Summary: Rated:  PG Word Count:  27,812   “Aw…come on, Little Joe…I promised them we’d help out.” “I can’t, Mark; I promised my Pa I’d come straight home after school, and if I’m late…I’ll be in trouble again!” Little Joe said firmly. Both boys were saddling their horses inside the little barn next to the school … Continue reading Whose Child is This? (by Debbie B.) →

Summary:   A story of brothers and their devotion to one another, as told by Adam Cartwright. Rated:  PG Word Count:  9436   It’s hard to think back about what happened.  It all seems as if it were a dream but in truth it was reality, or maybe I should have said it was a nightmare, … Continue reading Where There’s Life, There’s Hope (by Debbie B.) →

Summary:  As told to Little Joe Cartwright by his father. Rated:  PG Word Count:  1833   Ben sat back and watched as his sons put the final touches on the big Christmas tree that Adam and Hoss had cut down and dragged into the house earlier that afternoon.  It was easy to spot the decorations … Continue reading Why Jesus is Better than Santa (by Debbie B.) →

Summary: Rated:  PG Word Count:  20,939   Love is neither physical, nor romantic. Real love is an acceptance of all that is, has been, will be and will not be.   The minute he shut the door, Little Joe Cartwright knew something was wrong. He quickly stripped his green jacket from his slender body and hung it up on the peg behind the door as expected of him. For a moment he paused, feeling the dread … Continue reading When the Storm Passes (by Debbie B.) →

Summary: Rated:  PG Word Count:  20,855     “Do ya know your name?” questioned the old man as he bent his head to peer down at the straggled looking imp. The boy looked thoughtful, confused and then, looking wistfully up at the stranger, shook his head no. “I can’t seem to remember.” The old man … Continue reading Where Love Once Lived (by Debbie B.) →

Summary: Rated:  PG Word Count:  8108   The door had been shut and locked from within for hours, days in fact. The young boy had stood in the hallway, often sitting Indian style or leaning against the thick wooden walls just outside the closed room, for as many hours and days. When exhaustion had taken … Continue reading While I was Away (by Debbie B.) →

Summary: Rated:  PG Word Count:  15,139     “AUGHHHHH!!!” “JOSEPH!” shouted Ben. “PA…MISS CROMWELL…I’m sorry…I’m sorry!” Joe shouted as he stared in horror of what he had just done. Ben stood in shock, staring down at his best clothes and the mess dripping from Nora Cromwell’s lovely gown. “I didn’t see you, Pa…honest…I didn’t…” stammered … Continue reading Shared Guilt (by Debbie B.) →

Summary: Rated:  PG Word count:   13,283   “Galldanit, Joe, stop that horsin’ ‘round!” squabbled Hoss, “Ya scarin’ the life outta me!” Little Joe snickered at the scrunched up expression on his older brother’s rotund face. “Aw…I’m just funnin’ with ya,” sang Little Joe as he glanced over his shoulder at the steep edge of the … Continue reading Stuck (by Debbie B.) →

Summary: Rated:  PG Word Count:  8408   Ben let his weary body slide down into the hot, sudsy water. He was tired, worn completely out. The ride into town and back twice in one day had taken its toll on his entire being. It seemed as if every muscle in his body ached. “I’m getting … Continue reading Son, Don’t Take Your Guns to Town (by Debbie B.) →

Summary: Rated:  PG Word Count:  12,858   It had been nearly a month since his accident, as Joe’s family called it, and the boy was happy to be allowed out of the house at last.  It had taken quite a bit of pleading and beseeching on his part to finally get his father to agree … Continue reading Settling the Score (by Debbie B.) →