Often when I’m in the kitchen, either cooking or doing dishes or baking or painting, I check out the movies on TMC and AMC. It was western month recently, and there was no end to cowboys, horses and shootouts. Yee haw!  A couple of Saturdays ago, I tuned in just as Rio Bravo was starting. I hadn’t seen it in ages, so I clicked on all the TVs and did my chores from room to room while watching.

I can’t be the only one who does this.

My husband and I were talking recently about when we were kids and there was one television in the house, and that television had three channels. Elijah asked me the other day on the way to school, (you know how kids always ask questions about the old days!) “What was on TV when you were a kid? Nickelodean? Cartoon Network?” He couldn’t quite grasp the fact that we had The Mickey Mouse Club on weekdays and cartoons on Saturday morning only. Talk about the dark ages!

Watch a favorite scene here:

Rio Bravo is probably one of the most well known and best loved westerns.  It’s sure  fun, and it’s one of my favorites. It was financially successful for its day, earning over 5.5 million in 1959. Of course what movie staring John Wayne in a cowboy hat wouldn’t have been successful?

It was filmed at Old Tucson Studios just outside Tucson Arizona. During the filming, a saloon, bank building and doctor’s office were added to the western sets. Earlier westerns filmed there were McLintock, and El Dorado, and much later Tombstone and The Quick and the Dead used the same soundstages and sets.

Sources say that because Howard Hawks was offended by High Noon and he didn’t believe the marshal in that film, played by Gary Cooper, would ask the townsfolk for help, so he made Rio Bravo to tell the same story his way.

Here’s the basic plot:

In his efforts to jail the brother of the local bad guy, sheriff John T. Chance, played by John Wayne, enlists the help of a cantankerous cripple named Stumpy, played by Walter Brennan, a disgraced drunk named Dude–probably Dean Martin’s best ever performance, and a singing gunfighter, the adorable Ricky Nelson, to keep custody of a murderer whose powerful rancher brother is trying to help him escape. After a friend is killed trying to muster support for him, they must find a way to hold out against the rancher’s hired guns until the marshal arrives. In the meantime, matters are complicated by the presence of a young gunslinger – and a mysterious beauty who just came in on the last stagecoach.

 I already loved Ricky Nelson from the Ozzie and Harriett show, and to this day I listen to his CDs. He wasn’t such a great actor, but Colorado’s character is great–and we get to hear him sing.

The mysterious poker playing beauty is of course the lovely and very very young Angie Dickenson and John T. Chance’s love interest.

 One of my favorite lines:

John T. Chance: Stumpy?
Stumpy: Yeah?
John T. Chance: Going over to the hotel for a few minutes.
Stumpy: Well, if’n ya don’t come back, me ‘n’ Joe’ll have us a good cry.

Rio Bravo Trivia:

There were two remakes of this classic movie:

The first remake, El Dorado, was released in 1967. In this film, Robert Mitchum played the Dean Martin role, Arthur Hunnicutt the Walter Brennan character and James Caan the Ricky Nelson role. Director Howard Hawks again named the Nelson/Caan character after a state (in this case, Mississippi) and in a wry, humorous twist on the original film, Hawks made him inept with firearms, but skilled with a knife.

The second remake, Rio Lobo, was made in 1970 and also directed by Hawks. This was a remake, beginning with a Confederate train robbery of a Union gold shipment during the American Civil War, then moving to a Texas town under siege, which was central to the original film. This film starred John Wayne, Mexican film star Jorge Rivero (as Frenchie), Christopher Mitchum (Robert Mitchum’s son), Jack Elam, and Jennifer O’Neill.

Film footage from Rio Bravo was later incorporated into the opening sequence of John Wayne’s last film, The Shootist, to illustrate the backstory of Wayne’s character.

Ricky Nelson later paid homage to both the film and his character, Colorado, by including the song “Restless Kid” on his 1959 record Ricky Sings Again.

Sources: Internet Movie Database & Wikipedia

 Have you seen Rio Bravo lately?

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First of all, a huge thank you to the writers on Petticoats and Pistols Blog for inviting me to share a bit of time with you and your readers in Wildflower Junction. I’ve known many of these fine writer friends for years through Romance Writers of America.

I’m now living in Hawaii, over 2,000 miles from the mainland and even farther from the Wild West.  Living here is a dream I’ve had since we bought our home in 1978. Now it’s a reality. Though I live in a tropical paradise, a part of my heart will always be Romancing the West.

