Welcome Guest Author Lacy Williams and a Giveaway

One of my favorite childhood memories was heading over to my Aunt Donna’s house to spend the night. Often, we’d watch a favorite movie–the Apple Dumplin’ Gang was one of our top choices. It’s a movie hubby and I have shared with our kiddos to much laughter and shouts of “Mr. Donovan, I gotta go!”.

As a teen, While You Were Sleeping nudged out any other movie for my top favorite. It wasn’t only the romance that I loved, but the goofy family that seemed to enfold the lonely Lucy.

It wasn’t until I started writing that I realized there was a name for the types of movies and books where a main character gets enfolded in a friend group: the found family trope.

There’s a reason I love writing about this trope so much. I walked into a library meeting room in 2006 and found my writing family in an author’s group meeting. I’d always known I had stories inside of me, but sometimes it was difficult for my family (and later my husband) to understand how characters talked to me inside my brain. When I walked into that meeting room full of strangers and got to chatting… I knew I had found my people. They were just like me! It was as if an instant bond had formed.

Many of my books have explored the “found family” theme, including the second book I ever wrote, THE HOMESTEADER’S SWEETHEART, where the hero adopts a passel of boys, to ROPING THE WRANGLER, where a schoolteacher adopts three orphaned girls. And now I’ve got a brand new release, LOVE’S HEALING PATH, with heroine Maddie Fairfax. Maddie is a nurse and caring for a woman on her deathbed, a woman who demands a promise from Maddie. That promise is to take care of her three children when she dies. And it’s a promise that Maddie can’t refuse.

But Maddie is a single woman on a dangerous journey along the Oregon Trail and… and three children prove to be a LOT of work. I hope you’ll check out my new release and find out how things turn out for Maddie and the children.

Thanks for letting me visit with you today at P&P.

I’m going to give away a paperback copy of my brand new book and a $10 Amazon gift card to a randomly drawn winner from those who comment. I’d love to know: do you have a favorite movie or book that explores the found family theme?

-Lacy

 Visit Lacy William’s Website

Click Cover to Order From Amazon.

Maddie Fairfax may be young, but on this Oregon-bound wagon train, the pioneers welcome help from the self-trained nurse. Until Dr. Jason Goodwin joins up with their company. The doctor portrays a frosty exterior, but Maddie may be the only one who sees the profound loneliness that haunts him.

After losing his wife and children in a terrible accident, Jason has vowed not to open his heart again. But when Maddie takes on the care of three young orphans, Jason finds himself entangled in the lives of the makeshift family. And as their journey west continues, Maddie’s radiant compassion begins to light up the darkest corners of his heart.

Until the unthinkable happens. Will Jason’s guarded heart and Maddie’s untamed spirit pull them apart?

Tropes/themes:

  • May/December
  • ready-made family / adopted orphans
  • grumpy/sunshine
  • love on the journey
  • emotional scars

 

Nourishing the Journey: The Foods That Fueled the Oregon Trail and a Giveaway!

Hi! I’m Kirsten Osbourne, and today I’d like to talk about the foods that fueled the Oregon Trail.

In the mid-19th century, at least 500,000 emigrants embarked on one of the arduous trails across the American Wester. The most popular of these being the Oregon Trail. Their hopes and dreams were on the promise of fertile lands and new beginnings, these pioneers faced not just the physical challenges posed by the terrain but also the daily necessity of nourishment on their long journey. The foods that sustained these travelers offer us a poignant glimpse into a pivotal moment in American history, reflecting both the ruggedness of the trail and the strength of those who traversed it.

A Pantry on Wheels
The wagons that creaked and groaned their way towards Oregon were more than just vehicles of migration; they were mobile pantries, carrying the essentials that would sustain families for months on end. Among the staples were flour, hardtack (a durable, dry biscuit), cornmeal, beans, rice, and dried meats such as bacon and salt pork. These items were chosen for their longevity and ease of transport, crucial qualities for food that needed to last through journeys that could span half a year or more.

Simplicity and Sustainability
Cooking on the trail was an exercise in simplicity and sustainability. Meals were often prepared over campfires, with Dutch ovens being a favored tool for their versatility. Beans, a staple of the trail diet, could be simmered slowly in these pots, their hearty and filling nature providing the much-needed energy for the day’s endeavors. Bacon, another trail mainstay, added flavor and calories to otherwise sparse meals. For breakfast, a simple concoction of flour, salt, and water known as “Johnnycakes” or flapjacks would be fried up, providing a quick, energizing start to a long day of travel.

Foraging and Hunting
While the wagon provided the basics, the land itself sometimes offered sustenance to the observant traveler. Wild berries, nuts, and edible plants could supplement the pioneers’ diet, adding variety and vital nutrients. Hunting was another means of procuring fresh food, with buffalo, deer, and rabbits often in the sights of the travelers’ rifles. These practices not only diversified the pioneers’ meals but also connected them deeply to the landscape they were passing through, a reminder of the land’s abundance and the skills required to harvest it.

