Summary: A WHN/alternate ending for the episode The Quality of Mercy. Joe goes to see Seth Pruitt in jail.

Rating: K+

Word Count: 613

For all the mothers out there who give us so much.
An innocent comment by the reverend at church sends 40 year old Ben Cartwright on a journey into his young son’s hearts.  
Rated: G
Word count: 3427

A WHN and Missing Scene story for ‘The Stillness Within’.  While rewatching the episode I realized that, after the first commercial break, while Doc Martin was examining him, Joe says it’s been a month since he was blinded.  Say WHAT??  This tale explores what happened between the explosion and Paul’s examination of Joe, as well as what happened during that missing month and ends after Miss Dobbs’ departure.   

Word count: 18,320 Rated: PG

Summary:  What is it like, being a Cartwright daughter?  Only one person could tell you, and it might not be what you think. Chronologically, this story takes place shortly after Winter of Discontent and is an expansion of a recent Pine Cone Challenge bit posted in the forum, the prompt being “The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake.” (Part of the Ties That Bind series, links to other stories included)

Rating: T    (2,093 words)

SUMMARY:  In Yuma, while attempting to fix a mistake that Joe made, Adam makes one far worse and with greater consequences for his future.  Eventually his family will be drawn into it too and with lessons learned, they will face the problems.  Edited in a second story, Yuma, Lost and Found — it is a companion piece to the first part with the story told from Anne’s POV.

Rating = T  Word count = 44,158

SUMMARY:  a continuation of the Confederacy of Dunces series, this story is about Adam adjusting to his role in life.   Although there are skills he has that are admired by many, Adam faces situations in which he wants the skills he no longer has.  His family is there to back him up until he makes the adjustment.

Rating = T  Word count = 12,726

A Confederacy of Dunces series, links to all the stories within the series included.

Summary: Young Joe is drawn into a fight at school because of feelings for a girl.

Rating: K+ WC: 940

SUMMARY:  This is my Chaps and Spurs entry for April.  The topic is temporary insanity which was introduced in that era and tried out as a defense at a fictional trial in Virginia City.  The jury is going to have to deal with a complex issue so the call goes out for better educated citizens, and guess who gets tapped for jury duty?

Rating:  PG  Word count = 1678

SUMMARY: Early in The Julia Bulette Story is a scene where Joe walks into the house to find Ben waiting to talk with him about Julia. This story, which borrows a bit of dialogue from the episode, explores what Joe might have been thinking.

Word count: 1,150 / Rating: PG

SUMMARY:  The third story in the Confederacy of Dunces series, this story takes the family on a dangerous ride.  Gunmen want to make a reputation by gunning down the fastest Cartwright, but he’s not willing to fight.  They decide on a way to draw him out while another brother faces personal tragedy that makes him examine what he’s doing with his life.

Rating:  T  Word count:  12,774

A Confederacy of Dunces Series, links to all the stories within the series included.

Summary: Adam Cartwright sentimental?  A certain day and a certain blue velvet chair hold bittersweet memories.

Word Count: 3019 Rated: G

SUMMARY:  A sequel to A Confederacy of Dunces, this story is about Adam settling into life back on the Ponderosa and adjusting  to his limitations.  A man from Joe’s past shows up though with a plot that involves all the Cartwrights and complicates everything.

Rating = T  Word count = 11,208

A Confederacy of Dunces Series, links to the stories within this series are included.

SUMMARY:  A pinecone expansion that grew exponentially, this story follows Adam on a journey where he takes action to support his convictions but ends up finding out his father was mostly correct in his assessment of the War.

rating = T  word count = 16,590

A Confederacy of Dunces Series, links to stories within this series are included.

Summary: While in Carson City, Joe stops for a quick drink before heading home and meets Eleanor. A challenge piece based on the song “Eleanor Rigby” by John Lennon and Paul McCartney.

Rating: T WC: 1463

Summary: As Ben Cartwright seeks to comfort Little Joe after he is forced to kill his childhood friend, Sharp Tongue, the older man recalls the curious circumstances that brought the two boys, Indian and white,  together – circumstances that threatened his young son’s life then as surely as now. A WHN/WHI for season six’s ‘The Far Far Better Thing’.

Rated PG-13 for Western violence and brutality
Word count: 29,541