{"id":48217,"date":"2018-07-31T08:16:13","date_gmt":"2018-07-31T12:16:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=48217"},"modified":"2026-04-14T11:09:57","modified_gmt":"2026-04-14T15:09:57","slug":"btr-sourdough-starters-03-july-2018-by-bztrailriders","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=48217","title":{"rendered":"BTR Sourdough Starters #03 – July 2018 (by BZTrailriders)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary: In Tim McGraw’s\u00a0Live Like You Were Dying, there are the lines\u00a0\u201cTook a good, long, hard look\/At what I’d do if I could do it all again\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n

Rating: G, Word Count: 4013<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Take any episode and any character, and rewrite a scene to have that character do something different, hopefully better, than they did it in the episode. For an example, in The Truckee Strip, Joe pulled a gun on his father. How can that scene be different, for Joe or for any of the family? (Note: this example can be used.)<\/p>\n

\n

by\u00a0Hart4Ben<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0\u00bb\u00a0<\/span>Tue Jul 03, 2018 5:31 pm<\/p>\n

\n

I found this to be a challenging exercise. I’m curious to see what others of you choose.<\/p>\n

This is the scene from The Lady from Baltimore when Horace Banning has just arrived at the Ponderosa. Melinda rushes into the house and Ben realizes that someone is out on the porch. He greets Banning and then goes to collect his luggage. A concerned Joe comes out and talks with his father.<\/p>\n

I have always felt there were parts of Ben\u2019s conversation with Joe that were somewhat off given what Adam shared with him. I feel like he\u2019s going \u201cyes, yes marry the girl.\u201d I also understand that Ben couldn\u2019t take a hard line either. It\u2019s subtle, but Joe opened the door for a real conversation, and though Ben was truly engaged he really didn\u2019t seem to take full advantage of the moment. Anyway, I changed Ben\u2019s side of things up just a bit. The ultimate outcome is unchanged.<\/p>\n

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll talk, Horace!\u201d Ben called enthusiastically as Deborah and Horace Banning disappeared into the house. \u201cI\u2019ll get your things.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben pulled a single worn suitcase from the rear of a buggy that had seen better days. He looked for additional luggage under the seat and found none. Shrugging he turned and saw Joe coming toward him.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh Joe, did you see Melinda\u2019s father? I tell ya, it was the most wonderful surprise when I –\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben paused mid-sentence when Joe walked up with his head down, visibly bothered. \u201cYeah.\u201d Joe whispered and rested his hand and the back of the buggy seat.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, what is it, Joe?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s Melinda.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, say, what was troubling her?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know. She was crying. She said it was all the excitement about seeing her father.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, it has been quite a while since she has seen him. Then she\u2019s been missing him? That\u2019s understandable.\u201d Ben hoped his reservations about Melinda\u2019s emotional state were not obvious to Joe.<\/p>\n

\u201cI guess it was. I\u2019m probably just imagining things.\u201d Joe uncharacteristic quiet sincerity got his father\u2019s complete attention.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat kind of things? Something’s bothering you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know. It\u2019s just a feeling I have. I love her so much, Pa.\u201d Ben placed a hand on Joe\u2019s shoulder, his eyes warm with understanding. Fearful of leading or steering the conversation too much, he allowed Joe to continue. \u201cShe\u2019s just so beautiful.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben forced a chuckle. \u201cYou\u2019ve known lots of pretty girls.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, but it\u2019s not just that. It\u2019s everything about her, the way she talks, the clothes she wears, where she comes from. I\u2019ve just never known a girl like her before.\u201d Joe paused and looked at his father. \u201cThat\u2019s why I worry sometimes. I wonder if she can be happy out here. She\u2019s so used to the way it was back there.\u201c<\/p>\n

