I’m so excited! I have a new book out tomorrow! Actually, this is a re-release of a 2002 book but since it got no exposure back then, this is like brand new. It’s the first in a series called Texas Heroes and is about a cowboy with nothing to live for who wins a baby in a poker game. I’ll tell you more about it further down.
Some ranches have the strangest names but they must mean something to the owner. The ones I put in my stories all do. But some that I see when I drive down the road leave me scratching my head.
In the anthology Give Me a Texas Cowboy, Jack’s Bluff was the name of the ranch in my and Phyliss’s stories. Jack, one of Tempest LeDoux’s many husbands, won the ranch after buffing in a card game. We thought it was perfect name for her ranch.
Here are a few of the others I’ve used:
Long Odds – Texas Mail Order Bride
Last Hope – Twice a Texas Bride
Wild Horse – Forever His Texas Bride
Lone Star – Men of Legend series
Each one told a lot about the owner. Duel McClain in Knight on the Texas Plains names his ranch Aces ’n Eights later on in Book #3 of this Texas Heroes series.
The name means so much to him. It’s the hand he wins baby Marley Rose with and he doesn’t ever want to forget how she comes into his life. That baby girl gives him the will to live again.
Aces ’n Eights is also called the Deadman’s Hand and is comprised of a pair of black aces, black eights and a hole card. It was called the Deadman’s hand because those were the cards Wild Bill Hickok was holding when he was shot and killed. His hole card was the Queen of Hearts.
Here’s the back blurb for this book:
Duel McClain has lost everything he’s ever loved: his wife, his son, his sense of self. But when a strange twist of fate—and a poker game he’ll never forget—leaves an innocent little girl in his care, Duel vows to defend his new family to his very last breath. If only he knew a single thing about taking care of babies…
Just as Duel swears his life can’t get any more complicated, a beautiful woman stumbles into the light of his campfire, desperate for help. Jessie Foltry is hungry, tired, and running for her life. She agrees to help Duel care for the child in exchange for his protection, even as she fights to guard her broken heart. But Duel will do whatever it takes to make Jessie see that the Texas plains have more than one kind of knight, and perhaps their salvation is closer than either of them could have dreamed…
For an excerpt, click HERE.
Not far from where I live is the Spade Ranch, the Tongue River Ranch, the Pitchfork, and the Four Sixes. Each one has a story.
Do you know any ranch names either in books or that you’ve seen or heard about? I’m giving away three copies of this book (your choice of format.) Just leave a comment to enter the drawing.
Here in the Texas Panhandle, we do love our cowboys. There's just something about a man in a Stetson and jeans that makes my heart beat faster. I'm not much of a cook but I love to do genealogy and I'm a bit of a rock hound. I'm also a NY Times & USA Today bestselling author of historical western romance. You can contact me through my website and I'd love to connect with you on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and more. HAPPY READING!
https://petticoatsandpistols.com/sweepstakesrules/
I cannot think of one ranch name that I can remember off hand, either that I have seen in person or in books, I think it must be fun to come up with a name of a ranch, though. Thanks for the chance to win 🙂
jslbrown2009 at aol dot com
Good morning, Lisa……Yeah, sometimes our brains don’t work. Mine sure goes off the rails quite often. Ranch names are fun for me. They have to say something about the owner to be just right. I hope you have a great day and good luck in the drawing!
I have seen END OF THE TRAIL, but don’t remember what state it was in. I’ll have to think on this. There have been some interesting ones seen on our travels over the years.
Good morning, Patricia…….That’s a good one. It says a lot about the owner’s state of mind. He’s staying put and no more moving no matter what happens. Traveling like you and your husband do, I’m sure you see a lot of interesting things.
Sending you hugs and smiles!
I’ve seen ranch names in movies and always wondered how names were determined for a ranch.Some seem easy to figure out, say the Triple R Ranch, might be the man’s name along with his wife and child have names beginning with R or it’s formed by three brothers with names beginning with R. I do know, I try to figure out why a ranch is named the way it is.