Unity and Community
Perhaps most importantly, mealtime on the Oregon Trail was a communal affair. It was a time for rest and reflection, for sharing stories and strength. The act of gathering around a fire to break bread (or hardtack) together fostered a sense of unity and mutual support crucial for facing the challenges of the trail. Food, in its essence, became more than just sustenance; it was a symbol of hope and community, a tangible connection to the dreams that propelled the pioneers forward.

A Legacy of Strength
The foods eaten on the Oregon Trail speak to the resilience and adaptability of those who ventured westward. In their simplicity, we find a profound testament to the human spirit’s capacity to endure and thrive in the face of adversity. Today, as we sit down to our meals, we might pause to reflect on the trails we traverse in our own lives and the sustenance, both physical and spiritual, that fuels our journeys. The legacy of the Oregon Trail lives on, not just in the pages of history books but in the stories of perseverance and camaraderie that continue to inspire us.

Working Together
Even the children on the trail had a job that would help their families eat. They carried sharp sticks and bags, and they would poke the sticks into piles of manure. If the stick came out clean, then the manure was dry and suitable for fires. If not, no one would start a fire from it.

If you were to travel the Oregon Trail, what do you think you would miss most about modern life? I’m giving away one free audiobook copy of Hannah’s Hanky to one lucky commenter! 

A New Release is Coming–Chasing the Horizon

 

Chasing the Horizon

Available for pre-order now

Amazon

Baker Book House

Coming in February–Read on to get your name in a drawing for a signed copy of Chasing the Horizon

“Hi, my mother is an escapee from an insane asylum and my father will slap her right back in there, and me with her, if he catches us.

If you think I’ve been secretive, that’s why.

Lied about my name. My relationship to Mother. My destination. Everything really.”

It makes it hard to fall in love……….and at the same time……….stay free.

Her only chance at freedom waits across the horizon.

Upon uncovering her tyrannical father’s malevolent plot to commit her to an asylum, Beth Rutledge fabricates a plan of her own. She will rescue her mother, who had already been sent to the asylum, and escape together on a wagon train heading west. Posing as sisters, Beth and her mother travel with the pioneers in hopes of making it to Idaho before the others start asking too many questions.

Wagon-train scout Jake Holt senses that the mysterious women in his caravan are running from something. When rumors begin to spread of Pinkerton agents searching relentlessly for wanted criminals who match the description of those on his wagon train, including Beth, she begins to open up to him, and he learns something more sinister is at hand. Can they risk trusting each other with their lives–and their hearts–when danger threatens their every step?

This is book #1

A Western Light

All releasing this year.

Toward the Dawn coming in June

Into the Sunset coming in October (not yet available for preorder, but soon!–and the cover is not yet official so it could change…but it probably won’t)

Do you like wagon train books? This is the first one I’ve ever written. I’d’ve said I know allllllllllllll about wagon trains until I started writing…and then the research began. Did you play Oregon Trail when you were a kid? I did. I kept dying of dysentery.

To get your name in a drawing for a signed copy of Chasing the Horizon…Leave a comment about Wagon Trains.

 

London James – Miles Apart, Paws Together: A Barn Cat’s Unbelievable Homecoming

Hey, y’all! It’s London James, and I’m back. First and foremost, I would like to thank the lovely ladies at Petticoats and Pistols for allowing me to guest blog and spend some time with you today! Now, for all of you who have crossed paths with me before, you’ll remember me as the lady with the missing pony and the monkey sanctuary behind my house.

(For those who have never read the story yet, CLICK HERE

So, what sort of a story do I have for you today? Did I lose my pony again? Did I have another run-in with the monkeys? Thankfully, no. I haven’t. But I still do have a tale to tell about how, two days after Christmas, I found a whiskered intruder in my barn who ended up taking a 3,586-mile trek back home.

Now, before I delve into the tale any further, let me step back for a moment here to tell you that I don’t have barn cats. It’s not because I don’t like cats. I have five indoor-only cats in my house right now—much to my husband’s displeasure. It’s also not because I don’t think cats belong in a barn. I understand why people have them, and I know their worth for keeping pests in check. With that said, however, I still don’t have them because I’m scared to. I grew up where our cats were allowed to go outside, and while I would never say it’s bad, having to face the numerous losses to coyotes and knowing that a coyote den lurks just across the street from my house fills me with just enough fear that I just can’t bring myself to have barn cats.

Now that I’ve said that let’s dive right back into the tale . . .

 

So, here I was, two days after Christmas, in my barn with a cat that wasn’t mine, watching it as it meowed and rubbed on my legs. I was utterly perplexed about who she was and where she came from, and while, yes, I know we have neighbors who probably have cats, this is the first cat to appear in my barn since we moved here 15 years ago! And I didn’t recognize her.

She was a cute little thing, and so stinking friendly. She instantly jumped into my arms, purring like the motor from a 67’ GTO, and from the sheer roundness of her belly (No, it wasn’t kittens, she had a blue dot tattoo on her belly, indicating she had been spayed), it was evident that she was a pampered pet. So, what was I to do? Well, there wasn’t anything for me to do, then put her down and hope she would return home.

