{"id":12735,"date":"2003-03-23T07:38:09","date_gmt":"2003-03-23T12:38:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=12735"},"modified":"2025-09-09T14:26:38","modified_gmt":"2025-09-09T18:26:38","slug":"echo-of-hoff-beats-by-ginnyf","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=12735","title":{"rendered":"Echo of Hoof Beats (by GinnyF)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary:\u00a0 <\/strong>A What Happened Before story for \u201cThe Mill\u201d<\/p>\n

Rating:\u00a0 T\u00a0 (3,655 words)<\/p>\n

Echo of Hoof Beats<\/strong><\/p>\n

Tears streamed down Joyce Edward\u2019s face. \u201cTom, please! What\u2019s gotten into you? Ben\u2019s been a good friend and neighbor to both of us. What is bringing on these accusations?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cOh, has he been a good friend to both of us? Or has he been a good friend to you?\u201d he flared at his wife. \u201cIs Ben being neighborly when I go on business trips?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joyce drew herself up, her back ramrod straight, though she was quaking inside.\u00a0 \u201cI won\u2019t dignify that with an answer. I love you. In our five years of marriage, and before that, during our engagement, I never thought of another man.\u00a0 Ben is our neighbor and our friend.\u00a0 Ours, not just mine. I thought you enjoyed those monthly dinners. Talking hunting and business, having a game of chess or cards. That good Ponderosa beef and Hop Sing\u2019s Yorkshire pudding. As for Ben being neighborly when you\u2019re away, yes, he\u2019s neighborly. He drops by to check on me. And he always has at least one of the boys with him.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cPlease, stay here and clear the air of whatever you think is going on between Ben and me,\u201d <\/strong>Joyce begged. \u201cTell me where you are getting this ridiculous idea. I promise you, there\u2019s nothing. Why are you going hunting with him if you feel this way?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Edwards thrust the whiskey bottle into a coat pocket and a handful of rifle shells into another. Ignoring his wife, he stomped out the door to where his horse was tied.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He swung into the saddle.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cTom, come back in the house, please! You\u2019re drunk! Don\u2019t go hunting.\u00a0 Not in the mood you\u2019re in!\u201d\u00a0 Joyce ran towards her husband, only to be almost trampled as he galloped his grey gelding from the yard. Weeping quietly, she slowly walked to the porch and sank into her wicker rocking chair. As she rocked, she absent-mindedly rubbed her hand over the arm of the chair. Several chairs identical to this one had sat on her parents\u2019 veranda in the small town in upstate New York where she was raised. The hours of her childhood spent on that veranda were now a distant memory, as were her parents. Her mother had been killed in the fire that destroyed the house. Her grief-stricken father had taken his young daughter and set out for a new life in San Francisco. He, too, was gone now,<\/strong> after a long illness. She had pointed the chair out to Tom in a shop in Sacramento.<\/strong>\u00a0 He had purchased it and had it shipped over the mountains to her as a surprise for her last birthday. It was almost impossible to reconcile that thoughtful, loving husband with the jealous, resentful, hard-drinking man he had become in the past few months. Ben Cartwright had been their neighbor and friend since they had arrived here as newlyweds five years before. He had never hinted at any improper feelings for her,<\/strong> had never given Tom any reason for this newfound jealousy, and she certainly hadn\u2019t given her husband any reason to doubt her love for him.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Tom even had brought up selling this place,<\/strong> going back to San Francisco and living in the house her father left her. She sighed as she looked around her; the trees shading the house, the grape vines and vegetable garden. She could hear the music from the stream that tumbled down the hillside a short distance away. It would be hard to give this all up, but if it meant that she could have her husband back the way he was, she\u2019d do it in an instant.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

