She Was Hot (by BettyHT)
Summary: This is a sequel to “I Was Hot” and is Marie’s response to her toddler son’s interruption of what had been planned as her grand party. However, a suggestion that she take the story and own it becomes her plan and this is the story of her execution of that plan.
Rating: PG Word count: 1747
A Surprise Friend (By AC1830)
Summary – Ben discovers a surprising friendship when he gets maneuvered into helping out a friend. Written for the 2026 Lorne Greene Birthday Challenge.
Rating: G; Word Count: 785
“I Was Hot” (by BettyHT)
Summary: This is a prequel in which Marie’s grand gala for the ladies of the area is interrupted by a son in a most shocking way as two other sons cavort elsewhere. The family has to pull together to fix this mess.
Rating: PG Word count: 1470
Beautiful in My Eyes (by Wrangler)
Summary: Francois Balantaire, a spurned suitor of Marie Cartwright’s, travels two thousand miles and twenty years to seek vengeance on her by scarring her son, Little Joe. Rating T, WC 24,425 Links to stories in the series are included within.
The Ones Who Left (by Tavia42)
Summary: After two years away from the Ponderosa, Candy finds work at a traveling carnival, only to encounter the familiar face of a man he’s never met. Set between Seasons 13 and 14.
Rating: G Word Count: 8,785
The Thousandth-and-First Time (by Patina)
Summary: Joe, poker, and Adam’s guitar. What could go wrong?
Rating: G Word count: 2,731
Crosses to Bear (by MelissaR1992)
Summary: Candy encounters an old friend from his army days, who turns out to be a wanted man on the run. Written for the 2026 Ponderosa Paddlewheel Poker Tournament.
Rating: T Word Count: 9,149
A Horse Called Howdy (by JaneYvanne)
Summary: In the season 14 episode “Riot!”, Griff King, a young man imprisoned for attacking his abusive stepfather, protected both Ben and Candy during a hostage situation, and helped prevent a prison break. Afterward, he was paroled into Ben’s custody. In this prequel, Griff remembers life with his stepfather. Dialogue in the beginning is taken from the episode “New Man.”
Rating: T Word Count: 4,306
Custard-Filled Doughnuts (by DJK)
Summary: Hop Sing’s custard-filled doughnuts were prized by all whenever he made them. Ben Cartwright’s sons did not feel the need to play fair when it came to obtaining such culinary delights, and the thief simply stole them.
Rating: T Word Count: 7,023
The Most Precious Gift of All (By MelissaR1992)
Summary: As Christmas draws near for the Cartwright family, Joe faces the ultimate test of faith as a husband and father.
Rating: PG Word Count: 16,684
Part of the Forever Reimagined series, links to all stories included within.
Spring–A Season for Miracles (by Joefan1)
Summary: Joe discovers that sometimes good things happen.
Rating: G Word Count: 2959
Just One More Day (by Annie K Cowgirl)
Summary: “The whole town’s plum full of yellow bellies,” I muttered under my breath as I prodded Chubb into a ground-eating gallop, leaving the disgraced major in the dust. Hoss rides out, determined to find Joe before it’s too late. A WHIB for the episode “Five Sundowns to Sunup” and a sequel to my previous story, “The Fifth Sunup” from Hoss’ point of view.
Rating: K+
Word Count: 699
Part of the Five Sundowns to Sunup series, links include within.
I Will (by Wrangler)
Summary: Little Joe is consumed with guilt when his best friend is accidently shot and killed. Unable to forgive himself, Joe heads down a dangerous self-destructive path.
Rating T, WC 21,861
Unfortunate Goings-On (by Tavia42)
Summary: Joe and Hoss meant well. They always do. But somehow they find themselves falling into a series of misadventures, and getting out of one only lands them in another. This story is a compilation of 2025 Pinecone Challenges, which form an ongoing narrative – thank you to AC1830 for so many wonderful prompts!
Rating: G | Word Count: 6,042
A Percolator Conniption (by AC1830)
Summary: While the Cartwrights are away, Hop Sing plans a massive Spring cleaning. But his blissful time alone is soon interrupted by an unwanted visitor who brings an unexpected gift. Written for the 2025 4th Quarter Chaps and Spurs Challenge. The required words were percolate, earthquake, pipeline, surgeon, amendment.
Rating: G, Word Count: 2324
