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 reach the story, click on the title.
Summary: Lotta Crabtree’s arrival in Virginia City seemed to spell trouble for the Cartwrights, or was it the beginning of a beautiful friendship?
Rating: PG Word Count: 630
A Rose by Any Other Name by McFair
Summary: The ending of the pilot has always bothered me. Would Alphaeus Troy and the mine owners really have given up that easily? What if the fight in China town had ended differently and Little Joe never made that dinner date with Lotta Crabtree…?
Rated: PG-13 Word Count: 21,226
Adam’s Journal – A Rose for Lotta – by Pat D in PA
SUMMARY: Adam’s journal entry for the day involving Lotta Crabtree’s role in snaring a Cartwright in Virginia City at the behest of Alpheus Troy.
Rating: K/G 1,810 words
Adam’s Very Bad Week by Betty HT
Summary: After the Lotta Crabtree encounter, Little Joe is angry with Adam and events increase that as well as his jealousy. Adam is angry and acts accordingly. Ben and Hoss do their best to calm the waters but it takes a crisis to bring the brothers back together again.
WC = 15,286 Rating = T
Before a Rose by BluewindFarm
Summary: Inspired by The Mother of All Challenges, to write a story featuring one or more of the Cartwrights in any time period (prequel, season 1-14, sequel, AU), in which Virginia City is an integral part of the tale. This is my story.
Rating: K (4,030 words)
Cavalry is Coming (The) by McFair_58
Summary: A prequel to ‘A Rose for Lotta’. Ben Cartwright’s meeting with Alpheus Troy and the other mine owners did not go well. They want his timber and he won’t give it to them. The rancher knows Troy will do whatever it takes to keep his mine running, and when he arrives home to find out sixteen-year-old Little Joe is missing, he fears the worst.
Word Count: 19871
Rated PG-13 for typical Western violence
Guarding the Hen House by JC
Summary: A too-pretty girl, a Saturday night dance, and a little moonlight mischief. Not to worry—Adam’s got it covered.
Rating: T (2859 words)
If Not for Aura Lee by BluewindFarm
Summary: What happened after Jean was taken into custody, and Julia’s window went dark.
Rating: T (for mild cursing and references to adult themes) (11,940 words)
Passions and Dreams by AC1830
Summary – Adam Cartwright and Lotta Crabtree were supposed to be strangers when her carriage broke down on the Ponderosa, but something in their demeanor seemed to say otherwise. Based on the episode A Rose for Lotta. Dialogue in the last chapter is from the episode written by David Dortort.
Rating – T Word Count – 7909
Summary: Living up to Mama’s expectations may just have some redeeming qualities.
Rating: G 1,500 words
This story was written for the Bonanza Brand 2020 Advent Calendar, originated in the Forums.
Rien d’autre qu’une aventure by ViveAdam
Summary: A Rose for Lotta told by each of the protagonists … and we learn a bit more than in the episode
Rated: MA WC 21,200
Same Differences by Sue
Summary: I have referred to some Bonanza episodes in this story particularly The Avenger but also A Rose for Lotta, Mr Henry Comstock and The Hanging Posse. The story should make sense if you haven’t watched those episodes though.
Rated: T WC 60,500
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