My latest book, HOMECOMING, from Steeple Hill, is set in Texas in the 1870’s.  HOMECOMING is both a return and a departure for me. It’s a return to writing Westerns, my first love and where I started over twenty novels ago. It’s a departure because it’s my first Inspirational novel.

If you have never read an Inspirational romance, this might just be the one to try. Aside from adding the element of faith as part of the plotline, in HOMECOMING I’ve been true to the things that my previous books have been known for—memorable characters, page turning tension, emotion and historical detail. If you loved shows like DR. QUINN MEDICINE WOMAN, BONANZA, and LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRARIE, then you’ll enjoy HOMECOMING.

In fact, the story was inspired by a movie, THE SEARCHERS, which starred John Wayne. It was made in the early sixties (or the late fifties) I’m not certain. (Mental pause.) It’s the story of a Texas Ranger who spends years searching for his niece, who was taken captive by the Comanche when she was a child. He finds her years later and takes her home.

I’ve always wondered…and then what happened? Did she stay? Did she assimilate back into the white culture? Did she try to run back to the Comanche?

HOMECOMING is the story of a young woman who was taken by the Comanche as a child. She is raised by them, cherished and adopted by them. When she is “rescued’ twelve years later by the U.S. Army, she is handed over to a mother and son, the Ellenbergs, who are to care for her until her identity is established and her relations are located.

In the mean time, the young woman who only knows herself as Eyes-of-the-Sky has been thrust into a confusing, terrifying situation.  Hattie Ellenberg is a woman who has suffered much at the hands of the Comanche herself, but her faith helps her forgive. Her son, Joe, (naturally, the devastatingly handsome hero) has no faith. He has no dream. He’s living his life one day at a time and working the family ranch. He’s virulently opposed to taking in a Comanche captive who thinks she’s “Comanch.”

I think the story that unfolds is one that will bring a tear to your eye. I’ve been told it’s truly a page turner. Please, do give it a try.

When it rains it pours, they say, and so it is with my publications this summer. In June, DESTINATION: MARRIAGE, an anthology of wedding stories from Harlequin, was released. Although it’s not set in the Wild West, my short story, “Trouble in Paradise” is set on Kauai (which is about as far west as you can get without leaving the states). If you’re looking for a quick, funny beach read, you might enjoy it. The other two stories are by Jo Leigh and Jackie Braun, both multi-published Harlequin authors.

Last but not least, I noticed in May, Elizabeth Lane sent in photos of herself belly dancing. What fun. I can truly relate to her passion. I dance hula and have been doing so for nearly twenty years. I dance with a great group of ladies of all ages (most fifty and over). We’re called the Hui Hula O’ Halelea. We love to perform for groups at luaus and parties, day care centers, long term care facilities, at pancake breakfast fundraisers and recently we danced at a bowling alley during a tournament buffet!

Dancing hula gives me a chance to get away from the computer and enjoy myself to the lovely sound of Hawaiian music.

I’d love to hear from you. I’ll be giving away one autographed copy of DESTINATION: MARRIAGE and two autographed copies of HOMECOMING, to three readers who leave comments today here at Petticoats and Pistols.

You can also read more about my previous titles at my website: www.jillmarielandis.com

Thanks for letting me “talk story”—as they say here in Hawaii—about my books, my hula, and what inspired me to write HOMECOMING.

Aloha hui hou, (aloha until we meet again)

Jill Marie Landis

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Howdy, everyone!

I’m really glad to be blogging at Pistols and Petticoats today.   In fact, just thinking about westerns and romance has me thinking country and humming the old Willie Nelson tune, “My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys…”

For as long as I can remember, I’ve enjoyed a good western—whether it’s in the form of a book, movie or country song.

I cut my teeth on shows like Gunsmoke, The Lone Ranger, and The Big Valley.   I must admit, though, Bonanza could sometimes be tough to watch.  I used to cringe whenever Adam, Hoss, or Little Joe fell in love, because sure as shootin’, whenever that happened, you could be sure that the poor little woman was fixin’ to die…

But I’d watch the show anyway, pull out a hanky, and prepare for a good cry.

That’s because I love cowboys.  And here’s why:

1.  Cowboys believe in truth and justice

2.  Cowboys choose to do whatever’s right—no matter what the consequence

3.  Cowboys know how to kick back and have fun—Yee Haw!

4.  Cowboys are tough on the outside and gentle within

5.  Cowboys tame wild horses and bad hombres with their bare hands

6.  Cowboys have a unique scent of leather and musk that can turn a woman’s heart on end

7.  Cowboys are sexy and rugged and romantic

8.  Cowboys know how to treat a lady

So when push comes to shove, the bad guys get their comeuppance, and the sun sinks low in the western sky, I want to climb on a horse behind a handsome cowboy, slip my arms around his waist, and ride off into the sunset. 

