Hello everyone, Winnie Griggs here. The heroine of my upcoming release, Ryland’s Promise, has an unusual occupation, at least for a female – she owns and operates a livery stable. So I thought I’d chat a little bit about that today.
When most folks picture the Old West, they think of cattle drives, dusty trails, and cowboys tipping their hats. But tucked into nearly every town—big or small—was a place just as essential to daily life: the livery stable.
These often-overlooked businesses were the heartbeat of a community’s transportation – for both people and cargo. Whether you were arriving in town, heading to church, or needing a rig for a supply run, the livery stable was where your journey started (and your horse got a break). They housed not just animals, but wagons, buggies, and the occasional bit of gossip, too.
And for the most part, they were run by men.
But not always.
Women Behind the Stalls?
Livery work was hard, dirty, and demanding—dawn to dark and then some. So when a woman stepped into that world, she had to be hardy, able, and commanding.
Occasionally, women inherited stables after the death of a father or husband. Others simply stepped into the role out of necessity. Either way, they had to earn respect in a world that didn’t expect—or always accept—a female behind the reins.
She’d need to:
- Know horses better than most men
- Manage equine boarders, livery staff, and finances
- Maintain equipment and keep the books
- And hold her chin up when folks questioned her place in the trade
It wasn’t for the faint of heart—but the right woman could not only survive, she could thrive.
Meet Josie Wylie
In my upcoming release, Ryland’s Promise, Josephine Wylie is one such woman. Practical, sharp, and steady as a trusted trail horse, she runs her family’s livery stable with grit and quiet pride. She’s spent years putting her family’s needs ahead of her own—until Ryland Everhart comes to town, passing through, determined to reach a friend in need, and with a way of unsettling her careful world.
Josie doesn’t go looking for romance—but sometimes, love comes calling, ready or not.
Livery Life by the Numbers
Want a peek into what life was really like behind those big barn doors? Here’s what you might find at a typical small-town Texas livery around 1892:
The Going Rate
- Boarding a horse overnight: 25¢ to 50¢
- Weekly boarding: $2–$3
- Renting a saddle horse: 75¢ to $1.50/day
- Buggy & horse combo: $1–$2/day
- Buckboard or surrey rental: $2–$3/day
- Extra feed or grooming care: 10¢–15¢
Rates could jump during holidays, fairs, or political rallies—when horses (and tempers) were in short supply.
Around the Clock
Most liveries were staffed 24/7. The owner or a hired stable hand usually slept in a tack room or up in the hayloft, ready to tend horses or meet late-night travelers arriving by stage or rail.
Where Did They Keep It All?
- Horses were stalled inside the main barn, but overflow or short-term boarders were often kept in outdoor pens or corrals nearby.
- Mules and draft teams might be housed separately or tied off outside under a lean-to.
- Wagons, buggies, and buckboards were stored in sheds or under awnings, protected from the elements but easy to access.
- Most stables had lofts for hay storage—and a place to sleep if you were the unlucky one on night duty.
Horse Sales, Too
Yes—many liveries bought and sold horses, either from their own stock or on consignment for locals. A trusted livery owner was often the town’s go-to for finding a sound riding horse or trading in a tired one.
And Let’s Be Honest…
Livery stables weren’t exactly fragrant. The scent of hay mixed with manure, horse sweat, and oil from the buggy wheels. But they were also places of quiet routine, skillful care, and—if you knew where to look—unexpected stories waiting to unfold.
What do you think? Did any of the above information surprise you? If so, what and why?
Or have you ever had a job—or read about one—that felt unusual for the time period or for the person doing it? Whether it’s a female blacksmith in a novel or your own unexpected career path, I’d love to hear about it!
Drop your thoughts in the comments and you’ll be automatically entered in a drawing for your choice of any of my backlist books.
RYLAND’S PROMISE
A promise fulfilled. A heart awakened. A Christmas he’ll never forget.
When Texas rancher turned Philadelphia lawyer Ryland Everhart returns to Texas, he’s too late. Belle, the childhood friend he’d come to see, has passed away—leaving behind a young daughter and one final request. Though Ry was delayed by unexpected violence and never heard her ask it aloud, she named him guardian… and he’s determined to honor that trust.
Josephine Wylie has always put her family first, even if it means shelving her own hopes. She’s sure Ry is the perfect match—for her sister. Putting him in the role of head of the family, she believes, will finally free her to live out her dreams. But as Christmas draws near and Ry settles into their lives, Josie begins to see something more than obligation in his eyes—and something far more dangerous in her own heart.
Guided by the weight of a promise and the quiet pull of unexpected affection, Ry must decide whether doing right by Belle’s daughter means walking away—or daring to stay and claim a future he never imagined.
(NOTE: This book was previously published under the title The Christmas Journey)
The next female heroine of the West that inspired Lorraine is Martha “Calamity” Jane (1856–1903). Since first reading about her, I have felt a deep sense of sadness on her behalf—mainly because she had to survive from such a young age and died alone. Still, her life told through the lens of a dime novel was impressive. Calamity Jane was bold, strong, intimidating, and ruthless. Orphaned at a young age, she had to rely on her skills to survive. Jane worked in men’s clothes when necessary and was even a scout for George Armstrong Custer.
In a small way Miss Pearl Hart (1871 – 1955) inspired Lorraine Durand’s character because of this simple quote from the Cosmopolitan when they said Hart was “just the opposite of what would be expected of a woman stage robber,” though, “when angry or determined, hard lines show about her eyes and mouth.” Lorraine is attractive and of a modest stature. She is generally quiet and melancholic, and unlike Calamity Jane, does not come across as intimidating.
Finally, Etta Place was a beautiful, young outlaw who ran with Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid’s gang, known as the Wild Bunch. She had a romantic relationship with Sundance (and possibly Butch). Her origins and death remain shrouded in mystery, making her a figure ultimately lost to history. Some reports claim she sought the Sundance Kid’s death certificate in Chile years after he escaped, later residing in San Francisco. Others believe she married boxing promoter Tex Rickard. Another theory suggests she returned to teaching after Butch and Sundance left the US.
A holdup gone wrong, a reluctant outlaw, and the captive she’s sworn to guard.
KyLee Woodley is a cheery romantic who loves to write about bygone days and heartwarming romance with a pinch of adventure. She teaches at Baylor University’s lab school in Texas where she lives with her husband of 18 years and their three teenage children. She is a writer for
But let’s begin by defining a Western Woman. 
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