Historical Romance Series

Range Wars–and two giveaways!

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By Lynne Lanning

Thank you so much for stopping by for a few minutes to share my adventures on this Historical Western journey. And my, what a thrill it is! The West was built by a conglomerate of people ranging not only in age and culture, but also the downtrodden trying to survive and live free, to the thrill-seeking entrepreneurs.

Search the history of Western expanse you’ll learn about railroads, cattle drives, new towns built, and range wars. I mention these four, as it seems most of my stories are written around them. You can’t mention one without the others being involved somehow. It’s like a chain of events.

Did you know . . . For over 300 years, the longhorn cattle roamed free across the plains of Texas? No one claimed or wanted them, they had no use for more than a few at a time, and they were considered more dangerous than a herd of buffalo, scaring everyone. The plains of Texas were full and over-running!

Before the railroads, a few rough and tough entrepreneurs decided to take on herding these dangerous beast to far reaches of the West. They could sell beef to the locals, sustaining a living…BUT the big money was in supplying beef to the East. Enter – the cattle drives, with all the hunky, handsome heroes we call cowboys! (But that’s another story…)

For decades, these entrepreneurs (Cattle Barons) became rich, increasing their herds and sending the cattle East. When the railroads came, it became an even more lucrative business. The cattle grazed on free-range land, which was unused land owned by the government. The Cattle Barons may have owned hundreds, or even thousands of acres, but they were using tens of thousands that they didn’t own. For decades, it wasn’t a problem, until…Enter – the Homesteaders.

Click to BuyThe government wanted to occupy and settle the West, coming up with some great incentives for people through Homesteaders Acts. But guess where these homesteaders were legally moving to? Right in the midst of free-range grazing land!

Arguments and deadly fights ensued for years. The Homesteaders refused to give up their homes, and the Cattle Barons refused to give up the grazing land they had used for generations. Not only did the Cattle Barons eventually have to move their herds and reduce them drastically, but some had to reroute their trails to cattle markets and railheads by miles around mountains, or pay (by the head) to cross someone’s property. Their lives, and livelihoods changed forever.

The Cattle Barons had done the same as they had for generations; the Homesteaders were legally taking advantage making a better life for themselves; yet hundreds of men, women, and even children died because of it. Some men, (like William Bonney aka Billy the Kid), even became outlaws over it.

I put myself in the shoes of both sides and can see how there was a huge problem.

Several of my books are written about, or at least mention, Range Wars. I am excited to announce that Mail-Order Stone Mason is a Finalist in the 2025 Selah Awards Western Category! Love can blossom even in the midst of such dangerous surroundings!

Buy – Mail Order Stonemason 

And…be still my heart…To Trust A Heart is a Finalist in the Historical Romance Category! What an HONOR!

 

Buy – To Trust a Heart

Two lucky winners will receive another great story that incorporates a small Range War, young entrepreneurs, building a railroad and a town – Mail-Order Station Master. My question for you is what information or fact caught your eye in my post about the West? I’d love to hear your opinions about the Range Wars. We have lots to talk about.

Buy – Mail Order Station Master

The Old West is so intriguing, and that’s where I park my wagon and stay for weeks at a time as I write one incredible tale after another! I can vividly see it in my mind as all those brave ancestors made their way to an adventure of a lifetime…and I’m so glad they did!

Find out more about me and my love of Western Adventures:

https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0B6R33BXX?tag=pettpist-20

 

Penny Zeller and A Giveaway!

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Wild West Vocabulary

Howdy, y’all! I’m so thrilled to be a guest again on Petticoats & Pistols. Today, I’ll be chatting about my latest faith-filled Christian historical romance, Heart of Courage, which takes place in 1885 in the Montana territory.

In the opening scene, widow LilyBeth Engle is traveling from Ohio to the Montana Territory with her two-year-old son, Otis, in tow. (Disclaimer: Be prepared—Otis will steal your heart as he did mine).

With nothing but the clothes on her back, the baby in her arms, her Bible, and a skill for sewing beautiful dresses, LilyBeth determines to succeed with the Lord’s help and dogged determination. A few meager coins—all that she has to her name—will take her cross country aboard a train and then a stagecoach to a small town called Hilltop.

