Declaration of Love Release Day!

 

Every story begins with an idea.

Sometimes it's a character. Sometimes it's a setting. And sometimes it's a simple "what if?"

For the Petticoats & Patriots series, it all began with a single silver locket.

I wondered what stories that little keepsake might witness if it were passed from one generation to the next. What if it connected women across 250 years of American history? What if each heroine faced her own challenges during a pivotal moment in our nation's story? And what if, through it all, hope, courage, and love endured?

Those questions became eight novels spanning from 1776 to 2026.

Today, I'm delighted to celebrate the release of Declaration of Love, the eighth and final book in the series.

A temporary postmaster. 

A contractor who fixes everything except his own heart. 

And a love story written 250 years ago.

Grady Guthry understands the weight of a promise. Years after returning from the Army to help his widowed sister and young nephew rebuild their lives, he’s created a solid life in Holiday, Oregon. With a thriving construction business and deep roots in his small town, Grady’s world is steady, dependable, and safe—just the way he needs it. The last thing he’s looking for is change, especially not in the form of the town’s new, temporary postmaster.

Kate Barton has always followed the horizon. An Air Force veteran who thrives on freedom and fresh starts, she moves from one assignment to the next, never staying long enough to put down roots. But when she arrives in Holiday, she carries more than just her bags. A cherished locket left behind by her father draws her into a legacy she never knew existed—and begins to stir a longing she can’t quite ignore.

As Holiday prepares for the celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, an unexpected friendship between Grady and Kate deepens into an undeniable slow-burn romance. Grady offers Kate a sense of home she’s never known, while she reminds him there’s more to life than duty.

But with Kate’s departure date looming, the independence they’ve both fought to claim may become the very thing that keeps them apart.

In a season of healing, hope, and second chances, will they find the courage to let go of their plans—and choose a future together?

Courage built a nation. Love made it worth fighting for.

Throughout 250 years of American history, a well-loved locket finds its way into the hands of eight spirited heroines—each standing at the crossroads of love and destiny, and each inspired by a true patriot. As it journeys from one heart to the next, these stories unfold with sweet romance, unwavering hope, and a deep love of country, proving that even in uncertain times, love is always worth the risk. Start reading the Petticoats & Patriots series today!

 

Also, to celebrate the book's release and the end of the series, this week is going to be packed full of fun!

Starting today and running through Sunday, participants in the Petticoats & Pistols Facebook Group can collect Holiday passport stamps, and enter a daily drawing. 

They can also play Bingo each day for a chance to win a $10 Amazon gift card at the end of the week.

And ... we're hosting a party to wrap-up the series with a day full of games, giveaways, books, and shenanigans. It begins Thursday morning at 11 a.m. (Eastern Time).

You can join in the fun and the group by clicking the button below.

Have a grand time!

USA Today Bestselling Author Shanna Hatfield is a farm girl who loves to write character-driven romances with relatable heroes and heroines. Her sweet historical and contemporary romances are filled with sarcasm, humor, hope, and hunky heroes.

When Shanna isn’t dreaming up unforgettable characters, twisting plots, or covertly seeking dark, decadent chocolate, she hangs out with her beloved husband, Captain Cavedweller.

Shanna is a member of Western Writers of America and Women Writing the West.

The Legend of Montezuma’s Gold

 

By Kristy McCaffrey

The Aztec were a powerful Mesoamerican civilization with a complex system of politics, trade, and administration that lived in central Mexico from about 1300 to 1521. They founded the city-state of Tenochtitlan in 1325 on an island in Lake Texcoco. Today it’s the location of modern-day Mexico City.

They reached their pinnacle in 1519 when Hernán Cortés and his Spanish conquistadors arrived. He managed to take Tenochtitlan in 1521 with European diseases having already decimated the population, and from there the Spanish proceeded to move north into the Americas.

The Aztec emperor at the time was Moctezuma II (or Montezuma II). His treasure possibly consisted of gold bars, jewelry, coins, and elaborate headdresses. Legend states the treasure was moved to the north as Montezuma’s relationship with Cortés began to sour and was buried in northern Mexico or the southwestern area of the United States. A popular consensus is that it’s located in New Mexico or Arizona, specifically the Casa Grande region between Phoenix and Tucson, although some treasure hunters think it may be as far north as Utah.

