Guest Blogger

WHAT MAKES A MOUNTAIN MAN HERO IRRESTIBLE? (AND A GIVEAWAY!) by MISTY M. BELLER

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I’m so excited to visit with my Petticoats and Pistols family again!

If you’ve ever glanced at one of my books, you probably have an inkling how much I LOVE a mountain man hero.

The rugged, self-reliant mountain man holds a special place in the hearts of readers who love historical romance. There’s something undeniably captivating about a man who thrives in the untamed wilderness, facing danger with quiet strength and a determination to survive.

In Saving the Mountain Man’s Legacy, the hero embodies many of these timeless traits that make mountain men irresistible. But what is it about them that draws us in? Let’s take a closer look.

  1. Strength That Goes Beyond Physical

Mountain men are known for their physical strength—hauling logs, scaling cliffs, and braving the harshest elements. But the true allure lies in their inner fortitude. These men endure isolation, danger, and nature’s unforgiving hand. Their resilience shows us that they’re not just physically capable but also emotionally steadfast. This unwavering strength is a cornerstone of the mountain man hero, making him someone we can admire—and trust.

In Saving the Mountain Man’s Legacy, the hero uses his strength not only to survive but to protect those he loves. His ability to endure hardship while still showing tenderness to the heroine is what makes him unforgettable.

  1. A Connection to Nature

Mountain men are deeply connected to the world around them. They understand the land, navigate it with ease, and respect its power. This connection gives them a sense of calm and confidence that’s incredibly appealing. Who wouldn’t want a man who can track a deer, build a fire from scratch, and find his way home under a starlit sky?

In my novel, nature is more than just a backdrop—it’s an integral part of the story. The hero’s ability to navigate the wilderness becomes a lifeline for both himself and the heroine, showcasing his resourcefulness and his bond with the natural world.

  1. A Quiet, Brooding Persona

There’s something irresistible about a man of few words. Mountain men aren’t known for boasting or unnecessary chatter—they let their actions speak louder than words. This quiet, brooding nature gives them an air of mystery that draws us in. We can’t help but wonder what secrets lie beneath their rugged exterior.

In Saving the Mountain Man’s Legacy, the hero’s stoic personality hides a well of emotion and vulnerability, which makes his eventual openness with the heroine even more rewarding.

  1. An Unexpected Tenderness

Despite their rough exteriors, mountain men often surprise us with their tender hearts. These are men who know how to care—whether it’s for an injured animal, a struggling companion, or the woman they love. Their tenderness feels earned, making it all the more precious when it’s revealed.

This duality—rugged strength paired with a gentle heart—is what makes the hero of Saving the Mountain Man’s Legacy so compelling. His care for the heroine and his willingness to protect her, even at great personal cost, show that beneath the gruffness lies a man capable of deep love.

  1. The Ability to Adapt

Life in the wilderness demands adaptability, and mountain men rise to the challenge. Whether it’s a sudden storm, a wild animal encounter, or an unexpected threat, they’re quick on their feet. This resourcefulness makes them dependable and, let’s face it, incredibly attractive.

In the novel, this adaptability plays a key role in the hero’s journey. His quick thinking and ability to face challenges head-on not only saves lives but also wins hearts.

Why We Love Them

Ultimately, the mountain man hero is irresistible because he represents the best of humanity: strength, independence, and a capacity for love that runs deep. He reminds us that even in the harshest conditions, beauty and connection can thrive.

And when he falls in love? He falls hard and forever. (Be still my swooning heart!)

If you’re drawn to a hero who can chop wood, tame a wild horse, and still melt your heart with a single look, then you’ll LOVE Sampson Coulter in Saving the Mountain Man’s Legacy.

To celebrate, I’m excited to give away a signed copy of the previous book in this series, Guarding the Mountain Man’s Secret! To be entered for the giveaway, I’d love to hear what you think makes a mountain man hero irresistible? Let me know in the comments!

Purchase link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DKYH43XB?tag=pettpist-20

 

 

INDIAN TERRITORY & THE ALLOTMENT PROCESS–AND A GIVEAWAY! by Kristy McCaffrey

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Federal Indian policy between 1870 and 1900 focused on breaking up reservations and granting allotments to individual Native Americans. In 1887, the U.S. Congress passed the Dawes Act, also known as the General Allotment Act. This law authorized the President to break up reservation land into small allotments. At that time, several tribes were exempt, including the Cherokees, Choctaws, and Chickasaws. However, in 1893 President Cleveland appointed the Dawes Commission to negotiate with the Five Civilized Tribes—the Cherokees, Creeks, Choctaws, Chickasaws, and Seminoles—to begin dividing their lands and dismantling their governments.

The purpose of the Dawes Act, and subsequent extensions, was to protect American Indian property rights, particularly during the land rushes of the 1890s that occurred in the Twin Territories, which encompassed Oklahoma and Indian Territories. But the result often did more harm than good. Some allotted land was unsuitable for farming, and those individuals who did want to take up agriculture often couldn’t afford to invest in the tools, animals, seed, and other supplies needed to begin.

To protect tribal members from land speculators, the government held most of the allotted land in trust, with a stipulation that it couldn’t be sold for twenty-five years. Since tribal land far surpassed the acreage needed for allotments, the government reserved the right to sell the “surplus” to white settlers. Many Indians leased their allotments and moved to urban areas where they later lost touch with tribal ways.

