Summary:

Clay Stafford is a troubled man with a troubled past. What that past is remains mostly shrouded in mystery. The one thing Clay Stafford has in common with Little Joe is, he's not a liar. Though he may not want this newfound family to know all of what his past entails he does not want to lie to them either and create bad blood. He told them just enough to get them to accept him. The moment he realized that he had put this innocent family into danger just by trying to be a part of it he cut his ties and left. Little did he know that the trouble that follows him would grab onto the Cartwright's with an unforgiving clutch and force him to return to face his troubles.

Authors Notes:

I, most unworthy but due to my passion, have decided to take on the task of piecing together Clay's life. I apologize in advance for the long intro but I feel that these are things that need to be said. First and foremost I will say that there are many clues throughout the storyline which give us insight as to who Clay is. Taking all the information they had given us so far; his birthright in New Orleans and the family friction he was born into, his experience with ranches in Oregon, his time fighting in Juarez's army, the execution of two men both miners killed in similar circumstances and last but not least his absolute aversion of being trapped; what does it look like when all of these pieces are put together?

In creating Clay's story I used the characters and plot lines which the show has laid out for us as a foundation for his life. Basically, I took what they were saying already (however subtle or inadvertent) and brought it to life.

I will be connecting stories from The Stranger 1x12, The First Born 3x1, and Marie My Love 3x14 to create Clay's past.

I will also be using real-life historical figures as well as fictional characters both of my own imaginings and those created by NBC, specifically the writers and creators of the television series Bonanza.

The first historical figure used is named right in the very first chapter.

As I couldn't picture Clay as being the type to journal his thoughts and feelings and from what we know of his personality, he keeps the details of his life pretty close to the cuff; for this reason, as well as the constraints I put on myself, I needed the Cartwright's to learn of his story through extra-ordinary means. The best way I found to do this was to create a story within the story or rather manuscript within the story. As this manuscript would become an intricate part of this story, I had to create someone who would be more than capable of penning his life. There is one such man whom works in this capacity.

Little is known about him today despite his role and participation in the War of Reform and the following French-Mexican War. Interestingly enough, he was not a Mexican born citizen at all but a Cuban nationalist. His role was a great one though. He would later go on to marry the daughter of Benito Juarez and be tasked with protecting his family. As this happens after the timeline of the story I only mention it here to give you an idea of his importance in the events of history.

If you haven't gathered by now, this is a Clay Stafford centrifuge. Stay with us as the mysteries of his life gets unraveled. I give you my version of Clay Stafford.

Disclaimer* If you're expecting a Bad-a** gun slinger or bad boy type, than this story is not for you.

And now, without further ado, I turn it over to the "true" author of this story. Pedro Santacilia.

Words from the Author

I had known him, if only by passing acquaintances, two civilian soldiers who believed and fought for the same cause, freedom of oppression and unrighteous persecution. Two players of a civil war fighting for a country which neither of us were born to.

I met him in this capacity and worked with him among others in this fight. Many great names actively involved in the war will be mentioned. Many more, though brave and honorable and deserving of mention, will not be told of, at least not in this setting.

About me. Before I was a soldier, I was a poet in my home country. Like the stories of others who would later be mentioned, my ideals and writings were unappreciated in these oppressive times and I found myself with others to be the victim of exile. Thrown out and abandoned by my home country.

I settled in New Orleans where I met and partnered with another such exile and together started a company. The shipment of fruits and vegetables in and around the Cape Horn. It was in this capacity, a year later, that I came to meet the exiled revolutionary, Benito Juarez, and his band of misfit freedom fighters. This was how I met Clay Stafford, the Americano whom had joined the cause.

If I talk about myself later in the story it will be in the third person and only as a player in the scene which surrounds this interesting creature whom is the real subject of my penmanship.

At the time when we worked closest together, I knew so little about him. It would be years later and only when brought about by public scandal that truths about his life would be revealed. The public, though having a shell dropped on them and doing what they could to recover from that, only had the tip of the information. If such a huge secret as this could be hidden from the world what else is this wonderful man holding on to? It was through great pushing (or more accurately put) shameless and unending meddling, that I was finally able to break down his defenses and get him to start opening up to me.

Though he provides the bulk of the details, there are many truths which even he had not known. I had to use the only surviving witnesses willing to talk with me (as not all were) to fill in and around the story where Clay could not.

Unfortunately, when I had finished writing his story, he had second thoughts about making these facts known to the world. As I considered him a friend and still do, I understood his delicate position. I cut my losses, chalking it up as experience and let him walk away, out of my life. I had my opinion then that I would never see him again. He may have disappeared out there into the world, which I knew full well was his intention, had it not been for what happened after the pen had been put down and the covers of his life closed.

He departed from me then, but his story had not been finished. What came next would be the reason I get to tell his story today.

For the encouragement, support and love of the people whom surround him now, which was not won over easily, I thank thee.

This is a story told in three parts. The middle part is what had been written first. This contains the intimate details of Clay's early past. The other two parts were what came after.

I present to you the story of Clay Stafford.

Pedro Santacilia