**********<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben Cartwright stopped pacing and peered impatiently down the trail to the Edwards Ranch. His neighbor was at least an hour late. Edwards had insisted they meet at the stream that formed the boundary between the two ranches. Ben was puzzled about the choice of meeting place.<\/strong> Usually, the two men met at the Edwards house before a hunting trip. Ben had been looking forward to a few biscuits covered with Joyce\u2019s grape preserves. Maybe it was just as well, though. Ben thought of the last time he was in their home. There had been a tension in the air that left him feeling uneasy even after he left.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAbout time,\u201d Ben muttered to himself as his horse snorted and flicked his ears at the sound of approaching hooves.\u00a0 He mounted Buck and,<\/strong> leading the packhorse, trotted to greet the late-comer. \u201cTom. Good to see you.\u201d He studied his friend and narrowed his eyes suspiciously at the faint smell of whiskey, but held his tongue.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The two hunters rode single file, their mounts picking their way carefully along the rocks strewn trail.<\/strong> Ben, in the lead, called a halt at the edge of a grassy clearing in the trees. They unsaddled their mounts,<\/strong> unloaded the packhorse and staked the animals out to graze.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

While Ben set about gathering firewood, Edwards lounged against a log and pulled the whisky bottle from his pocket. He hoisted it in Ben\u2019s direction.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben just shook his head and started making coffee. \u201cThe boys claim I make terrible coffee, but none of them can do any better. How about a cup?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Edwards took the proffered tin cup, and splashed a dollop of whiskey into it. \u201cJoin me in a toast,<\/strong> Ben. What shall we toast to? How about friendship? Or my wife?\u201d\u00a0 He raised his cup in a shaking hand. \u201cHere\u2019s to my good friend Ben Cartwright and my lovely wife Joyce.\u201d He lowered his arm and glared at Ben over the cup. \u201cYou\u2019re not toasting. Don\u2019t you think my wife is lovely?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Puzzled by his friend\u2019s hostility, Ben answered hesitantly. \u201cYes, she is. You\u2019re a lucky man, Tom.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Edwards rose unsteadily to his feet and tottered across the campsite to where Ben sat on a large rock. \u201cYes, my wife, Ben. My wife.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cTom, I can assure that I\u2019m well aware that Joyce is your wife.<\/strong> As is Joyce, herself. You\u2019re a fool to think that she\u2019d look at another man.\u201d Ben struggled to keep his temper under control. \u201cIf you have any concerns about Joyce and me, sober up and we\u2019ll talk about it then.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Edwards angrily dumped out the contents of his cup.<\/strong> \u201cI thought we came to hunt big horns?\u201d He grabbed up his rifle and stalked out of camp. Taking swigs from his bottle,<\/strong> he mumbled to himself as he clambered unsteadily up the rocky path. \u201cGotta admit that was a good question my loving wife asked me. Why did I come up here today with Ben? I came to confront him. Why didn\u2019t I back there? Maybe I\u2019m a coward and need more of this under my belt first.\u201d \u00a0<\/em>He tipped the bottle to his lips just as he rounded a pile of boulders. Suddenly there was no ground beneath his feet and he was falling. As he fell,<\/strong> he screamed and his fingers tightened on the trigger of the rifle he carried, causing the gun to fire. The bullet careened off the rocks and into Edward\u2019s back.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

After watching Edwards leave the camp, Ben poured a cup of coffee and settled wearily back against his saddle. As he sipped the hot brew, he tried to sort out in his mind what had just happened. \u201cDid Tom think that something was going on between Joyce and me? Where would he get a notion like that? Was the hunting trip an excuse to get me alone to have it out?\u201d\u00a0 S<\/em>tartled from his reverie by a man\u2019s scream, followed by the crack of a rifle shot, Ben dropped his cup and scrambled to his feet.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The echoes reverberated off the walls of the small canyon,<\/strong> making it difficult to place the direction from which the sounds had originated. Praying that he was making the right choice, Ben hurried in the direction that Tom had taken earlier. Climbing out of the canyon and rounding a pile of boulders, he stopped to catch his breath and get his bearings. Directly ahead, from where the ground dropped off abruptly, he thought he heard a low moan. Ben judged the bottom to be about twenty feet down, a jumble of protruding boulders, jagged rocks, and dead tree limbs. No one could survive a fall into that rough terrain. The glint of sunlight off metal caught his eye. Lying on his stomach and peering cautiously over the lip of the cliff, Ben could see a small ledge that jutted out of the cliff wall a little less than halfway down. There, on that ledge, lay Edwards, still clutching his rifle, the lower part of the back of his shirt covered with blood.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben drew his colt and searched the rocks around him for any sign of a gunman.\u00a0 Nothing. No glint of sun off a gun barrel, no clatter of a carelessly kicked stone, no sound of a horseman riding off. Satisfied that whoever shot his companion was not there any longer, not hiding, ready to put a bullet into his back, also, he returned to the edge of the cliff. \u201cTom!\u201d Ben shouted down. \u201cCan you hear me? I\u2019m coming! I\u2019m going to get the horses, then I\u2019ll get you out of there!\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