In 1896, the Dawes Commission received congressional approval to compile rolls of tribal members in the Five Nations who would be eligible to receive allotments, allowing it to add individuals who maintained they had not been included on the various tribal census rolls. The commission thus effectively undermined the power of the tribes to determine their own membership and, in the case of the Choctaw and Chickasaw, hastened extensive court action and legal battles over rights to be enrolled. The Choctaw were particularly concerned that large numbers of individuals claiming to be Choctaw from Mississippi came forward to lay claims, thus complicating and delaying the final allotment process.

It wasn’t until 1897 that the commission successfully concluded an allotment agreement with the Choctaw and Chickasaw tribes. The Atoka Agreement called for an equitable distribution of the tribal land base among the members, except for lands set aside for schools and townsites and land reserved because of coal and asphalt deposits. Homesteads of 160 acres would be inalienable for a period of twenty-one years, and the surplus land could be sold, one-fourth in the first year, one-half in the second year, and the remainder by the fifth year after allotment.

In my new novel, The Swan, a group of women must stand against those who would take advantage of Chickasaw orphans and their allotments. The Swan is Book 11 in my Wings of the West series, but it can be read as a standalone.

 

Twin Territories

November 1899

Dr. Anna Ryan has been spurned by the Dallas medical community for the simple reason of being a woman. Wanting more than a rural practice alongside her mother, also a doctor, Anna accepts an invitation from a mentor to join a private hospital for disabled children in Oklahoma City. But when she falls in with a band of women attempting to protect the rights of Chickasaw orphans, she’ll need more than her medical training to survive.

Malcolm Hardy has skirted the line between lawlessness and justice since escaping the mean streak of his father and his no-good half-siblings a decade ago. In Oklahoma Territory he created enough distance from his family name to find a quiet purpose to his days. But then Anna Ryan walks back into his life, and his hard-won peace is in jeopardy.

The last time Malcolm saw Anna, she had been a determined girl he couldn’t help but admire. Now she was a compelling woman searching for answers that could lead straight to him. But one thing was clear—Anna’s life path was on a trajectory for the remarkable while Malcolm’s was not. Surrendering to temptation would only end in heartbreak.

The Swan is an emotional story of a woman finding her true calling and a hero moving forward after a difficult past. It has light steam and a heartfelt and poignant ending.

Read Chapter One and find vendor links at Kristy’s website.

The Swan is based on the idea of The Magnificent Seven, but instead of men, what if the seven were women?

Giveaway

One commenter will win an eBook of THE NIGHTHAWK, Wings of the West Book 10. What is your favorite western movie? Be sure to comment for a chance to WIN!

 

U.S. Deputy Marshal Benton McKay is undercover tracking the notorious train robbing Weaver gang when he’s forced to work with reporter Sophie Ryan.

 

Kristy McCaffrey writes award-winning historical western romances with grit and emotion, along with contemporary adventure stories packed with smoldering romance and spine-tingling suspense. Her work is filled with compelling heroes, determined heroines, and her trademark mysticism. She lives in the desert north of Phoenix with her husband and rescue bulldog, Jeb. Learn more about her books at her website, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

 

Graphics courtesy of Deposit Photos. Book covers by Earthly Charms.

 

MAIL-ORDER FREIGHTER BY PAULETTE D. MARSHALL–AND A GIVEAWAY!

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Hello dear friends and fellow historical romance lovers!

Every book I write begins with a spark—an idea that won’t leave me alone. Mail-Order Freighter was no exception. This time, the inspiration came from a question that tugged at my imagination: What if a woman in the Old West inherited not just a store… but an entire freighting business—and the danger that came with it?

Researching this book was both exciting and eye-opening. I dove into the world of 1800s freighters and wagon trains, learning about the rugged, relentless work these men (and sometimes women!) did to keep goods moving across the rough terrain of the West. From hauling mining equipment and tools, to delivering food, barrels of flour, and even coffins—these freight wagons carried it all. It really made me appreciate the hardships they endured—hours spent on hard wooden seats, in the blistering heat or freezing wind, without even a roof for shelter. It sure makes our modern-day road trips feel like luxury cruises!

 

 

I also loved researching the inner workings of a mercantile. In Helena’s case, her store is the heart of the town, stocked with everything from canned goods and bolts of fabric to lantern oil and hand tools. But as the story begins, she’s not just running the mercantile—she’s fighting to keep it out of the hands of a dangerous man who’s determined to take everything she has. With her late husband gone, and a baby on the way, Helena is running out of options… and time.

Enter Issac—a ranch hand with a restless spirit and a heart ready for more. When he agrees to take on a favor for his boss, he never expects to walk straight into Helena’s storm. And after an accidental scandal and a quick decision that changes both of their lives, Issac becomes more than just a helping hand—he becomes Helena’s husband.

But marrying her doesn’t make the danger disappear. In fact, it puts a target on his back. I love writing characters who are brave in quiet ways, who make hard choices, and who find strength in each other—even when everything seems stacked against them.

Writing Mail-Order Freighter reminded me that sometimes God sends us help in unexpected ways. Just when Helena had lost hope, her letter—her plea for help—was answered.

If you enjoy stories with grit, faith, romance, and a little suspense, I hope Mail-Order Freighter finds a special place on your reading shelf!

Now I’d love to hear from you:

What kind of freight do you think they would’ve hauled in those days? Supplies for the mines? Dry goods for the store? Maybe something unusual? Let me know in the comments! One lucky reader will win an eBook copy of Mail-Order Freighter!