She didn’t.

Deciding to take matters into my own hands, I whisked her to my veterinarian, praying she had a microchip, and as luck would have it, she did. Yes! Finally. I would be able to find out where she lived and take her home! After making a few calls to the microchip maker and then the shelter where the chip was registered, I was given the name and number of the owner, and I left a message on her voicemail, not only hoping she’d call me back but expecting her to live close enough to me that I could just take the cat home.

Well, God managed to answer one of those hopes.

And this is when the story took a turn I hadn’t seen coming.

As it turns out, the owner of the cat used to reside a whopping 140 miles away from my home in another town. How this cat traveled through Oklahoma remains a mystery, but as we dug more into the details, the 140-mile trek was just the tip of the iceberg.

Did you notice how I said, “used to live”? Yeah, the owner didn’t live in that town anymore. In fact, the owner didn’t even live in Oklahoma anymore.

She lived in (and was calling me from) Alaska!

The story she gave me, which coincided with the details the shelter gave me when I called them, was that she adopted the cat in June of 2022, and a few weeks after she brought her home, the cat got out. She spent months looking for the cat but couldn’t find her, and when her military husband got orders that they had to leave, they had no other choice than to pack their bags and leave without the cat.

To say that the owner and I weren’t shocked would be an understatement—5 ½ months on the road, 140 miles from where she got out. How did she find her way to my barn? I asked the owner what she wanted to do about the whole thing, and she said, “I want my cat.” So, I said. “Then let’s make it happen.”

I spent the next several days contacting the news, different airlines, and a couple of rescues to see how and what we could do to get this military family reunited with their pet. And boy, did people step up. Alaska Airlines discounted the ticket and footed the bill for her overnight stay in Seattle. A local rescue woman and my friend chipped in for the crate, and I paid for her paperwork and physical exam. It was a huge undertaking and an exhausting week with a few setbacks that almost made me cry. Ultimately, we got her on the plane, and on January 5th, Athena, the cat, finally made it home.

If you want to check out the NEWS9 STORY that aired, here’s the link: News Story on Barn Cat

And you can bet this story will end up in a book!!!

Maybe not in any of my historicals, but definitely in my contemporaries.

Speaking of Historicals, I have a new series this year! It’s Oregon Trail Brides.

Books One and Two are out in the world! Book One is only $.99!

Four orphans and their headmistress set out for Oregon in search of men looking for mail-order brides. Will they find what they are looking for? Or will fate have other plans?

Plucked from a life of uncertainty at a bordello, Lark Brockwood finds herself at the mercy of fate. A ward of the Kensington Orphanage since she was little and scarred by her past experiences with men, she dreads the prospect of being forced to join a wagon train bound for Oregon in search of eligible husbands.

A man haunted by the loss of his family, Dr. Carter Evans travels west to start anew and leave the memories of his past behind. After he sets his sights on the guarded and alluring Lark, he finds himself drawn to her despite her attempts to keep him at bay.

When an outbreak of measles threatens the lives of everyone on the wagon train, including Lark, the journey west takes a dangerous turn. With Lark’s health rapidly deteriorating, Carter must do everything in his power to save her, even if it means laying bare his own vulnerabilities to prove to her that she is deserving of love and that she’s worth fighting for.

Will they be able to overcome their pasts and forge a future together, or will their love be lost to the peril of their journey? This is a timeless tale of love, redemption, and the power of second chances, set against the backdrop of the American West and a time when anything was possible, and the future was unwritten.

Amazon Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Her-Oregon-Trail-Doctor-Historical-ebook/dp/B0BPMLSZ48?tag=pettpist-20

Amazon Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/Her-Oregon-Trail-Doctor-Historical/dp/1960443135?tag=pettpist-20

Long Valley Press Shop Paperback: https://longvalleypress.shop/products/her-oregon-trail-doctor-paperback

 

Packing for the Oregon Trail

Packing for Four Months on the Oregon Trail

I have to admit, packing for any type of trip is one of my least favorite past times. Don’t get me wrong, I love to travel. I just dislike the packing process, and don’t even get me started on unpacking. I’ve been known to go for weeks with a half-unpacked suitcase sitting on my bedroom floor.

While researching my newest release, Emily, part of the Prairie Roses Collection V for 2023, I took a look at what the typical family of six (3 adults, 3 children), would need to make the three-to-four-month journey. Here are some of the more interesting things I found:

The number and size of the wagons took was dependent on the number of travelers, but the average family traveled with two large, Conestoga-type wagons, with the canvas covers, and most often pulled by a team of oxen, rather than horses. They would also have two-three supply wagons, depending on whether or not they were taking inventory for an intended business in the west. The supply wagons would be pulled by either oxen, or horses, depending on the weight of the load. And, because there was rarely room to sleep in the wagons, the travelers also need bedrolls, blankets, and—if you were lucky—a few feather pillows.