\u201cHave you discussed your concerns with Melinda?\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe shook his head. \u201cNot really. I — I –\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201dYou\u2019ve known each other for such a short time. It makes sense that there are still many things to discuss.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I see her cry — I guess I get a little scared, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe started to walk off, but Ben did not release his hold. \u201cAs difficult as it may be to bring yourself to talk about it, it\u2019s best to have everything out in the open before one marries. Genuine love puts the other first. If the love is there, neither of your backgrounds will matter. All I ask is that you give yourselves enough time to be absolutely certain.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben\u2019s brows arched and his eyes bore into Joe\u2019s. He waited until his son acknowledged that what he had said was right and true. Joe nodded and walked off toward the barn. As Ben\u2019s gaze followed his son, he prayed that if what Adam had said was correct, the truth would come out before Joe was permanently bound in a relationship with Melinda.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
\n

by\u00a0AH83<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0\u00bb\u00a0<\/span>Wed Jul 04, 2018 12:38 pm<\/p>\n

\n

I thought I\u2019d do The Tall Stranger. I wondered what would have happened if Margie had lived and married Hoss.<\/p>\n

Hoss went to see Margie in the hospital. He had rushed to her when her father told him about her problems. Hoss found out through Mark\u2019s friend, Kathie, about her having a baby and he rushed to Margie\u2019s side. He knelt next to her bed.<\/p>\n

\u201cMargie, come back with me,\u201d he whispered.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t. What will people say?\u201d Margie asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cNothing. They\u2019ll say nothing,\u201d Hoss assured.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t. I\u2019ll be alone with my baby.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMargie, you won\u2019t be. If you marry me, you\u2019ll both be taken care of.\u201d<\/p>\n

Margie looked at him.<\/p>\n

\u201cPlease, don\u2019t do this because you feel bad for me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t. I still love you.\u201d Hoss took her hand.<\/p>\n

Margie smiled and shrugged. She thought about it. How would the Cartwrights react to her after she had hurt Hoss? Maybe they would forgive her when they would tell them what happened with her and Mark.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll right,\u201d she replied.<\/p>\n

When Margie got better, they went to the Justice of the Peace and got married. Hoss took Margie and the baby back to the Ponderosa. His family was surprised at the news but quickly welcomed Margie into the family. Ben gently took the baby in his arms and cradled her.<\/p>\n

\u201cHer name is Alicia,\u201d Margie said shyly.<\/p>\n

\u201cA beautiful name for a beautiful girl,\u201d Ben said.<\/p>\n

He carefully bounced Alicia and softly sang to her.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m going to take Margie upstairs so she can rest,\u201d Hoss said.<\/p>\n

The three men nodded.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m surprised they accepted me after what happened,\u201d Margie said surprised.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sure they\u2019re still a little taken by surprise but they are quick to welcome you. They know how much you mean to me,\u201d Hoss replied.<\/p>\n

Downstairs Adam was still a bit skeptical. \u201cWhat makes you think Margie won\u2019t change when she gets better?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam, Hoss is giving her a second chance and so should we,\u201d Ben chastised.<\/p>\n

Adam nodded grudgingly then looked at his new step-niece.<\/p>\n

\u201cGuess you\u2019re right Pa, besides we can\u2019t let this little darling leave us,\u201d Adam said and gently took Alicia from her father.<\/p>\n

He then spoke softly to her. Ben chuckled when he watched Adam. He always knew that his boys would be good
\nfathers and uncles.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam, you can\u2019t keep her all to yourself,\u201d Joe said trying to take the baby from him.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just got her. You\u2019re going to have to wait,\u201d Adam said turning away.<\/p>\n

As time went on, Hoss and Margie moved into their own home after he, Adam and Joe built a house on Ponderosa
\nland. Margie had always wanted to travel but after what had happened with her first marriage, she was happy to just have someone love her. Hoss had been perfect with her and Alicia. She was surprised and had waited for him to leave her like Mark Connors had but he didn\u2019t. He waited on her hand and foot. Mark had lied and treated her poorly but Hoss was a breath of fresh air for her. Hoss was happy to have Margie in his life.<\/p>\n

