We have a guest at the junction today! Let’s give a warm welcome to Caroline Clemmons, author of SHAD!
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Hello, Fillies,
Thank you for sharing your amazing blog with me today.
As long as I can remember, I have been fascinated by tales set in the Old West. In fact, I love writing and reading about that time in our history, especially from 1870-1895. My father is partially to blame. He mesmerized me with stories of his ancestors who came to Texas from Georgia in 1877. They had many adventures that continue to fascinate me. Dad was a master storyteller who made the characters in his tales come alive. I believe it is appropriate to recognize his contribution to my career since we are almost at Father’s Day.
For instance, one of my father’s true stories was about a relative named Claud who was sheriff in a small western town. The family had a kinsman, Ossie, visiting from Georgia. During Ossie’s visit, outlaws robbed the bank. While Claud led the posse to capture the robbers, an angry mob decided to lynch Ossie. Never mind that Ossie was staying in the sheriff’s family home. With typical mob stupidity (likely fueled by alcohol), the hotheads decided Ossie had stolen their money simply because he was the only newcomer in town. Claud and the posse returned with the real culprits barely in time to save Ossie from being lynched. I’ll bet Ossie never returned for another visit!
Situations like that one can make a man cynical, wary, and harden his heart against his fellow man. Can you imagine a series about loners who have grown to distrust others? Guns For Hire is a series about bounty hunters, lawmen, and outlaws and the women who teach them how to love. Earlier, Cheryl Pierson and Linda Broday were featured here with their releases from this series, LANDON and CREEK.
My book, SHAD, releases June 15th. In the short time until then, SHAD is available for preorder. Shad, who slips in and out with no more noise than a shadow, is a bounty hunter. He’s the caretaker of his uncle who received a brain damaging blow in the Civil War and is now like a mischievous boy of twelve in a charming and handsome man’s body.
Avonleigh Adams, the heroine, is a fiery and intelligent redhead with green eyes and a strong spirit. She and her father own a beautiful ranch in northern New Mexico Territory. A land grabbing neighbor has decided to gain control of the area, starting with the Adams Ranch. Isn’t there always someone who feels entitled to take whatever he wants?
In my research for SHAD, I learned a few surprising things about bounty hunters. In spite of what we see in movies and on television, author and historical researcher Jennifer Uhlmarik says most rewards were from $25 to $200 rather than thousands. Exceptions to this included $10,000 for the Wild Bunch and $5,000 for Billy the Kid. (from Heroes, Heroines, and History blog, February 25, 2025.)
One of the most successful bounty hunters of the Old West was John Riley Duncan. After trying several careers, he fell into law enforcement in Dallas, Texas, mostly dealing with small crimes. This changed with the pursuit of Wes Hardin, infamous outlaw in the area. The Texas Rangers recruited Duncan to work undercover. He followed Hardin to Pensacola, Florida, where—with various law enforcement agencies—Hardin was captured and taken in by Duncan and his associate, John Armstrong. Duncan received nearly four thousand dollars for Hardin’s capture. After that and until the end of his bounty hunting life, he collected around twelve thousand dollars, which would be equivalent to well over $375,000 today. (Calculators via Google vary in the amount, but all agree inflation makes it a large sum.) This made Duncan one of the most successful bounty hunters of the Old West.
Shad Stone is not after a career in bounty hunting. His goal is to gain enough in savings to buy a ranch where he can raise cattle and breed fine horses while keeping tabs on his uncle. Though injured in the process, Avonleigh Adams escapes kidnapping by the land grabbing neighbor. She is determined to reclaim her family’s ranch, but how? Shad has a plan to achieve both but it requires precision—and luck.
Shad Stone is a bounty hunter with a mission. His uncle’s shenanigans have cost him the nest egg he had saved to buy a ranch and hang up his guns. Now he has to start over, so he wants to bring in a high-dollar capture. Shad’s sheriff cousin provides him with the wanted posters and a warning—dead men can’t buy anything. Shad is still determined to capture a man wanted for murder and a string of other offenses. The problem is the criminal keeps a dozen gunfighters with him and pays the local lawman to cooperate.
When Shad arrives near the culprit during a storm, he takes shelter in a cave where he discovers Avonleigh Adams. She was badly injured in her escaped from the murderer and her most serious wound is septic. The last thing Shad needs is the complication of any woman yet he can’t abandon a wounded and virtually helpless person. He learns the man he seeks has stolen her family’s ranch and bushwhacked her father.
How can one man win against a dozen gunfighters? Can the woman he saved now save him by teaching him to trust love?
Purchase SHAD on Amazon!
Caroline Clemmons writes about forceful and handsome western heroes, the strong and determined women who love them, and the scheming villains who challenge them. The over 85 books she’s created have made her an Amazon bestselling and award winning author. She has written sweet and sensual romances but now writes sweet books about the West: historical, contemporary, and time travel romances and cozy mysteries.
