In March, 2026, Joan Sattler decided it was time to share her stories with all readers. The Bonanza Brand Fanfiction Library is honored to provide a home for her collection of stories.
Summary: The more things change the more things stay the same. Twelve looks at the Cartwrights during 1865.
Rating – K 11,970 words
Summary: Three discussions between a father and his sons. Just how did they get so smart?
4,725 words Rating: – K
Summary: A misunderstanding causes Joe to feel his father doesn’t want him to live on The Ponderosa any more. WC 24,000
Rating: K
Summary: Joe has his hands full trying to manage four girls who are interested in him.
Rating: K 18,275 words
A Hoss by Any Other Name – by JoanS
Summary: Joe tries to help Hoss to impress a girl, but things become complicated when Adam also gets involved.
Rating: K+ 10,225 words
Summary: Adam travels home from college
Rating: G 10,130 words
Summary: The Cartwrights find themselves in financial trouble when they try to honour a timber contract.
Rating: T (8,850 words)
Summary: A faith healer comes to town and causes problems for Dr. Martin and the Cartwrights.
Rating: T (14,600 words)
A Special Kind of Love #1 – by JoanS
Summary: Joe searches for a mother figure in his life.
Rating: K 13,770 words
A Special Kind of Love #2 – To Trust in Love – by JoanS
Summary: Joe finds it difficult to accept a new woman in Ben’s life. Sequel to ‘A Special Kind of Love’
Rating: K
Summary: A traveling rodeo comes to town and Joe enters the competition.
Rating: K 8,475 words
Abigail Jones’ Diary – by JoanS.
Summary: Nothing will stop Virginia City’s school teacher when she has her sight set on a Cartwright.
Rating: G (9,680 words)
Abigail Jones’ Diary: The Sequel – by JoanS.
Summary: Virginia City’s school teacher is still determined to get her man.
Rating: G (8,770 words)
Summary: Joe takes full advantage of his brothers’ guilt when they cause him to have an accident.
Rating: G 10,020 words
Summary: An accusation by a girl could tear Joe’s world apart.
Rated: T 34,195 words
Adonis in the Wilderness – by JoanS
Summary: One of Adam’s retired professors visits the Ponderosa for a vacation; involving the entire family in his latest art project. Is Virginia City ready for the newest Adonis?
Rating: T
Summary: Ben feels the pressure of his many responsibilities and needs a break for a while.
Rating: G 6,740 words
Summary: An ill wind invades the Ponderosa, leaving the Cartwrights unable to take care of themselves while Hop Sing is away.
Rating: K 16,900 words
And So The Sad Tale Begins – by JoanS
Summary: Ben comes home to find trouble in the house.
Rating: K 6,270 words
Summary: Joe finds himself helpless and at the mercy of an older woman.
Rating: T 16,950 words
Summary: Watching after Little Joe proves to be a challenge when Ben has to leave him with a babysitter.
Rating: G (12,800 words)
Baker Series #1 – Baker’s Brat – by JoanS
Summary: Just how much influence could one seven-year-old have on an Army Post?
Rating: K WC 15,500
Baker Series #2 – Baker’s Dozen – by JoanS
Summary: Ten years after he and Joe first met, Baker visits The Ponderosa while on a mission.
Rating: K WC 15,400
Baker Series #3 – Baker’s Legacy – by JoanS
Summary: Joe feels the loss of his friend Baker.
Rating: K WC 9700
Baker Series #4 – Baker’s Destiny – by JoanS
Summary: Joe and Baker meet again, but this time under difficult circumstances.
Rating: K 17,680 words
Summary: Each of the four Cartwrights has a different slant on an incident to tell the local barber
Rating: G (4,240 words)
Summary: Adam, Hoss and Ben try to will Little Joe back to consciousness after an accident.
Rating: K 3,490 words
Summary: A story for anyone who has ever wondered what goes on behind the Cartwright house.
Rating: G 9,200 words
Summary: A love story of Ben from the perspective of his three wives.
Rating: G (4,450 words)
Synopsis: A careless act of Little Joe’s puts his life in danger and that of his beloved horse Cochise
Rating: G 19,000 words
Between Two Worlds #1 – by JoanS
Summary: Joe is sold as a slave after it is discovered that his mother was part-coloured.