BLURB: (shortened version)

Mail-Order Freighter
Newly widowed and expecting a child, Helena is desperate to protect the mercantile and freighter business she ran with her husband. A ruthless man is determined to claim both—and her—and her time is running out. With no one left to turn to, she sends a letter, praying for help.

Issac, a restless ranch hand, agrees to a favor that leads him straight into Helena’s troubles. When circumstances place them in a compromising position, there’s only one honorable choice: marriage.

But marrying Helena means more than protecting her. It means stepping into danger—and risking everything.

I’d love it if you stopped by my Facebook page and said hi or chat: https://www.facebook.com/paulette.marshall.90

Or joined my reader group Paulette D Marshall’s Readers group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1146608329550650

Until next time,
Blessings,
Paulette D. Marshall

 

 

Campfire Ballads and Cowboy Truths + Giveaway

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Mountains and prairie in background. Campfire in foreground. "Campfire Ballads & Cowboy Truths"

We have a guest at the junction today! Let’s give a warm welcome to KyLee Woodley, author of The Bounty Hunter’s Surrender. KyLee’s giving away a copy of her book!

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Campfire Ballads and Cowboy Truths

Photo Credit: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.print/%5B/caption%5D
 
Before playlists and pop charts, what did music mean to a cowboy riding under the stars?
Music was more than mere entertainment—it was a tool for teaching lessons, building community, and expressing faith. On Petticoats and Pistols, we’ll focus on songs and stories that shaped cowboy culture.
The first song we’ll look at was used in a minstrel-style format, with a with versions dating from colonial times to the early 1900s. “Root Hog or Die” had a quirky title—rooted in colonial practices of letting pigs roam free to fend for themselves—that helped it evolve into a colorful and enduring piece of Americana.
“Root Hog or Die” started as a sort of proverb or adage, warning folks to work hard. The Vermont Gazette (1829) called it a “vulgar proverb” but admitted it often encouraged a strong work ethic. During the Civil War, both the Union and Confederate sides created their own versions of the song. One variation, taken from the Confederate tune “Flight of Doodles,” goes:
I saw Texas go in with a smile,
But I tell you what it is, she made the Yankees bile;
Oh! it don’t make a nif-a-stifference to neither you nor I,
Texas is the devil, boys; root, hog, or die.
 
A 1911 folk version of the song shares a glimpse into the difficult, unpredictable life of the cowboy. One verse reads:
Sometimes it’s dreadful stormy and sometimes it’s pretty clear.
You may work a month and you might work a year.
But you can make a winning if you’ll come alive and try.
For the whole world over, boys, it’s root hog or die.

[caption id="attachment_107357" align="aligncenter" width="363"] Photo Credit: Cowboy Songs and Other Frontier Ballads. (1918). United States: Macmillan.

 

This next song is dear to my heart. I’ll forever remember my mom singing “The Streets of Laredo”—likely the Johnny Cash version—with its hauntingly sweet melody and timeless cowboy sorrow. “The Streets of Laredo” traces its roots to the late 19th century and was first published in 1910 in Cowboy Songs and Other Frontier Ballads by John Lomax. It originated from the older Irish folk tune The Unfortunate Rake, which also later influenced St. James Infirmary Blues. Over time, cowboys adapted the lyrics to reflect frontier life, making it one of the most enduring Western ballads. (You can listen to a gorgeous duet version by Marty Robbins and Johnny Cash online.)

Photo Credit: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.print%5B/caption%5D

“The Texas Ranger” is a traditional ballad, dating back at least to the 19th century, tells the story of a young Texas Ranger facing danger on the frontier. It often highlights encounters with Native American tribes and frontier justice. Passed down through oral tradition, one well-known version was documented in 1959 but here is one of the earliest versions.

I was scarcely sixteen years of age when I joined that jolly band;

We marched from San Antonio unto the Rio Grande.

Our captain there informed us, perhaps he thought it right,

“Before you reach the station,” says he, “boys, you’ll have to fight.”

As we trace the melodies of the old West, we’re reminded that the music of that era wasn’t polished or perfect—but it was real. These songs echo the grit, humor, grief, and resilience of everyday folks navigating life on the frontier. Whether sung around a campfire or carried in a mother’s voice at bedtime, they were a reflection of a people learning to hope, endure, and belong. And maybe, just maybe, in a world that feels far from simple, they still have something to teach us today. Thanks for taking this journey with me. I’d love to hear which cowboy tune holds a place in your heart.

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THE BOUNTY HUNTER’S SURRENDER

 

Book cover The Bounty Hunter's Surrender. Man in frontier clothing and brunette woman in prairie dress

An expecting widow, a rugged bounty hunter, and a set of secrets that might shatter her fragile heart.

The death of Aubrey Willot’s wealthy but abusive husband left her with an unborn child, an empty chateau, and the last name of a criminal. When she learns he double-crossed a ruthless business associate, she’s forced to accept the protection of the handsome and daring bounty hunter tasked with finding her late husband’s fortune. Though Aubrey swore never to trust another man, she can’t help but be drawn to the bounty hunter’s rugged charm.

After a tragic mistake cost him everything, Nathan Reed spent years running from his past. Now, he needs funds to care for his orphaned niece, and quickly. The chance to retrieve a set of stolen documents offers an opportunity he can’t resist. He’ll find those papers and claim the reward, even if it means deceiving the alluring young widow.

As danger rises, Audrey’s strength, honesty, and compassion break down Nathan’s defenses, daring him to embrace a future he never imagined—a loving wife and a family of his own. But when his secrets are exposed, will his chance at redemption and Aubrey’s heart slip through his fingers?