**********<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

With one end of his rope around himself and the other end tied securely to a tree, Ben eased himself over the lip of the cliff. The cliff wall angled inward and there were few footholds in its crumbly surface. Trying not to think of what lay at the bottom of the drop, he inched his way down to the ledge. As his feet touched firm rock, he breathed a sigh of relief. Tom\u2019s body took up much of the space on the small ledge, not giving Ben much room to maneuver. As he took the coiled rope from his shoulder and tied it around and under the arms of the now unconscious man, Ben anxiously scanned the top of the cliff. \u201cI could hurt him worse than he is, hauling him up by myself. There should be one man to steady him while the other mans the rope<\/em>. But<\/em> I can\u2019t take a chance on waiting till Adam gets here. It could be nightfall by that time. \u201c <\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Ben struggled his way back up the rope. As he pulled himself over the edge of the cliff, the earth under him gave way. He clutched the rope desperately as his searching feet found a stable foothold. Finally, grunting and sweating with exertion, he again crawled over the cliff\u2019s edge,<\/strong> this time onto firm ground. Ben laid there for a few seconds to catch his breath, then secured the rope to his saddle.<\/strong> Guiding the rope, while walking Buck, he slowly pulled Tom Edwards up from the precarious ledge.<\/strong> After pulling Edwards over the rim, Ben laid him gently on his stomach to examine the wound.\u00a0 Thankfully, the bullet was right below the surface of the skin and the wound had almost stopped bleeding, although a large area around it was swollen and discolored.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll get you home to Joyce, Tom, and you\u2019ll be fine in no time…\u201d His words of reassurance were for himself, not the unconscious man. Ben bandaged the wound with his torn-up shirt and made Edwards as comfortable as possible. Then he set to work cutting branches for a travois.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben was tying the last knot in the ropes holding the travois together when a sound grabbed his attention. He straightened up, his hand on his pistol, his ears straining to pick up what the sound was and where it came from. There it was again. Boots on rocks, coming from the direction of their camp. \u201cStop right there! Come here where I can see you, hands in the air!\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cPa! Mr. Edwards! It\u2019s me, Adam!\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben holstered his weapon with a sigh of relief as his oldest son came into view around the surrounding rocks.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam looked in alarm from his father, who still had his hand on his holstered pistol, to Tom Edwards, to the travois, and back to his father. \u201cWhat happened? Are you all right, Pa? Your face is bleeding!\u201d Adam removed his bandana and offered it to his father. \u201cYou have a gash on your arm, too!\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m fine, son.\u201d Ben briefly touched Adam\u2019s shoulder. \u201cI must have scraped my face against the rocks. I don\u2019t know what happened, to tell the truth. I\u2019ll tell you everything later.\u201d Ben tore off the sleeve of his shirt. \u201cHere, tie this around my arm for now. We have to get Tom home. I just got this travois finished; let\u2019s get him on it.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

