Episode Inspired Stories – The Julia Bulette Story

What Happened Before, Missing Scenes, What Happened Next, What Happened Instead, and stories that begged to be told that were not included within the series. Some of these stories were challenge inspired and some, the writers were just never satisfied with what was aired.

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Please be advised that the listing of stories below may contain works which have been assigned and “R” or a “Mature” rating by their respective authors. Such stories could contain explicit language and/or adult themes; and are not intended for readers under the age of 18. Please heed our rating guidelines.

To read the story, click on the title.


A Book:  A Gift of Reading – by fanofoldTVshows

Summary: A box of gifts arrives with a sender that intrigues the Cartwrights.
Rating:  G  1,609 words
Note:  This story was written for the Bonanza Brand 2020 Advent Calendar, originated in the Forums.


A Different Time, A Different Place by Ginny F

Summary:  My version of “Juliet Bulette”
Rating:  MA  8,900 words


Beauty is the Lover’s Gift by Rona

Summary:  When Joe falls sick with a fever after Julia Bulette’s death, Ben remembers his relationship with Julia.
Rating:  MA  8,380 words


Burden of the Oath (The) by Hart4Ben

Summary:  Hoss struggles with how to help Doc Martin in the aftermath of the epidemic and Julia’s Bulette’s death. A WHN for The Julia Bulette Story.
Rating: K+  Word Count: 1493


Clearing the Mind by Dodo

Summary:  A sort of Valentine story for the February Chaps and Spurs challenge. A What Happened Next for The Julia Bulette episode using the words:   Joy, Frosting, Dream, Valentine and Sparkling.
Rated:   K+ Word Count:   1550


Consequences by Sassybrass

Summary:  Joe must know about his father’s past with Julia Bulette, even to the point of pushing his father into a lie. Set shortly after “The Julia Bulette Story”. A challenge story “Can you write from an outline”
Rated:   T    WC 1900


Death, Defiance, and a Fine Day for A Swim by dbird

Summary:  Adam and Joe find their own way through grief, on a summer day at the lake. A WHN story for the episode, “The Julia Bulette Story.”
Rated:   K+


Devotion by Southplains

Summary:  Did Amy Bishop know of Joe’s love affair with Julia Bulette? If she did, what did she think and how did she come to terms with it?   Written in response to the ‘Missing Scenes’ challenge here on BB, and inspired by a question posed on another site.
Rated:   K+   WC 7900


Did They Ever by Terri

Summary:  As Adam and Joe sit round the campfire, Adam regales an incredulous Joe of their first meeting with Julia Bulette. A meeting that got both Adam and his Pa into big trouble with Marie.
Rated:   K+ WC 9300


Epiphany by Claire

Summary: Tensions are high when Adam and Joe set off on an important journey together, but events allow them to reach a true understanding of one another.
Rated: K+  5,720 words


Forever Changed by BluewindFarm

Summary: After concluding a business trip to San Francisco, Joe’s life is forever changed.
Rating:  T   14,520 words


If Not for Aura Lee by BluewindFarm

Summary:  What happened after Jean was taken into custody, and Julia’s window went dark.
Rating:  T  for mild cursing and references to adult themes   11,940 words


Julia by Hart4Ben

Summary:  A prequel to “The Julia Bulette Story”. It attempts to explain the apparent connection between Ben and Julia.
Rating: T  Word Count: 2480


Julia by Inca

Summary:  A missing scene from The Julia Bulette Story.  My response to the September 2016 R-forum story challenge.
MA-rated for graphic sexual content.   Word count:3790


Julia by PJB

Summary:  A ‘What Happened Instead’ for the Julia Bulette Story, seen from Julia’s point of view.  Mild sexual content.
Rated:  MA  WC 26,000


Lessons in the Art of Negotiations by BluewindFarm

Summary:  It’s time for Adam to introduce Little Joe to the… um… fine art of negotiating.  And at least for the night, what better way to forget that Pa is probably going to ‘kill him’ when he finds out the truth.
Rating: R    5,095 words


On My Way by SallyAnn

Summary: Joe is having difficulty dealing with his grief over losing love and proving he’s an adult by taking it out on his family. This leads to trouble for him and his entire family. Set after “The Julia Bulette Story.”
Rated: T   7,230 words


Reputation by Patina

Summary: A What-Happened-In-Between for the Julia Bulette Story. Some wounds never heal.
Rating: T  935 words


Scars by pjb

Summary:  When young little Joe is injured, his family tries to ease his fears by revealing some of their own scars.
Rating:  G  2,590 words


Seasons by Cheaux

Summary:   Ben’s worried and sends new hand Candy Canaday on a mission.
Rating:  K    Word Count:  1779


Studio Executives #6 – Fake History by pjb

Summary: The Cartwrights recognize that they have a great deal to be thankful for. So why won’t they do a Thanksgiving episode?
WC: 2,440 Rating: PG


Une Petite Mort (A Little Death) by Sue

Summary: A ‘what happened in between and next’ for one of my favourite episodes, Julia Bulette. I always felt the fever was glossed over in the show due to time constraints. A lot of people died and Joe and Julia nursed sick people for days, maybe weeks. I have gone into what might have happened in this story.
Also where had Joe been when he rode home to see his father the night they argued so fiercely. What were both their feelings before and after that fight. What happened after Joe proposed and rode home and also after Julia’s funeral. How was he with his father and his brothers?
Rated: T WC 55,200