 

Food stores took up the largest portion of their allotted supply wagon. While items could be replaced along the way at various settlement or forts, the time to get to those locations varied due to traveling conditions, so you never wanted to run out of a necessity. The basic food stores included:

  • 120 lbs of premade biscuits
  • 60 pounds coffee beans, ground when needed.
  • 4 lbs of tea
  • 100 pounds sugar
  • 200 lbs lard
  • Large barrels of corn meal in which eggs were stored to prevent cracking.  Corn meal was also used so they could make cornbread and johnny cakes.
  • 3 sacks of rice
  • 3 sacks of dried beans
  • Dried fruits, mostly peaches and apples. Plums were a rarity, but a treat.
  • 75 lb salt stored in a small wooden barrel
  • 300 lbs of bacon.  This was stored in large barrels of bran to prevent melting in the heat.

Tools/weapons were a necessity on the trail, and included:

  • Each man or teenage boy brought with him either a hunting rifle or a shotgun.  Sometimes pistols were brought, but usually by wealthier travelers.
  • Every adult family member had a hunting knife.
  • They bought tools to use once they set up a homestead.
  • Shovels to dig the wagon out of ditches.
  • Axes and mallets for repairs if the wagon broke.  Lumber was collected from trees.  Axes were also used to split firewood.

Clothes were minimal. In the hot summer months, the lighter weight the better since propriety still required being covered. Plus, lighter-weight clothing was easier to clean. A typical list of clothing items, included:

  • Coats
  • Rubber boots, work boots
  • Cotton dresses
  • Wool pants, Buckskin pants, Duck trousers
  • Cotton shirts, Flannel shirts
  • Cotton socks, wide-brim hats, sun bonnets

 Animals/and supplies were based on the number of wagons. As well, so was number of hired hands necessary to help cross the country. At least one man was needed per wagon, but preferable two. Plus:

  • Oxen: Minimum of 4-6, but it would be wise to have more
  • Milk cows (at least 2)
  • Cattle for both food and to start up ranching
  • Mules and pack horses to carry supplies
  • Riding horse (2 per wagon)
  • Bridle & blinders, tack & harness, mule collar, horse blankets, whips, pack saddle, saddle and saddle bags.

As much as I like to read about the old west, I’m positive I wouldn’t have survived the trip. I probably wouldn’t have survived the packing. However, I still love reading about it.

*****

Emily (Prairie Roses Collection – Book 26):

Newly graduated teacher Emily Prentiss has been granted an interview for a position in the small town of Barkerville, Oregon. In order to reach her destination, she takes on the job of governess for a wealthy family’s four children and agrees to travel with them by wagon train to Oregon City.

Miles Grainger owns the largest apple orchard on the west coast. He’s spent the past month in St. Louis attending to the estate of his late brother and sister-in-law. While he’s anxious to return to Oregon, he’s also overwhelmed by the added responsibility as guardian of his niece and nephew. While he knows everything about trees and fruit, he’s totally clueless about being a parent.

Despite her duties as nanny to her employer’s children, Emily offers to help Miles weather the problems he faces on the trail with two small children. Will their friendship develop into more during their time on the trail? And, once they reach their destination, will she be willing to give up her dream of teaching to become a wife and ready-make mother?

 

Purchase Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BXPML2PV?tag=pettpist-20

One of My Favorite Scenes:

While he waited, Miles changed Peregrine’s nappy, disposing of the stinky part in the nearby pile of horse dung. Bottom wiped, he fashioned the weird shaped flannel cloth around the baby’s rump, and folded in the edges, just as Mable Parker had taught him during his first week in Saint Louis. Drawing a breath, he thumbed open this new-fangled contraption Mable had called a ‘safety pin’ and proceeded to anchor the edges.

“Ouch!”

From her seat on the driver’s bench, Periwinkle giggled.

He drew the pin back, ready to try again, when a soft voice at his side asked, “Do you need some help with that?”

Miles looked up into the huge brown eyes, and timid smile belonging to the famous storyteller, Miss Emily. “Yes, please. I think I have the folding part right, but these pins should be outlawed.”

“They are a wonderful, and time-saving, invention. However, they do take a bit of practice to master. Here,” she said, stepping forward. “Allow me.”

He stepped back, and handed her the tiny weapon, grateful the baby was in a docile mood, rather than his usual flailing arms and legs.

“You’re very adept at that,” he said. “You’ve obviously had your share of practice.”

She gave a small shrug of her narrow shoulders, and admitted, “Not really. This trip is my first as a governess. I do a lot of sewing. Pins are not that different from needles.” After tightening the wrap of the cloth, she slid the pin effortlessly through and locked it in place. “Do you have some soaker pants to go over his nappy?”

“Probably somewhere back in the wagon. We’ve been going pretty much bare legs because of the heat.”

“As long as you’re keeping him out of direct sunlight, I’d say he probably enjoys the light weight.” Once she’d laid the baby back in his basket, she stuck out her hand, and said, “My name is Emily Prentiss.”

“I’m Miles Grainger,” he said. “Thank you for your help.”