Caroline and her Hero live in North Central Texas cowboy country where they ride herd on their rescued pets. When she’s not writing, she loves spending time with her family, reading, dining out, travel, browsing antique malls, digging into family history, checking Facebook, and taking the occasional nap. Find her at http://www.carolineclemmons.com.
Giveaway Alert!
Caroline has generously offered to give away an e-book to two readers who leave a comment. The winners will be randomly selected and announced on Sunday, so be sure to stop by the junction then!
Would you have made a good bounty hunter? Why or why not?
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I probably wouldn’t, because I wouldn’t enjoy trailing them in all of those conditions to capture them, not to mention the danger.
I wouldn’t have made a good bounty hunter because of the possible killing involved.
I wouldn’t have made a good bounty hunter. It would have been hard to do in harsh conditions.
Probably not – I currently work in the law enforcement field and the crazy things people do is beyond my thinking sometimes!!
I would have not made a good bounty hunter. I’m not that brave.
I don’t think I would be a good bounty hunter. Not only I’m not brave, but I’m not very observant to notice little things which I think a bounty hunter should be.
Welcome, Caroline. Your book sounds very interesting and somewhat humorous. I would love to delve into it and have a good along with some fun. Have a blessed day.
no, tough job
I don’t possess the right physical skills to tackle this job and wouldn’t be drawn to it anyway (my heart, knowledge, and druthers lie in the kitchen and the sewing room). The story sounds to be a rousing adventure!
Would not be a good bounty hunter do not have the physical skills.
No I would not have made a good bounty hunter. I am too soft hearted and love seeing/helping for the best in everyone. I am one of those people who love to give second chances to everyone. I would not have problems with the riding a horse all day or camping out under the stars.
Hello Caroline! Welcome! I’m not sure if I would have made a good bounty Hunter unless I was dropped into that era with my father and two younger brothers. I’m saying it might have been a good chance! Because my father always said I could do anything my brothers could do growing up! So, if I learned to track down our meat, butcher it and cook it, I’m thinking I could. My brothers and I went bird hunting, and cleaned birds and squirrels to eat and then fry. I’m sure our hunting meat would have been bigger animals if back in that era! With that being said….i just might have. Heh.
Can’t wait to read Shad! I’m enjoying this series!
I’m sure I wouldn’t have. I have very bad vision so I wouldn’t be able to find them much less take them in without getting myself killed.
I always love learning new history stories here!!!!!!!!!
No, I wouldn’t have made a good bounty hunter. I get scared too easily and would be afraid I would make a mistake. The book sounds so good! Looking forward to reading it.
I am not sure if I would make a good bounty hunter or not. I love going and hunting for lost or missing things but I am not sure I could handle the ones who would be violent. But who knows, maybe I could be good at it
I wouldn’t have made a good bounty hunter. There is too much traveling and danger involved.
Interesting and informative post! No, since I have trouble finding my reading glasses even though they’re hooked to the front of my shirt, I’d go broke trying to hunt someone down.
I wouldn’t be a good bounty hunter because I would be afraid to be by myself in the wilderness for days on end.
Hi, your book sounds like a great read! No, I would not want to be a Bounty Hunter, it would be too scary for me especially if I was by myself. (not entering this ebook giveaway as I am not tech savvy and dont read ebooks, but Thank you) Have a great weekend.
No, I would not have. Thank you!
I would not have made a good bounty hunter. I wouldn’t have wanted to be out in the frontier by myself.
Even though I ask a lot of questions and I am somewhat observant the weather conditions alone would have made me a very bad Bounty Hunter so no not a good Bounty Hunter
Probably not. I would get tired of searching everywhere for the person.
In my youth was brash enough to try it. Right now, not so much. Who would worry about an old lady with a cane? Then again, that may be the perfect way to have them drop their guard and be captured.
I enjoyed reading this post! I believe I would have made a lousy bounty hunter. I’ve never ridden a horse, I don’t like camping, heat, or bugs. Plus I’ve never been great with directions. 🙂
Oh absolutely not! Love the outdoors, camping, hiking, love the quiet,, ect. But I’m really really bad at directions, I swear I could get lost in my own backyard. I could never be able to turn some over to the sheriff because I’m a softy and I be thinking what if there innocent and could bring them in, so I would make a very bad bounty hunter.
I don’t think I would have been a good bounty hunter because I am not sure I could catch someone or have to shoot them. Knowing me I would be friends with them before I could get them turned into the law.
Caroline, I cannot WAIT to read SHAD! This was such an interesting article. I know I would not have made a good bounty hunter. The uncertainty would eat me alive. LOL Congratulations on your release of SHAD and I’m so glad to be part of this wonderful set of stories with so many excellent authors.