Category: Prequel
Any time before the episode, A Rose for Lotta
A Special Day (by AC1830)
Summary – Ben has a special day planned for Adam.
Rating – K, Word Count – 1087
Her Angel Arms (McFair_58)
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
Lessons In Freedom (byHart4Ben)
Summary: Young Joe is drawn into a fight at school because of feelings for a girl.
Rating: K+ WC: 940
Forget Me Not (McFair_58)
Summary: Adam Cartwright sentimental? A certain day and a certain blue velvet chair hold bittersweet memories.
Word Count: 3019 Rated: G
Mother Nature’s Blessing (by wx4rmk)
Summary: Prequel. Written for March 2019 Chaps & Spurs.
Rated: K+ WC 1700
The Ultimate Wound (by McFair_58)
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
What Comes Around (by Missjudy)
Summary: Ben took the leadership of his wagon train when the group decided to keep moving to Fort Laramie after the tragedy at Ash Hollow. With their journey nearly complete, Ben rides ahead to make arrangements with the cavalry at the fort, leaving others to move the wagons the 15 miles from the final campsite. He’s excited to see his group arrive, but soon realizes all is not well.
Rating: K Word Count: 16,263
Rocky Road to California (by DJK)
Summary: Written for the 2018 Advent Calendar, based on the quilting prompt, “Rocky Road to California”
Rating: G 1,540 words
The Lady with Yellow Hair (by McFair_58)
Summary: Each year at Christmas a beautiful lady graces the Cartwright’s Ponderosa ranch house. From her post high atop their tree the little angel with cornflower yellow hair watches them. A smile lights her face for she knows that, without her, Ben Cartwright’s life would have been very different…
Word count: 7489
Rated: G
A Christmas Wish (by puppycuddles)
Summary: Each member of the family is important. The absence of just one or two is greatly felt, especially during the Christmas season. Ben reflects on the changes the year has brought while someone else makes a special request. A prequel story.
Rating: G
Word count: 1,253 words
Pie For Pa (by Hart4Ben)
Summary: While Hop Sing is away for a few days, Little Joe persuades Hoss to help with a surprise for their father and Adam.
Rating: K Word Count: 3695
A True Cartwright (by freyakendra)
Summary: The Ponderosa sets the stage for a kangaroo court that puts Ben on trial and puts a pubescent Joe through a whole lot of trouble.
Rated: T Word Count: 14,000
Germantown Lady (by Hart4Ben)
Summary: While Ben and young Adam are making their way west, they make a brief stop in Germantown, Ohio. An unusual festival is in progress when they arrive. Set in approximately 1834 or 1835.
Rating: K WC: 1419
Though She Be But Little (by McFair_58)
Summary: A slight mishap brings the old Indian blanket that hangs on the stair rail to Joe Cartwright’s attention. His questions bring odd looks and just a little bit of pain. When his Pa breaks down and tells him the story of how the blanket came to be there and what it means, Joe realizes he will never look at his mother the same way again.
Rated PG-13
Word count: 17,653
Hard Headed Woman (by Annie K Cowgirl)
Summary: Marie would do anything to protect her sons, anything…including this.
Rating: K+
Word Count: 737