No treasure has been found beyond a gold bar discovered in 1981 in Mexico City. It’s believed to have been looted by the Spanish during their conquest of Tenochtitlan.

* * * *

In my upcoming book, THE FALCON, Mateo and Josie are caught up in the search for an Aztec treasure that might be related to Montezuma's Lost Gold.

The Falcon by Kristy McCaffrey
Wings of the West: Book 12
Coming September 22, 2026

Mexico

December 1899 

Josie Ryan’s connection to Texas runs deep, from the land to an almost preternatural kinship with the animals in the wild. This bond has led her to the edge of life and death, from saving a boy caught in a fire when she was eleven years old to being struck by lightning to a mountain lion attack that almost ended her life. The discovery of an abandoned falcon chick leads to a fierce attachment, but with only intuition to guide her, Josie struggles to train the wildest creature she’s ever encountered. When she learns of a man who could help, she’s determined to gain an introduction. 

Mateo Almirón, El Halconero—The Falconer—and Argentine gaucho, is tasked with delivering two prized purebred Criollo mares to Matt Ryan, a man whose reputation casts a long shadow. Years ago, Ryan saved the life of Mateo’s father, and the horses will settle the longstanding debt, but when the exchange goes wrong, Mateo is entrusted with protecting Ryan’s daughter, Josie. Now Mateo and Josie must hide in the mountains of Northern Mexico where stories abound of Josie’s mother, a woman who lived among the Comanche and rose from the dead. 

But in a place alive with superstition, Josie and her untamed falcon will give rise to a new legend …

Josie is the youngest child of Matt and Molly from THE WREN.

* * * * *

Available for pre-order from Nook and Apple Books.

(It will also be available at Amazon, Kobo, Google Play Books, and in paperback on release day.)

Connect with Kristy

Website | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | Newsletter

Cowboy Culture

 

                                           Cowboys are iconic. 

Symbolic of Americana.

A unique culture.

 

Hi, my name is Dalyn Weller, and I write romance novels. My favorite heroes are cowboys. I suppose the Wild West is in my DNA.

My family, like many others, were European immigrants who managed to trek from Scotland, Sweden, and a few other countries. They eventually got itchy feet, looking for that greener grass, and came West in the late 1800s.

My Great-grandfather came to the Pacific Northwest with one of his brothers and became a game warden. Charlie raised mules. But most of my great-grandfather’s brothers and sisters stayed in Colorado, where the family had settled. They became prominent cattle ranchers. One of my great-great-uncles sold his ranch in the 70s. Maybe you've skied on his land? Or stayed at a luxury Western dude ranch where another of my great-great-uncles once raised his family and cattle. 

My great-great-grandfather was an illiterate freight wagon driver everyone called Sandy (as redheads were nicknamed back in the olden days), and my great-great-grandmother Ella was a tough little woman who ran a boarding house while her husband and young sons worked in a place they called Ditch Camp.

We idolize cowboys and always have, but what about the cowgirls? What about the women whose grit and no-quit attitudes built the West? Sometimes stone by stone? The rugged land, the unforgiving elements, and the dirt-poor living brought the cream to the top in my opinion. Many of us in the West owe our lives, and certainly our colorful family histories, to these women who carved out lives for themselves right alongside the men.

There’s a reason so many of us do our best to keep the western traditions alive and thriving all these generations later. We honor and value those whose calluses, tears, sweat, and blood made the West what it is: a place that values the land, the animals, the people, and the culture of a handshake promise, protective men, and women who can tame a horse with a baby on her hip. 

 

 

My great-great-aunt Belle is a prime example. Tenacious, tough, with a work ethic to put many men to shame. Aunt Belle built a ranch and started a herd while her husband worked the railroad, and after he got sick and died, she continued to own their brand. How I wish I could time travel and visit Belle on her ranch. I have so many questions, but mostly I’d tell her how proud I am… how often I look at her photo, and how I brag about her when I have the opportunity (like now). Her sister Pearl was pretty cool, too. 

Back to cowboys…

To me, cowboys have meant safety in a life that wasn’t always safe with a single mom raising my sister and me. I know where I stand with a cowboy, and I’m assured of help when and if I need it. Most of them are reliable and loyal, and they will keep working until the job is done.

