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…

 

Chapter 1

Joe gets shot by some outlaws. Adam patches him up and takes him home where Hoss rides for the doctor who says he’s done all he can for the boy. Ben keeps watch during a long night remembering Joe as an angel-faced mischievous mop top. Tears are shed. The next day Adam and Hoss track down the perpetrators and bring them to justice. Joe miraculously recovers. Adam and Hoss tease him about loafing. Everyone laughs. All is well.

 

Chapter 2

Adam falls ill with a fever on the trail with Hoss. Hoss nurses him and gets him home to the Ponderosa where Joe rides for the doctor who says it’s out of his hands. Ben keeps watch during the night remembering Adam as an adorable little boy on the wagon train west. Tears are shed. Adam miraculously recovers. Joe and Hoss give him a hard time about shirking work. Everyone laughs. All is well.

 

Chapter 3

Hoss gets hurt and loses his memory. He goes to live with another family until he remembers. His real family misses their much loved gentle giant and sheds happy tears when he returns. Nobody teases anyone, not even when Hoss wears a cap that makes him look ridiculous. There are lots of hugs and plenty of doughnuts to celebrate his homecoming. All is well.

 

Chapter 4

Ben gets kidnapped by bad men who hold him for ransom. The brothers can’t agree on what to do but Adam guilts them into going with his plan because he’s the oldest and supposedly the smartest. Everything works out in the end with hugs, laughter, and tears even though Adam admits he was only guessing, and they all go home to Hop Sing’s delicious supper of roast pork that’s not the least bit dried out. All is well.

 

Chapter 5

Adam thinks Joe is a lazy spoiled brat. Joe thinks Adam is a bossy granite head. Hoss is stuck in the middle trying to make peace. They all fight in the mud. Ben reminds them they are stronger together and to cut out the crap. They shake hands, hug, and get cleaned up for dinner. That night Hoss and Joe play checkers and Adam reads a book in his favorite blue chair while Ben smokes his pipe looking smug. All is well.

 

Chapter 6

Someone wants revenge on Joe. Meanwhile Hoss is framed for murder, and Adam finds out his doppelganger has ruined his credit score. Ben dispenses fatherly wisdom along with hugs. The boys eventually work things out on their own. All is well, at least for now.

 

Chapter 7

Joe ropes Hoss into another one of his hare-brained schemes, which backfires as usual. Adam smirks in the background as they dig themselves in deeper and deeper. Ben yells a lot, cuts their allowances to cover the damages, and makes them dig the new outhouse. Nobody feels much like hugging, but all is mostly well.

 

Chapter 8

A brother is in trouble or in danger. Another brother saves his bacon. It doesn’t matter which one. When in doubt go with youngest because he’s the best at crying. All will certainly be well.

 

Chapter 9

A Cartwright falls in love. It doesn’t end well. Ever.

 

END

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