One idea could be that Little Joe is kidnapped by a rival rancher who wants to use him as leverage against the Cartwright family. The family then has to come up with a plan to rescue him without starting a range war.
His family members are very likely to be involved. His father, Ben Cartwright, would surely be there to offer wisdom and support. Hoss, his brother, would probably be by his side, using his strength to help out. Adam, another brother, could contribute with his more level - headed thinking.
Maybe Little Joe is kidnapped by a con artist who plans to ransom him. But the con artist doesn't realize how tenacious the Cartwright family is. Little Joe tries to escape on his own but has to deal with the kidnapper's henchmen. Meanwhile, the Cartwrights follow every lead and start to close in on the kidnapper's hideout. This would be a story full of suspense and action.
In Bonanza Little Joe fanfiction, a frequent theme is love and romance. Writers might pair him with an original character or with a character from the show in different romantic storylines. Also, the theme of growth and coming - of - age is common. Little Joe is a young character, and his journey of maturing and learning life lessons is often explored in fanfiction. For example, he might face a difficult moral choice and grow from it. Sometimes, fanfictions also focus on the theme of loyalty, whether it's his loyalty to his family, friends, or the ranch.
Some common themes could be physical injury recovery. For example, Little Joe might get hurt while on a ranch task, like herding cattle. Then the story could focus on his struggle to get back on his feet and the support he gets from his family.
The character of Little Joe Cartwright in 'Bonanza' was not associated with gay stories. The show aimed to portray a traditional Western family life. His character was often involved in romances with female characters, and the narrative centered on themes like loyalty, family bonds, and the struggles of frontier life.
In a Bonanza fanfiction where Little Joe gets hurt, perhaps he could be injured while trying to break in a wild horse. His brothers, Adam and Hoss, would then rush to his side. They might bring him back to the ranch and call for the doctor. The family would be worried sick, and Little Joe would have to endure the pain while waiting for his recovery.
You can try fanfiction websites like Archive of Our Own (AO3). It has a large collection of fanfictions, and you can search specifically for 'Bonanza Little Joe' fanfictions. There are also some old - school fanfiction forums that might have some hidden gems, but they may require more digging.
One common theme could be his relationships. It might explore his friendships with other characters in the Bonanza world, like how he bonds with his fellow ranchers or townspeople. Another theme could be his struggles and how he overcomes them, perhaps facing off against outlaws or dealing with hardships on the ranch.
If Little Joe gets hurt in Bonanza fanfiction, his family would first try to stop any bleeding. Adam, being the more level - headed one, might use his knowledge of first aid. They would then get him to the ranch as quickly as possible. Once there, Hop Sing would bring warm water and clean cloths to clean the wound. The doctor would be sent for, and he might stitch up the wound if it's a deep cut or set a broken bone if that's the injury.