Months later they heard that Mark was in jail for stealing money from those he conned. The law finally caught up with him. Hoss knew they\u2019d never hear from him because he up and left Margie and the baby, and cared nothing for them. He felt sorry for Mark though for what he lost. Alicia\u2019s babbling pulled Hoss out of his thoughts. He was truly blessed for the changes that happened.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
\n

by\u00a0BettyHT<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0\u00bb\u00a0<\/span>Wed Jul 04, 2018 6:08 pm<\/p>\n

\n

The scene I chose to rewrite is the garden scene in She Walks In Beauty. Much of it is as it was in the episode, but it turns out quite a bit differently. I didn’t like it in the episode so I wrote it the way I thought it made more sense to me anyway. Of course, the rest of the episode would have to be rewritten then too and some dramatic moments wouldn’t happen. I guess the writers had a reason for putting their version in there but it didn’t seem true to the character of Adam there or Hoss’ reaction to it.<\/strong><\/p>\n

When he went out to the garden to see Regan, Adam wasn\u2019t sure which persona she was going to be using. At first, it was the more demure one she had exhibited when he had first arrived home surprised to find her there and then thunderstruck to hear from Hoss that he intended to ask her to marry him. Doubts about her troubled him and caused him to lose sleep at night because of what he knew of her past. There was a party scheduled for that night for Hoss and Regan to announce their betrothal. Before that happened, Adam wanted to know if she was toying with his brother or if she had genuine feelings for him. Even if she did, he wondered if there still was a game she was playing in which his brother was a pawn.<\/p>\n

\u201cRegan.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou startled me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t mean to. I thought we should talk.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do you want to talk about?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI think you know.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat did you hear about me?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI think you know that too.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI suppose you told Hoss.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, I didn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you for that. At least you gave me that courtesy.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t flatter yourself. I did that for Hoss. I didn\u2019t want to hurt him, but I don\u2019t want to let you hurt him either.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI wouldn\u2019t hurt Hoss.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThen why don\u2019t you stop amusing yourself at his expense. Why don\u2019t you go back to San Francisco where I heard you enjoyed amusing yourself with a number of men.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not true. I did nothing to encourage those men.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat about my brother?\u201d<\/p>\n

Putting her hands on the skirt of her plain shirtfront dress, Regan was plaintive. \u201cLook at me. Does it look like I\u2019m doing anything to beguile or entice Hoss or anyone?\u201d<\/p>\n

For a moment, Adam wasn\u2019t so sure of himself and what he had thought to expose in her character. He had to know how she\u2019d react though. \u201cAll right. I\u2019ll tell Hoss and let him decide.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy? Why would you try to ruin everything? I came here to get away from all of that. I came here to get a new life, to find someone who would love me and not want me as a possession, someone who was real and genuine.\u201d<\/p>\n

As she talked, she stepped closer and her voice wavered as fear and sadness seemed to infuse each word. \u201cCan you offer forgiveness? Can you understand? Is that too much to ask?\u201d<\/p>\n

Hearing the pain in her voice did get to him. He reached to her and turned her so she would look at him. \u201cYes, I do understand. I guess you do deserve another chance.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou do understand, don\u2019t you, Adam, that all I ever wanted was to be loved.\u201d<\/p>\n

Putting her hands on his shoulders, Regan moved in close pressing her body against his as he leaned against the tree in her garden. As she moved closer and attempted to kiss him, he raised his hands to her shoulders and pushed her away.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt almost worked, but you really can\u2019t change who you are, can you? You can\u2019t say you love a man and then try to kiss his brother.\u201d<\/p>\n

The slap resounded loudly as Regan\u2019s anger exploded. Adam turned back to her and saw her eyes grow wide as she looked behind him.<\/p>\n

\u201cHoss, did you see what happened? Did you see what he did?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRegan, I saw and I heard some. Adam, would you mind leaving? I got some things ta say ta Miss Regan, and they\u2019re gonna be a mite ugly.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
\n

by\u00a0AC1830<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0\u00bb\u00a0<\/span>Sun Jul 22, 2018 5:33 pm<\/p>\n