LilyBeth is a seamstress who not only sews dresses and mends clothing items, but also sketches new designs, which she uses as inspirations for her creations. She longs to own a sewing machine again, like the one that was taken from her through no fault of her own while living in Cincinnati. But first, she must find a place to live and a storefront for her seamstress business.

When she meets handsome and rugged rancher, Barrett McCallum, she has no idea what an instrumental role he will play in assisting her pursuit of that dream. But will she have the courage to succeed? What happens when Barrett begins to fall in love with LilyBeth? Will she have the courage to allow herself to love again with so much at stake?

Historical novels always include plentiful research, not only for time-accurate settings and clothing, but also for words. Heart of Courage was no exception. I spent a fair amount of time looking up words to make sure they were in use at the time. I’m always amazed by the words that were (and weren’t!) in usage. Take the word “sappy”, for example. According to my research, this word, for the meaning used in the book, was first used in that instance in the 1660s. Other such words:

Driveway-1845

Personalized-1741

Casserole-1708

Personality-15th century

What about words originating in 1885, the year Heart of Courage takes place? A quick scan of Merriam-Webster indicates that the following words (not used in the story) were also in use beginning in that year: clipboard, finger painting, multiple sclerosis, ruckus, and saccharin.

Courage, a key word in my book due to the obstacles LilyBeth must overcome and the bravery with which to do so, was first used in the 14th century.

Not only must historical romance authors string together words, but they must string together accurate words far beyond “oblige”, “reckon”, and “courtship”. Words such as teacher’s pet, teenager, meet-cute, haywire, hootenanny, and shrinking violet were in use beginning in the 1900s.

What word above surprised you the most? For me, it was haywire and hootenanny because those words just sound…old-fashioned.

Heart of Courage is a tender, heartwarming, and uplifting tale.

 

*****GIVEAWAY*****

In Heart of Courage, LilyBeth’s son, Otis, names a dog “Cow”. (I warned you this little boy would steal your heart!) What is the funniest pet name you’ve ever seen, heard, or named your own pet? Leave me a comment for your chance to win a copy of Heart of Courage. (U.S. residents only, please). Can’t wait to read your answers!

 

Thank you for joining me today. Before you go, be sure to grab your free copy of An Unexpected Arrival by going here.

 

Penny Zeller is known for her stories of faith-filled happily ever afters with tender romance, humor, and memorable characters.  She is the author of nearly thirty books in the Christian subgenres of historical romance, romantic suspense, and contemporary romance. She resides with her husband and two daughters in small-town America and loves to connect with her readers at http://www.pennyzeller.com.

 

What is That I Smell?

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Did you know that our sense of smell was the first thing to develop when humans appeared on earth? Our “smellers” are very old and very complex. It was not only vital to locating food but also finding a mate. Our nose can sense 1 trillion odors, both good and bad.

So when I’m writing stories, I need to implement the sense of smell far more than I do.

Fragrances and odors are closely entwined with memories. A sniff of Pond’s loose body powder for women instantly reminds me to my mom. And Old Spice always brings back times with my dad.

I remember so often coming home from school and Mom would have red beans cooking on the stove or she’d have a cake baking in the oven. If I smell those, it instantly sends me back to my childhood. Also, in my childhood, if a certain food gave off what to me was a bad smell, it wasn’t going in my mouth. I watch my great grandson who’s almost three. He always smells things before he puts them in his mouth. It think that’s very interesting. A dog often does the same thing.

Courtesy of Jade87 on Pixabay

My husband never wore any after shave much because he had asthma and smells would sure send on an attack. But I loved the natural smell of just the soap after he showered. Smells are so powerful.

We camped a lot and I still remember the smell of an open fire and my mom frying bacon or making coffee. There’s nothing like it.

Did you know our sense of smell is strongest in the evening? Smell is directly related to the sleep hormone. In man’s early days on earth, smell helped us not only find food but to discern danger. It came in mighty handy.

