Summary: Rated:  PG Word Count:  15,399     Ben was watching from the porch as his youngest son rode slowly into the yard and dismounted from his old painted pony. He scrunched up his brow, knowing by the looks of his boy that once again, Little Joe had been fighting. Ben could only wonder at … Continue reading Two Pained Ponies, One Tender Heart (by Debbie B.) →

Summary: Rated:  PG Word Count:  14,274     The street was lined with spectators all waiting to see what the youngest member of the Cartwright clan was aiming on doing. They wanted a showdown, but not me…I’m the youngest member of that Cartwright clan and I had no intentions of answering the challenge made by … Continue reading Too Many Fast Guns (by Debbie B.) →

Summary:  As told by Ben Cartwright. Rated:  PG Word Count:   2457     “It’s alright, son…you’re going to be fine.” I wasn’t sure if he could hear me or not, but I had to keep trying to reach through all his pain into his head where his thoughts so obviously were focused on nothing but … Continue reading Thoughts on Being a Father (by Debbie B.) →

Summary: Rated:  PG Word Count:   11,177   Ben read the note for the third time, sighing deeply as he laid the crinkled paper down in front of him and leaned back in his chair. It was the third note in less than two weeks that was sent home from school with his son from the … Continue reading The Green-Eyed Monster (by Debbie B.) →

Summary:   A story in six voices. Rated:  PG Word Count:  9253   Thoughts -- from the Man in Black    I felt like an utter fool, being so gullible and all. But for some strange reason, I just couldn’t help myself; she was beautiful and I reacted like a little kid in the candy store. … Continue reading Thoughts (by Debbie B.) →

Summary: Rated:  PG Word Count:  25,327     Little Joe Cartwright smiled as he peeked from behind the broad Ponderosa pine. He knew he shouldn’t be listening in on his father’s conversation with Hiram Shaw, but Joe just couldn’t help himself. He felt justified for all the anguish he’d been put through at the hands … Continue reading You Just Wait and See (by Debbie B.) →

Summary: Rated:  PG Word Count:  1857     “Hoss,” said Ben as he came from the house and stood behind his middle son. Hoss was perched on a chair off the side porch, with his back to his father. Ben peeked over the big man’s shoulder, wondering what Hoss was concentrating so hard on. “What … Continue reading Twiddle Dee, Twiddle Dum (by Debbie B.) →

Summary: Rated:  PG Word Count:  14,850   The laughter around the small wooden table on the side porch where Ben sat with his three sons was light and pleasant.  Anytime that Ben could catch his three handsome boys in such a merry mood, it was like music to his ears. He watched the shining light … Continue reading Until He Turns Eighteen (by Debbie B.) →

Summary: Rated:  PG Word Count:   15,352   “Thank you Miss Jones,” Ben uttered, his head dropped low in an effort to keep the teacher from seeing his rising anger.  “I’ll have a word or two with the boy just as soon as he comes home; you can be assured of that.” “Thank you Mr. Cartwright, … Continue reading When Death Comes Callin’ (by Debbie B.) →

Summary: Rated:  PG Word Count:   Joe slid down from his horse and quickly dusted the dirt from his trousers.  As he tied the reins around the hitching rail, he cast anxious eyes toward the front door of his house, wondering what in the world was he going to tell his father about what had … Continue reading Without Malice (by Debbie B.) →