Purchase links can be found HERE.

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Author Kylee Woodley with long wavy blond hair, smiling, wearing a floral shirt

KyLee Woodley teaches preschool at a lab school in Texas where she lives with her husband of 18 years and their three teenage children. Having been raised in the Pacific Northwest and spent part of her adult life in Texas, she has a deep respect for American values. She grew up in an impoverished area and began ministering to homeless, drug addicted, and desperate people while in her teens. As a result, she feels a deep sense of concern for society’s unloved. This comes through in her stories, enriched with historical detail that shows how loving the unlovely is a timeless need. On weekends, KyLee cohosts and produces the Historical Bookworm Show—a steadily growing author interview podcast for history lovers and readers of historical fiction.

KyLee has generously offered to give away one copy of The Bounty Hunter’s Surrender to one commenter. The winner will randomly be selected on Sunday.

What ballads, nursery rhymes, or songs shaped you growing up?

Thanks, KyLee, for being our guest today!

Riding Shotgun on the Express Stage and Mail + Giveaway

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We have a guest at the junction today! Let’s give a warm welcome to Tracy Garrett, author of Clint!

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Riding Shotgun on the Express Stage and Mail

For the safety of passengers and cargo—such as payroll for the Army stationed in remote forts across the Plains—stage coach companies began using hired guns. Referred to as Shotgun Riders, they road up top with the driver and a rifle, watching the land around them for the outlaws that were the scourge of the stage companies.

When I was invited to write a book in the multiple-author series “Gun for Hire,” my hero appeared fully formed in my mind. I had done research for a previous book, “Grace,” and found a shotgun rider hero for her. Only I latched onto Wells Fargo as the stage company.

It wasn’t until I was refreshing my mind on the job of the man with the gun that I discovered Wells Fargo never employed a shotgun rider—they never carried money or payroll, only mail and passengers. So, in spite of the name of the Hollywood TV series “Tales of Wells Fargo,” starring Dale Robertson, the setting was inaccurate.

Black and white photo of stagecoach and horses running

For “Clint” I chose another stagecoach company, then changed the name a bit to the Express Stage and Mail. You can check out the actual companies that covered the Santa Fe Trail at http://www.legendsofamerica.com/stagecoach/.

These stage lines could travel the 740 miles from Independence, Missouri, to Santa Fe, New Mexico, in fifteen days. The drivers and shotgun riders would have a section of the trail and ride it back and forth, handing off to other drivers and riders. I imagine they got to know the contours of the land they traveled very well: where there was water, where they could take shelter should it become necessary, and where the outlaws had enough cover to prepare an attack.

In “Clint” my shotgun rider was very good at his job—any outlaws crazy enough to attempt to rob a stage he rode never did so again.

“Clint” is the eighth book of ten in the Gun for Hire series and it will hit Kindles on June 30.

Cover for Clint by Tracy Garrett. Cowboy in front of old west building

 

Clint McGuire has always lived by his gun. Desperate to leave behind a past that haunts him, he becomes a deputy in a small Kansas town and vows to protect its citizens from all dangers—even those he brings with him.

Ophelia Walcott enjoys her job as a schoolteacher, but she wants a family of her own and a man who will love her. She finds herself intrigued by the elusive loner who courageously defends the place she calls home.

Clint knows all he can offer Ophelia is trouble and heartbreak, but he is unable to resist the charms of the beautiful schoolteacher. When his secrets threaten their blossoming love, Clint must choose between continuing to live a lie in order to make Ophelia’s dreams come true or facing the truth about his previous life and risk it destroying them both.

 

Excerpt from CLINT:

Chapter One

March 1876

Vinduska, Kansas

“Charlie Ingraham, what is wrong with you today?” Ophelia Dolores Walcott, Lea to all who knew her, joined the ten-year-old at the door to the schoolhouse and scanned the yard of the schoolhouse. She’d left the door open after the other children departed, opening windows on each side of the large room to air it out and clear out some of the chalk dust from her class’s vigorous cleaning of their slates. “You’re as jumpy as a flea in a pack of puppies.”

“I’m just excited. The Stage and Mail is late, Miss Walcott. The westbound stage is already gone, but the eastbound is late. Ma’s coming home today. She said. Her last letter said Grandma was doing fine and she’d be on the stage today. But it’s late and it’s never late. Maybe something bad happened!”

“I’m sure everything is fine, Charlie. Perhaps they were delayed leaving the last stop.” Although it was unusual for the Express Stage and Mail not to be on time. Well, nothing to be gained by speculation. “Come on, help me lay the fire for tomorrow morning, and close up the schoolhouse.” She patted his shoulder gently. “It’s time for you to be getting home.”

“Yes, Miss Walcott. Maybe Pa will know why the stage is late.”

Charlie’s father, Wilson, ran the mercantile and post office. If anyone had news to share, he would. “I bet he will. Let’s close up and go ask him.”

A crowd was gathering by the time she and the boy reached the mercantile, waiting for the stage to arrive. Though it came through on a regular schedule, it took on the excitement of a new adventure every time. Charlie spotted his friends and ran to them. As if on cue, the rattle of the coach wheels on the hard-packed soil sounded in the distance and approached fast.

As it rolled to a stop in front of the Express office, the doors were flung open on both sides and seven passengers spilled out. “That’s it, I don’t care if it costs more. Next time I’m taking the train.” The speaker stumbled off, obviously overwrought. Wilson reached in to help his wife out. Maybelle looked pale.

