Category: Prequel
Any time before the episode, A Rose for Lotta
The Bird Cage Theatre (by Caz C)
Synopsis: Adam and Hoss visit Tucson, where Adam thinks back to a trip he took there with his father when he was seventeen. He meets a young girl who lives with her mother in the Bird Cage Theatre, the local brothel and dance hall.
Rating: PG (33,750 words)
Fireflies (by Sadie Spinner)
Synopsis: Adam opts to stay home with his baby brother and finds time to reflect on his feelings for his family while sharing the magic of summer.
Rating: G (11,000 words)
A Hot Summer Night (by Sadie Spinner)
Synopsis: While on their journey west, an innocent and delightful distraction leads to a night of terror for Ben and danger for three and a half year old Adam.
Rating: G (3,960 words)
Choices (by Gillian)
Summary: Adam’s best friend from college comes for a visit.
Rating: G (11,000 words)
The Homecoming (by KateP)
Summary: Adam returns home after three years away at college. Companion piece to ‘The Departure’. An old story of mine considerably revised for posting here.
Rated: K+ (6,115 words)
The Departure Series, links to all stories within the series are included.
What Child is This? (by Anne G)
Synopsis: The Cartwright’s hire a new hand and his wife. A young Little Joe is especially drawn to the wife. The true meaning of Christmas revealed once again.
Rating: T due to language (24,300)
The Departure (by KateP)
Summary: Adam is about to leave for college. An old story, completely revised for posting here.
Rated: K+ (4,200 words)
The Departure Series, links to all stories within the series are included.
The Hidden Hurt (by Anne G)
Synopsis: Problems for Little Joe in school are a reflection of something else that is troubling him. A trip in the mountains with Adam reveals the problem.
Rating: G (24,280 words)
Bear Hunt (by Anne G)
Synopsis: While trying to catch a bear, a young Little Joe and a friend incur Adam’s wrath. Both brothers try to resolve what being a brother means and in the end, come to realize how important they each are to the other.
Rating: T (due to language) (9,470 words)
The Wanted Poster (by Helen A)
Summary: An afternoon spent rifling through Roy’s stack of wanted posters and an over active imagination leads one Cartwright into danger. Will he survive long enough to retract his tall tales and set the record straight?
Rating: K+ (28,423 words)
A Father’s Love (by Anne G)
Synopsis: A young Joe Cartwright must live with the fact that he’s killed his father while playing with a pistol while Adam must learn to live with his younger brother in the aftermath.
Rating: G (11,000 words)
A Gift for Marie (by VickieB)
Synopsis: The Cartwright family still have unresolved issues five years after the death of Marie Cartwright. Adam seeks a way to help the family heal.
Rating: G (10,200 words)
Cupid’s Messenger (by JennieA & DebbieB)
Summary: Cupid delivers a Valentine’s message. Let’s see if Adam can worm his way out of this one!
Rated: G (11,540 words)
Shakedown (by Gillian)
Summary: Adam finds being an adult isn’t all good.
Rating: G (9,575 words)
For Pete’s Sake (by Lily of the West)
Summary: Bonanza is still in pre-production with the directors and editors still ironing out the ‘little’ details.
Rating: G
Words: 1,300