\n

I chose to rewrite the gunfight scene between Ed Payson and Billy Buckley in Broken Ballad.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Broken Ballad – The Final Shootout<\/p>\n

Night had fallen hard at the small cabin as Adam Cartwright and Ed Payson argued over what had happened in town with Billy Buckley. Ed had been willing to give up being a gunfighter but neither Will Cass or Billy wouldn\u2019t leave him be. As much as Ed liked Adam, he didn\u2019t want his friend fighting his battles for him. Silence had fallen between the two men when Ed heard a horse approach the house.<\/p>\n

\u201cDidn\u2019t take him long to make up his mind, now did it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ed walked slowly into the yard, with Adam a few feet behind. Billy stood near his horse, ready for confrontation.<\/p>\n

\u201cCass has got you doing his dirty work for him, Billy. Go home or you\u2019ll be fighting me.\u201d Adam took a menacing stance.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo Adam,\u201d Ed spoke slowly, \u201cit\u2019s not about Cass, is it Billy? It\u2019s about Sally.\u201d<\/p>\n

Billy kept his eyes on Ed and barely nodded.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou see Adam, I have to fight. It\u2019s him or me, kill or be killed.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo Ed, you\u2019re wrong. You don\u2019t need to fight him. You\u2019ve got Sally already.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam, if it\u2019s not Billy, it\u2019ll be someone else.\u201d Ed raised his chin. \u201cI have to fight him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pleased how things were progressing, Billy tossed Ed the gun he\u2019d brought from town and Ed put it on and checked the pistol.<\/p>\n

Just as the two men squared off, Sally drove her buggy wildly into the yard. She cried out as she jumped from the rig and ran between Ed and Billy.<\/p>\n

Adam was too far away to stop her but he yelled out, \u201cNo Sally! Get back!\u201d<\/p>\n

In tears, Sally pleaded for them to stop. \u201cWhy can\u2019t you just leave Ed in peace Billy?\u201d She backed up toward Ed as if to protect him. \u201cGo home, please! I don\u2019t love you Billy. It\u2019s Ed that I want, not you!\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam noticed Ed inching toward Sally but he also saw Billy\u2019s eyes squint.<\/p>\n

\u201cGet down!\u201d<\/p>\n

Startled into action Ed dove for Sally just as Adam bent low, drew his gun and fired. Billy fell backwards when the bullet from Adam\u2019s gun cut through his lower right arm. The boy\u2019s gun never cleared leather.<\/p>\n

Screaming and shaking Sally clung to Ed as he rose from the ground and pulled her into his arms. Adam walked cautiously over to Billy. Seeing the boy grabbing his right arm with his left hand as blood spurted through his fingers, Adam quickly removed Billy\u2019s gun from the holster and tossed it away.<\/p>\n

Checking his wound he found bone protruding so Adam worked to straighten it as best he could and tied it off to slow the bleeding.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t think you\u2019ll be using that arm for a long time boy, if ever again.\u201d<\/p>\n

Billy gave Adam a weak, angry look at those words then shifted his eyes to look at Ed and Sally.<\/p>\n

As Adam continued to work on Billy\u2019s arm, he followed Billy\u2019s gaze over at Ed and Sally. She had calmed down and the two were sitting silently on the porch step just staring into the night.<\/p>\n

Adam wasn\u2019t sure what would come of the events of this night. He hoped this would finally give Ed the chance he was needing to get his life in order. He hoped he was right that Billy\u2019s gunfighting days were over, but it seemed he could never sure about anything related to Ed Payson.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
\n

by\u00a0Tampa<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0\u00bb\u00a0<\/span>Tue Jul 31, 2018 7:42 pm<\/p>\n