“Welcome, home, wife.” Wilson kissed her cheek, bringing a little color back.

“I’m glad to be home, Wilson. That was an experience I don’t care to repeat, I must say.”

Charlie came running up. “What happened, Ma?”

“A gang of riders tried to overtake the stage, apparently to rob us.”

Charlie’s eyes rounded. “Outlaws?”

Wilson tucked her closer to his side. “Are you alright, my dear? You weren’t injured?”

Her chin rose as dignity reasserted itself. “They were unsuccessful.” She turned to the driver. “Thank you, both of you,” she included the man on the roof, “for getting us here safely.”

Lea stayed out of the way as luggage was unloaded and the man the driver called his shotgunner sat down where he was and began cleaning his rifle. He was a tall man and lanky, but strong, as he’d hefted boxes and trunks as if they weighed nothing. His dark chestnut hair was a little long and the ends curled just past his collar. As he glanced at her, she was surprised to see eyes as brown as mahogany.

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“Well, Shotgun, we made it.” The driver slapped Clint on the back as he finally climbed down, and huffed out a relieved breath. “That was some fancy shootin’ back there, McGuire.”

They moved out of the way as fresh horses were put in the traces and the wheels of the coach were greased. Then the new driver and shotgun who would take the stage on east to the next stop climbed aboard. Luggage and freight were secured, passengers got in and with a shout and the crack of a whip, the stages began to move.

When the dust settled, Clint McGuire shoved his hat back with one finger. “Johnny, your driving made it easy as a turkey shoot.”

Johnny cackled. “I’ve seen my share of good shotgunners, but you beat all. Between you and that repeatin’ rifle, you made sure them outlaws couldn’t run us to ground, or the westbound, come to that.”

“They won’t be running anyone to ground anymore.” Clint’s expression was grim. It was his job to see that the stage got through and none of the passengers or cargo lost. And he’d done that job well for nearly seven years. Necessary though it was, he was tired of the killing.

The stationmaster, Howard Mills, hurried to where the driver stood stroking and calming the six lathered horses. “What happened? You’re late. I was getting concerned.”

“Howdy, Mr. Mills.” Clint greeted the stationmaster. “We ran into a bit of trouble a few miles out.”

“What kind of trouble?”

“The kind you’ll need the law for.” Johnny joined them. “And the undertaker. If not for Shotgun here, your perfect record of no passengers or cargo lost would have been ruined.”

Mills studied both men. “I’ll send for the sheriff.”

“Before you do, who was the lady standing there a minute ago? Pretty, blue eyes, with a pile of blond hair up on her head.”

“Little thing?” When Clint nodded, he smiled. “That would be our schoolteacher, Ophelia Walcott.”

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Order CLINT today! Available June 30 for Kindle from Amazon.

Haven’t started the series yet? Find our series page HERE.

Covers of all books in Gun For Hire series

Tracy is giving away one ebook of Clint to a commenter! The winner will be randomly selected on Sunday, June 22nd.

Would you be excited, afraid, or both to be a passenger on a stage coach in the Old West?

Leave a comment to be entered into the giveaway!

Bounty Hunter Trivia + Giveaway!

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Illustrated flowers on white background. Text, "Guest + Giveaway Caroline Clemmons. Petticoats & Pistols"

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.)

The Wild Bunch Gang Wanted Poster, $1000 Reward

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.

 

Cover of Shad by Caroline Clemmons. Mountain backdrop with cowboy.

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!

 

Photo of author Caroline Clemmons

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?

Thanks for joining us! We’d love for you to stay up on our latest releases and have some fun, too, so join our Facebook Reader Group HERE!

U.S. Boarding Schools for Native American Children

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We have a guest at the junction today! Let’s give a big welcome to our guest, Kiersti Giron!

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When I began researching the story that would become my historical novel Beneath a Turquoise Sky, I decided to set it at a mission school on the Navajo reservation in the early 1900s, since I’d spent five years in that area of northwest New Mexico during my teens. However, I soon realized I had much to learn—including that to be historically accurate, my mission school needed to be a boarding school for Native children. But why?

Only a few generations ago, the United States grappled with what was known as the “Indian problem.” European settlement—and even railroads—had spanned from coast to coast by the late 1800s, yet many First Nations tribes, the original inhabitants of the land, remained. And conflict abounded, especially since the United States government broke nearly every treaty it made with tribes as sovereign nations.

Some Americans subscribed to the “annihilation” solution. Shocking as it may seem to us today, the author of The Wizard of Oz, L. Frank Baum, wrote this in a South Dakota newspaper in the 1890s:

“The Whites, by law of conquest, by justice of civilization, are masters of the American continent, and the best safety of the frontier settlements will be secured by the total annihilation of the few remaining Indians.”

But other more “progressive” voices spoke also. Captain Richard Henry Pratt promoted the “assimilation” solution instead, advocating in a famous speech that white people should “Kill the Indian in him, and save the man.” Pratt founded the Carlisle Indian School in Pennsylvania, which took Native children from tribes all over the country and attempted to, indeed, “kill” all about them from their own cultures, including language, dress, and family ties, molding them into the image of Euro-American culture as much as possible.