**********<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joyce Edwards\u2019<\/strong> steps faltered as she reached the bottom of the stairway. She took her handkerchief from the pocket of her dress and wiped the traces of tears from her face, then entered her parlor.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam had sent the Edwards\u2019 hired hand for the doctor, then cleaned Ben\u2019s cuts and scrapes. The two men stood as one as they rose from where they had been seated side-by-side on the uncomfortable horsehair sofa waiting for word. \u201cHow\u2019s Tom?\u201d Ben asked. Both men\u2019s faces were furrowed with concern. Ben clutched his hat in front of him as he stepped toward Joyce.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s a mass of bruises, but there aren\u2019t any broken bones .The doctor doesn\u2019t know how he avoided that.\u201d She managed a weak smile as she sank into a maple rocker by the sofa. Her hands clenched around the arms of the chair. \u201cBut the bullet grazed his spine. His legs may be paralyzed, but Dr. Martin says that we won\u2019t know anything for certain till he regains consciousness.\u201d Joyce turned away from the two men as the silent tears started to stream down her face.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cJoyce!\u201d Ben started toward her, arm outstretched, ready to try to comfort her.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She started to reach longingly for the strong arm being offered her, but settled back into the rocking chair. \u201cI need to be alone to compose myself, then I should go back up with Tom. I\u2019ll send word about how he\u2019s doing.\u201d She didn\u2019t look at either of them as she spoke.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cLet us know if there is anything we can do.\u201d Ben knew it sounded trite, and he hoped Joyce knew that he sincerely meant it. He and Adam turned toward the small foyer that led to the front door.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joyce didn\u2019t look up from the floral patterned rug till she heard the front door softly close. She pulled herself to her feet and made herself ascend the stairs to the bedroom where her husband lay.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

**********<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cMr. Edwards thought that? He should know you better than that! Not to mention, his own wife!\u201d Adam reined in his horse and looked in disbelief at his father. \u201cWhy would he think a crazy thing like that?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben shook his head. \u201cI don\u2019t know. He was drinking. He\u2019s been drinking heavily, lately. A man can have crazy thoughts when he\u2019s drunk. I\u2019ve been hearing rumors in town that he had a heavy business loss. You know,<\/strong> I never give credence to rumors, but I was told this in confidence by Nate Fairfield. Tom\u2019s been banking with the Bank of San Francisco for years, and Nate\u2019s worried about him. He wouldn\u2019t have said anything to me about it, otherwise.\u201d He rubbed his arm and rotated his shoulder. \u201cFeels like my arm\u2019s stiffening up. I\u2019m going to need some liniment when we get home.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

***********<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The sharp clank of the iron door knocker caught the Cartwrights\u2019 attention as they were setting down at the dinner table. Ben looked around at his sons. The two older looked expectantly at their youngest brother. Joe, after years of experience, knew what the look meant. He sighed. \u201cWhy is it always me?\u201d Not really expecting an answer, he pushed his chair back and trudged to the front door.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSheriff Coffee, Doc Martin, come on in,\u201d Joe welcomed the visitors as he opened the door.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cEvenin\u2019, Joe,\u201d Roy Coffee acknowledged the young man. \u201cYour pa home?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben had risen from the table and advanced on his two friends, hand out in greeting. \u201cWhat brings you two out here this evening? Have you had dinner yet?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Roy Coffee fumbled with the hat he held in his hands. \u201cUh, Ben. This isn\u2019t a social call. I need to ask you a few questions.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cOf course,<\/strong> Roy. Sit down,<\/strong> gentlemen.\u201d Ben indicated the settee. He settled himself on the plank table in front of where the sheriff and doctor sat, his sons standing protectively behind him. \u201cWhat\u2019s this about?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Roy cleared his throat. \u201cGo ahead,<\/strong> Paul; tell Ben what Tom Edwards said after he regained consciousness last night.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cBen,\u201d Dr. Martin began uneasily, \u201cTom told Joyce and me that you were to blame for what happened up there yesterday.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat!\u201d Ben sprang to his feet. \u201cThat\u2019s ridiculous!\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam jumped to his father\u2019s defense. \u201cPa risked his life to save Mr. Edwards!\u00a0 Doc, you saw how banged up my father was! You both should know my father well enough to know that he wouldn\u2019t do something like that!\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNow, just calm down!\u201d Sheriff Coffee jumped into the breech. \u201cIt\u2019s just like Paul said. When Tom woke up and found out how bad hurt he is, he started insistin\u2019 that everything was Ben Cartwright\u2019s fault. He had his poor wife in tears, and himself worked into such a state that the doc had to give him a sedative powder. Paul was pretty shook up about what Tom was sayin\u2019 and came to me about it. We thought it best to ride out here and get your side of the story, seein\u2019 as how nothin\u2019 Tom was sayin\u2019 made sense.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben raised his hand to halt his sons as all three started to speak at once. \u201cRoy\u2019s right; we should all calm down about this.\u201d He gestured with his head toward the dining room. \u201cEat your dinner before we have to contend with Hop Sing yelling about going back to China.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss turned back to the dining room, dragging a reluctant Joe along by the arm. Adam started to follow their father, the sheriff, and the doctor into the office alcove. Ben seated himself behind his desk and looked at his oldest son. \u201cYou too, Adam. Go join your brothers.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cBut Pa\u2026\u201d Adam started to protest, but the stern look it earned him convinced him that he really should go eat dinner.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sheriff Coffee and Doc Martin made themselves comfortable in the leather chairs in the alcove while Ben launched into the story, beginning with Tom Edward\u2019s reluctance to have Ben meet him at his home as he usually did.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Roy smoothed his grey mustache, seemingly deep in thought. \u201cYou know, that bullet wound was real shallow. If it hadn\u2019t been right by his spine,<\/strong> it wouldn\u2019t have been much of a wound. The bullet couldn\u2019t have had much force behind it when it hit him. My guess is that when he fell, he pulled the trigger of the rifle and the bullet ricocheted and hit him. What do you think,<\/strong> Paul?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI had that same thought. But, unfortunately, we won\u2019t know for sure unless Tom tells us what really happened. Ben, he told Roy and me that crazy notion about Joyce and you. Now, just a minute. Neither of us believe a word of it,\u201d he assured Ben, who had half-risen from his chair.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben\u2019s visitors stood to leave. \u201cWe\u2019ve interrupted your dinner long enough,\u201d advised Roy, fidgeting nervously with his hat. \u201cI was satisfied all along that it was an accident;<\/strong> I just needed to get your story. Bye, Ben.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Three pairs of eyes fixed on him when Ben returned to the dinner table. Ben\u2019s only reply to the questioning looks was to dig into the plate of food that Hop Sing silently placed in front of him.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