\n

I chose The Way of Aaron because I find it intensely disappointing. The episode could have explored the two religions and the problems of marrying outside your faith in the 19th century. Instead, they gave us two tacky cliche outlaws and happy ever after. This scene begins in the front yard of the Ponderosa. Aaron is in the seat of his tinker’s wagon, Ben, Adam and Rebekah to his left.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cCome on young lady, get aboard.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat time must you get home?,\u201d Adam asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cBefore sundown,\u201d Rebekah answered.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere is home?,\u201d Ben asked<\/p>\n

\u201cCarson City.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben observed Aaron. He appeared to be in a panic. Ben was aware what sabbath meant for the devout Jew. Unlike Christians, the Jews believed that the sabbath began at sundown the evening before. He looked at Adam and sighed. What he did for his sons.<\/p>\n

\u201cMr. Kaufman, why don’t you spend Shabbat here?\u201d<\/p>\n

It took everyone’s cooperation, including Hop Sing’s, but preparations moved along smoothly. The Cartwrights gathered around the table with the Kaufmans, all standing behind their chairs. On the table sat a tray containing six candles. Rebekah lit all six, dropping the lit match onto the tray when she was finished. She reached out toward the candles drawing her hands inwards three times in a circular motion, then covered her eyes and said a blessing in Hebrew. She uncovered her eyes and greeted everyone with Shabbat Shalom (Sabbath peace). She and Aaron followed that by singing Shalom Aleichem, a song of peace, and Eishet Chayil,a tribute to women written by King Solomon.<\/p>\n

After they were seated, Adam walked around the table pouring a small amount of wine in everyone’s glass. Then Aaron said a special prayer over the wine.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow, we’re going to wash our hands,\u201d Rebekah explained.<\/p>\n

\u201cI washed my hands before I came to the table,\u201d Joe protested.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a special hand washing.\u201d She smiled shyly.<\/p>\n

Joe gave her a feeble grin. The entire family lined up in the kitchen in front of a basin. Each person poured a small amount of water from a pitcher over their hands and then returned to the table.<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you go through all this every Friday?,\u201d Hoss asked earnestly. Adam cringed.<\/p>\n

Rebekah nodded, put her finger to her lips for silence, and turned toward her father. Aaron said a blessing over the bread, tore off a piece for each person, and dipped each in salt before passing them all around.<\/p>\n

Once these rituals were completed, the meal became an ordinary affair except for the meat. Because the Cartwright’s meat wasn’t kosher, Aaron and Rebekah had prepared their own gefilte fish and hard boiled eggs. Other than that, they gratefully shared in Hop Sing’s mashed potatoes, green beans and carrots. The crowning glory was the little cook’s spiced sweet potato pie.<\/p>\n

The conversation was warm and homespun, running the gamut from work to music. Hoss even convinced Adam to bring out his guitar and the entire group sang. Later that evening, Ben and Aaron sat on the front porch trading stories of their travels. Finally, Ben turned to Aaron.<\/p>\n

He motioned to Adam and Rebekah as they stood talking over by the corral. \u201cTell me honestly. What do you think about it?\u201d<\/p>\n

Aaron rose and leaned against the post. “Benjamin, a year ago I would have sent her back east to her aunt. But, this is a new country with many kinds of people. They have different ideas. Who’s to say if they are good ideas or bad ideas? He paused thoughtfully. I have also seen that this is a hard life out here. A woman needs a strong man who can work beside her and protect her. Each must decide what is most important \u2013 faith or love.”<\/p>\n

\u201cIt could be that nothing will come of it,\u201d Ben added. \u201cIn the meantime, you are heading for Carson City and towns east tomorrow morning.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWherever business takes us.\u201d Aaron slapped the post. \u201cWe shall see what tomorrow brings, Ben.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
\n

by\u00a0Tampa<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0\u00bb\u00a0<\/span>Tue Jul 31, 2018 9:33 pm<\/p>\n