 

Students at Carlisle Native Industrial School in Pennsylvania, c. 1900 (public domain)
Students at Carlisle Native Industrial School in Pennsylvania, c. 1900 (public domain)

 

This school became a model for other government and mission boarding schools all over the United States. Between 1869 and the 1960s, tens of thousands of Native American children were taken from their families, sometimes by force, and placed in boarding schools. It is estimated that by 1926, over 80% of school-age Native children attended these military-style residential schools, numbering over 60,000 students just in 1925. Many children endured horrible abuse at these schools, and many never returned home, often buried in unmarked graves and still unaccounted for by the U.S. government. Even well-intentioned teachers and missionaries did grave damage in removing children from their families and stripping them of their Native identity and culture, tragically cloaking Christianity in Euro-American, “white” garb. Generations of children lacked parenting and endured punishment and trauma merely for speaking their own languages, trauma that still wracks Native communities today.

 

Three Rosebud Sioux children the day after they entered boarding school, 1883
Three Rosebud Sioux children the day after they entered boarding school, 1883. By John N. Choate, Carlisle, PA – https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47e1-1b90-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99, Public Domain.

 

The same boys several years later, after their forced cultural assimilation
The same boys several years later, after their forced cultural assimilation. By John N. Choate, Carlisle, PA – https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47e1-1b90-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99, Public Domain.

As I continued to research my story and learned from Navajo friends and mentors, the history I hadn’t known before broke my heart. Yet I also saw hope for healing and relationship, though so much work remains to be done. My Navajo mentor and his Dutch-American wife met and married at a mission boarding school in Gallup, New Mexico, back in the 1960s, and their true story—and how they welcomed me into their hearts and lives—did much to shape the story I was writing, changing my own life and perspective on history and Native peoples for good.

If you’d like to learn more about the history of U.S. boarding schools for Native children, I recommend The National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition at https://boardingschoolhealing.org/. You can also look up the powerful short film “The Cutting of the Tsiiyéél,” by Susie Silversmith, a Navajo boarding school survivor.

 

Giveaway:

I am giving away one copy of Beneath a Turquoise Sky! Here’s a little about the book:

Cover of Beneath a Turquoise Sky by Kiersti Giron. Western background with mountains, a Native American on horse, and a woman in pioneer clothing.

A young teacher at a Navajo boarding school begins to wonder whether the mission is doing more harm than good.

After her life takes an unexpected turn in 1911, Caroline Haynes pursues a long-buried dream westward to teach at a Navajo mission boarding school. However, walls of hurt and cultural misunderstanding threaten to keep her from reaching the children she longs to touch. The handsome Rev. Willis Abernathy seems sure he knows what is best for the Navajo people—and for Caroline—but she finds herself drawn instead to Tse, the young Navajo man in charge of the mission’s livestock, who claims to still follow Christ despite returning to the ways of his people.

Tse Tsosie longs to introduce Jesus to his people in a way they can understand, but now that family need has brought him back to the mission, he battles past wounds and the disapproval of the missionaries. Meanwhile, Caroline’s arrival brings surprises and more turmoil to the school…and to Tse’s heart.

When crisis forces Tse and Caroline to make a choice, will they find a path together…or will the chasm between their peoples be too great to span?

Purchase Beneath a Turquoise Sky here!

“Beautifully written, Beneath a Turquoise Sky is as colorfully woven as a Navajo blanket with well-drawn characters, a fresh setting, and heartrending history. Kiersti Giron tells a tender, soul-stirring story unlike any other in this moving journey of change, forgiveness, new beginnings, and ultimately, love.”

~ Laura Frantz, Christy Award-winning author of Courting Morrow Little 

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One reader who leaves a comment on this post will win a copy of Beneath a Turquoise Sky! The winner will be randomly selected from the comments and announced on Sunday, June 8th!

Had you heard of the “Indian boarding schools” before? What is a little-known side of history that has surprised or sobered you?

Kiersti Giron writes stories to lift hearts toward hope and healing in our divided world. Her debut novel, Beneath a Turquoise Sky, came inspired by her years living in New Mexico near the Navajo Nation. Kiersti also collaborates on series of historical fiction series with bestselling author Lauraine Snelling. When she’s not writing, Kiersti enjoys spending time with her husband, little boy, and two kitties, as well as teaching writing and literature to teenagers. Learn more at http://www.kierstigiron.com or follow her on Instagram @kierstigiron or Facebook.

Desperate Times Are On Linda Shenton Matchett’s Mind

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Desperate Times Called For Desperate Measures

The Fillies Welcome Linda Shenton Matchett

After the American Civil War, the Homestead Act of 1862 sent thousands of men across the nation. Many wanted (or needed) a new start. Others hoped to secure a fortune. Still others simply had a desire to explore their vast homeland. Once settled, loneliness set in, but women were scarce on the prairie. Ratios as high as one woman for every ten men caused them to reach out to families or former pastors about women who might be willing to marry them. A few ran advertisements in newspapers.

The mail-order bride industry grew quickly with matrimonial agencies springing up acting as brokers to arrange marriages. Some of the agencies produced catalogs in which women or men could place ads, while others used word of mouth or posted notices in church bulletins or local newspapers.

Why would a woman choose to become a mail-order bride? To travel hundreds, if not thousands of miles, to marry a man she’d never met, and might only know through a handful of letters?

Women in the last quarter of the 19th century could find themselves in desperate situations. Life expectancy was short, and children often lost one or both parents at a young age. However, because of the laws, or lack thereof, single females had very few rights. They could be shuttled off to another male relative or someone assigned as guardian, and the man could make whatever decisions he wanted without regard to the girl’s interests or wants.