I live in an agrarian area with lots of cowboys, farmers, ranchers, and the associated good old boys that sell them tractors and hay and come out to vet their animals, so I’m familiar with these guys. 

When I think of cowboys, I associate them with certain characteristics. I don’t just mean Wranglers (but who’s complaining about those?), cowboy hats, and boots. I mean grit, determination, a certain toughness of mind and body, hard work ethic, honesty, polite manners, deference to ladies, protective instincts, and the kind of determination that sometimes requires everything a man’s got to get ‘er done.

We think of cowboys as loyal and protective, with a quiet strength that stands guard between the vulnerable and harm. A man who is capable of becoming dangerous to danger. Swoon.

Yep. I like cowboys. For one thing, they often have horses and dogs. 

           If you like books with cowboys, kids, & dogs, check out the Apple Valley Ranchers. 

I write stories featuring cowboys because I want to fall in love with the hero right along with the heroine. He needs to be a certain type of guy to make me take notice. Work-worn hands and a soft heart hidden underneath a gruff exterior? Swoon.

How about you? What’s your favorite kind of hero?

          Until next month, Dalyn Weller 

Bathhouses of the Old West ~ Ruthie L Manier

 

Hello, welcome to Cowboy Kisses blog.

I was on the phone talking to my sister the other day, and for some odd reason we talked about bathhouses and how gross and scary it was for women with only a partition between them and men. I know if I lived in the nineteenth century and was married, my husband would be standing guard.

If you went to a bathhouse in the nineteenth century this is what you would Pay:

Baths:

First water - .50 cents

Used water – .25 cents

Soap & Towel – .20 cents

 

It’s hard to imagine bathing in used water even though as a child my mom would have three or four of us kids in a bath at a time. And if I you’ve been out on the trail for a long while I suppose some wouldn’t care.

There was no indoor plumbing so someone would have to go to their water supply outside and bring in five to six buckets of water. Then they boiled the water on the wood stove.

As a child, when I stayed at my grandparent's house, this is how we bathed. My grandparents had no indoor plumbing until I was in my teens.

Bath houses were essential for travelers, miners, and cowboys of the old west coming off the dusty trails. When they reached town sometimes, they had not showered for weeks or even months.

Bathhouses could be found at hotels, barbershops, and sometimes taverns depending on the size of the town.

Bathhouses served as a social spot where travelers would exchange information.

Some bathhouses used natural hot springs. People would go to them for healing purposes.

It was during the 1880’s when Railroads, and mining in the bigger cities brought with them the first modern plumbing systems to the wealthier sides of town. It took a long while for everyone to receive inside plumbing.

Thanks for reading. I hope you enjoyed this little tidbit

Exciting News

Cooper’s Snoopers 4^th edition “The Fake – Out” release date is on August 15^th!

“He fooled the School Board. He fooled the town. But he didn’t count on Cooper’s Snoopers.” Cooper’s Snoopers fans get ready for book #4 “The Fake - Out” on August fifteenth.

Cooper’s Snoopers.” Cooper’s Snoopers fans get ready for book #4 “The Fake - Out” on August fifteenth.

The Skunk Train by Zina Abbott

 Those who receive my newsletter also received the opportunity to learn a little about my vacation to the Northern California coast where my husband and I rode the two tours offered by the Skunk Train. Here are more details about how that train started and evolved.

 

California Western Railroad Locomotive no. 45

 

The tracks for today's Skunk Train started being laid in 1885 to carry a logging train owned by the Fort Bragg Redwood Company to carry coast redwood logs from the dense redwood forest around Glenela (today's Glen Blair), about 6.6 miles from Fort Bragg. 

Loading redwood lumber on ships

From the logging site, the train moved the logs to the lumber mill along the coast, where afterward, most were shipped to San Francisco. In 1905, the railroad was renamed the California Western Railroad & Navigation Company. At first, the fleet of steamships were built with wooden hulls, but later the newer ship hulls were built with steel.

