Category: Short Stories
This category is for your Bonanza Short Stories from 500-999 words in length.
Longings (by BluewindFarm)
Summary: Written in Response to the May 2023 – Double Drabble Prompts: “Will he kiss me?” and “Metamorphosis!”
Rating: Teen (Words: 600)
Men Are Still Boys (by BettyHT)
Summary: This is a set of five stories that are not related except in showing that men are still boys in many ways whether it is what they do, say, aspire to be, or the mistakes they can make. A short summary precedes each story.
Rating: T Word count: 6,995
A Shady Encounter (by JC)
Adam entertains an old flame. Could it be love the second time around?
Rating: Teen Words: 750
Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch (A Bonanza Really Short Story) by JC
The Cartwright brothers – you know them, you love them, but let’s face it – after all these years things have gotten pretty predictable around the Ponderosa. It’s the same old story in a nutshell…
Rating: G WC: 563
Baubles (mcfair_58)
Summary: A barren tree and a string of glass beads bring two lonely men together on Christmas Eve.
Rated G
Word count: 4121
The Fifth Sunup (by Annie K Cowgirl)
Summary: To fall meant capture. Capture meant death. And I wasn’t ready to die; not yet, not when my life had barely begun. Joe’s thoughts as he flees from the Lassiters in Five Sundowns to Sunup.
Rating: K
Word Count: 563
Part of the Five Sundowns to Sunup Series, links included within.
Home For the Holidays (by Southplains)
Summary: Inspired by a Pinecone prompt.
Rating: K
Word Count: 1400
A Cruel Sort of Kindness (by Annie K Cowgirl)
Summary: “Pa’d once told us boys that a person shouldn’t go into marriage thinking that they could change their spouse; they’d only tear each other apart in the end. It was a piece of advice that I’d nearly forgotten.” A missing scene from the episode The Courtship.
Rating: K+
Word Count: 625
I Will Remember You (by Annie K Cowgirl)
Summary: “…if anyone in the wide world had a reason to be angry it was me.” A WHB (what happened before) for the episode “The Stranger”. Leduque’s POV.
Rating: T (for language)
Word Count: 600
The Author (by Arien)
Summary: While working on her latest story, an author gets a surprise visit.
Rating: K+
Word Count: 778
Grandfatherhood (by AC1830)
Summary: Ben reflects on the wonder of being a father and a grandfather. A Father’s Day tribute.
Rating: K, Word count: 518
A Matter of Guilt (by Annie K Cowgirl)
Summary: A WHIB (what happened in between) for the episode “A Matter of Circumstance”. Ben and Hoss worry and wait for word of Joe’s condition.
Rated: K+
Word Count: 975
Amy (by Annie K Cowgirl)
Summary: Gone was the awkward school girl I’d once known. In her place was an enticing young woman…. Joe’s thoughts after his first encounter with Amy.
Rating: T (a mild T for light language and hormonal, teenage thoughts)
Word Count: 554
Please Don’t Go (by Annie K Cowgirl)
Summary: “I’d never thought much about my own death, but on the rare occasions that I did, I’d always imagined I’d be surrounded by my family when my time came. Now, as I watched Hoss ride away, I knew I wouldn’t even be afforded that luxury.” An extended/AU scene from the episode “Second Chance” Joe’s POV.
Rated: T (for mild language)
Word Count: 920
Mama’s Brooch (by Sierras)
Summary: Joe and his wife are having their first Christmas together. He would like to find her a special gift. Pa has an idea.
Rating: G 435 words
Note: This story was written for the Bonanza Brand 2020 Advent Calendar, originated in the Forums.