Please toss my name in for your giveaway. I would love to win a copy.
Blessings,
Cindy W.
Good morning, Cindy……Ranch names really are interesting to me. The Waggoner Ranch and King Ranch are from the person’s name. The Four Sixes they say are the hand the owner won the ranch with. Near Lubbock (120 miles from me) is one called the Yellow House Ranch and is owned by a dear friend of mine. It’s very old and the Indians named it by how the land looks when the rising sun strikes it. Oh and then there’s the Frying Pan Ranch here in Amarillo. Not quite sure of the story behind it. Maybe the owner’s wife hit him over the head with a frying pan when he bought it.
Sending smiles and blessings. I’ve entered you in the drawing.
I have heard of some but not too interesting like Double Diamond and Double H.
Good morning, Debra……….Thanks for coming by so early! I was just crawling out of bed. I tend to like the unusual ranch names, maybe ones that give me a laugh. Jack’s Bluff really did when Phyliss and I came up with it. I just pictured these men playing cards. 🙂 Double Diamond sounds interesting. I’d like to know how they got it.
Have a good day and stay cool. I’ve entered you in the drawing.
I have heard of one called the Double D Ranch. And it brings out my childish side because it makes me think of a bra size. LOL!
Good morning, Janine……Ha! Yes, it certainly does. I like that. Thanks for coming by. I hope you have a very special day. I’ve entered you in the drawing.
Love the post, Miss Linda! Of course, there is the King Ranch, YO Ranch, XIT Ranch, Yaggoner Ranch, but my husband has given our ranch the wordiest name I have ever heard…..are you ready??……The Big Dam, Rattlesnake and Dry Hole Ranch! That is a mouthful isn’t it?
Have a great day!
Good morning, Melanie…….LOL! Your ranch name gave me a laugh. How funny. It sounds like your hubby was a bit frustrated with the land you and he bought. Like the End of the Line one that Patricia mentioned above. A state of mind.
Have a wonderful day! I’ve entered you in the drawing.
Interesting ranch names!
Thanks for coming by, Estella. They are a bit unusual. Have a great day. I’ve entered you in the drawing.
I have always loved clever and unique ranch names. I’m not smart enough to think of ones like that myself. Thanks for sharing them! No need to enter me, I already have this fabulous story in thanks to you!!
Good morning, Susan…….I love clever ranch names but some have me scratching my head. Like the Toenail Ranch, this is a real piece of land in Texas. I wonder what was wrong with his toenail? Funny.
I’m glad you’re enjoying the book.
Linda, naming ranches is fun and tricky!
I find myself inevitably naming them after the hero….and I try and fight it and do something more unique. In the Cimarron Legacy the ranch is Cimarron Ranch. The CR…is what they call it. Not very imaginative. I try and picture the brand, too.
Early on I had one in Gingham Mountain, a cowboy who took in children off Orphan Trains, he called the Rocking Chair Range.
Right now, the series I’m writing, the ranch is called the HS Ranch. High Sierra Ranch. This post makes me want to try harder, make them more creative. Thanks.
Good morning, Mary……They are fun, but very hard. You want them to reflect the owner somehow. But the Rusty Shovel Ranch? That’s here in Texas and for the life of me, I can’t imagine why they chose that name. And like I mentioned above, the Comanches named the Yellow House Ranch even though they didn’t own it. The owner just liked the name I guess and stayed with it. Hey, you did good with the Rocking Chair Ranch! And I personally like anything with the word Cimarron in it.
There a few around here with names but dang if one doesn’t come to mind.
Good morning, Kim……Maybe they’ll kick in later. Thanks for coming.
Nothing specific is coming to mind, but I know I have read a few that have Triple or Heart in the name… If I had one, I would name it after my grandparents… 🙂
Hi Colleen……Thanks for dropping by. Names are hard when you have to come up with one at the spur of the moment. There’s one near Douglas, Arizona called the San Bernandino Ranch. It was owned by Texas John Slaughter until his death. A pretty famous one.