**********<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben looked up from his ledger as Hop Sing padded to answer the knock at the door. Hearing his cook\u2019s welcoming words –\u201cMissy Edwards! Good to see you.\u201d — he popped the pen into the inkwell and hurried to greet her. \u201cJoyce, Hop Sing\u2019s right; it\u2019s good to see you. Please, sit down. How\u2019s Tom? Is there anything you need? \u201c<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joyce perched on the end of the settee as if poised for flight. \u201cTom\u2019s as well as can be expected right now. I can\u2019t stay;<\/strong> he\u2019s napping but I have to be there when he wakes up. Mrs. Schaunassey is there helping out for awhile, but he gets upset when I leave. I just wanted to come apologize to you for Tom\u2019s suspicions and innuendoes.<\/strong> And to say goodbye.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cGoodbye?\u201d Ben sank onto the settee beside her. \u201cAre you and Tom moving to San Francisco to the house your father left you?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joyce lightly touched his arm. \u201cI had thought of doing that. It would be better for Tom to be in the city. But, no, we\u2019re not going anywhere. Tom wants to stay here where he can hide from people and feel sorry for himself. I\u2019m telling you goodbye because Tom insists that we sever our friendship. He doesn\u2019t want you or the boys to set foot on our place. And he\u2019d be furious if he knew I was here. No, please Ben, don\u2019t say anything.\u00a0 Let me say what I have to say and leave before I make a fool of myself by breaking down. Hopefully, some day we can all be friends again, but for now, it has to be this way. Tell your boys goodbye for me. Stay here, I\u2019ll see myself out.\u201d She quickly kissed Ben on the cheek and ran out the door.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben followed, but by the time he got to the porch, she had disappeared around the corner of the barn, and all that was left was the echo of hoof beats and a lost friendship.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

*****End*****<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

<\/g><\/svg><\/i> \"Loading\"<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Summary:\u00a0 A What Happened Before story for \u201cThe Mill\u201d<\/p>\n