Rating: T 64,250 words
Between Two Worlds #2 – When Two Worlds Collide – by JoanS
Summary: Joe tries to deal with his feelings after returning home from Alabama.
Rating: T 26,125 words
Summary: Sometimes a boy’s ears can come in handy.
Rating: K 5,930 words
Boston Correspondence – by JoanS
Summary: Vignettes of life on the Ponderosa as well as Boston during Adam’s college years.
Rating: K 10,835 words
Summary: A potentially deadly illness sneaks up on the youngest Cartwright. Follow along as, in a moment of true Joe, the family finds themselves racing against time.
Rating: K 16,720 words
Summary: A Ponderosa ranch hand is convicted of murder, and all four Cartwrights must deal with their emotions regarding the situation.
Rated: PG (9,650 words)
Brother Campaign (The) – by JoanS
Summary: Little Joe advertises for a new Cartwright when he decides that he doesn’t want to be the youngest brother anymore.
Rated: K+ 5,610 words
Summary: Adam, Hoss and Joe fight over who will use the buggy for their date.
Rating: G 9,735 words
But for the Grace of God – by JoanS
Summary: Events force a son to look back on a traumatic time in his life; acknowledging how thankful his is for his family.
Rating: K+ 11,205 words
Call of Nature (The) – by JoanS
Summary: The 1965 San Francisco earth tremor causes the Cartwrights to stop to consider a few issues.
Rating: PG 6,435 words
Summary: Ben is faced with a difficult moral decision that could cost him the life of one of his sons.
Rated: T 14,720 words
Summary: Adam and Hoss are sick of Joe not co-operating while their father is away.
Rating: T (5,225 words)
Summary: A traveling dentist visits town.
Rated: K 11,710 words
Summary: Ben tries to find some quiet time to get his ranch accounts in order.
Rating: G (5,650 words)
Summary: A much-anticipated train trip for the Cartwright family may be spoilt.
Rating: T (6,950 words)
Summary: Ben spends a day on the front porch while laid-up with a bad ankle and discovers that it is impossible to become bored with his three sons around.
Rating: G (8,300 words)
Summary: Joe feels responsible for the death of a new ranch hand.
Rated: T 13,725 words
Summary: All four Cartwrights have women trouble.
Rating: G 9,150 words
Following the Dream – by JoanS
Summary: Ben has a difficult decision to make regarding a young Adam’s future.
Rated: K+ 9,665 words
Summary: The women of the town try to help the Cartwright family after Marie’s death, causing Ben nothing but headaches.
Rating: G 13,690 words
Summary: A girl tries to rekindle her romance with Joe.
Rated: K 4,200 words
Summary: Ben is determined that this Founder’s Day will be a family affair, but his sons have other ideas.
Rated: K 17,400 words
Summary: Ben is disturbed when Marie’s father arrives in Virginia City wanting to meet his grandson.
Rated: K 19,580 word
Summary: A girl comes between Joe and Hoss which has far-reaching implications.
Rated: T 32,220 words
Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow – by JoanS
Summary: Little Joe brings some unwanted guests to The Ponderosa and causes trouble for everyone.
Rating: G (6,600 words)
Healing Process (The) – by JoanS
Summary: An accident leaves Joe and Cochise emotionally hurt and estranged from each other.
Rated: T 22,465 words
His Rightful Place – by JoanS.
Summary: Hop Sing struggles to find his place at The Ponderosa.
Rating: G 11,125 words
Summary: A Hillbilly family seeks revenge after Joe kills two of their members. A WHN story for ‘The Spitfire’.
Rated: T 19,990 words
Hook, Line, and Sinker – by JoanS.
Summary: Adam uses his family to help him court a young lady.
Rating: G (6,540 words)
Summary: A tale of a young boy, a frog and the trouble they cause.
Rating: G (5,400 words)
If These Walls Could Talk – by JoanS
Summary: The task of reroofing the barn brings back various memories for each of the Cartwrights.
Rating: K 9,000 words
Impatient Patient (The) – by JoanS
Summary: Joe is forced to stay in bed after an accident and causes trouble for everyone as a result.
