ummary:  This is the second story in the A Circle of Family saga. Adam’s Bible, nearly destroyed in The Book of Joseph, has been returned in better shape than thought possible. After an thoughtful conversation with Hoss, Ben opens the Bible to the story of David and Goliath and relives a memory from a Sunday in the past when a reenactment of that story went awry. We see a young David (Hoss) smite the powerful Goliath (Adam) with a heavy wooden sword, leading to an interesting exchange between Marie and Ben as they decide how to patch the mighty Philistene’s gaping lip.

Rated: K  WC  8300

A Circle of Family Series, links to all the stories within the series included.

Summary:  Days before Adam is scheduled to leave for college, Little Joe “borrows” his older brother’s Bible and leaves it outside in the rain when his attention is drawn elsewhere. The Bible had belonged to Elizabeth and was one of the few tokens Adam had of his mother. We watch as he discovers the seeminly ruined text, and comes to grip with his loss and tries to find forgiveness. This is the first of a four part story of family love, sweet memories and the Cartwright’s way of living life to its fullest.  

Rated: K  WC  1800

A Circle of Family Series, links to all the stories within the series included.

Summary: The final episode of the prequel series, It’s Just a Year. Adam has remained home for a year longer than he’d planned before heading for college. In that time, he’s been hazed, poisoned, almost killed and now we find him healthy and camping with Hoss for a final brother’s weekend before leaving for Boston. The idyllic time takes a ominous turn when Adam realizes that someone’s been watching their camp and must soon face his worst fears again and save his brother from the same fate. As with all theses stories, this can be read without reading the others first. This concluding episode brings the two oldest Cartwright boys together for some defining moments.  

Rated: K+  WC  17,000

It’s Only a Year Series, links to all the stories within the series included.

Summary:  17 year-old Adam has been in his first gunfight and although his wound seemed minor, it worsened as he continued to work, until he lost so much blood that he was near death. We now find out what happerned that night and who helps to heal a family wrought with sadness, guilt and decisions.  there is no need to read the previous stories to enjoy this one. A young Abigail Jones makes her first appearance and Hop Sing makes a friend.  

Rated: K+  15,000

It’s Only a Year Series, links to all the stories within the series included.

Summary:  17 year old Adam has proven himself to the Ponderosa ranch hands after a summer of hazing, and is finally enjoying his his last year home before leaving for school. But his life takes a dramatic turn when he is menaced by a new addition to the crew, and must decide whether the man is serious in his sinister intent, or it’s just another attempt to test his mettle. Once Adam decides which it is, he makes choices that  bring him into conflict with his father and lead to the worst of consequences.

Rated: K+  WC  16,000

It’s Only a Year Series, links to all the stories within the series included.

Summary:  17-year-old Adam is learning some hard life lessons. He returns home from a cattle drive where he’s been forced to subsist on beans and endure hazing by the hired hands intent on making him prove his worth, to find his father away, Hoss ill and Little Joe in a state of panic. The results involves some very bad decisions, a dose of castor oil given in an all-out battle of wills, and hurt feelings. This story takes a serious turn when Hoss’ attempt to give his brother a “taste of his own medicine” goes horribly wrong.  

Rated: K+  WC  11,300

It’s Only a Year Series, links to all the stories within the series included.

Summary:  Adam’s return from college has Ben saying and doing everything wrong, with no clue as to why he’s acting that way, yet unable to make any adjustments in his behavior to stop the building crisis. The tension in the house comes to a head as Adam is severely injured in a fall and Ben finds out that his son has made plans to leave the ranch and take a job as an engineer in San Francisco. As Adam’s condition unexpectedly worsens, Ben finds the right words to say, but fears it may be too late to make a difference. Paul Martin and Hop Sing play important roles in easing these two powerful Cartwrights back together.  

Rated: K+  WC  9200

Summary:  Ben stands vigil as thirteen-year-old Adam lies near death with a raging fever. The father blames himself and questions his ability as a parent while offering a prayer to give his own life to spare his son’s. A stranger helps Ben face his fears and understand that parenthood takes courage and help from unexpected places.  

Rated: K+ WC  4600

Summary:  Adam writes a letter to his mother during his last year of college.

Rated: K (585 words)

Summary: They say that curiosity killed the cat, but what happens when one of the Cartwright boy’s let’s his nosiness get the better of him?

Rated: K+ (1,010 Words)

Summary:  Twelve year old Joe is bitten by a rattlesnake, but things get uglier faster than expected.  

Rated: K  (5,000 words)

Summary:  Twelve year old Joe is bitten by a rattlesnake, but things get uglier faster than expected.  

Rated: K  (500 words)

Summary: Adam is trying to come to terms with Inger’s death, and finds comfort from an unexpected source.  

Rated: K+  WC 897

Summary: It’s not long after Marie enters the lives of the two Cartwright boys when Adam is confronted with an unexpected question by Hoss. Learning more about Hoss’ deepest wishes, will Adam be able to ignore them just out of his own stubbornness?

Rated: K+  (1,340 words)

Summary: A tasking mistress draws Ben away from his family. Will it take losing his family before he sets his priorities right?

Rating:  K+  (19,460 words)