And then there’s the fragrance of rain in the air. The official word is petrichor. It’s the release of organic compounds in the soil into the air during and after a rain event. I don’t know about you, but that’s one of my favorite smells. I love to stand outside just smelling the fresh air. It refreshes my soul.

Smells are closely associated to romance. I once dated a guy for a short time that gave off a scent that I could not get past. He was clean and didn’t have body odor but I hated the scent of him. Later, I learned that he was not the person he presented to people and was thankful I dodged a bullet, thanks to my discerning nose!

Now it’s your turn. How has your sense of smell helped you in life? Do certain things spark memories? I can’t wait to hear your responses.

Also, don’t forget that Creek is available for preorder. It’ll be in ebook and paperback. The paperback should show up on Amazon in a few days.

This leads off the multi-author Gun For Hire series. I can’t wait for you all to see these fabulous covers that the Charlene Raddon made. Here’s a list of the authors: Margaret Tanner, Charlene Raddon, Heather Blanton, Carra Copelin, Jo-Ann Roberts, Caroline Clemmons, Tracy Garrett, Cheryl Pierson, and Winnie Griggs.

Here are the three of the series that are already up.

Next month, I’ll have some giveaways of Creek as well as an awesome book trailer.

Don’t forget about our Petticoats and Pistols Reader Group on Facebook! CLICK HERE

Wishing you all a blessed day and week.

Linda Broday 

5 Reasons I Love Western Historical Romance Novels

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Photo of horses in pasture. Green and pink bars and flowers. Text, "5 Reasons I Love Western Historical Romance. Petticoats & Pistols."

It’s a chilly morning here, and I’m sipping coffee, thinking about how nice it would be to snuggle up and read all day. I get on kicks where I devour a certain genre, then taper off to the next one. Currently, I’m between genres, but I’m sure it won’t last.

5 Reasons I Love Western Historical Romance Novels

I remember when I first started reading western historical romance novels. I’m pretty sure a Jodi Thomas novel got me hooked roughly twenty years ago. I don’t remember the title, but I do remember reading through her backlist and buying every new book of hers that came out. I particularly enjoyed her wife lottery series.

Side note: Jodi Thomas has been a guest at the P&P junction many times over the years. “How Deep Do Your Roots Go?” is a fun read by her!

Why do I love western historical romance novels? I’ve got five reasons.

  1. Rugged lifestyle of the American west. I’m a sucker for rural settings, tough living conditions, and a no-rules atmosphere to survive in.
  2. Strong, protective cowboys. Sure, strong, protective cowboys aren’t unique to historical romances, but there’s something special about a tough guy protecting the woman in his orbit. Bonus points for strong heroines and a cowboy reluctantly getting in touch with his feelings. *swoon*
  3. Danger! Outlaws, wild animals, and the weather all play factors in western historical novels, and I can’t get enough of the danger. There’s something delicious knowing the characters can’t call 9-1-1 for help. They’re on their own, and we know it.
  4. Trains, wagons, and horses. The transportation options were limited. Going anywhere took more time in those days. I love the slower pace and the forced proximity of characters due to the time period. If the heroine is mad, she can’t hop in her car or on a plane and leave. There will be an argument or a silent stand-off. Bring it on!
  5. Circumstances all but impossible in modern times. Mail-order brides? Yep. An orphan baby a couple can just keep without stacks of paperwork? Uh-huh. Hiding away in a mountain cabin for the winter? You betcha. I love all of these scenarios.

It’s fun to get lost in a world so unlike our own. And now that I’ve taken this trip down memory lane, I’m off to pick up a western historical romance novel!

Do you love western historical romance novels? Why or why not?

Have the best day, and share your favorite western historical romance novels in the comments!

 

Magnificent Vaile Mansion

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Last month, Captain Cavedweller and I took a trip to Kansas City for both work and fun.

One day, we drove to Independence, Missouri, and had a delightful time exploring the glorious Vaile Mansion.

The house is amazing from the outside. It was built for Colonel Harvey Merrick Vaile and his wife, Sophia.

The three-story Gothic-like structure is constructed of hand-pressed red brick, trimmed with white limestone and tall, narrow windows.  Construction for the house began in 1871, with the house completed in 1881 at a cost of $150,000. 