Rated: K 14,980 words
Summary: Hoss is feeling overshadowed by his two brothers.
Rating: G (4,320 words)
Summary: Based on “All Ye His Saints”. This is my version of the episode as I always wanted it to be.
Rating: G 10,610 words
Indian Painting (The) – by JoanS
Summary: Ever wondered about the Cartwright’s Indian painting and why it moves around so much? This story should answer your questions if you have.
Rated: K+ 10,345 words
Summary: Adam, Hoss and Little Joe find themselves in a life-threatening situation while they are waiting for Ben to come home one evening.
Rating: G 10,275 words
Summary: Joe is hurt in an accident in the lumber camp.
Rated: K 13,520 words
Summary: Ben remembers the births of each of his sons.
Rating: G 5,830 words
Joe Cartwright – Seven Up – by JoanS
Summary: A woman finds an old diary in an antique store.
Rated: K 15,220 words
Journey Worth Remembering – by JoanS
Summary: A trip for Ben and ten year old Little Joe takes an unexpected turn.
Rated: K 21,260 words
Summary: Adam is forced to take a young Little Joe on an overnight trip.
Rating: G 15,623 words
Keeping Things Going – by JoanS
Summary: The Cartwrights try to keep things going around the house when Hop Sing leaves for a while.
Rated: K 10,000 words
Kissing Room (The) – by JoanS.
Summary: An adolescent Joe tries to find out about the upstairs rooms in the saloon.
Rating: G 14,300 words
Summary: Ben is determined to teach Joe a lesson when he gets into trouble in town, but will the youngest Cartwright survive his punishment?
Rated: K 14,690 words
Summary: Marie is worried about the dangers out west.
Rating: G 5,710 words
Summary: Joe is missing when the family are in a San Francisco hotel.
Rated: K 7,465 words
Summary: Joe is badly injured and could have a serious disability.
Rated: K 19,950 words
Summary: You’ve probably read what the producers want you to know about the map that hung on the wall behind Ben’s desk, but here is the real story.
Rating: K 2,790 words
Summary: Excerpts from Adam’s diary on the same day for fifteen years.
Rated: K 17,825 words
Summary: Joe is tired of being ‘Little Joe’.
Rated: K 11,365 words
My Brother, My Enemy – by JoanS
Summary: The Civil War causes a rift in the Cartwright family.
Rated: T 29,535 words
Summary: A woman in Ben’s life comes between Joe and his father.
Rated: K 13,015 words
Summary: Traces the progress of Joe’s natural affinity with horses.
Rated: K 6,700 words
Next Mrs. Cartwright (The) – by JoanS.
Summary: Ben’s sons decide that it is time their father was married again, so they set out to find him a new wife.
Rating: G 16,560 words
Summary: A strange ranch hand develops an obsession with Joe.
Rated: T 12,825 words
Summary: A college friend of Adam’s causes trouble for both Adam and Joe.
Rated: T 18,955 words
Summary: The Cartwrights realize just how much Hop Sing means to them when he becomes ill.
Rating: G (9,560 words)
Summary: Ben finds it necessary to take a young Little Joe on a long stagecoach trip.
Rated: K 7,090 words
Summary: Ben has a headache, which throws the household into turmoil
Rating: G 7,200 words
Summary; When first you conspire to deceive… It’s mighty hard to keep a secret with Little Joe around.
Rating: K 9,850 words
Part of the Family – by JoanS.
Summary: Hop Sing tries to help the Cartwrights overcome the death of Marie.
Rating: G 9,950 words
Summary: Joe has money troubles and Adam tries to teach him a lesson.
Rating: G 5,690 words
Picking up the Threads – by JoanS
Summary: Ben finds it difficult to re-enter his boys’ lives after Marie’s death.
Rated: K 13,335 words
Summary: Ben decides to give Adam a welcome home party when he returns from college, but the preparations for it put a strain on everyone.
Rated: K 12,480 words
Pride Comes Before a Fall – by JoanS
Summary: Adam prepares to apply for Harvard.
Rating: K+ 37,050 words
Summary: A tasking mistress draws Ben away from his family. Will it take losing his family before he sets his priorities right?
