February 12, 1915 – September 11, 1987
The following stories were written by various authors to celebrate the life of Lorne Greene through his character of Ben Cartwright.
Scroll to bottom of the page and click on Page 2 for those Ben Centric stories recommended by our members.
These stories reflect the true character of the man he was and maybe even explore an unfortunate close brush with death. All are works inspired by the love of the respective authors for this character.
Click a title to open the story.
A Letter from Hoss by DebbieB
Summary: Tricked and left with the shortest match, Hoss is the one to be away on business on Pa’s special day, but does he forget his father?
Rating: G 2,960 words
An Offering of Comfort by BluewindFarm
Summary: Ben sat and waited as one of his sons lies in bed injured… the details… the depths… maybe a revelation or two.
Rating: K 1,000 words
Ballad of Ben Cartwright by Ansinico
Summary: l have put my own words to the air of an Irish drinking song, ‘’The Wild Rover’ also called ‘No Nay Never’ I hope you like it.
Rated: K
Becoming Ben Cartwright, aka The Ballad of Lorne Greene by JC
Summary: The day a balding, middle-aged, B-movie actor became a legend in the making. Written in the style of Lorne Greene’s Number One hit recording of “Ringo”
Rating: G Word Count: 203
Ben and Adam on the Road by Sibylle
Summary: WHB Inger My Love Even Ben wasn´t always the perfect father.
Rating: K WC 1250
Ben Cartwright – R.I.P by Krystyna
Summary: Ben Cartwright’s dead … well, some people seem to think so.
Rating: T 19,070 words
Ben’s Birthday by VickieB
Synopsis: Ben is alone at the Ponderosa on his birthday, but his special day has not been forgotten by his sons.
Rating: G 1,870 words
Ben’s Journal: The Hard Trail West by ACSPeej
Summary: This story is a blend of fiction and historical fact. Ben keeps a journal of his wagon train trip to the West with Inger and Adam at his side.
Rating: K+ 5,190 words
Between Life and Death by PKMoonshine
Summary: Ben Cartwright lies on what may be his deathbed, near comatose from raging fever. What thoughts go through the heads of those who love him most as they try and come to grips with the prospect that his time with them may be at an end?
Rating: K+ (13,255)
Bubbles in Honey, Roses, and Honey by the Tahoe Ladies
Summary: For Ben remembrance comes from an unusual source.
Rating: T Word Count: 5500
Circle of Family: The Book of Benjamin by Miss Judy
Summary: This is the second story in the A Circle of Family saga. Adam’s Bible, nearly destroyed in The Book of Joseph, has been returned in better shape than thought possible. After a thoughtful conversation with Hoss, Ben opens the Bible to the story of David and Goliath and relives a memory from a Sunday in the past when a reenactment of that story went awry. We see a young David Hoss smite the powerful Goliath Adam with a heavy wooden sword, leading to an interesting exchange between Marie and Ben as they decide how to patch the mighty Philistene’s gaping lip. This story is stand alone. It doesn’t require reading the Book of Joseph to pick up on what’s going on.
Rating: K WC 8300
Dash (The) by Dogwood
Summary: The Cartwrights have faced many challenges in their lives. Now they face one that will be with them always.
Rated: K 1,075 words
Enthralled by Belle
Summary: The boys are determined to find a birthday gift their father will love. They succeed too well.
Rated: T Word count: 6773
Final Advice by Slaine 89
Summary: In the aftermath of Ben’s death, Joe finds comfort from an unexpected source.
Rated: K+ 2,040 words
Forever Ben by Deansgirl
Summary: As Ben Cartwright lies dying his sons each recall a special moment that they shared with their father. A special Father’s Day story, the companion holiday story A Rose For Marie.
Rated: K+ 4,290 words
Forgotten Son (The) by KateP
Summary: As Ben Cartwright lies dying his sons each recall a special moment that they shared with their father. A special Father’s Day story, the companion holiday story A Rose For Marie.
Rated: K+ 4,290 words
Happy Birthday, Pa! by DebbieB
Summary: Joe’s down in Texas on Pa’s birthday…but he hasn’t forgotten his father’s special day. He has written a letter home to wish Ben a Happy Birthday.
Rated: G 780 words
His Father’s Arms (by mcfair_58)
In Absentia by Belle
Summary: Joe’s down in Texas on Pa’s birthday…but he hasn’t forgotten his father’s special day. He has written a letter home to wish Ben a Happy Birthday.
Rated: G 780 words
Interview (The) by Slaine89
Summary: On the way to their new home, six year old Adam asks his Pa some questions. One long, drawn out Pa-Adam-Moment.
Rated: K+ 1,245 words
Memories by Sibylle
Summary: A teen-aged Adam’s prank causes not only him alone to think things over.
Rated: K+ WC 3800
Morning After (The) by the Tahoe Ladies
Summary: Ben suffers from a birthday hangover…
Rated: K – Word Count: 1100
Much Too Soon by BluewindFarm
Summary: News of his father’s death brings a son home.
Rating: K 6,710 words
My Father’s Heartbeat by Cheaux
Summary: After a cattle drive Joe receives a heartbreaking telegram from the Ponderosa…
WC 6800 Rated: T
RIP Mr. Cartwright by Mumu74
Summary: To Kill A Cartwright “November Challenge” Rip Mr Cartwright
Rating: T 741 words
Stubborn by Sibylle
Summary: WHIB/WHB to “The Ride”
Ben remembers his first argument with a three-year-old Adam.
Rated: K WC 650
Telegram (The) by BluewindFarm
Summary: Ben Cartwright receives an incomplete telegram. What is the message and who is it about?
2,695 words Rating: K
To Every Purpose by Claire
Summary: It takes great love and great courage to let someone go. Variable winds of change affects everyone on the Ponderosa.
Rated: T 8,380 words
Additional stories may be found at the following link:
Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner Challenge – 2013
Celebrating Lorne Greene’s birthday.
Click on Page number 2 to see what Ben stories are recommended by our readers.