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Glory

October 24th, 2008 – 4 Comments

My most recent story is a What-Happened-Next for the episode “My Brother’s Keeper”.  Yeah, I can hear you groaning, “OMG, another one?”  Believe me, I tried to talk myself out of doing it, because that episode has to be one of the top contenders for having the most WHNs done for it.  The Bonanza fan fiction world is full of them.

 

“My Brother’s Keeper” is, I think, the episode that had the greatest capacity for exploring the relationships between the brothers, but because the writers found it necessary to include some rather annoying guest stars and side stories, that capacity was never allowed to develop.

 

The entire episode was wrapped up too abruptly.  I mean, good grief, Adam Cartwright had shot his little brother—that had to be one of the worst things that had ever happened to Adam (not to mention Joe), rating right up there with losing his mother and two stepmothers.  Adam was a man who took his responsibilities seriously.  To be the cause of his brother’s close call with death had to be absolutely excruciating for him.  I just don’t believe things would’ve been all hunky-dory on the Ponderosa as soon as those guest stars rolled away in their buggy.

 

So, in Glory, I’ve explored some of what I felt would have happened, and what I wish had been filmed.

 An excerpt:

 

 

It’s funny. I’m the one that got shot, but it’s Adam who was really wounded.

 

 

 

I watch him as he rides along beside Pa, fifty yards or so ahead of Hoss and me. On the outside he looks the same as he ever did, leaning slightly to the right, one hand easy and relaxed on the reins. Pa says something to him, and he nods and answers. But his answer is short, like most of the answers he gives these days. 

 

 

 

Another excerpt:

 

But I’m not listening any more. I pick up Pa’s rifle and walk toward the fire with a gun in each hand, and I don’t stop until I’m standing right beside Adam. I thrust our father’s gun out toward him.“Here,” I say. Still on his haunches over the fire, he looks up at me. One brow rises in a mocking sort of question mark, but he says nothing.

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

“Take it,” I snap, and I shove the rifle at Adam. “Take it and come with us.” I am aware of Pa and Hoss standing frozen, watching the two of us, but I can’t drop my eyes from Adam’s. His eyes reflect the growing light of the embers he is tending, and they are deep with thoughts that I don’t have the guts to try to delve into. What are you afraid of? I want to ask him, but I can’t. I’m afraid that his answer will have more power than the rest of us can fight. We are on the brink of losing him, and even though he no longer talks of Boston, I know he is still thinking of leaving. I don’t dare turn my gaze from his; at this moment, I know it is me who holds him here even as it is me who drives him away. It is guilt, thick and cloying—that is what I see in his eyes.
 
 
 Another excerpt: 

 

 

 

      

 

 
This is it. I look at Adam, and our eyes meet. He’s still poised to shoot, but his expression is one of hopeless desperation. Pa and Hoss are both screaming at him to shoot. I can’t tell if the moisture on his cheeks is from tears or perspiration.I can’t leave him with this. I do the one thing, the only thing, I can think to do for my brother.

If you want to read this story in its entirety, just press the link on the right side of this blog.  Happy reading!

Tags: Glory

4 responses so far ↓

  • 1 Lisamarie // Oct 28, 2008 at 12:24 am

    I sure am glad you didn’t talk yourself out of Glory, Corinna, because it’s one of your absolute best! Now if you start talking about a WHN to The Crucible, I might have to slap you one.

  • 2 southplains // Oct 28, 2008 at 12:49 am

    Hmm, doing a WHN to The Crucible…well, you never know. Stranger things have happened! ;)

  • 3 iceangelmkx // Oct 30, 2008 at 5:11 am

    I’m guilty of that too… I’m already planning my version of a WHN for The Crucible. :P However, I’m not rushing to write it just yet. Despite the numerous WHN in your case, I’m glad you wrote Glory. It was very enjoyable.

    PS – Love your cover for Another Chance. :P

  • 4 southplains // Oct 30, 2008 at 1:39 pm

    Glad you enjoyed the story, Ice! Glad you liked my cover for ‘Another Chance’, too. I’m really having fun with those covers. Of course, that one does have a particularly nice view! ;)

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