Even a woman in her “majority” had almost no rights. She couldn’t vote, own property independently, or enter into legal contracts without a male guardian. Access to higher education was also limited with many colleges not accepting women as students, or if they did, allowing them to attend class but not awarding a diploma at the end. Career opportunities were also limited with only certain jobs considered acceptable for women.

Priced per word, ads were “short and sweet,” so unless the bride and groom corresponded, they didn’t truly know what they were getting. It is difficult to know how many of these couples experienced happily-ever-after. Few published memoirs or diaries about their experiences, and Gallup polls were a thing of the future, however there are many newspaper articles touting successes, and it seemed that most couples remained married. But, there were periodic “foibles.”

Apparently, one poor young woman was robbed on the way to meeting her groom, and thanks to a distinctive scar on his arm, she realized at the wedding that he was the culprit. Needless to say, she skedaddled. Another article published in Council Bluffs, Iowa reported that one couple turned out to be long-lost siblings that had been separated at a young age. She’d been married and widowed, so her surname had changed.

Dating apps have replaced newspaper ads, so perhaps we’re not so far removed from mail-order brides after all.

Question for readers: Would you consider using a dating app to find a spouse? Comment for a chance to win one ebook edition of Ivy’s Inheritance.

 

Ivy’s Inheritance

Has she fled one untrustworthy man only to be stuck with another?

Ivy Cregg’s father is a gambler, but this time he’s gone too far. He loses his mining fortune and her along with it in a high-stakes poker game. Unwilling to go along with the deal, she hides out with a friend who tells her about Ms. Crenshaw, owner of the Westward Home & Hearts Mail-Order Bride Agency who is in town. The prospective groom is a wealthy man which seems like an answer to prayer until Ivy discovers he made his fortune in mining. Is he as untrustworthy as her father?

After emigrating to America to fight for the Union during their Civil War, Slade Pendleton moved West while working on the railroad, then headed to the plains of Nebraska to seek his fortune. He was one of the lucky ones and now has everything he could ever want. Except a wife. With the few women in the town already married, he sends for a mail-order bride. The woman arrives carrying the telegram that explains her need to flee, but now that she’s safe, she seems to have no interest in going through with the ceremony. Should he send her packing or try to convince her to stay?

Click Here to Purchase 

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About Linda:

Linda Shenton Matchett writes happily ever after historical Christian fiction about second chances and women who overcome life’s challenges to be better versions of themselves. A native of Baltimore, Maryland, Linda has been scribbling stories since her parents gifted her a notebook in the third grade. She now resides in central New Hampshire where she works as a Human Resources professional and volunteers as a docent and archivist for the Wright Museum of World War II.

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Jolene Navarro Has Found Heaven

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The Heart of Family is in the Texas Hill Country:

Why I’m Back on the Frio River

Writing has always been a way for me to make sense of the world around me. And there are two subjects that constantly tug at my heartstrings, begging to be explored. The beautiful chaos of big family dynamics and the serene, rugged charm of the Texas Hill Country along the Frio River. When these two worlds collide in my writing, it’s like magic for me.

My last few series have been along the Texas Coast. Who can resist a cowboy pirate. Not me.

But now I’ve started a new series in the fictional town of Rio Bella with the five De Leon siblings. They were raised by their grandfather.

There is something undeniably special about large families. The constant laughter, the occasional squabbles, the shared memories, and the deep bonds that tie everyone together. These dynamics are a rich tapestry of stories I love to write.

My goal is to capture the essence of those moments, big and small, that make family life so vibrant. Whether it’s a chaotic family gathering or a quiet moment shared between generations, I find endless inspiration in these relationships.

The Texas Hill Country, specifically along the Frio River, holds a piece of my soul. The rolling hills, the crystal-clear waters, the ancient cypress trees—it’s a place of breathtaking beauty and profound peace. When I write about this place, I’m transported back to lazy summer days spent swimming in the river, the smell of barbecue in the air, the sound of crickets chirping under a starry sky and chasing fireflies in my grandparents’ backyard. The Frio River isn’t just a location; it’s a character in its own right, shaping the stories I tell.

In THE TEXAN’S UNEXPECTED HOME, my hero doesn’t think he belongs in the small town of Rio Bella, but he might change his mind. I love this story of finding family and home where you didn’t expect it.

After losing everything in a devastating fire, racehorse trainer Kingston Zayas returns to his family’s ranch to claim his inheritance…and learns that he must first live there for a year. The only silver lining? Single mom Abigail DeLeon, the ranch’s event planner, and her energetic son, Leo. But Abigail’s family wants nothing to do with any Zayas. Forced to work together, they unravel a tangle of secrets that changes everything Kingston thought he knew about his family—and most important, where he belongs…

From Love Inspired: Uplifting stories of faith, forgiveness and hope.

The Ranchers of Rio Bella

Book 1: The Texan’s Unexpected Home

Here are some reasons why I feel so compelled to write about these topics:

Connection: Writing allows me to connect with others who share similar experiences or dream about that type of life. I have the honor of writing my dreams and walking through the pages with me. It makes my dream real.

Preservation: Bits of truth and family stories are woven through my fictional pages. I want to capture stories and memories before they fade.

Exploration: Each story is an opportunity to explore the complexities of relationships and the magic of nature in a deeper way. How has God worked in my life? It can be very eye opening for me.

Joy: Ultimately, writing about these topics brings me immense joy. It’s a way to celebrate the things that matter most to me: family and the beauty of the natural world.