Sending hugs and smiles! You’re in the drawing.
Oh boy oh boy! A new Linda Broday book and I don’t have to wait until November! A terrific start to my day. (I’ve been reading a “To Love a Texas Ranger” to try to tide me over.)
Sorry I don’t have any ranch names, though, from here in the Northeast, although surely there must be some somewhere. Thanks for the article and the heads up on the new book.
Hi Eliza…….Well, you know I try to keep you in reading material. LOL! In fact, you have a box coming. A little surprise. Take it easy and get well.
Big Texas hugs!
Hi Linda, oh, mega hugs and congratulations on your new book. it’s sure a read II look forward to cuddling up with. As for ranches, I had the great pleasure a few years ago to cowgirl-up at a wonderful ranch in Bandera, Texas, the Silver Spur. One day we took a hayride out to Comanche Bluff! Just loved every second.
Best wishes for much success, my beloved friend. xo
Hi Tanya……Yep, I have another one. My life is crazy. You might like to know that the inspiration for this comes from my childhood. My playmate who lived next door was won in a poker game. I was shocked even though I was probably about 8 years old. I knew that wasn’t right. She used to cry and tell me that one day she was going to find her real parents and ask them why they couldn’t love her. I promised myself that I’d give her a happy ending even if it was in fiction.
Good afternoon Linda- I love all your Ranch names, all so fitting. Especially Aces & Eights… I’ve seen many Ranch names in my lifetime some very appropriate some funny. Now if I can just remember them. Ha ha!! Blaming old age here for not remembering fast enough…
one that sticks out is on my way home on 281 to my parents just south of Windthorst, Texas
“Forty and Holding”. That one cracks me up.
Another “Bent and Broke”. I’m sure as I post this many others will come to mind. Great article and congrats on your release tomorrow. Love you my sweet sister friend.
Hi Tonya…….How funny about Forty and Holding. Sounds like wishful thinking. Bent and Broke might speak about the owner’s state of mind. Could be. I love reading ranch names when I drive down the highway. The one that usually comes to my mind though is from the TV show Bonanza. The Ponderosa. Now that’s a big name for a big family. And I like ones that end in Land and Cattle Company. There’s one south of here called the Matador Land and Cattle Company. Love it.
Today is release day for Knight!! I’m so excited. Big hugs, sister friend!
Our neighbors call their place “Tree Heart” and their brand is a pine tree over a heart. Their last name is Hardt (pronounced “heart”.) We weren’t very imaginative with our name. We just use my husband and his brother’s first initials. There are some creative ones in these comments.
Morning Alice…….Oh I love Tree Heart. Very different. There’s a show on Netflix that I really love and the ranch is Heartland. I love that too. Hey, initials are okay. Nothing wrong with them. Sometimes you need something simple and easy to remember in your old age. LOL!
Love and hugs!
Hi !India, Well I remember Southfork Ranch from the show Dallas. I’ve seen the name River Creek Ranch in Texas. I enjoyed reading your post. I look forward to reading your latest.
Caro Luciano
Oops, I meant Linda. My kindle has a habit of printing what it wants. 🙂
Hi Carol…….I had forgotten about Southfork which is odd seeing as how I watched every single episode of Dallas. Loved that show. I also forgot about one called Wildcatters Ranch near where I used to live.
Hugs! You’re in the drawing.
Ratliff’s Riata Ranch
Lazy Spur Ranch
Big Bug Creek Ranch
Hi Joye……You named three right off. Very good. I can only imagine the size of the bugs on Big Bug Creek Ranch. LOL! I like the Lazy Spur sound.
Hugs! You’re in the drawing.
I’ve heard of the King Ranch in Texas. I think they even co-branded with a truck manufacturer.
and the Parker Ranch on the Big Island in Hawaii.
Also saw a huge ranch in South Alabama when we were doing a huge college tour with DS2