Happy-ever-after doesn’t get any better than that.

Judy’s latest Special Edition, IN LOVE WITH THE BRONC RIDER, is a June 2008 release.

THE COWBOY’S LADY?

When Tori took the job at the Rocking C ranch, nobody told her an ornery cowboy came with it.  As a former nurse, Tori new she could help Matt Clayton get back on his feet.  The only obstacle was the injured bronc rider himself….

An accident may have ended his rodeo career, but Matt wasn’t one to back down from a challenge!  Now one bossy redhead was about to meet her match!  But Tori was hiding something.

Would Tori’s secret force her to leave Matt and the feelings he was awakening in her?  Or could love work its healing magic on them both, making this a homecoming neither would forget?

The Texas Homecoming:  There’s no better place for love.

Order Judy’s books by clicking on the thumbnail covers!

Whatcha Gonna Do With a Cowboy?

 Chris Amundson, the editor of Nebraska Life, spoke at a Nebraska Press Women’s conference I attended and I loved listening to Chris talk about the great things to be found in Nebraska.

However it was a little distracting to have this picture blown up into a poster right behind his back. It was the cover for an article they did on small town rodeo.

Here’s a link to a lot more great rodeo pictures.

http://www.nebraskalife.com/SmallTownRodeos1.asp

It hits close for me because we have a rodeo in the next town down the road called the Hoot Gibson Memorial Rodeo in Tekamah, Nebraska. And we’ve got neighbors who are big time into rodeo, entering and competing when the rodeo is in the area, although they don’t follow the circuit.

So today I’m including a little history, a quick look at events and some great, great pictures all about rodeo.

 Fun Fact: Rodeo is the official state sport of Wyoming and Texas, and the iconic silhouette image of a Bucking Horse and Rider is a federal and state registered trademark of the State of Wyoming.

 Rodeo Quote: I can remember sittin’ in a cafe when I first started in rodeo, and waitin’ until somebody got done so I could finish what they left.
Chris LeDoux(1948-2005) Real  life cowboy and Country western singer of Whatcha Gonna Do With a Cowboy among many great hits.

Main Rodeo Events

Barrel Racing

Barrel racing is an exclusively women’s sport. In a barrel race, horse and rider gallop around a cloverleaf pattern of barrels, making agile turns without knocking the barrels over. Look at that picture on the left. Really notice how low the horse is, almost on it’s side.

Bulldogging

A calf is roped around the neck by a lariat, the horse stops and sets back on the rope while the cowboy dismounts, runs to the calf, throws it to the ground and ties three feet together. (If the horse throws the calf, the cowboy must lose time waiting for the calf to get back to its feet so that the cowboy can do the work. The job of the horse is to hold the calf steady on the rope) This activity is still practiced on modern working ranches for branding, medical treatment, and so on.

 In spite of popular myth, most modern “broncs” are not in fact wild horses, but are more commonly spoiled riding horses or horses bred specifically as bucking stock. Rough stock events also use well-trained riding horses ridden by “pick up men” (or women), of whom there are usually at least two, tasked with assisting fallen riders and helping successful riders get safely off the bucking animal.

Bronc riding

There are two divisions in rodeo, bareback bronc riding, where the rider is only allowed to hang onto a bucking horse with a type of surcingle called a “rigging,” and saddle bronc riding, where the rider is allowed a specialized western saddle without a horn (for safety) and may hang onto a heavy lead rope, called a bronc rein, which is attached to a halter on the horse.

Bull riding

An event where the cowboys ride full-grown bulls instead of horses. Although skills and equipment similar to those needed for bareback bronc riding are required, the event differs considerably from horse riding competition due to the danger involved. Because bulls are unpredictable and may attack a fallen rider, Rodeo clowns, now known as Bullfighters, work during bull riding competition to help prevent injury to competitors. 

Some interesting rodeo facts: Rodeo stresses its western folk hero image and its being a genuinely American creation. But in fact it grew out of the practices of Spanish ranchers and their Mexican ranch hands (vaqueros), a mixture of cattle wrangling and bull fighting that dates back to the sixteenth-century conquistadors. But you know…what does American mean if not a melting pot from all over the world?