“Miles,” she said softly. “It’s nice to finally put a name to a face, rather than just think of you as Periwinkle’s father.”

“Oh, he’s not my father,” Periwinkle said from her perch on the bench. “My papa went to live with the angels. My mama, too.”

Miles waited for the tears to come, and was pleasantly surprised when they didn’t.

“I’m so sorry to hear that, Periwinkle… Mister Grainger.”

“It was unexpected,” he explained. “Especially the part where my brother chose me to be their guardian.”

******

A Puzzle: https://www.jigsawplanet.com/?rc=play&pid=10ccff43b421

******

Question for your readers: Do you think you’d have survived a trip along the Oregon Trail? And, if so, what would have been the one item you would refuse to leave behind?

I’ll award an autographed copy of my Prairie Roses book from last year, ELLA, to two winners from among those who comment.Nancy Fraser

 

NANCY FRASER is a bestselling and award-winning author who can’t seem to decide which romance genre suits her best. So, she writes them all.

Nancy was named Canadian writer of the year for 2021 by N.N. Lights’ Book Heaven, and her western historical romance, An Honorable Man for Katarina, won the National

Excellence in Story Telling (NEST) award for sweet romance. She was also named a “bright new voice in sweet/inspirational romance” by Independently Reviewed.

When not writing (which is almost never), Nancy dotes on her five wonderful grandchildren and looks forward to traveling and reading when time permits. Nancy lives in Atlantic Canada where she enjoys the relaxed pace and colorful people.

 

Website: https://tinyurl.com/3acnynze

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/~/e/B09FTH655Z?tag=pettpist-20

Bookbub: http://bookbub.com/profile/nancy-fraser

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RomWriterNancy

THE WILD WEST REVISITED–by NANCY FRASER

I have to admit, it had been a few years since I’d written a western historical romance. When a friend invited me to take part in a multi-author series she was putting together, I had to stop and think about it… for all of five minutes.

Of course I was in. The thrill of having to research specific to the topic of the series drew my interest immediately. Not to mention the notion of refreshing my use of language and syntax. It was a writer’s dream to step into a brand new world in order to create vibrant characters and historically accurate storylines. The additional lure of the sweet and inspirational romance had me jumping feet-first into long-forgotten territory.

One of the first places I turned was to my attic, where boxes and boxes of family archives awaited me. My grandfather was a Methodist minister in the late 1800s through the early 1950s, just after I was born. While he spent most of his career serving three different churches in the small towns of middle Tennessee, he also ventured west on two occasions. The first time, in 1904, was on a steam locomotive and then via stagecoach to the smaller, more distant locations. Then, in 1927 he bought his first car and returned to Colorado via the very rough beginnings of the roadway system we know now.

His journals from both trips provided me with hours of insight I may never have found perusing the internet. I used his accounts of his stagecoach rides in that first sweet historical, Seth’s Secretive Bride, and made sure my heroine got a firsthand experience when traveling to meet her mail-order groom, and in the most uncomfortable way.

I continue to refer to grandpa’s journals, along with historical archives of certain events and locations, with every new historical romance that I write. I also rely on his daily notes of faith when I’m adding a touch of inspirational affirmation to my stories.

Earlier this year, I wrote my first Oregon Trail/wagon train romance. That truly took some research, as well as a smidge of imagination. However, it wasn’t until I began writing my most recent release, Lily’s Luck, that I found myself in totally unfamiliar territory.

Based on the Oklahoma Land Runs of the early 1890s, I found the subject of reassigning land on a first-come, first-served basis fascinating. I devoured everything I could find, and even downloaded a map where I plotted out my hero and heroine’s journey to claim their homestead in the land run of spring, 1892.

My next historical western project, Millicent’s Miracle, is a Thanksgiving Bride book and it brings me back to the Midwest. The characters I’m writing about have already made an appearance in my earlier Oregon Trail book, Ella (Prairie Roses Collection). Now it’s time for them to get their story.

I hope you’ll consider coming along on my western romance journey with me. So far, it’s been a fun ride and I can only imagine it getting better by the book.

PURCHASE LILY’S LUCK HERE.

Giveaway!

I’m offering a signed copy of LILY’S LUCK to one “lucky” commenter today. (USA ONLY)

Just tell me… Do you have any old journals or letters from an ancestor?

Or have you gotten into genealogy to research your past?

Thanks again for stopping by!

Janice Cole Hopkins: A Few Bumps in the Road

The Fillies give a big welcome to Janice Cole Hopkins. She’s a long-time P&P follower and a lover of history as well as historical western romance. Janice writes her own books many of which are series! Now that’s a big Yee-Haw!

As wagon trains began making the trek west, more of the West opened to settlers. The midwestern states were once the frontier to be settled. However, the discovery of gold in California and the rich, fertile land in Oregon brought larger numbers.