Rating:\u00a0 T\u00a0 (3,655 words)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":121,"featured_media":8421,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"template-full-width-post.php","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1004,23,616],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12735","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ben-cartwright","category-drama","category-whb","wpcat-1004-id","wpcat-23-id","wpcat-616-id"],"a3_pvc":{"activated":true,"total_views":1206,"today_views":0},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/Ben-Draw.jpg?fit=278%2C354&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":9758,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=9758","url_meta":{"origin":12735,"position":0},"title":"Adam Just and Aida stories (by BettyHT)","author":"BettyHT","date":"September 27, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0 Four Adam and Aida stories; sequels to Adam Just and Aida. \u00a0The first, Hallucinations, pits Adam against a sinister and clever enemy. \u00a0The second is meeting between Adam and Aida's family. \u00a0The third is a Christmas story in which things just don't go as planned. \u00a0The fourth is a\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Drama"","block_context":{"text":"Drama","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=23"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/bonanza31.jpg?fit=573%2C389&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/bonanza31.jpg?fit=573%2C389&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/bonanza31.jpg?fit=573%2C389&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":5904,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=5904","url_meta":{"origin":12735,"position":1},"title":"Remembering You (by Wrangler)","author":"Wrangler","date":"December 3, 1986","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: \u00a0This story was written to finally explain the death of Hoss Cartwright. Rated:\u00a0 T \u00a0WC 11,000","rel":"","context":"In "Ben \/ Joe"","block_context":{"text":"Ben \/ Joe","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=1015"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/serious-Hoss.jpg?fit=269%2C298&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1393,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=1393","url_meta":{"origin":12735,"position":2},"title":"To Be A Father (by KateP)","author":"KateP","date":"December 7, 2008","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: \u00a0Joe helps a friend of his father to know what it is to be a father. Rated: K+ (2,330 words)","rel":"","context":"In "Drama"","block_context":{"text":"Drama","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=23"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/coming-soon-5.jpg?fit=768%2C576&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/coming-soon-5.jpg?fit=768%2C576&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/coming-soon-5.jpg?fit=768%2C576&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/coming-soon-5.jpg?fit=768%2C576&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":15839,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=15839","url_meta":{"origin":12735,"position":3},"title":"The Washington Affair (by Ahdavis)","author":"Ahdavis","date":"January 1, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: Just as the Civil War is coming to a close, Ben Cartwright arrives in Washington DC at the request of his old friend President Lincoln. Lincoln makes him an offer that could change his life, taking him away from this sons and the Ponderosa forever. If he refuses the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Drama"","block_context":{"text":"Drama","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=23"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Z-ben-toast.png?fit=506%2C402&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":61512,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=61512","url_meta":{"origin":12735,"position":4},"title":"I Will (by Wrangler)","author":"Wrangler","date":"December 23, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"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","rel":"","context":"In "Ben \/ Joe"","block_context":{"text":"Ben \/ Joe","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=1015"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot_20260102_063004_YouTube-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C908&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot_20260102_063004_YouTube-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C908&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot_20260102_063004_YouTube-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C908&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot_20260102_063004_YouTube-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C908&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot_20260102_063004_YouTube-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C908&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":5009,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=5009","url_meta":{"origin":12735,"position":5},"title":"Always My Son Series – #2 – The Color of Love (by Wrangler)","author":"Wrangler","date":"April 29, 2004","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: \u00a0This is a sequel to Always My Son\u00a0 Rated: K+ \u00a0WC 18,000 Always My Son Series, links to stories within the series are included.","rel":"","context":"In "Ben \/ Joe"","block_context":{"text":"Ben \/ Joe","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=1015"},"img":{"alt_text":"Pa Joe","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2004\/04\/Screenshot_20250528_171044_YouTube.jpg?fit=850%2C642&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2004\/04\/Screenshot_20250528_171044_YouTube.jpg?fit=850%2C642&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2004\/04\/Screenshot_20250528_171044_YouTube.jpg?fit=850%2C642&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2004\/04\/Screenshot_20250528_171044_YouTube.jpg?fit=850%2C642&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12735","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/121"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=12735"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12735\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/8421"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=12735"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=12735"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=12735"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}