Summary: Category:  Bonanza Genre:  Western Rated:  PG Word Count:  1085     Marie Cartwright was just putting the final bow on a large Christmas present when she heard the front door bang open and heard the sounds of her family returning.  The door banging open would be Hoss of course.  At ten years old, Hoss … Continue reading Ponderosa Christmas (by Judy) →

Summary:   Written with Jerri. Category:  Bonanza Genre:  Western Rated:  PG Word Count:  25,471   Adam, Hoss, and Ben Cartwright were almost finished with their breakfast when Little Joe, the youngest of the three brothers, came downstairs. They all looked at him, shook their heads, but didn't comment on his late appearance. Hop Sing immediately brought … Continue reading Small Kindnesses (by Judy) →

Summary:  Written with Jerri. Category:  Bonanza Genre:  Western Rated:  PG Word Count:  48,918   PROLOGUE   At fifteen, Joseph Cartwright was the most popular boy in Virginia City, and probably in the whole Nevada territory. Little Joe, as he was generally called, was the youngest son of Ben Cartwright, owner of the Ponderosa Ranch, the … Continue reading Growing Pains (by Judy) →

Summary: Category:  Bonanza Genre:  Western Rated:  PG Word Count:  12,450   Little Joe Cartwright, youngest son of Ben Cartwright of the Ponderosa, was going to be late getting home from Virginia City to pick up the mail----again.  It was well past five P.M., and Joe should have been home hours ago.  Instead, he was in … Continue reading The Fastest (by Judy) →

Summary: Category:  Bonanza Genre:  Western Rated:  PG Word Count:  21,716   Chapter 1   Ben Cartwright watched as his three sons drove the last of the stray cattle into the sheltered lower grazing pastures of the Ponderosa. Adam and Hoss were riding on either side of the herd of cattle, letting the cattle take their … Continue reading Silver Lining (by Judy) →

Summary: Category:  Bonanza Genre:  Western Rated:  PG Word Count:  36,377   Chapter 1   Hop Sing watched from the kitchen window as the Cartwright sons rode into the ranch yard. Little Joe was first, at least 50 yards ahead of Adam and Hoss. Just for an instant, Hop Sing saw Marie Cartwright instead of Little … Continue reading You Got to Have Heart (by Judy) →

Summary:  To do the right thing, Joe must disobey his father. Category:  Bonanza Genre:  Western Rated:  PG Word Count:  16,555   "Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law of the prophets." [Matthew 7:12]   Chapter 1   Adam and … Continue reading The Golden Rule (by Judy) →

Summary:  Joe meets Billy the Kid. Category:  Bonanza Genre:  Western Rated:  PG Word Count: 20,500     Chapter 1   Ben Cartwright stood in the shadow of the barn watching his youngest son ride a big, bucking black stallion around the corral. He watched with mixed trepidation and admiration. Joe was a natural horseman and … Continue reading Inner Conflict (by Judy) →

Summary:  This story is a “prequel” to the episode entitled “A far, far better thing”; it deals with Little Joe’s friendship with the Indian 'Sharp Tongue'. It is a story about difficult friendships and prejudice. As usual, I have added a few things just for fun. Please feel free to ignore them or explore them as … Continue reading Blood Brothers (by Judy) →

Summary: Category:  Bonanza Genre:  Western Rated:  PG Word Count:  15,000     Little Joe Cartwright sat on the sleigh with his father in silence as they watched Adam and Hoss trudge up the steep hillside, pulling sleds behind them. Ben and Joe were sitting in the horse-drawn sleigh, bundled under blankets to keep warm. When … Continue reading Winter Break (by Judy) →