the end of a tiring day for the three Cartwright brothers as they made camp for one last time on the way home from a cattle drive. They had hoped to make it back to the Ponderosa before nightfall, but with … Continue reading The Tin Cup (by Debra P.) →

Summary:  (With appreciation to Norman Lessing who wrote the episode “The Actress” in which we learned of Adam’s friendship with the famous actor Edwin Booth.)  Category:  Bonanza Genre:  Western Rated:  PG Word Count:  16,225   June 1865 - approximately two months after the assassination of President Lincoln by John Wilkes Booth   It was turning into … Continue reading Wandering Stars (by Debra P.) →

Summary: Category:  Bonanza Genre:  Western Rated:  PG Word Count:  9955 PART I:   THE STAIN Ben Cartwright felt very strange as he watched the scene unfolding before him. He saw his oldest son walking down the alley toward the side entrance of the large building. There was an urgent feeling in his mind that he should … Continue reading Out of the Shadows (by Debra P.) →

Summary: Category:  Bonanza Genre:  Western Rated:  PG Word Count:   14,000   As Adam Cartwright emerged from the Virginia City Post Office, he noticed that the stage was pulling in across the street. It was always a matter of interest to see who might be arriving in town, and Adam looked on curiously as the door … Continue reading Not Such a Stranger (by Debra P.) →

Summary:   (With appreciation to E. Jack Newman, who wrote ‘The Hopefuls’.)  Category:  Bonanza Genre:  Western Rated:  PG Word Count:  15,700 I:   SUMMONED TO SLATERSVILLE Hop Sing entered from the kitchen with a platter of roast beef and placed it on the dining table. His eyes glanced over the table, confirming that everything was ready and … Continue reading The Cry of the Dove (by Debra P.) →

Summary: Category:  Bonanza Genre:  Western Rated:  PG Word Count:     Joe and Adam Cartwright stumbled down the path together, both of them panting hard. Adam’s arm was around Joe’s shoulders and Joe appeared to be making a great effort to hold his brother up. Adam was in obvious pain, clutching his hand to his … Continue reading The Sniper and the Healer (by Debra P.) →