Rating: K+ 19,460 words
Summary: Little Joe is quarantined with some of the townsfolk when travelers bring a mysterious disease to town.
Rated: K 11,420 words
Summary: A bet between the Cartwright brothers goes horribly wrong and puts one of their lives at risk.
Rated: K 10,990 words
Summary: The Cartwrights battle to save Joe’s life when his foot becomes trapped in between railway lines.
Rated: K 10,950 words
Summary: Adam and Little Joe are held for ransom.
Rating: G 8,430 words
Summary: Ben is worried that his memories of Marie will fade with time.
Rating: G 2,745 words
Summary: Trouble invades Virginia City, and with the law on their tails, they unwitting head straight for the schoolhouse.
Rating: K+ 6,550 words
Summary: Virginia City is temporarily left without a schoolteacher, and everyone at The Ponderosa feels the effects of it.
Rating: G 11,390 word
Settling the Accounts – by JoanS
Summary: It’s the end of the month and settling the accounts nearly spells an apoplexy for Ben.
Rating: K+ 10,440 words
Summary: The boys decide that Ben is lonely and each of them try to set him up with a woman.
Rating: G (10,100 words)
Summary: The Cartwright family is trapped by Indians.
Rating: G 9,410 words
Silver Dollar (The) – by JoanS
Summary: Just how deep of a hole will Joe dig for himself? And when the consequences of being restricted from the Silver Dollar seem unjust… Could it get any worse? This is Joe we’re talking about.
Rating: K+ 14,030 words
Summary: A snapshot of each of the Cartwright boys on their sixth birthdays.
Rated: K+ 4,765 words
Summary: A snake causes chaos in the Cartwright house.
Rating G 2,140 words
Summary: The Cartwrights are snowed in for a few daysRating: G 8,150 words
Summary: Fifteen year old Adam tries to find a quiet spot to read a book.
Rating: G 3,085 words
Summary: Ben insists that each of his sons help with Hop Sing’s annual cleaning.
Rating: G 11,135 words
Summary: Hoss and Little Joe stay at a neighbour’s house when Ben is hurt.
Rating: G 14,000 words
Taking Responsibility – by JoanS
Summary: Joe takes responsibility for his actions and as a result finds himself trapped in a loveless relationship.
Rated: T 22,910 words
Summary: Joe attends his first business conference as a representative of The Ponderosa.
Rated: K 8,065 words
Summary: Joe has to say goodbye to a beloved friend.
Rated: K 5,965 words
Time to Let Go #2 – Time to Say Goodbye – by JoanS
Summary: Joe faces a difficult time in his life.
Rating K 5,985 words
To Sleep, Perchance to Dream – by JoanS
Summary: Little Joe finds it hard to sleep.
Rating: G 5,830 words
Summary: Joe’s ego explodes after he has faced down Doc Holliday. A WHN for ‘Calamity Over the Comstock’.
Rated: K WC 8700
Summary: Joe feels that his father doesn’t trust him anymore.
Rated: K 11,125 Words
Summary: When Ben’s Uncle Samuel visits from back East, things don’t go quite as well as Ben had hoped.
Rated: K+ 17,590 words
Waiting for the Stage – by JoanS
Summary: When Ben’s stage is delayed, Adam has his hands full trying to keep himself and his brothers out of trouble while they wait for it.
Rated: K+ 19,185 words
Wedding Announcement – by JoanS
Summary: The announcement of Joe’s wedding to Alice brings a variety of reactions from some of his old girlfriends.
Rated: K 7,735 words
Summary: Will Ben risk the life of one son to save another?
Rated: K 10,700 words
Summary: Ben take ten-year-old joe on a hunting trip which has dire consequences.
Rating: G 10,640 words
Summary: Ben explains to each of his sons why he and their mothers chose their names.
Rating: G 4,250 words
Summary: Adam tries to keep the family together while Ben is away
Rated: K 8,845 words
Where There’s a Will – by JoanS
Summary: Ben decides to update his will, which causes his sons some anxiety
Rated: K 10,855 words
You Can Lead a Hoss to Water… – by JoanS.
Summary: Hoss tries to overcome his fear of water.
Rating: G 9,175 words
