***** SEASON THREE *****

The Honor of Cochise

So, Pernell is the one who the writers chose to get shot in this episode and guess who they want to have rescue him. You got it. Even with elevated heels for my boots he stands taller than I do, and I can’t imagine how much more he weighs. I’m glad they found a smaller stunt double for him.

On the other hand, I shouldn’t complain. Thank heavens when Dan’s character was wounded there were more people around to help carry him to safety. Geesh, I mean, can you see someone my size trying to lug him back to camp?

By BluewindFarm

The Burma Rarity

‘I’m with you every step of the way, Pa. Right down the aisle,’ he said walking across the floor, his face schooled in all seriousness. The other two burst out howling like hyenas.

It’s no laughing matter for a man of my stature to fear going into town. Lately, it seems as if every widow or spinster in town is sizing me up as if I’m some kind of prized bull.

And they have the nerve to joke about it. I’ve changed my mind, it’s not hyenas, they’re braying like jackasses! Just wait until the shoe’s on the other foot.

By BluewindFarm

Broken Ballad

My grief is as much for me as for him.  Maybe that’s not right…but it’s true.

It’s lonely, surrounded by people who don’t quite understand.  To live knowing that those who love you best often excuse the deepest parts of yourself (with a grin and a laugh and the strongest possible affection, and don’t even know they’re doing it, bless them) rather than embrace them.  To be always viewed first through the lens of your place in the whole, and then as yourself.

Comforting, certainly.  Steadying.  I love my family deeply, and would never trade them, or my place in our whole, for anything else.  Ever.

But lonely.

We weren’t the same, he and I.  But I could be completely myself in our friendship, and he could be completely himself, with no excuses necessary.

It was…freeing.  It took the edge off, for both of us.

Now he’s gone.  A stupid, wasteful act by a hothead who never bothered to think past the itch in his groin.  My friend is dead, and the loneliness is strong again.

I can’t tell them.  They would misunderstand, and it would hurt them—something I could never purposely do.

But I really miss my friend.

By PSW

The Ride

With my hand on his shoulder, I congratulated him on standing strong when everyone doubted him and most stood against him.  I felt his body stiffen at my touch even as he turned toward me and smiled.  He would never say it but I knew he felt it.  How could he not?  I had never stood against everyone and defended my point in the face of opposition and doubt even from me.  How terribly alone he must have felt.  Some say my oldest son can be aloof and distant.  At that moment, I understood why he may be that way.

By BettyHT

The Wooing of Abigail Jones

Me.

She thinks I’m talking about… myself.

Oh, I knew this was a bad idea.  How do I let Joe and Hoss talk me into these things?

Retreat.  Time for a tactical retreat.  Maybe to San Francisco.  Or Boston.

Moscow.  She wouldn’t follow me to Russia.

I don’t think…

I’m going to kill them, and bury them so deep Pa will never find the bodies.

And then flee to Antarctica.

Cupid and Cupid Unlimited.  Stupid!  Why didn’t I just keep my mouth shut?

She’s leaning in.  Get out, get out…

“I’ve gotta get back to the ranch. Something’s come up.”

By PSW

The Lawmaker

It was only my thick Cartwright skull that saved me. I now had a pounding headache and an enormous bandage wrapped around my head.

A mob had collected outside. My fault. I should have left well alone but I had to get the truth about Asa. But what if my meddling meant my pa and brothers were jailed, hurt, or worse…

I struggled to sit up, but Doc Martin was swiftly at my side and pressed me down.

“Try to move again, Adam, and I’ll use that bandage on more than your head. Think Egyptian mummy.”

I lay back quickly.

Sierra Girl

~ B ~ O ~ N ~ A ~ N ~ Z ~ A ~

I leave for a few weeks and the place falls down around their ears!

Shootin’ unarmed criminals. Bullyin’ saloon girls.  Pistol whippin’ men.

I oughta wring Ben’s stubborn neck.  Sure, life woulda been miserable for a while, but you can be dang sure no Cartwright’d be goin’ around town hittin’ people over the head!

Much as some of ’em might deserve it.

People complain.  Refusin’ a badge ain’t gonna stop that, and the Cartwrights should know that by now.  Next time I need ta leave town, I’m knockin’ out the nearest one and pinnin’ the badge on while he’s down.

By PSW

The Gamble

Pa’s head is bent, and with folded hands, he prays.  After all these years, I know his heart as well as my own.  He’s praying that God will spare Hoss and me.  To know those nooses out there are meant for us is almost too much for him.  He’s praying Joe will work a miracle, but I can see that he fears he won’t.  Now, I wish I could tell him my little brother is going to pull some fool crazy stunt in broad daylight with the whole town against him, and you know what?  I wouldn’t bet against him.

By BettyHT

The Crucible

He stumbled again and her heart broke. “Please hold on baby you’re almost there!” She’d watched helplessly as Adam was repeatedly tortured and humiliated by Kane. She could speak to him, encourage him, but as much as she wanted to she couldn’t touch him. Now he was finally free but his life was still threatened. Her eyes scanned the surrounding hills, she could see Ben; he was close, but close wasn’t enough! Adam was at the end of his strength, he simply couldn’t go on much longer. Desperate to save their son Elizabeth shouted, “Ben, please… look up!”

By Beej

~ B ~ O ~ N ~ A ~ N ~ Z ~ A ~

She was frantic; Ben was exhausted and despondent enough to listen as Adam’s brothers tried to save his life by asking him to give up and go home. Below she watched as their son staggered into view, damaged and delirious; so close and yet so far! “Ben, darling, listen to me; look, please just look one more time.”

A whisper, from a voice he only heard in bittersweet dreams, begged him to look one last time and without a thought he did and gasped, “Adam… ADAM!”

Elizabeth cried as Adam finally fell into the safety of his father’s arms.

By Beej

Inger, My Love

Inger gazed down on the scene playing out below her not quite understanding what she was seeing. Her eyes darted first to Adam and her infant son, her sweet Hoss. Adam held the tiny baby close, and had turned slightly as if to protect him with his own body from any harm that may come their way. Then her eyes fell on her beloved Ben as he cried… over her body? “I don’t understand.”

“You will, soon. It gets easier,” a soft feminine voice informed her from behind.

Inger turned to find a petite brunette staring down at the same strange scene. There was something eerily familiar about her. She was about to ask who she was when it came to her, “I’m dead, aren’t I?”

The other woman placed a gentle hand on her shoulder and nodded. Inger saw the longing in her eyes as she watched Adam below, “You’re Elizabeth.”

A sad smile graced Elizabeth’s lips, “I’ve been watching.” Her eyes moved from Adam to Inger, “I wanted to… thank you, for loving them.”

Inger instantly understood, and as the two woman watched the scene below said, “We’ll both love them now.”

By Beej

To Season Four