 There would probably be no steer wrestling at all in American rodeo were it not for a black cowboy from Texas named Bill Pickettwho devised his own unique method of bulldogging steers. He jumped from his horse to a steer’s back, bit its upper lip, and threw it to the ground by grabbing its horns. He performed at local central Texas fairs and rodeos and was discovered by an agent, who signed him on a tour of the West with his brothers. He received sensational national publicity with his bulldogging exhibition at the 1904 Cheyenne Frontier Days. This brought him a contract with the famous 101 Ranch in Oklahoma and its traveling Wild West exhibitions, where he spent many years performing in the United States and abroad. I’ve seen bull riding competitions and it’s a mean sport. I don’t care for it. But the crowd goes wild.

 I remember a few years ago some company was selling ‘Great Rodeo Moments’ on TV and they’d run these awful clips, over and over, of riders getting gored by a bull or trampled by a horse. I went and looked at YouTube but honestly the clips there are pretty hard to watch. So I’m not sending you there. Go at your own risk.

Some Great Rodeo Movies—it seems like they always have them riding the bulls.

8 Seconds-starring Luke Perry

Electric Horseman – starring Robert Redford

Pure Country – Starring George Strait

My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys – Starring Scott Glenn.

 If you want to see some more really cool rodeo photos by Erik Stenbakken who took the picture at the top of this that I’m calling Mud Soaked Cowboy go here: http://www.stenbakken.com/ Click on Portfolios and then Rodeos. Very talented guy.

Any rodeo fans here today?

Seriously, have you ever been to the rodeo?

Have you got a favorite rodeo movie or rodeo cowboy I didn’t mention? What’s a cowboy got in him that makes him climb on that bull? There are cowgirls out there, too, and they’re pretty tough. Let’s hear rodeo memories, opinions or just tell me Whatcha Gonna Do With a Cowboy……

It has everything to do with my parents.  They brainwashed me–and I’ve loved every minute of it.  

Thanks to them I grew up on musicals. I’m talking about the love at first sight, happy ending, burst into song at the drop of a hat kind. (Oh how my sons roll their eyes at that!)  

Between Rogers and Hammerstein and Walt Disney I was happy as a bee in a field of Texas blue-bonnets. The music, the lyrics, the dancing—and the touch of humor in just the right places– swept me away to a magical realm and kept me enthralled. It didn’t hurt that the heroes were easy on the eyes and the heroines beautiful too. And they always fell in love and lived happily ever after.  

The first musical I remember seeing was Mary Poppins. Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke lit up the screen. I know every song by heart. Then there was The Sound of Music. I can’t tell you how badly I wanted to go to Austria after seeing that! The scenery was stunning.  

Oklahoma!, The Music Man, West Side Story, South Pacific, Camelot and a host of others—the music was so ingrained in me that I couldn’t believe it when I’d meet someone who’d never seen a musical—it was that incomprehensible to me. (Don’t ask me how I ever ended up marrying a “sports jock.” At least he tolerates my singing around the house!)  

Watching Disney movies with my sons as they grew up kept the musical bug alive in me (not that it needed any help!) Being boys, they didn’t much care for the “princess” movies like Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, or The Little Mermaid, but there was Pete’s Dragon, Beauty and the Beast, and their favorite–The Prince of Egypt.  

I enjoyed Carousel originally as a child, but when I grew up the way the story treated the aspect of battering upset me and I’ve never watched it again. Too bad—because the music was lovely. It was also the first sad ending to a musical I’d ever seen.  

More recent “musicals” I’ve enjoyed are The Phantom of the Opera, Les Misérables, and my personal favorite Beauty and the Beast (on stage.) Eventually I hope to see Wicked. And I would absolutely love it if Beauty and the Beast would be made into a movie with real actors. I do so like the extra songs added on the Broadway version.  

Since this is Petticoats and Pistols—I tried to remember

My favorite would have to be Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. My–could Howard Keel sing! And he was easy on the eyes too—not to mention being a bit of a rascal! Jane Powell as the feisty girl who “tamed” him was just beautiful. I smile every time I hear the song “Bless Your Beautiful Hide.” It took place in the Oregon wilderness and I was captivated by the gorgeous scenery. It wasn’t until I was older that I learned much of it had been filmed onstage.  

Another good one was The Unsinkable Molly Brown with Debbie Reynolds and Harve Presnell which takes place in Colorado territory.  I think Oklahoma! with Shirley Jones and Gordon McCrea could be classified in this category.  

Paint Your Wagon – now that was a bit of a shock to see Clint Eastwood  singing, but I did enjoy the show and the music.  