Colonel Vaile  built his wealth by investing in several business ventures, primarily interests in the construction of the Erie Canal. He was also part-owner of Star Mail routes. He was a prominent figure in Independence social and business circles.

It was reported by the  Kansas City Times  to be “the most princely house and the most comfortable home in the entire west,”  in an article in 1882. The mansion quickly became a showplace in the area and was a place many notables of the day visited. 

 

The house was decked to the nines for the holidays when we were there, which delighted me to no end.

The mansion is reported to be one of the best examples of Second Empire style architecture in the United States. The house includes nine marble fireplaces.  

The 31 room mansion also includes a fabulous music room, spectacular painted ceilings, flushing toilets, and a  built-in 6,000 gallon water tank. 

The painted ceilings were different in each room, and all works of art.

I was fascinated with the light globes in several of the rooms because each globe was slightly different. Some had scenes, others had florals and vines, but they were all lovely.

Colonel Vaile was involved in the Star Route scandal not long after moving into the house. He faced trials in 1882 and 1883. Although he was found not guilty, he had to spend more than $100,000 in trial expenses. In February 1883, while he was in Washington D.C., his wife, who had been diagnosed with stomach cancer, passed.

Although she only had a few years in the beautiful home, her touches are seen throughout the mansion. Vaile remained at the house until his death in 1894, although he never remarried.

The house changed hands many times over the following decades, becoming a sanatorium and then a nursing home. When the threat of demolition loomed, the property was acquired by the City of Independence and underwent a long-term restoration. The house is now a museum operated by the Vaile Victorian Society, a non-profit organization established in 1983 by local residents.

I’m so glad we had the opportunity to see this glorious house, attired in her finest holiday splendor.

If you enjoy stories about amazing homes, I hope you’ll check out A Christmas Dream. The house is among the many unforgettable characters in this sweet story.

He came to build the house of his dreams, but found a home for his heart.

After an extensive search for the ideal location to build a house he’s spent years designing, Brant Hudson knows he’s found the perfect site the moment he sets foot on the land near Silver Bluff, Oregon. However, frustrating delays leave him laboring alongside the very crew he hired to finish the house in time for Christmas. His work leads the woman who catches his eye to believe he’s a carpenter rather than the owner of the grand manor.

Holland Drake grew up on a farm, but she aspires to secure a position as a housemaid at Hudson House. While delivering lunch to her brother at the worksite, the door opens to a job when Holland encounters a strikingly handsome carpenter whose charm captivates her. Soon, Holland discovers the enchanting man is none other than the owner of the house and her new employer.

As the holiday season arrives amid a flurry of excitement and possibilities, Holland and Brant face choices that could change their lives forever. Will fear hold them back from stepping into the future together, or will their Christmas dreams of love come true?

A Christmas Dream is the first book in the Hudson House Holiday series of wholesome, heartwarming Christmas romances full of the joy of the season.

Have you ever visited a beautiful Victorian home, or a place you’d consider a dream home?

Or maybe you live in your dream home? What do you like best about it?

To stay up on our latest releases and have some fun, too, join our Facebook Reader Group HERE!

Christmas Stocking Sweethearts! Cathy McDavid

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I’m so excited to be part of Christmas Stocking Sweethearts  – my first participation in a collection with my fellow Petticoats and Pistols fillies. Little known fact, I wrote western historicals early in my writing career before switching to contemporaries. I’m thrilled to be returning to one of my favorite romance genres. And the story also happens to be set in one of my favorite time periods:  the early 1900s.

A widow struggling to save her home

A cowboy sworn to protect his family

A Christmas neither will ever forget…

 

 

Merry Ann Bright may be pint-sized, but she’s chock-full of gumption. For the last three years, she’s fended off a wealthy and greedy neighbor bent on acquiring her land by hook or by crook — emphasis on the crook. The last thing she needs is more trouble. But when she unexpectedly encounters a family in dire straits, how can she turn her back on them?

Thèo Cartier is a man on a mission. Once he’s seen his sister-in-law and young nephew safely home, he’ll return to Texas and help his aging father run the ranch. The lovely widow Merry is a distraction he can ill afford. Especially when her roots are firmly planted a thousand miles from his own.