\n

The above was not my first attempt at changing a scene. I’ve gained a new respect for people who novelize a television episode or movie. I found it was quite easy for this to go wrong. I’m posting my first attempt for entertainment purposes only. When it comes to The Crucible, I always thought it was ridiculous that the Cartwrights would discuss money in front of perfect strangers. So I rewrote that first scene.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Adam carefully placed the money inside his wallet before leaving the teller’s window in Eastgate. He glanced up at the blistering sun as he headed to the saloon where Joe waited.<\/p>\n

\u201cHi Brother, how’d you make out?,\u201d Joe asked as Adam sat down at the green skirted table, the owner’s attempt at gentrification.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, pretty good. Five thousand dollars.\u201d<\/p>\n

At the table behind them, a pair of poker eyes looked up surreptitiously from underneath a tan hat in acknowledgment of the sum.<\/p>\n

\u201cFive thousand? Pa was right when he said the people around here were hungry for meat.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYep, \u201cAdam continued. \u201cThe bank’s going to ship it out to Virginia City on the first coach.\u201d Joe looked at him, surprised. \u201cYou didn’t think I was going to carry it on me, did you? Don’t worry. We have enough for dinner, the hotel and a bath.\u201d<\/p>\n

By anybody’s estimation, this is a tad short. So, I continued.<\/p>\n

It felt good to sink into a warm bath and wash off the dirt and the stink of the drive. Both men luxuriated in clean clothes and dinner at Jed’s Kettle, Eastgate’s premier dining establishment. Both were ready for bed the minute they hit the hotel. Each had a different idea as to how they wanted to spend the next day.<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought you said you left the money at the bank,\u201d Joe said in disbelief as he watched Adam remove the thick wad of cash from his wallet.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs far as anyone but you knows, I did. The bank refused to send it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam transferred the money into the filthy boots he had worn on the drive.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou’re gonna put it in your smelly old boot?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCan you think of a safer place?\u201d Adam stuffed his old trail boots under the hotel bed.<\/p>\n

Joe shrugged. \u201cEverybody’s talking about the trial for Obadiah Johnson. I’d kinda like to see that trial. How about you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNah. I think I’ll head on over to Pyramid Lake.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat sounds good too. Would you give me one day?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat am I supposed to do during the trial?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSleep?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow about you turn off the light so I can do that now?,\u201d Adam suggested.<\/p>\n

At this point, I decided that there was nothing to do but bring this story to its logical conclusion.<\/p>\n

Adam grunted when he nicked himself again. It was high time to get his razor sharpened. As he splashed his face with water, Joe came strolling in.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo need to hurry, Big Brother.\u201d Joe slumped down onto the bed. \u201cThe trial’s been postponed.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPostponed? What happened?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSeems the bank was robbed last night.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThis bank?\u201d Adam had a thought. \u201cWere they looking for $5000?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe. Anyway, the sheriff can’t be in two places at once. So, the judge moved the trial to this afternoon.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know how it’s going to end.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOne day Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam sighed. As the brothers emerged from the front of the hotel searching for anything of interest, a column of United States cavalry rode past escorting two cowboys whose battered faces bore testimony to having had better days.<\/p>\n

Joe pointed toward the man in the tan hat. \u201cHe was in the saloon yesterday.\u201d<\/p>\n

The two men nonchalantly walked down the little street past the fountain, the only element of beauty in this crummy little town, and quietly approached a young private.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat did those guys do?,\u201d Joe asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe caught ’em red-handed robbing a stagecoach,\u201d the private answered.<\/p>\n

\u201cLooks like they gave you a little trouble,\u201d Adam commented.<\/p>\n

\u201cTheir faces? Nah, the passengers did that. They said it was too hot to be stranded in the desert.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThere won’t be any trial today,\u201d Adam predicted.<\/p>\n

The brothers looked at each other and smiled.<\/p>\n

\u201cPyramid Lake,\u201d they said simultaneously.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
A Note from the Brandsters.\u00a0 This was originally written and published on the Bonanza Trail Riders site.\u00a0 Brand is happy to offer this story a new home.<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n