Union Lumber Company, Fort Bragg, California

Logs bound for Ft. Bragg, ca. 1890s

In 1891, the lumber company was incorporated into the new Union Lumber Company, but the railroad stayed with the parent company until 1969. To get past the high peaks of the Mendocino Range, which is part of the series of California Coastal Ranges, the rail company employed Chinese tunnel builders to complete a 1,184 foot tunnel from Pudding Creek to the Noyo River, which allowed the rail line to access and transport redwoods farther east once the forest in Glenela was harvested. 

 

Rails roughly follow Pudding Creek and Noyo River from Ft. Bragg to Willits

As each logging area was harvested, the tracks were built in the steep coastal range valleys loosely following the Noyo River. There was an average 3.3 percent grade with five 33-degree horseshoe curves.

 

As an area was logged out, the tracks were gradually built farther east and a new logging camp was created. Using the train, loggers' housing was moved to logging camps.

 

Map of Crowley Cabin Site, courtesy of Skunk Train tours.

 One of those logging camps, Crowley, which is about ten miles west of Willits, California, is now the turn-about point of the Wolf Tree tourist run operated by today's Skunk Train.

 

The completion of a 795 foot tunnel, Tunnel #2, on the summit allowed for the railroad to be extended to the logging and lumber town of Willits, now close to Highway 101 in California. This allowed the California Western to connect with the Northwestern Pacific Railroad at Willits, which provided a faster and less-treacherous means of travel between Fort Bragg and San Francisco.

 

With the construction of a branch line northward, trains brought logs from the Ten Mile River to the Fort Bragg sawmill until in 1949, the rails were replaced by logging trucks using a road. 

How did the Skunk Train get its name? 

 

As roads were built and both freight and logging diminished on the rail line, many of the older cars were scrapped. To bring in revenue, gas-powered, self-propelled passenger railcards that resembled trolley cars were added to the line. With oil added to the gasoline, the cars emitted a foul-smelling exhaust that many people equated to the stink of a skunk. And, due to the steep canyon walls along the Noyo River, the little towns that still existed along the line claimed that -- like a skunk -- a person could smell the railcar coming before they could see it.  

The cars were nicknamed "Skunks." They continued to provide passenger service between Fort Bragg and Willits until 1949. 

In 2001, all freight service was discontinued. The emergency order by the Federal Railroad Administration effectively removed the California Western Railroad from the national rail network.

California Western eastbound on first crossing of the Noyo River

The train still offered passenger service and tours until fifty feet of Tunnel No. collapsed in 2013. An arrangement allowed the line to continue until the damage caused by the 2015-16 El Nino shut down Tunnel No. 1 until extensive repairs could be made.  

To raise funds for repairs to Tunnel No. 1 so that passenger service and tours between Fort Bragg and Willits might continue, the rail line, which now operates as the Skunk Train as part of the California Western Railroad, offers two short tours--both with diesel locomotives pulling vintage rail passenger coaches and a open cargo car each.

 

One is out of Willits, called the Wolf Tree Turn.

 One is out of Fort Bragg, called the Pudding Creek Run.  

 

Pudding Creek used to hold logs bound for sawmill.

 As a side note, Pudding Creek on the north side of Fort Bragg, which for a time was dammed and used as a holding pond for logs brought from points east by the railroad, was original known as the "Put In" Creek. During stormy or foggy weather, it was considered a good place for ocean-going boats to "put in" and wait out the weather.

 

 

My latest book scheduled for release next week on July 30th is Sophia's Dance Surprise. Helena, Montana, in the 1880s was more gold-mining country. To find the book description and pre-order link, please CLICK HERE

 

 

 

My book, Ardith Yosemite Bride, includes several scenes involving a railroad which originally expected to make most of its revenue transporting tourists to Yosemite National Park. However, in reality, once roads improved and automobile travel became more popular, the Yosemite Valley Railroad--much like the California Western Railroad that eventually became known as the Skunk Train--ended up being a large transporter of logs harvested from the mountains around the national park and the mill in Merced Falls. To find the book description and purchase options, please CLICK HERE

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Western_Railroad

Mendocino-Railway-completes-acquistion-of-former-millsite-from-Georgia-Pacific-Press-Release-FINAL-A

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noyo_River

https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Fort_Bragg,_California

https://www.kelleyhousemuseum.org/tiny-houses-in-the-redwoods-a-century-ago/