Can Christmastime, the shared love of favorite carols, and a special heirloom stocking show two people convinced they have no future together that anything is possible…if they just open their hearts?

Click here to purchase MERRY’S CHRISTMAS COWBOY

Click here to view the entire series on Amazon

 

Yes, we know. It’s that time of year when we sometimes feel less kind than we should.

Re-write the sentence in red to something less naughty and more nice.  For example:

NAUGHTY:  “Grandma’s eggnog is too thick and chunky.”

NICE: “Isn’t it wonderful Grandma is still with us to make her eggnog?”

THEIR DECORATIONS ARE SO GAUDY.

 

You might win this piano ornament from me – plus a backlist holiday book!

 

All entries will be eligible for our oh-so-beautiful Grand Prize, too!

Winners announced Sunday, December 15!

(USA Winners only, please.)

In the event the piano ornament becomes unavailable, we will happily make a substitute.

Christmas Stocking Sweethearts with Pam Crooks!

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Book #2!

JOY TO THE COWBOY is the only story in our series with a guy on the cover, and I love the looks of him.  He’s just how I envisioned my cowboy (even though he is a little grumpy at first!)  Trust me, you’ll love him in the end as much as I do!

She was sunshine. He was clouds.  Until a sprig of mistletoe changed everything.

Griff Marcello must live with the shame of the crime he once committed for his mobster father.  As he grows into a man, he’s found security as a cowboy living in Glory Hill, Nebraska, but the memory of his sin never leaves him.

Joyanna Hollinger is devoted to the community of Glory Hill, and with Christmas approaching, her plans for a special Christmas Eve service consumes her. All her efforts are falling into place–until she loses a key part of the celebration.

When Griff receives an unexpected gift from his former piano teacher, he never thinks her kindness will fill him with the spirit of Christmas, even when Joyanna needs him most.

Could the simplicity of a hand-stitched stocking and the Christmas carol tucked within chase away the clouds in his heart and warm him from the sunshine of Joyanna’s love?

AMAZON

Also Available in Audiobook!

Yes, we know. It’s that time of year when we sometimes feel less kind than we should.

Re-write the sentence in red to something less naughty and more nice.  For example:

NAUGHTY:  “Grandma’s eggnog is too thick and chunky.”

NICE: “Isn’t it wonderful Grandma is still with us to make her eggnog?”

THE ELECTRIC BILL HAS GONE UP.

You might win this musical piano ornament, new this year from Hallmark!  

(I love how it looks just like the one on my cover. Even better, it plays “Joy to the World,” the carol I’d already chosen for JOY TO THE COWBOY!)

All entries will be eligible for our oh-so-beautiful Grand Prize, too!

Winners announced Sunday, December 15!

(USA Winners only, please.)

Surprising Facts Plus a Christmas Novella!

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As most people already know, I’m a bit of a history buff. I’m always running across things that surprise and interest me, so I found an article quite by accident that’s provided material for a blog.

With Thanksgiving and Christmas coming up, it’s a given that we’ll be eating tomatoes. But did you know that in the early 1800s, tomatoes were only used as medicine and not eaten? In fact, people thought they were unappetizing, poisonous in fact!

Compliments of Pixabay

An Ohio doctor put them in pill form and sold them as a medicinal tonic that would cure indigestion, jaundice, and a host of other problems. But when F. & J. Heinz began making and marketing ketchup, people decided they were tasty.

In 1883, the Supreme Court declared tomatoes as fruit due to them having seeds and growing from a flowering vine.

This has always been a bit weird to me because they seem to be a vegetable.

But ketchup changed the way people thought of tomatoes and began eating them.

* * * * *

Compliments of Goosebumps on Pixabay

Another weird article I saw was about cucumbers. They weren’t well liked prior to the 18th century and people saw them only as food for livestock. They called them “cowcumbers” and that continued until after 1870.

Louisa May Alcott joked about cowcumbers in a letter to her sister Anna. Food was a scarcity from the 14th century to the 20th and people could’ve been eating them all along. Just seems so strange to me to starve when there was food.