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

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

Summary: In Tim McGraw’s\u00a0Live Like You Were Dying, there are the lines\u00a0\u201cTook a good, long, hard look\/At what I’d do if I could do it all again\u201d.<\/p>\n

Rating: G, Word Count: 4013<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12475,"featured_media":62121,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","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":[1323],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-48217","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sourdough","wpcat-1323-id"],"a3_pvc":{"activated":true,"total_views":4,"today_views":1},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/BTR.png?fit=442%2C255&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":48261,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=48261","url_meta":{"origin":48217,"position":0},"title":"BTR Sourdough Starters #25 – May 2020 (by BZTrailriders)","author":"BZTrailRiders","date":"May 31, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: Picture of Inspiration: Choose one of the three pictures below. (Adam and Joe from The Quality of Mercy, Adam and Ben when Hop Sing reports men all over Ponderosa from Enter Mark Twain,\u00a0 Hoss and Joe in jail (unknown episode). Write a short scene for one, two or all\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Sourdough Starter"","block_context":{"text":"Sourdough Starter","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=1323"},"img":{"alt_text":"Preserving Their Legacy","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/BTR.png?fit=442%2C255&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":48211,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=48211","url_meta":{"origin":48217,"position":1},"title":"BTR Sourdough Starters #01 – May 2018 (by BZTrailriders)","author":"BZTrailRiders","date":"May 31, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: In 2018, BTR started a writing challenge call Sourdough Starters. A Sourdough Starter is the Yeast that will activate the Dough that will be Baked into Bread. This was used in the 1800's and is still used today. BTR's take was to use it as a \"Starter\" for a\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Sourdough Starter"","block_context":{"text":"Sourdough Starter","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=1323"},"img":{"alt_text":"Preserving Their Legacy","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/BTR.png?fit=442%2C255&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1705,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=1705","url_meta":{"origin":48217,"position":2},"title":"Setting the Course (by BluewindFarm)","author":"BluewindFarm","date":"September 2, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0 At the end of \u201cA House Divided\u201d, have you ever wondered why Adam wasn\u2019t farther along to join the cause before Little Joe caught up with him?\u00a0 Adam had emotionally left the night before Ben\u2018s encounter with Frederick Kyle and Joe in town.\u00a0 Me... I don\u2019t think it had\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Brothers"","block_context":{"text":"Brothers","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=1009"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":15580,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=15580","url_meta":{"origin":48217,"position":3},"title":"The Caf\u00e9 Scene (by Robin)","author":"profrobinw","date":"May 5, 2005","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0 Ben raised them better than this.\u00a0 We know he did. Rating:\u00a0 T\u00a0 (870 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\/2017\/06\/ARLE-e1497282889671.png?fit=570%2C416&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/ARLE-e1497282889671.png?fit=570%2C416&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/ARLE-e1497282889671.png?fit=570%2C416&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":7619,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=7619","url_meta":{"origin":48217,"position":4},"title":"Big Ears, Big Fears (by DJK)","author":"DJK","date":"May 9, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: Little Joe listens and learns. Rated:\u00a0 K+\u00a0 Word count:\u00a01035","rel":"","context":"In "Brothers"","block_context":{"text":"Brothers","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=1009"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/Young-Mike.jpg?fit=217%2C239&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":12914,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=12914","url_meta":{"origin":48217,"position":5},"title":"The Lady from Baltimore – A Missing Scene (by Jenny G)","author":"Gwynne & JennyG","date":"January 11, 2003","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0 A missing scene for the episode. Rating:\u00a0 K+\u00a0 (900 words)","rel":"","context":"In "Missing Scene"","block_context":{"text":"Missing Scene","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=61"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/A-Tangled-Web_Lady-From-Baltimore.jpg?fit=640%2C480&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/A-Tangled-Web_Lady-From-Baltimore.jpg?fit=640%2C480&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/A-Tangled-Web_Lady-From-Baltimore.jpg?fit=640%2C480&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48217","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\/12475"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=48217"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48217\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/62121"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=48217"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=48217"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=48217"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}