With all of this ingrained in me from an early age, it’s no wonder that I grew up believing in happy endings and the kind of love that lasts a lifetime. Perhaps I’m looking through rose-colored lenses, but it is a lovely view from here. 

I wonder if my debut book could ever be turned into a musical? Hey—it’s an interesting thought!  

Are there any musical lovers out there? And if so, which is your favorite? To encourage lurkers to join in, if you post and your name is drawn, I’ll send an autographed copy of my debut book The Angel and the Outlaw along with a watercolor note card of the lighthouse that figures prominently in the story.  

I’d love to hear of a musical I haven’t seen yet!  

Thank you, Petticoats and Pistols for inviting me to blog today. It’s been fun. Here’s to a successful round-up Ladies!

Kathryn Albright had been writing for several years when she sold her first novel, The Angel and the Outlaw, to Harlequin Historicals. Her second novel, another western, The Rebel and the Lady, will be released September 2008. Stop by her website to see an excerpt!

She will draw a name for an autographed copy of The Angel and the Outlaw and a fancy notecard from the comments on her blog!

Hi everyone! Spring is in the air and I am thrilled, thrilled, thrilled…my toes stay cold all winter and that makes me grumpy, so I welcome the sunshine with open arms and warm toes. J

For those who don’t know me, I’m Debra Clopton, and I have an ongoing series with Love Inspired called the Mule Hollow series. No, it isn’t historical but it is about Texas and cowboys—which I absolutely love as much as springtime.  I adore watching and reading about all types of cowboys. The dark brooding cowboys with deep dark secrets, the dangerous cowboys that make a girl want to risk everything for love, the confused cowboy who has absolutely no idea what to do with a gal who refuses to stay out of trouble, the hurting cowboy who needs a gal to step in and rescue him.

There are all types of cowboys and I believe a cowboy at heart is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. I love the movie Silverado—what’s not to love? You’ve got every type of hero. You’ve got Emmet (Scott Glen) your tough guy with tortured past. Mal (Danny Glover) the good guy who only wanted to live a quiet life but had to step up to save his sister.

Paden (Kevin Kline) your bad-boy-with-a-heart who is redeemed by love…but it is the one and only Jake who stole the show for me back in 1985 when the movie aired.  

The happy- go-lucky-all-I-want-to-do-is-have-a-good time younger brother who is like the other three cowboys when it comes to risking everything to save his brother’s son and the town from the greedy cattle barren.

But the thing that set Jake apart from the rest of these cowboys was the fact that Jake went into battle with a smile…and oh what a smile it was! Played by an unknown actor at the time by the name Kevin Costner <g> I fell in love the moment the playful cowboy entered the scene. And of course everyone else did too. I will never forget a few years later when I was watching Kevin’s breakout movie (which I can’t even remember the name of at the moment!) and the light bulb in my memory blasted on and I realized I was seeing Jake on screen again! True, it was this movie (the one I can’t remember the name of) that made Kevin a household name. But I loved him before I even knew his name and still think that flirting cowboy from Silverado is his best role…at least it’s the role that makes me smile. 

When I created Dan Dawson, the hero of my April book HER BABY DREAMS I wanted that kind of cowboy. I wanted a guy that just made me feel good.  So I created a modern day version of Jake, with a to-die-for smile and a lets-play attitude. I think Dan is the perfect man with which to curl up with on a beautiful Spring afternoon. Although my heroine, Ashby Templeton isn’t buying it. She’s dreaming of marriage and babies and not at all pleased that the only cowboy in all of Mule Hollow who is asking her out is playboy Dan!  

My next cowboy was equally fun to create. In my July book THE COWBOY TAKES A BRIDE I decided to switch things up and make my cowboy dream of weddings. All Ross Denton wants is to see his name on wedding certificate and all city gal Sugar Rae Lenox wants is to see her name up on a Hollywood marquee…getting these two together was loads of fun.  So, I hope if you’re looking for a smile you’ll pick up a copy of one of my books. The gang in Mule Hollow promise you’ll leave with a big ole grin on your face.  

You can find out more about me and my books at debraclopton.com. Thanks for having me here, ladies, I really enjoyed it!

DEBBIE’S GIVING AWAY AN AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF “HER BABY DREAMS,” SO CHECK BACK TO SEE IF YOUR NAME IS DRAWN!

My first crush was on Little Joe Cartwright.  I went to bed at night dreaming scenes of living on the Ponderosa with that dreamy studmuffin, and I resented every actress who played a romantic interest opposite Michael Landon.  I guess I age myself drastically (as if my children hadn’t already done that) when I admit to watching The Lone Ranger in black and white on our Zenith portable every Saturday afternoon, and to admiring the length of fringe that dangled from Tonto’s deerskin tunic.  I owned one much like it in the 60s. 