So when you’re eating your Thanksgiving dinner, you’ll have something to tell your guests. Tomatoes were medicine and cucumbers were cowcumbers. HaHa!

* * * * *

I have a new Christmas novella coming on November 30th. LOVE COMES TO CHRISTMAS is #7 in the Christmas Stocking Sweethearts series by seven of the Fillies.

I loved writing this story and making some Christmas magic. It stars Gillian Everly and Brett Love. Also Zema the border collie.

It’s available for preorder HERE.

The launch date is Dec. 4th and I’ll have a post then also and tell more.

But, here’s a blurb. Also, there is no mention of tomatoes or cucumbers in this story.

Someone is going to great lengths to convince Gillian Everly her beloved Christmas store is haunted. Sudden, mysterious occurrences keep her unsettled, still she doesn’t buy into ghosts and spirits. An intruder has to be getting seemingly through locked doors. With a big Christmas Eve performance planned, she doesn’t have time for strange shenanigans.

Brett Love, a new customer, is taken by the beautiful shop owner and tries to help. He loans her a dog to keep her safe against whatever is happening in the shop. It seems the perfect solution.

The unthinkable happens when Gillian confronts the intruder, and she’s left with a maimed hand. Will she ever be able to perform again? Watching another dream die will shatter her fragile hope.

Tell me if you’ll be eating tomatoes and/or cucumbers this Thanksgiving. Or you might mention if you like this cover. I’ll give away a $10 Amazon gift card.

 

 

The Line Shack with Guest Kaitlene Dee

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Let’s give a big, warm Filly welcome to Kaitlene Dee!

Hi everyone! I’m always glad to have time with you all.

I’ll jump right into today’s blog post. In my upcoming novel-length story, Augusta, (due out next summer) Augusta served time for a crime she didn’t commit but was framed for, and now discovers she’s in danger. Her presence also poses a danger to both her sister and to the newly found family of friends she’s made. The outlaw gang she briefly ran with is now hunting her down. She has no other choice but to leave the creature-comforts now familiar to her and hide while she bides time.

Her hiding place? A marriage of convenience to a man who is bent on defying his father while still working for him. His father sends him to work the winter in the shabby line shack the man built himself. He had cut corners when he built it, and now he’s the one having to live in the mess he created. Unknown to his father, he’s taken a wife, one who is an ex-con and who, strangely, wants to accompany him to the line shack for the winter.

A line shack was a temporary shelter located in a strategic remote place on the far boundaries of a ranch. Cowboys, or line riders, used the cabins when they were charged with patrolling the boundary lines of the ranch. They kept cattle from straying beyond the ranch property before ranches were fenced. The cowhand’s job was to bring the strays back to the ranch, no matter the weather. As barbed wire fencing started being used, the cowboy would ride the line to make fence repairs, as well as checking on any cattle grazing or stranded far from the rest of the herd, especially checking on them in severe weather. There was little time for rest or relaxation.

The shacks were simple, usually a single room. There were a few that were constructed of raised tents on wooden platforms, or of three-walled tents attached to a single wooden wall. Other types of line shacks were built into the side of a hill with a single wood framed wall, a door, and perhaps a window. You can see one similar to this on Pinterest by typing in the app’s search bar: Line Shack.

The shack had enough room for basic activities such as eating, sleeping, and storing horse gear, medical supplies, and water.

Some shacks were stocked just before winter with supplies for bread or biscuits, for dried meats, and for grains.

Sources of heat were a fireplace and/or a small wood pipe stove. While fireplaces could provide more lighting, they were not as efficient of a heat source as the flat top wood stoves one could cook on. In winter, one needed to have a good stockpile of split wood built up.

In Augusta, she and her husband of convenience need to learn to live together as she’s a no-nonsense gal; and he’s quite full of nonsense, that is, until danger comes knocking at their door. Then he, for the first time in his life, must weigh what’s really important to him.

I thought I would have Augusta done and ready for release by now, but this past year has been full of adventure with major life changes such as retiring, moving several times, buying a new home, and having some struggles with my mom’s health—she’s a feisty fighter, but thank you for keeping her in prayer.