To help protect the pioneers against hostile Indians and to give them a trading post along the way, forts were built. Forts Laramie, Bridger, and Hall in what is now Wyoming were constructed of logs, mostly cottonwood. Fort Kearney in Nebraska was built using adobe, sod, logs, and boards. Fort Boise in Idaho first used adobe. Travelers were excited to visit a fort and break the austere, often monotonous life on the trail. Yet, they found the prices outrageous because it cost to transport the goods there.

In my new release, A Few Bumps in the Road, Judith Johnson takes her younger brother and travels along a portion of the Oregon Trail to Kansas as a mail-order bride after their parents die. She meets her intended and his brother at Fort Ferguson, a fictitious fort based on most of the others I researched. Her husband, although handsome and charming, turns out to be a womanizer and has a drinking problem.  Judith is determined to make her marriage work, however, and she keeps telling herself her situation could be worse. At least Calvin’s older brother is stable and responsible, providing a home for all of them on the farm. But farm life on the prairie can be hard in 1850, and Calvin’s attitude makes the struggles even worse. But she knew one thing. After the harsh conditions on the Oregon Trail, she never planned to go back, and she hadn’t even gone all the way to Oregon like most of the others were doing.

Although A Few Bumps in the Road is part of the Idioms & Clichés series, like all my books, it can also be read as a standalone. These books are loosely connected by one family’s generations. It is available in print, Audible, and Kindle.

Here’s an excerpt:

Judith’s eyes began to sweep around the fort when she saw a tall man striding their way. Despite his long steps he didn’t appear to be in any hurry to get there.

Mr. Davis took a few steps forward to meet him and extended his hand. Robbie followed Mr. Davis, so Judith did too.

“Good to see you again,” Mr. Davis said. “Allow me to present to you Miss Judith Johnson and her brother Robert, better known as Robbie. Miss Johnson, this is Matthew Miller.”

A momentary flash of surprise flickered over Matthew’s face, but he tipped his hat and nodded. “A pleasure, Miss. Welcome, Robbie. I hope you both will be very happy here.”

She looked around wondering where Calvin could be. She didn’t see another man who fit what she knew of her fiancé.

“Cal woke up not feeling well and needed some extra time. He sent me on out to meet you, but he should be coming along soon.” Matthew must have seen her search.

“I hope nothing’s wrong.”

“No, we came into the fort yesterday evening. Cal woke up with a headache and queasy stomach this morning.”

Judith’s worry deepened, but she didn’t say anything.

“Come and we’ll go over to the building they use for a church. Cal will meet us there.”

You can read more of A Few Bumps in the Road in the Amazon sample and get more information by clicking here.

If anyone would like a free code for an Audible copy for A Few Bumps in the Road, message me on Facebook or email me at janicecolehopkins@gmail.com. (You must have the free Audible account activated to redeem the code.)

For a chance to win a Kindle copy of A Few Bumps in the Road, what do you think would be ONE of the biggest hazards to living on the Kansas frontier in 1850?

The Hardships of Traveling to the West (And a Giveaway!)

By Jody Hedlund

Howdy, everyone! Thank you for having me back here on Petticoat and Pistols! I’m thrilled to have another chance to hang out with you all!

I recently had another cowboy book release, The Heart of a Cowboy (and I’m giving away a copy today here!). This one has to do with the very fun and interesting topic of traveling west by covered wagons.

Almost everyone has heard of the Oregon Trail and the many people who traveled to the west in covered wagons (and by stagecoach) over the well-worn route.

The Santa Fe Trail was another such trail to the west. It ran parallel to the Oregon Trail (mostly) but was a more southerly route through Kansas that eventually led to New Mexico (and was also used to reach southern Colorado).

Whether the Oregon or Santa Fe trails, the months-long journey to the west was marked by incredible difficulties. In researching for my book, I read countless diaries and journal entries by many of the brave people who ventured across the country. One classic I read was The Prairie Traveler which was actually a book written in 1859 by an army captain by the name of Randolph B. Marcy. The U.S. War Department asked him to publish a guide for settlers traveling across the American frontier based on his extensive experiences. His little book soon became an essential handbook for those pioneers. They used his advice on how to prepare for the trip as well as what to expect in the open country.

Even with sufficient preparation, good equipment, and an experienced guide, the travelers still faced incredible challenges. The npshistory.com site (National Park Service) indicates that nearly one in ten travelers on the Oregon Trail died on route to the west.

The Heart of the Cowboy tackles many of the hardships travelers had to endure including a near-river drowning, lost livestock, lost people, vicious storms, threats from Confederate Irregulars, danger from rattlesnakes, hot and dry weather, lack of water for both people and livestock, and much more.

One really dangerous aspect of traveling the Santa Fe Trail was the possibility of running out of water. I read an account of this very thing happening to travelers and how they dug down into the dry riverbed, placed their wagon box into the hole, and finally were able to tap into water buried a little deeper in the ground. So, of course, I had to include such an incident in my story too! (Along with many other dangers that really did happen to real-life travelers!)

Such stories of bravery make me appreciate those early pioneers all the more! (And make me grateful for our easy, fast, and comfy modern cars and airplanes!)

