Category: Hoss / Joe
Stories centering on Hoss and Joe
Unfortunate Goings-On (by Tavia42)
Summary: Joe and Hoss meant well. They always do. But somehow they find themselves falling into a series of misadventures, and getting out of one only lands them in another. This story is a compilation of 2025 Pinecone Challenges, which form an ongoing narrative – thank you to AC1830 for so many wonderful prompts!
Rating: G | Word Count: 6,042
A Grave Tale (by Annie K Cowgirl)
Summary: A dare, a graveyard, and something evil lurking within, makes for a night that Little Joe Cartwright will never forget. A pre-series Halloween tale.
Rating: K+
Words: 1,368
The Twelve Trees of Christmas (by Tavia42)
Summary: Joe and Hoss form Cartwright Brothers’ Christmas Trees, selling trees to familiar faces all over Virginia City.
Rating: G | Word Count: 4,133
Written for the 2025 Bonanza Brand Advent Calendar
Thirst (by bonanzagirl)
Summary: A Halloween story, told by Joe and Hoss. Joe gets into trouble while Hoss does everything to fix things again.
Rating: PG Word count: 9000
A Rare Courtship (by Tavia42)
Summary: Hoss and Joe become convinced that their father intends to marry the Widow Hawkins – and that it’s up to them to save him from this terrible fate. A “What Happened Later” for “The Burma Rarity.” Written for the 2025 Ponderosa Paddlewheel Poker Tournament.
Rating: PG | Word Count: 8,040
A Stop at The Shady Villa (by JC)
Summary: After a nearly fatal case of mistaken identity, Joe and Hoss continue their quest for Texas Longhorn breeding stock, inadvertently stumbling across a potential goldmine (What Happened Next after “The Gunmen”). Written for the Chaps & Spurs 2025 Third Quarter Challenge*.
Rating: K+ Word Count: 2974
The Man in Green (by Tavia42)
Summary: On a trip to San Francisco with Hoss, Joe buys himself a new jacket – and, inexplicably, a giant bolt of green fabric. This purchase launches the boys into an evening of chaos and hijinks involving mistaken identities, Confederate spies, and old friend Mark Twain.
Rating: G | Word Count: 19,382
Desperate Rescue (by bonanzagirl)
Summary: Hoss and Joe are on a trip to buy horses
Rating: PG Word Count: 8900
The Loft – #2 (by Pat D in PA)
SUMMARY: In the second of three short stories, a frustrated father, an ornery, half-grown son, and a small(ish) sentinel guarding his elder brother’s privacy as he licks his wounds all need the Cartwright barn’s hayloft to work its magic.
RATING: T – for mature language (5,777 words)
The Miracle (By bonanzagirl)
Summary: A Christmas story. Joe and Hoss are heading out to control the herd
Rating: G Word Count: 3900
Snowball Fight! (by rh2006fan / HeatherF)
Summary: Summary: Joe and Hoss have a snowball fight on a winter morning.
Written for day 13 of the 2021 Advent Calendar.
Rating: G
Word Count: 339
Ponderosa Felines (by wx4rmk)
Summary: When Ben’s youngest two come up with a new animal scheme, Ben reflects on some of the craziest schemes from the past. Will Ben fall for their latest venture or will he have learned something from the past?
Rating: K / Word Count: 1474
The Tipping Point (by Patina)
Summary: It’s looking more and more like lumps of coal are likely gifts this year.
Rating: G
Word Count: 3,070
The Mysterious Death of Amos Snead (by Bakerj)
Summary: Hoss’ suspicions over a death leads him and Joe to an unexpected encounter. This is my entry for the October Chaps & Spurs and the Bonanza Spooktacular challenge for October 2019.
Word Count: 1735 Rating: K
Someday We’ll Be Together (by Annie K Cowgirl)
Summary: Hoss and Little Joe go fishing…or do they?
Rating: T
Word Count: 988
