Category: Prequel
Any time before the episode, A Rose for Lotta
He Just Wanted To Help (by Lima)
Ben is away on business, leaving 22-year-old Adam in charge of the ranch and his brothers. However, a bank robbery in Carson City and Little Joe’s stubborn insistence on helping is more than enough trouble for him. After Adam forbids Joe from helping, the 10-year-old decides to take matters into his own hands and ends up in the hands of the robbers. Now the only chance Adam has of seeing his youngest brother again is to track down the robbers, and hope he finds them in time.
Rated: K+ (35,170 words)
Christmas Spirit (by Judy)
Summary: Life on a ranch the size of the Ponderosa can be all encompassing at times, and as Christmas approaches, one finds the need to take a better look at himself and the lessons that were supposed to be remembered.
Rated: PG
Word Count: 5700
The Christmas Gift (by Judy)
Summary: The best gift ever.
Rated: PG
Word Count: 19,366
Ponderosa Christmas (by Judy)
Summary: An afternoon spent preparing for Christmas
Rating: PG (1,085 words)
Small Kindnesses (by Judy & Jerri)
Summary: Small kindnesses leads a stray home.
Rating: PG (25,471 words)
You Got to Have Heart (by Judy)
Summary: Little Joe and trouble seem to go hand in hand.
Rated: PG
Word Count: 36,377
The Golden Rule (by Judy)
Summary: To do the right thing, Joe must disobey his father.
Rated: PG
Word Count: 16,555
Inner Conflict (by Judy)
Summary: Joe meets Billy the Kid.
Rated: PG
Word Count: 20,500
Blood Brothers (by Judy)
Summary: This story is a “prequel” to the episode entitled “A far, far better thing”; it deals with Little Joe’s friendship with the Indian ‘Sharp Tongue’. It is a story about difficult friendships and prejudice. As usual, I have added a few things just for fun. Please feel free to ignore them or explore them as you prefer.
Rated: PG
Word Count: 48,255
Growing Pains (by Judy & Jerri)
Summary: It’s tough being the youngest Cartwright, but what he lacks in stature he more than makes up for it by living up to the name.
Rated: PG
Word Count: 48,918
Winter Break (by Judy)
Summary: Unable to participate in a winter activity with his brothers, Joe finds a way to take matters into his own hands.
Rated: PG
Word Count: 15,000
Gypsy (by Judy)
Summary: When Ben tries to teach Joe a lesson, it is he that learns a greater one.
Rated: PG
Word Count: 64,940
Family (by Judy)
Summary: A family outing almost ends in tragedy.
Rated: PG
Word Count: 17,234
A Lesson in Vocabulary (by Judy)
Summary: Out of the mouths of babes.
Rated: PG
Word Count: 9942
The Younger Years #2 – The Graingers (by Jenniferk22)
Summary: The sequel to The Younger Years.
Rating: PG-13 (10,205 words)
Part of The Younger Years Series, links to all stories included within.