Leave a comment on this post if you’d like the chance to win a signed copy of the book! (Sorry, U.S. mailing addresses only.) I will choose a random winner on November 7, this Sunday. To find out more information about the book visit: http://jodyhedlund.com/books/the-heart-of-a-cowboy/

If you had to travel in a covered wagon to the west, what would you like most? Like least?

 

Jody Hedlund is the best-selling author of over thirty historicals for both adults and teens.

She is the winner of numerous awards including the Christy, Carol, and Christian Book Award.

Jody lives in central Michigan with her husband, five busy teens, and five spoiled cats.

Visit her at jodyhedlund.com

 

 

Writing a Home Town Romance

My childhood years were spent on a farm 12 miles from the nearest town (population 1,000) that sat on the banks of the Malheur River in Eastern Oregon.

We usually ventured into town twice a week – once for my piano lessons, and on Sunday for church. Mom usually did her grocery shopping while I pounded the ivories. If my lesson wrapped up early and the weather was nice, I sometimes waited for Mom outside, studying the old buildings, imagining what the town might have been like when they were constructed.

One building, in particular, always fascinated me. It was made of stone and the oldest building in town.

Through the years, I learned more about the Stone House, as it’s called.

 

 

Built in 1872, this sandstone structure was the first permanent building in Malheur County, Oregon.

Jonathan Keeney had previously settled there, near the banks of the Malheur River where pioneers on the Oregon Trail crossed it, and enjoyed the hot springs bubbling nearby. He sold his property to Lewis and Amanda Rinehart, who replaced the log house Keeney had built with the sandstone house. The house opened to all on New Year’s Day 1873 with a grand ball upstairs.

Just picture how welcoming that lone two-story house would have looked to weary travelers. After crossing the Snake River, it was about twenty miles across sagebrush-covered hills to reach the Malheur River. In the summer, it would have been miserable. Hot. Dry. Dusty. With mile after mile of sagebrush, rocks, hills, and not much else.

In fact, one weary traveler is said to have perished (supposedly from thirst) not far from the river, given up his battle to survive just a few yards too soon.

But on the other side of the Malheur River stood the Stone House. In fact, many referred to the community as Stone House for years, until the town was incorporated as Vale.

The house became a wayside stop for travelers until the early 1900s. It was a stage stop where travelers could wait to board. And during the Bannock Paiute uprising of 1878, it served as Field Headquarters to General O.O. Howard as well as a refuge for settlers on outlying ranches and farms.

Amanda Rinehart was known as a gracious hostess, welcoming visitors to her home.

The Stone House original floor plan

 

 

Originally, the house had six “rooms” downstairs: a main lobby area for passengers waiting for the stage with a curtain separating it to create a space for women and children. The dining room took up most of the first-floor space, with a sizeable kitchen, a pantry, and the Rinehart’s bedroom. Upstairs was originally a ballroom which was then converted to rooms for guests. And the stairs to reach the second story were located outside.

Today, the Stone House is a museum that reminds of us the past. The building is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

When I was invited to participate in the Regional Romance Series again this year, I thought about how fun it would be to write a romance set in the community of Stone House before it became the town of Vale. A few old records refer to the town as Rinehart’s Crossing, and I loved the way Romance at Rinehart’s Crossing sounded. All those times I sat and imagined the stories of the buildings in town were finally going to be put to use as I envisioned the Rinehart’s Crossing of my story.

Before I started writing, I made a trip to visit the Stone House and took my dad along. He had a grand time because he knew the volunteer working there that day and they farmed at least two acres while I wandered through the rooms, snapping photos of the things on display.

Like this horse hair coat (which I mention in the story!).

And just look at all the neat antiques in the kitchen.

I will proudly note the stove was donated by my dad to the museum. When I was very young and we lived in what we called the “old house” it had a place of honor in our dining room. The stove originally belonged to my sister-in-law’s grandmother. It was sitting out in a shed and she asked Dad if he wanted to buy it, so he did. I love to think of all the meals it cooked and all the memories it holds.

This enormous hook was used with the ferry at the Snake River Crossing. The volunteer (thanks, Gary!) gave a detailed description of how the hook worked, and how the ferry could be adjusted to flow with or against the current.

When we finished up at the museum, we drove a few miles out of town to Keeney Pass, named for Jonathan Keeney, were you can actually stand right on the Oregon Trail. With the dried weeds and grass, it’s a little hard to see, but where the dip is on the right and left are the actually ruts made by the wagons that rolled through the area. I get goose bumps every time I go out there, picturing the hot, tired, weary travelers as they head up another hill to see the river and a little town in the distance.

It was fun for me to write about an Oregon Trail town, especially one where I grew up!

 

 

Tenner King is determined to make his own way in the world far from the overbearing presence of his father and the ranch where he was raised in Rinehart’s Crossing, Oregon. Reluctantly, he returns home after his father’s death to find the ranch on its way to ruin and his siblings antsy to leave. Prepared to do whatever is necessary to save the ranch, Tenner isn’t about to let a little thing like love get in his way.

