This is my first attempt at a Bonanza story. It probably won't follow the show story line because I don't really know when... well I'm not going to give away the end. Anyways, I hope you like it. Disclamer: I don't own anything.

CHAPTER 1 Permission to Camp

"Please Adam!" eleven year old Joseph "Little Joe" Cartwright begged his older brother.

"I've already told you Little Joe," twenty one year old Adam Cartwright sighed, "I'm busy this weekend. I can't take you camping."

"But Adam!" Little Joe argued before Adam cut him off,

"No Little Joe, and that's final!"

"But you promised!" Little Joe whined.

"Look, Joe," Adam paused in saddling Sport, "I know I promised, but I've got to finish mending the fence in the north pasture."

"Can't I come with you?" Joe begged, "I can help and get to camp at the same time!"

Adam thought a moment before smiling at his youngest brother.

"Let's go talk to Pa." he said.

"Thanks Adam!" Joe exclaimed, giving his brother a hug.

"Hold up little brother," Adam laughed, "We better see what Pa says."

"All right Adam." Joe was still excited, fairly sure that Pa would let him go.

Adam grinned and finished tightening the cinch on his horse, Sport.

"Come on" Adam said, "Let's go ask Pa."

Joe smiled and ran to the house, but waited on the porch for Adam who walked.

"Hurry up Adam!" he exclaimed.

"Hold your horses, Little Joe. I'm coming!" Adam laughed.

He reached the porch and the two of them walked into the house.

Ben Cartwright was sitting at his desk doing paperwork when he heard the door open and his youngest and oldest son walked in.

"Hello boys," Ben smiled at his sons.

"Hi Pa!" Joe practically shouted. "Can I go with Adam and help him mend the fence in the north pasture?"

"Slow down, Little Joe." Ben smiled, "What's he talking about Adam?"

"I promised Joe that I would take him camping this weekend," Adam explained slowly, "But I have to finish mending the fence in the north pasture. Would it be alright if Joe were to come with me?"

"I don't know Adam," Ben said thoughtfully, "That would be two days for sure, maybe more. And he would miss a day of school."

"I'll bring him back Monday afternoon," Adam promised, "And I did give him my word I would take him. It's only one day, I'm sure he won't mind. He won't miss anything important."

"I guess that would be alright, go tell Hop Sing to make some extra food." Ben smiled at his sons, "You better go get packed, Joe."

"Yippee!" Joe exclaimed as he ran upstairs to pack, "Thanks Pa!"

Adam and Ben laughed at the retreating boy.

"I better go finish packing." Adam said, heading toward the kitchen.

"Adam," Ben called his eldest son back, "I want you to be extra careful this trip. Chuck said he saw riders from the distance in the east pasture, heading to the north. They may have just been passing by, but I want you to be alert."

"Yes sir." Adam nodded.

"And watch your brother closely," Ben added, "You know how slippery he can be."

They each laughed at that, but the warning stayed in Adam's mind as he walked back to the kitchen.

"Hop Sing," He called as he stood in the doorway. "Would you prepare some more food, Little Joe is coming with me."

"Hop Sing already made food for first and third sons." The Chinese cook said in his heavy accent.

"Thanks Hop Sing." Adam turned and walked back outside to the stable.

On his way out, he passed at the gun racks and got some more ammunition and an extra rifle. He got the pack mule ready and waited for Joe to come out. He didn't have to wait long. Joe ran out within five minutes with a somewhat small bag.

"Did Pa help you?" Adam asked.

"Yes." Joe sighed.

Joe walked over to his brown horse, Carrie, saddled her, and tied his bag behind the saddle.

"I'm ready to go Adam!" Joe announced, leading his horse out of her stall.

"We have to pick up the extra food from Hop Sing before we go." Adam told him, leading Sport out of his stall.

After they picked up two more bags of foods, Joe and Adam spurred their horses to a trot and headed to the north pasture.