This photo is of my husband’s mother with her children (11 surviving) and grandchildren and great grandchildren. Yes, we had to go to the high school football field to get the picture. How Texas is that? Writing about big family dynamics in the setting of the Texas Hill Country along the Frio River feels like coming home. It’s where my heart is, and it’s what I feel compelled to share with the world. I’m currently writing the third book in the series and it just feels so natural.

I’ve shared my favorite place in the world with you and as much as I love my Hill country I also love traveling. So, give me a place to go. If you could go one place in the world, where would it be and what would you recommend, I do there? Leave a comment to put your name in the hat for one of three copies of The Texan’s Unexpected Home. 

So, inspire me. Give me some good places.

About Jolene:

Jolene, a seventh-generation Texan, knows, as much as the world changes, people stay the same. Good and evil. Vow-keepers and heart breakers. Jolene married a vow-keeper who showed her that dancing in the rain never gets old. Her life, much like her stories, is filled with faith, family, laughter, dirty dishes and all of life’s wonderful messiness. She uses her art degree to teach inner city kids about the world and they teach her about life.

Website  |  Facebook  |  Instagram

Kathleen Lawless on the Significance of Family

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Throughout history, the existence of the family unit has played a significant role, continuing to have a huge impact on most of our lives. Because of the opportunity to improve one’s fortune, and the types of employment available, never mind plain old gender inequality, the early settling of the West drew more men than women. As more communities were created a settled, the result was a disproportionate percentage men and women of marrying age.

The early settlers who struck out in search of new opportunity and the chance to settle new lands soon realized that when people compete for the same land and resources, success and failure often depended how prolifically one is able to reproduce. Extra sets of hands are imperative to work the farm or the ranch. One way men chose to attract a woman partner was to advertise for a bride.

I’ve written many mail order bride romances, but I wanted to do a different type of series with Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. Thus, I set out to create a family of seven brothers; a series where each man eventually meets and marries his soul mate.

As I started creating my leading men, developing their personalities, interests, skills, and goals, I quickly realized that having my heroes be biological brothers didn’t lend itself to the types of conflicts and storylines that would make interesting reading. I didn’t want them to all come from the same background and parents.

I felt the series would have far more appeal if each man was a loner, a product of his individual background and baggage. It’s difficult to be a loner if you grow up in a large family. Thus, I brought together seven young men from a diversity of backgrounds, circumstances, fortunes and talents. Swearing a loyalty to each other, this new family united in a single cause. Revenge.

For fun, I included a set of identical twins, but the others were as different from each other as they could possibly be. My newly-formed ‘found family’ banded together over a stretch of years at different times for different reasons. Having been knocking about on their own, none of them were accustomed to being part of a family dynamic, let alone the cooperation and compromise required to ensure a family functions and thrives.

One of the rabbit holes my research into families throughout history led me to was the ‘birth order theory’, where the eldest is perceived as the leader, the most responsible and conscientious. Middle children are thought to be more adaptable, diplomatic, and good at keeping the peace. The youngest is often seen as more playful, sometimes having a rebellious streak, or being irresponsible.

With seven brothers in my fictional family, did that mean there were five middle-children? Or two that were more irresponsible, while two who clashed for the leadership role. Numerous possibilities presented themselves. Maybe the elders were the first ones who formed this rag-tag family, while the late-comers were viewed as the youngsters, regardless of biological age.

Along the way, I couldn’t resist a quick analysis of my own siblings and my own children to test out the birth order theory.

Meanwhile, the series progressed with varying levels of commitment from the ‘brothers’ some intending to leave once the need for revenge had been fulfilled, others resenting the changes that befell their family, as one-by-one each brother claimed a bride. The remaining bachelors weren’t always happy about the intrusion of a woman, let alone several women into their male-dominated lives.

The end result was tons of fun, with lots of conflict. Not unlike every family I have ever known, including my own. But one thing is for sure. Differences aside, family is and always will be, the backbone of society as we know it today.

What do you think about the birth order theory as it applies to your own family?  Do you think a found-family, together by choice rather than birth, can share the same loyalties as one that shares blood? What about children who are adopted? Or an only child? I don’t always see eye-to-eye with my siblings, but when we lost a parent recently, I was very grateful not to be an ‘only’.

Leave a comment below, sharing some of your thoughts and theories regarding family for one of three chances to win a free copy of Book 1, Brody’s Bride. If you’ve already read the series, I’ll gift you a different title from my back list.

Meanwhile the series prequel, Before the Brides is available to everyone who signs up to join my VIP readers list. http://eepurl.com/bV0sb1

You can learn about the Seven Brides for Seven Brothers series, tagline: “Bridgerton meets Yellowstone.” CLICK HERE

About Kathleen:

USA Today Bestselling Author Kathleen Lawless blames a misspent youth watching Rawhide, Maverick and Bonanza for her fascination with cowboys, which doesn’t stop her from creating a wide variety of interests and occupations for her many alpha male heroes. Blaze in One Fantasy Fall is a movie stuntman, who rides a Harley instead of a horse.

With over 60 published novels to her credit, she enjoys pushing the boundaries of traditional romance into historical romance, contemporary romance, romantic suspense and women’s fiction.

She makes her home in the Pacific Northwest and loves to hear from her readers.  http://www.kathleenlawless.com

Sign up for Kathleen’s VIP Reader Newsletter to receive a free book, updates, special giveaways and fan-priced offers.    http://eepurl.com/bV0sb1

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