Austen – After spending her entire life ruled by her father, Austen Rose King certainly isn’t going to allow her bossy older brother to take on the job. Desperate to leave the hard work and solitude of the Diamond K Ranch, she decides a husband would be the fastest means of escape. If only she could find a man she could tolerate for more than five minutes.

Claire – Two thousand miles of travel. Two thousand miles of listening to her parents bicker about the best place in Oregon to settle. Two thousand miles of dusty trails, bumpy wagons, and things that slither and creep into her bedding at night. Claire Clemons would happily set down roots that very minute if someone would let her. What she needs is her own Prince Charming to give her a place to call home. When a broken wagon wheel strands her family miles from civilization, she wonders if handsome Worth King, the freighter who rescues them, might just be the answer to her prayers.

Kendall – Anxious to escape her mother’s meddling interference, Kendall Arrington leaves her society life behind, intent on experiencing a Wild West adventure. Hired as the school teacher in a growing town on the Oregon Trail, Kendall hopes to bring a degree of civility and a joy of learning to the children of Rinehart’s Crossing. However, the last thing she expects to find is a cowboy with shaggy hair, dusty boots, and incredible green eyes among her eager students.

Will love find the three King siblings as Romance arrives in Rinehart’s Crossing?

Read all the books in the Regional Romance Series featuring historic locations, exciting drama, and sweet (yet swoony) romance!

If you could write a story about your hometown, what would it be about?

Any key buildings or characters you would include? 

Post your answer for a chance to win an autographed copy of Romance at Rinehart’s Crossing! 

 

Where Did the Settlers Go?

Just where did those settlers go you ask?

They made their way to Missouri to join a wagon train company. Hopeful Americans and immigrants alike longing for a better life. The free land in the West, and especially in Oregon, seemed the stepping stone to that life of plenty.

Just imagine that first day of walking the hundred miles to the other side of the continent. Here’s how I pictured it for my latest heroine in Beau’s Elegant Bride:

The oxen slowed even more than their typical crawling speed. One even tried to snatch a mouthful of grass from beside the road. Using the small whip in his hand. Beau carefully snapped it above their heads. At the same time, he crooned a command.

“Giddup now. Day’s not done.”

The cattle resumed their walk, pulling slightly faster. It seemed they were no happier to be on this trail than Francy was. Never in her life had she imagined to feel any kinship to stupid beasts.

While more than an estimated 400,000 people left from Missouri on wagon trains for Oregon, very few made it to that spot. Only about 80,000 actually settled in Oregon.

If you’ve played the popular Oregon Trail game, you might think these overlanders simply died. That works for a game, but is historically untrue. Very few actually passed away.

The trail ended some pioneers’ dreams merely because of broken wagons. If a traveler didn’t bring an extra axel, he had to settle near where he was stuck. That is, if someone couldn’t help repair the wagon.

Even then, discouragement might have been enough to make the man decide to stay on the plains. After all, land for farming could be claimed there and if a man had served in the Union Army during the war between the states, he could stake a claim for little or nothing.

As wagons reached the Rocky Mountains, travelers could see distant towering shapes growing daily larger. Imagine how intimidated those people felt. Already tired from crossing the plains, they saw those distant peaks and knew they needed the energy to get over the mountains. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Oregon-Trail

At the junction of the Raft and Snake Rivers, trails verged to other parts of the country. These promised a bit easier going or even the chance to settle and leave the trail behind.

Denver had a boom of miners. The young city, not much more than a collection of tents as you can see by this picture, desperately needed the produce from farmers.

Many settlers veered toward the land available there. Word had been passed to these travelers that the soil was good. The promised of building a home and even planting a late summer garden lured some from their goal of Oregon.

My characters in Beau’s Elegant Bride consider this very thing:

Panic flashed through her. “Do you think we might farm near the Crooks? Are they going all the way to Oregon?”

“Might be we could change plans. The Crooks are leavin’ the company and followin’ the South Platte in a few days.”

“Are there mountains that way?”

Beau squeezed her tighter and rested his chin on her head, not something easily done as they were similar in height. With her head bent against him, he managed it. “I’d need to study my map or ask William Crook ‘bout it. He says the people in and around Denver need farmers bringin’ in vegetables.”

News from California circulated in the East about the rich soil and crops that could be grown. California, with its warmer temperatures or even the promise of gold, also had some separating from the wagon trains to make up a smaller train as they headed away from the company to take a southern trail.

Where did all the settlers go? The easy answer is they simply settled, lived, and helped change the face of our nation.

Now it’s your turn. Do you think you’d have had the strength needed to stay on the path to Oregon? Or would you have stopped or veered off course long before? I’m giving away an ebook copy of Beau’s Elegant Bride to three (3) lucky commenters.

The Sweepstakes Rules posted on P&P apply.

About Marisa…………

A retired high school English teacher, she and her husband reside in Saginaw, Michigan. Her sweet historical romances focus on her home state of Wisconsin. Inspiration to write came in part from hearing family stories about her pioneering Wisconsin ancestors.