What Happened Before, Missing Scenes, What Happened Next, What Happened Instead, and stories that begged to be told that were not included within the series. Some of these stories were challenge inspired and some, the writers were just never satisfied with what was aired.
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Please be advised that the listing of stories below may contain works which have been assigned and “R” or a “Mature” rating by their respective authors. Such stories could contain explicit language and/or adult themes; and are not intended for readers under the age of 18. Please heed our rating guidelines.
To read the story, click on the title.
A Brief Family Moment by Krystyna
Summary: Adam’s curious … Inger’s busy … so questions are asked, but will the answers satisfy an inquisitive little boy.
Rating: G (1,070 words)
A Christmas Journey Remembered (by BluewindFarm)
Summary: Written for the 2016 Bonanza Brand Advent Calendar. Current events remind Adam of a special Christmas from the past.
Rating: K (1,190 words)
A Christmas Wish (by Patina)
Summary: Written for the 2016 Bonanza Brand Advent Calendar
Rating: K (420 words)
A Gift of Memories (by dancediva)
Summary: A trip taken in secret forces an argument between Adam and Ben.
Rating: K+ WC 1700
Summary: A missing WHN scene at the end of A Journey Remembered.
Rating: G, Word Count: 745
A Journey Revisited by Betty HT
Summary: The trouble over Regan Miller leads to a frank discussion between Hoss and Adam and a trip to find Inger’s grave. Trouble happens along the way as the two brothers rebuild their relationship. WHN for She Walks In Beauty and somewhat for A Journey Remembered. It’s a mostly lighthearted tale and ends with a meaningful Christmas gift.
Rating: = T WC = 11,500
A Moment Before Leaving by MissJudy
Summary: This WHN for A Journey Remembered looks at a “missing page” from the journal chronicling the journey West with Inger. After reading the story to Hoss while they waited for a horse to foal, Ben finds evidence of a page that was removed and remembers that it’s kept with personal papers. When he finally has a chance to do so, he rereads the missing page and recalls what he witnessed the night after Inger died.
Rating: K+ WC 2600
A Night of Reflection by DebbieB
Summary: With a snowstorm coming and his sons late in getting home, Ben reflects back on his life and the three wives that bore him, his sons.
Rating: G (6,000 words)
A Quiet Legacy by pjb
Summary: Even when the time together is brief, memories can last a lifetime. This story was originally published in the Bonanza 2009 Friendship Convention Anthology.
Word count: 3,500 Rating: K
Adam: The Early Years #2 – A Real Nice Lady by Deborah
Summary: This is the episode “Inger, My Love” told from the point of view of five-year-old Adam.
Rating: K+ (12,340 words)
A Stop Along the Way by Bahj
Summary: Sometimes, it’s the littlest things in the smallest places that make the biggest impact. To young Adam Cartwright, Galesburg, Ill. is just another stop on the long journey West, but this time his life will be changed forever.
Rating: K (Word count: 42,700)
A Time for Grieving by DJK
Summary: Three vignettes from the time after Inger Cartwright’s death.
Rating: K+ Word count: 2580
A Waterlily From Inger – by wx4rmk
Summary: When a possession of Inger’s finally gets returned, it spurs some new feelings and long-forgotten memories for Adam.
Rating: K / Word Count: 2015
Beginnings by GinnyF
Summary: Four vignettes of when Ben’s life began anew.
Rating: K (1,230 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)
Changes Past by BluewindFarm
Summary: A what happened next for The Last Viking; an episode written by Anthony Lawrence. A story told from Adam’s point of view as he attempts to reconcile what happened to another time in his life.
Rating: K (3,665 words)
Every Day is a New Day by Hart4Ben
Summary: A brief window into the Cartwright family if Inger had lived.
Rating: K Word Count: 1,482
Summary: Ben and his young sons have received a box from Inger’s brother Gunnar right before Christmas. What could be inside?
Rating: 965 words
Note: This story was written for the Bonanza Brand 2020Advent Calendar, originated in the Forums.
Inger #1 by Krystyna
Summary: This story covers the adventures of Ben, Inger and Adam Cartwright on the wagon train journey that was the dream that turned into a nightmare. The episode Journey Remembered was a very sanitized version of the hardships these pioneers would have encountered so this story is about bringing a touch of dramatic reality to the episode.
Rating: T (12, 580 words)
Inger #2 – After Ash Hollow by Krystyna
Summary: This is a continuation of the story Inger, although each story can stand on its own merits. Life chasing Ben’s dream holds many dangers as Adam discovers …
Rating T (17,300 words)
Inger #3 – Journey’s End by Krystyna
Summary: Set 18 months after Inger…a little boy longing for his mother, a beautiful lady who looks just as mother should, a father facing a murder charge …
Rating: T (19,930 words)
Lady in the Shadows (The) by DJK
Summary: Young Adam tells his new mother about the lady in the shadows.
Rated: K+ Word count: 1141
Letters to Inger by DJK
Summary: Selected letters from those written by Adam Stoddard Cartwright to Inger Borgstrom Cartwright, deceased
Rating: G (23,775 words)
Lies and Losses by BettyHT
Summary: In Illinois, Ben has more trouble with McWhorter and loses someone dear to him because of it. Story follows a different path but eventually the whole family will be together on the Ponderosa. It may take some time for that to happen however. It’s based on a story idea suggested by a reader. Thank you, Sylvia, for the story idea that got me started.
Rating – PG13 WC = 36301
Mama Inger by Sibylle
Summary: Five-year-old Hoss makes a dangerous decision that affects his parents, and especially his older brother. Adam isn’t adjusted to Marie yet, and the danger Hoss is in makes his problems worse.
A prequel set around 1842 (shortly before Joe’s birth)
Rated: K+ WC 10,000
Mama Inger (Deutsche Fassung) (by Sibylle)
Summary: Was kann den fünfjährigen Hoss dazu getrieben haben, von zu Hause wegzulaufen? Seine Familie macht sich große Sorgen und sucht ihn verzweifelt, doch er bleibt spurlos verschwunden ….
Rückmeldungen würden mich sehr, sehr freuen!
Rated: K+ WC 10,000
Never Alone (A Heritage Companion Story) by PuchiAnn
Summary: The first weeks after the death of Inger Cartwright, as seen through the eyes of young Adam. The time and location of her death correspond to the Heritage of Honor series, which differs to a minor degree from the series.
Word Count: 2680 Rating: K
Pa’s Best Man by Visage
Summary: Just a little unanswered scene (in my humble opinion) from ‘Inger, My Love.’ After Ben proposes to Inger in the street they both go off in the opposite direction of the boarding house forgetting all about poor Adam! (Which they seem to do a lot in this episode…) This is my attempt to fix that.
Rating: K WC 2900
Paper Toy-Theater (The) – by Sibylle
Summary: Adam wishes to share a Christmas memory with Hoss, a memory begun by Inger.
Rating: K+ 1175 words
Note: This story was written for the Bonanza Brand 2020 Advent Calendar, originated in the Forums.
Studio Executives #6 – Fake History – by pjb
Summary: The Cartwrights recognize that they have a great deal to be thankful for. So why won’t they do a Thanksgiving episode?
WC: 2,440 Rating: PG
What Comes Around by MissJudy
Summary: Ben took the leadership of his wagon train when the group decided to keep moving to Fort Laramie after the tragedy at Ash Hollow. With their journey nearly complete, Ben rides ahead to make arrangements with the cavalry at the fort, leaving others to move the wagons the 15 miles from the final campsite. He’s excited to see his group arrive, but soon realizes all is not well.
Rating: K Word Count: 16,263
