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)

Summary: A young Little Joe wants to know which of his brothers will be getting him a special gift for Christmas, but Adam isn’t in the mood for spilling secrets. A short holiday story set during the early years of the Ponderosa.
Rating: G Word Count: 739

Summary: In this first of three short stories, we are able to see the healing properties that can be present in a simple hayloft.  In this first story, a deeply disappointed youngest Cartwright brother learns that even a bossy boots big brother can somehow know just the right things to say… and not to say.
Rating: K/G (1,711 words)

Summary: Lesson plans have real-life implications during Miss Jones’ absence.
Rating:  G   3,410 words

Written for the Bonanza Brand Advent Calendar

Summary: Christmas candles, a cranky baby, and a neglected Cartwright all add up to one special Christmas. 
Rating:  G    2,420 words

Written for the 2024 Bonanza Brand Advent Calendar

Summary:  Ben wants to indulge Adam by giving him the one present he requested, but wherever does one buy a battery for a thirteen-year-old?
Rating:  G  2,325 words

Written for the 2024 Bonanza Brand Advent Calendar

Summary: One of the Cartwrights gets a big surprise for his birthday. Written for Dan Blocker’s Birthday.  Rating: G, Word Count: 2294 A New Friend   A horse is a thing of beauty – head raised proudly, mane and tail flying in the wind as it parades around. It’s enough…

Summary: Little Joe thinks an ornament is too ugly for the Cartwright tree. Adam has the opposite opinion in this slice-of-life vignette.
Rating: G 610 words

Summary: This is a prequel with Adam home from college at about 23, Hoss at about age 17, and Joe at about age 11. Returning from a trip to Sacramento, Adam has two disturbing encounters, one with someone he thought could be a friend and another with outlaws. Then he has another one with his father. The rest of the story develops from those until the issues can be resolved.
Rating – T  Word Count – 32,154

Canon refers to Ben leaving the Ponderosa for a time after Marie’s death. This story presents a possibility for how Adam managed during this time. (This is an Old Ned story.)

This is a compilation of five vignettes that take place on Ben Cartwright’s trip West.
Rating: K+ Words: 2274

Summary: Instead of excitement and joy over Adam’s imminent return from school in Boston, unexpected emotions and personal fears leave the Cartwrights struggling in their welcome. This story is comprised of chapters told from a family member’s POV.

Rating: G

Words: 26442

Adam’s last weeks at college back East have him dealing with accolades, accusations, rivals, revenge, and possible expulsion.
Rating: Teen for mature references Word count: 7,942

Summary: This prequel is set a few weeks before Adam’s departure for school.  A simple request to pick up Little Joe from a neighbor’s home where the little boy is playing, ends up bringing Adam into a world of confusion over what’s going on with the wife of his father’s oldest friend.

This is the first of 2 prequels, the first taking place in the weeks before Adam left for college, and the second story showing his return. Both take a fun, yet serious look at how the Cartwright family faces problems.

Rating: K    Word Count:  26419

Summary: It was just an April Fool’s Day prank gone wrong.
Rating: General    Word count: 897 This was written in response to a forum challenge.