Category: What Happened Instead
Episode inspired stories.
Older Brothers (by Tavia42)
Summary: Hoss Cartwright and Clay Stafford have at least one thing in common – they’re both older brothers to Little Joe. A Missing Scenes and What Happens Next for “The First Born,” mostly exploring events from Hoss’ and Clay’s points of view. Connected to my ongoing series, but you can also jump in here.
Rating: G | Word Count: 17,642
The Last Trophy? #1 (by sklamb)
Summary: A two-day what-happened-before, what-happened-in-between, and what-happened-later for the first season episode “The Last Trophy”.
Rating: G (1,135 words)
Written for the 2025 Bonanza Brand Advent Calendar
The Last Trophy? #2 (by sklamb)
Summary: The second of a two-day what-happened-before, what-happened-in-between, and what-happened-later for the first season episode “The Last Trophy.”
Rating: G (2,010 words)
Written for the 2025 Bonanza Brand Advent Calendar
Vengeance is Mine (By MelissaR1992)
Summary: As Joe and Alice prepare for the arrival of their first child, their happiness is short-lived when the sinister Damion unexpectedly returns with a vengeance. This is a WHI story based on the two-part episode, Forever.
Rating: PG Word Count: 13,861
Part of the Forever Reimagined series, links to all stories included within.
Not Til We Find Him (by Patina)
Summary:. A missing son, a father’s search. A WHIB and WHI for The Crucible.
Rating: T Word Count: 5,353
A Shadow Calling (by BettyHT)
Summary: Adam and Joe are having nightmares about Hoss and don’t know what they mean. Too late, one brother understands the message that was sent. It’s a WHI for the end of the series.
Rating: T Word count: 6,705
The Found Christmas Star (by FanofoldTVshows)
Summary: A found star brings back memories from a past Christmas.
Rating: A Words 2,050
Written for the 2022 Bonanza Brand Calendar
Taming the Spitfire (by pjb)
Summary: A WHI for The Spitfire. When Joe brings Willow back to the Ponderosa, only one person understands what’s really happening. Rating: PG Word count: 4,380 words
To Live or To Die (by millieshepherd)
Summary: Shelia Johnson, Little Joe Cartwright’s fiancée, gets captured and held hostage by the Lassiters. A WHI for Five Sundowns to Sunup.
Rating: T
Word Count: 10,268
My Boy (by Annie K Cowgirl)
Summary: My boy was late. He was never late. A different POV for the episode “Elizabeth, My Love”.
Rating: K
Word Count: 1,057
The Circumstance of His Return (by McFair_58)
A violent storm, a frightened mare, and the matter of his homecoming. My entry for the 2021 ‘Man in Black’ challenge.
Rated: PG
Word count: 10,999
Always One More (by BettyHT)
Summary: A What Happened Instead for The Decision. What if the doctor wasn’t able to do the surgery? Ben recalls conversations he has had with Hoss and the best of his middle son’s attributes.
Rating: PG Word count: 1243
Please Don’t Go (by Annie K Cowgirl)
Summary: “I’d never thought much about my own death, but on the rare occasions that I did, I’d always imagined I’d be surrounded by my family when my time came. Now, as I watched Hoss ride away, I knew I wouldn’t even be afforded that luxury.” An extended/AU scene from the episode “Second Chance” Joe’s POV.
Rated: T (for mild language)
Word Count: 920
Broken Ballad – The Last Gunfight (by AC1830)
Summary: What if the final gunfight that killed Ed Payson took a different turn and set the main players on different paths? A WHI for Broken Ballad.
Rating: T, Word Count: 2676
Sunday School Lessons, and Surprise (by BettyHT)
Summary: Hoss gets a job teaching unruly boys in Sunday School, but his best student or at least the one most affected by his teaching is not in his class. There are beneficial unintended consequences no one could have predicted.
Rating = PG Word count = 2674