And yes, even then, Clint Eastwood charismatically held a young audience in awe with his role as Rowdy Yates on the series Rawhide.  Yee haw!   Head ‘em up, move ‘em out! Wagonmaster, Ward Bond wasn’t exactly a typical leading man, but Wagon Train held America’s attention weekly.  It must have been Robert Fuller. 

The Big Valley — I have a son named Jared by the way — Bat Masterson, The Texas Rangers, Maverick, Sugarfoot, The Rebel, The Grey Ghost, Have Gun Will Travel, Paladin, The Virginian, and let us not forget John Wayne and all the western movies of our early years, shaped our young minds.  I mean, who could forget Fess Parker in a pair of buckskins?  

The American West is a much-romanticized part of our history, our heritage.  We all know that life in Dodge City was dirty, that hundreds of men, women and children died along the trails on their way west, that bathroom facilities were nonexistent and hygiene at a disgusting low, but we’ve chosen to remember and glorify the courage and the pioneer spirit of those men and women who forged our nation and ‘civilized’ the West. I dare say none of us read romance for a reality check.  The condition of our society and the situations that surround us in everyday life may be why escaping into the pages of a book is so appealing.   

In a romance we know no matter what befalls the characters, good triumphs over evil, and happily-ever-after is in the wings.  

Our western hero exemplifies strength, loyalty, capability and security. The rancher/farmer’s sweat and blood are imbedded in his land-as deeply as the riverbeds and the roots of the ancient trees.  The land may have been his father’s before him, or he could have broken his back to earn it.  In any case he will die to keep it.  Solidarity.  And any man who would pour this much passion into his land, will love his woman even more ardently.

The western hero can hold his own when it comes to raising the children he’s fathered, too.  He loves animals and children and protects and nurtures them.  He will fight renegades and weather and anything in his way to lay claim to his child. The cowboy/rancher can be a blend of the alpha-beta male, a loner and a man not in need of the things a woman can ‘do’ for him.  He can make it on his own because he can cook over a campfire and fix anything that breaks, but he appreciates a woman’s differences and skills, and eventually accepts the nurturing she needs to give.  He needs the love and gentleness, and the ‘taming’ she represents.  

To nearly all women I’ve spoken with on the subject of westerns and cowboys, physical appearance plays a major part in the attraction.  The reality was that dungarees or Levis were not exactly slim cut or sexy.  Dungarees were stiff and probably dirty, and few real cowboys fit the image of the Marlboro man, but our fantasy cowboy has a lean backside in a pair of tight-fitting jeans, long legs, and that ever-present Stetson pulled low over his eyes.  Ever notice how a pair of chaps invariably draws the eyes to the uncovered sections of denim?

Our man wears his Colt strapped to his thigh, the holster rides his lean hips, and his spurs jangle.  This dangerous guy exudes sex appeal.   

Our western hero is a hard body due to demanding work on the range, riding and roping, chasing outlaws, stopping the runaway stage, and sleeping on the ground.  He’s untamed, a little wild, and a lot sexy.  He doesn’t need a gym membership or a Stairmaster. These men work from sun up to sun down, except when they’re sweeping the heroine off her feet, and are not prone to laze away afternoons in front of the television.  For me, Kevin Costner was much more appealing in his duster in Wyatt Earp than on the golf course in Tip Cup.  And Sam Elliott without his hat and holster is just a trifle disappointing.  

The western heroine is his equal.  She is not a helpless simpering female, but a woman with a goal of her own.  The simpler times allow us the imagery of less physical perfection and less emphasis on glamour.  Who wouldn’t rather be the height of appeal without having to wax, pluck, mousse and workout?  The reality of period clothing and lack of modern convenience is something few of us would actually care to experience, but our heroines don’t miss air conditioning or showers or microwaves.  Like her male counterpart, the western heroine beats the odds and overcomes adversities by sheer determination.  These are the strong, capable, courageous women we’d all like to be.  

The western villain can be the land, the weather, or the nastiest, smelliest dirtball who ever got his just reward.  Here’s where the line between right and wrong has changed.   Our television screens weren’t the only things that were black and white in the early days.  The concept of good and evil didn’t bear the current shades of gray.  