With all that being said, I’m asking that you join me on my newsletter to find out when the first story in the series is re-released and goes on sale; and when this second story, Augusta, is on pre-order for a special price (I’m rewriting Josina, the first story right now). As a subscriber, you’ll get updates on all of the series pre-orders and releases for this Old West brides series (the Brides of Willow Creek).

Just for fun, please share your favorite Thanksgiving side dish.

Mine is my mom’s rustic cornbread dressing. Oh my, it is so tasty, it’ll knock your socks off! I’ll post the recipe in my newsletter next week (another reason to join!).

One of the side dish commenters for this blog post will be chosen to win a Thanksgiving platter from Amazon!

I’m not sharing a picture of a specific platter since this is the season when their in-stock items change so quickly.

 

Thank you all for joining me today! I always enjoy my time with Petticoats & Pistols readers. I’ve made my covered wagon story, Emma, free today and tomorrow. Please visit my historical pen name Kaitlene Dee’s Amazon page here to get Emma free for a limited time

1800s Sleighs: Pungs, Jumpers, and Cutters

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Join me on a sleigh ride? We can glide over the ice and snow, perhaps our horse has a harness with bells jingling softly, and maybe we’ll sing a song, while staying warm under our wool blanket, with a hot brick at our feet. 

Doesn’t that sound lovely? As a cold natured person, I love something warm at my feet. In the winter, I usually have two hot water bottles. And yes…I will shoo away anyone who tries to take them. We all have our own, I can’t help it if my oldest and husband keep losing theirs! And I have two! 

I thought it would be fun to share about a few different types of sleighs. While we might think a sleigh is a sleigh, to someone in the 1800s, there was quite a difference. Sort of like the difference between a car and a truck, I suppose! 

First up, the box pung. Nope, not a typo. A pung, was a type of sleigh. Common in New England, it was boxy, simple, and though it wasn’t as stylish as what we think of the typical sleigh, it was sturdy and good for hauling people or cargo. I imagine that would have been useful in the winter, for someone who needed to get supplies from the store. 

Next, we have a jumper. A small sleigh, it was a very light and meant more for one or two people, and short little trips. It was a recreational vehicle, so if we were going with a car analogy, perhaps the small little sports car! Since it was so light, it was easier for the horses to pull, meaning it might make for good racing. 

Another type, and this is the type most of us think about when we are thinking of sleighs, is the cutter. These were the stylish sleighs, the ones that were painted prettily, with a bit more decoration. They were also curvier on the runners and meant to not only function well, but look good doing it! 

I had fun learning more about these while I wrote A Sleigh Ride for Charlotte. The sleigh in this story isn’t used every day. It’s actually been sitting, neglected since the death of Charlotte’s father, about a decade before. 

 

I want to share an excerpt with you. To set the page, Charlotte, a capable, clever, hardworking young woman, is excited to be offered a position at the new doctor’s office. The upcoming winter festival is on her mind, and her heart is hoping the man she’s had a crush on since childhood will invite her for a sleigh ride. As fate would have it…

“I’m not who she wants. It’s him, not me,” he suddenly burst out, pacing. All of his hurt, all of his insecurities and fears and upset rushed out of him. Now that the flood had started, he couldn’t hold it back.

       “I’m not rich, I’m not handsome. I have nothing to offer. A doctor with his first practice—a new one at that—in a small town is not wealthy. Why, half of my patients don’t pay me in coin, but in service or food. I couldn’t give her all she deserves.”

         “What does she deserve?” Charlotte’s mother asked, placing her hands in her lap, while her eyes never left his.

         “She deserves someone who loves her. Who can give her what she desires. Who can care for her and protect her and…and I am none of those things.”

      He gestured wildly, hoping his hands would convey his desperation. “The only way that I can protect her is by staying away.”

         Justin lowered his head and whispered, “If I don’t, he will hurt you both.”

 

You can learn more about the book here, and find it on ebook, paperback, and narrated by my talented narrator right here. 

 

Before I leave, I have a question for you. What would be a song you’d want to sing in a sleigh? Jingle Bells would be quite the classic, wouldn’t it?