In the old westerns, the lines between right and wrong were clearly delineated.  If you stole a horse, you hung.  The villain accepted his punishment because he knew he’d done wrong.  The bad guys always got it in the end.  Justice was swift.  The good guy came out on top.   And just like identifying the hero by his white hat, you could tell the bad guy by his disreputable looks and black clothing.  Wouldn’t that be nice today?  There was a code of ethics among villains, too. Recent westerns have portrayed situations more realistically.  Native Americans weren’t the bad guys.  Heroes grew more three dimensional, too. 

But all things evolve.  I mean I didn’t stay in love with Little Joe.  I transferred the crush to Adam, probably because I was growing older.  Now I haven’t watched those Bonanza reruns in many years.  I think I’m afraid Lorne Greene will start looking good.

No, this isn’t a photo of Cochise.  It’s Jeff Chandler, the Brooklyn-born actor who played the great Apache chief in three different movies, winning an Oscar nomination for his portrayal in the 1950 film, BROKEN ARROW.  No photograph of the real Cochise exists.  But accounts of the time describe him as tall and handsome with a fiercely majestic presence.  At a time when Native Americans were commonly played by white actors, Chandler (who was 6’ 5” and Jewish) did a first class job.  The scene where James Stewart walks into the Apache camp and Cochise, played by Chandler, first steps into sight, is pure goose bump material.   

The real Cochise was born some time between 1812 and 1815, most likely in the Chiricahua Mountains of what is now southern Arizona.  By 1835 he was leading raids against the Apaches’ traditional enemies, the Mexicans.  His ferocity in battle and his chiefly bearing soon made him a leader among his people.

Cochise tolerated the growing presence of Americans in his territory until an incident in 1861.  A rancher had lost some cattle and his half-Mexican son.  The local army commander summoned Cochise to his tent.  Cochise came with his wife and son, his brother and several nephews.  Cochise, who was innocent, was accused of the crime.  When the soldiers tried to arrest him, he drew a knife, slashed the tent and escaped.The soldiers held Cochise’s family hostage.  To ransom them, Cochise kidnapped four men from a stagecoach station.  Believing that his family had been killed, Cochise tortured and killed his captives.  In retaliation, the soldiers killed his brother and nephews, who were still prisoners.  Cochise’s wife and son were released, but the damage was done.  Throughout the 1860’s Cochise made war on the Americans, raiding, killing, striking terror into the hearts of settlers and outwitting the army at every turn.  When his father-in-law, the great Mangas Coloradas, was murdered by whites, who removed his head and sent it back East, Cochise’s rage reached new heights.  By the end of the decade Cochise was the most feared Indian in America.

Enter a new player in this drama.  Mail supervisor Thomas Jeffords was the one white man Cochise respected and trusted.  Their friendship is one of the greatest legends of the West. Through a series of events, Jeffords managed to arrange a meeting between Cochise and General Howard, known for his fairness toward the Indians.  A treaty was arranged, which gave the Apaches a reservation in their beloved mountains and named Cochise’s friend Jeffords as the reservation agent. 

Jeffords, shown here, was played in the film BROKEN ARROW by James Stewart.  The romance between Jeffords and the Apache girl, played by Debra Paget, was entirely fictional.  But the rest of the story is mostly true.

Cochise honored the treaty to the end of his days and died in his sixties of natural causes.  His grave has never been found.  His eldest son Taza, who followed him as tribal leader, also walked the path of peace.  He died of pneumonia on a visit to Washington DC in 1876.  Cochise’s younger son Naiche and his warrior daughter Lozen continued the fight for freedom alongside another Apache leader who, in my estimation, was even more fascinating than Cochise.  But that’s a story for next time.

Who is your favorite Native American character, in film, fiction or history?  What do you think of the way Native Americans are portrayed in movies?  I’m very interested in your opinions.

 Blame it on my cousin Millie.  She was a year older than I was, and when we played together as kids, she was the boss.   One of our favorite things was to play was make-believe boyfriends.  She got Batman, I got Robin.  She got Superman, I got Superboy.  She got the Lone Ranger, I got Tonto.   Do you get the picture?           

Maybe that’s why I’ve always had a thing for sidekicks.           

Hey, I know we all love alpha men.  But who would you rather take home for keeps?  The dashing, domineering hunk who grabs the spotlight every time?  Or the steady guy who’s always there watching his back, bailing him out of danger, holding his horse, tending his wounds, listening to his woman troubles and always being a true friend?   I’ll take a good sidekick any day.           

Sidekicks in the movies come in all shapes, sizes and ages.  There’s the codger sidekick—Gabby Hayes and the great Walter Brennan are examples.  There’s the goofy sidekick—Don Knotts, Andy Devine and Festus Hagan from Gunsmoke come to mind.  The ethnic sidekick—Tonto, of course, and a score of others.  Then there’s the junior sidekick—Robin and Jimmy Olsen fit here.  If you’re old enough to remember Red Ryder, his sidekick was Little Beaver, an Indian boy.             

A good sidekick is a true gem.  He’s usually patient and considerate, often humorous, likeable, decent, brave and resourceful, especially when it comes to getting the hero out of a jam.  There is just one rule he never breaks—he never, ever overshadows the hero.  Oh—and he never gets THE girl.  Not unless there’s a second girl or a second book.  Sidekicks in romance novels often do double duty.  If you make your sidekick handsome and appealing—say, the best friend, the younger brother, the cute young deputy—you can recycle him as the hero in a sequel.  Lots of authors have done that.  I’ve done it myself.  Give your hero a good sidekick, and readers will be clamoring for his story.           

Who’s your favorite sidekick, romantic or otherwise?   What other famous sidekicks can you think of?  Were any of them women?  Who would you pick as your own sidekick?  Let’s have some fun with this. 

Howdy all!  It’s great to be back in Wildflower Junction.  I’ve missed my P&P Fridays!   

I really enjoyed Cheryl’s post yesterday and it got me to reevaluating my topic for today.  One of the main reasons I love Romance is that guarantee that no matter the struggles our hero and heroine’s go through, good will always prevail over evil…and the cowboy will always get his gal–once she’s put him through his proper paces, of course.  But what about our villains?  Can they also find hope and redemption through the course of our hero and heroine’s journey?  Do we want them to find new peace and understanding so that they can have a happy ending as well…or are they so bad they simply…have got to go?  A year or so ago I began writing and exploring a new kind of villain…bad guys who earn their villain moniker, but have chinks on their hardened exterior, revealing a somewhat chivalrous intention behind their dastardly deeds, and a vulnerability in their character which gives them an eery appeal, and room to grow. 

A few nights ago I rewatched one of my favorite movies, 3:10 to Yuma.  While this film lacks a central romance, it has villain characterization in spades! Aside from absolutely stunning dialogue (not a single word wasted), I’m enthralled by the villains of this movie—and there is a whole cast of them!  A bounty hunter, the deputy henchman of the railroad, and a band of murdering thieves (among others).  These villains have varying degrees of villainy, and at the center of them all is the bible-quoting bad-guy ringleader, Wade—a fast gun with a quick mind and a cold heart. And yet, from the beginning we’re given glimpses of decency in this villain, his tendency to protect the innocent.  He seems to admire those who try to live an honest life. Even though at times his claims otherwise, he defends the true good guys at the risk of his own life. 

Is Wade bad? Oh yeah! He’s a hardened killer, and professes to be rotten as hell. And yet, he also reveals a method to his badness. While the bounty hunter and the railroad henchman wear the facade of good guys, it’s the villain Wade who sees them from what they are—the kind of men who don’t mind harming the innocent for personal gain. For the truly bad, this villain has no mercy. The second in command of Wade’s band of thieves is the brand of villain I started out with in my first few westerns. Charlie enjoys the power of evoking fear and doesn’t show any discretion between shooting an opponent or an innocent.  His loyalties don’t go beyond idolizing his leader and seeking his own enjoyment—which turn out to be his downfall.  In the end, it’s the main villain who chooses good over evil, and yet…he’s still bad.

One of my favorite Wade quotes, just before he tosses a man off a cliff who’d insulted his mother, is, “Even bad men love their mamas.”  As this movie progresses, you begin to see just how large a role his mama played in developing this villain’s character.  At eight years old, he was a good boy who did as his mother told him. He sat at a train station and read the bible from cover to cover, just as his mother instructed, finishing it in three days.  Even at eight, he was a wiz, and the bible quotes suddenly become very poignant…and sad.  Every time this movie ends I’m left wondering if his mama had green eyes. Anyone else have that thought after watching this movie?  If you haven’t seen it yet—it’s a MUST for any western fan!

I’ve developed a real appreciation for villains who can tug at my heartstrings.  In my latest western MAVERICK WILD (Out this month!), I had a lot of fun with a cast of villains. While some simply have their day of reckoning, there are others who emerge with a new outlook on life and the distruction they cause for Chance and Cora Mae–though one or two may be forced into finding true remorse for their actions of ill intent 

How about you…do you love those villains you don’t know wether to curse or root for?