Inside the Making of Knight Ranch

 As promised the last time we talked, I’ve been dabbling with the new Knight Ranch series. One of the first things I always start with is names and tropes. Sometimes I write them down and end up veering in a completely different direction, but they give me a place to begin. A kind of emotional blueprint.

Some of my favorites?

– Grumpy sunshine
There is just something about a man who carries the weight of the world on his shoulders meeting the one woman who refuses to let him brood in peace. Especially on a ranch. Especially when everyone in town thinks he’s unshakeable.

– Reformed playboy
I already hinted at this one. The brother who swears he’ll never settle down. The one who thinks charm is enough and feelings are optional. Until they’re not. Until one woman looks at him like she sees the man behind the smirk.

– Forced proximity
Shared land. Shared responsibility. Maybe even shared living space. When walking away isn’t an option, neither is pretending the tension isn’t there.

– Second chance
Small towns remember everything. Sometimes that includes the love you tried to forget.

– Found family
Because ranch life isn’t just bloodlines. It’s neighbors who show up. It’s chosen bonds. It’s loyalty that runs as deep as the roots in the pasture.

– Friends with benefits to lovers
Two people who think they can keep it simple. No promises. No complications. Except feelings rarely follow rules, especially when you see each other every single day.

– Single parent
I’m not entirely sure how this one will weave itself in yet, but ranch life and raising a child both require grit, patience, and heart. And there’s something about a cowboy stepping fully into fatherhood that never fails to get me.

Some of these will stick. Some may shift as the brothers start talking louder. They always do.

Want to meet the cowboys?

Weston Knight
The oldest. The steady one. The responsibility of the ranch falls squarely on his shoulders, and he carries it without complaint. Responsibility isn’t something he shrugs off. It’s stitched into him. He’s the kind of man who puts everyone else first, even when it costs him.

Maverick Knight
Currently serving in the military, helping from afar. Distance doesn’t lessen loyalty. He may not be home full time, but Knight Ranch is still his. And one day, he’ll come back for good. When he does, he won’t be the same man who left.

Colter Knight
The youngest. Rodeo superstar. The one who smiles easiest and walks like he owns every arena he steps into. Charm comes naturally. Settling down? Not so much. At least that’s what he tells himself.

Three brothers. One ranch. Shared land. Shared history. Shared wounds they’d rather leave buried.

So now I’m curious.

What trope owns you every single time?
Are you here for the grump, the charmer, or the cowboy who falls hardest when he least expects it?

Tell me in the comments. I’m taking notes.

Legend of Leigh Creek

 

  The drive from Buffalo to Tensleep, Wyoming, over the Big Horn Mountains is beautiful. The road is curvy and hazardous at times, but the experience is worth it. The road has been improved over the years, but you can still drive the old section through Tensleep Canyon and get a different perspective of the canyon. It about 65 miles with an elevation of 9666 feet at Powder River Pass.

  Though I've driven over the mountain and through Tensleep Canyon hundreds of times, I never stopped to check out the Leigh Creek historical marker. In 2020 I finally did.

  The Leigh Creek story is often mixed up with the legend of the cowboy who was riding his horse on the canyon rim. Lost in dense fog, the story says his horse walked off the edge of the canyon and they both died. I'm not sure if this story is true or not, but I remember hearing it when I was a little girl.

The Leigh Creek Monument is for Gilbert E. Leigh. A British member of Parliament and guest of rancher Moreton Frewen.

The sign reads

   "At the rim above Tensleep Canyon is the Leigh Creek Monument, erected in 1889 in memory of English nobleman Gilbert E. Leigh. Leigh, a lifelong big game hunter and outdoor enthusiast, went missing in the fall of 1884 during a hunting expedition. Following his disappearance, men from the local area searched for Leigh; unfortunately, after a week of searching, they found Leigh's body and discovered that he had fallen 100 feet to his death over the canyon wall while in pursuit of mountain sheep. The monument, erected by well known Sheridan area guide Robert Stewart, is laid up of native stone in dry mortar and is approximately ten feet square at the base. It contains a marble slab with an inscription memorializing Leigh who was burring in Stoneleigh, England."

    In the first picture, the movement is above the M in Wyoming. I had to get my super-zoom camera out to get a picture of the monument. 

  Tensleep Canyon is always a beautiful drive any time of the year. Summer on a motorcycle is the best! There is so much history in the Big Horn Mountains and Leigh Creek is only example.

 There are no haunting at Leigh Creek. Just a monument to hunter that died in a tragic accident.

Leigh Creek is a beautiful area to camp and fish. Or just enjoy some time with nature.

  Tensleep Canyon is a great place for hikers and climbers to come explore. 

A French Star and the Frontier ~ D. K. Deters

On the American frontier, theater wasn’t some fancy Eastern luxury imported for elite tastes. It was a vital and popular form of entertainment. By the 1870s and early 1880s, most established towns like Dodge City, Tombstone, Deadwood, Virginia City, and Cheyenne boasted an opera house or theater.

Smaller towns made do with what they had. Touring companies often performed in saloons, lodges, or rooms converted into stages. Performances were lively, loud, and deeply social affairs. Audiences shouted, laughed, drank, flirted, and argued through the show. In many boomtowns, live theater was more than entertainment. It was proof they were becoming “civilized.”

Touring was the lifeblood of frontier theater. As railroads pushed west, 1881 became a golden year. Eastern and European stars traveled aggressively. One observer put it, “Touring companies followed mining booms and cattle trails like prospectors followed gold.”

Among the most celebrated stars of the 19^th century was Sarah Bernhardt. Born Henriette-Rosine Bernard in Paris in 1844.

Sarah Bernhardt 1844-1923

Mark Twain famously summed up her reputation: “There are five kinds of actresses: bad actresses, fair actresses, good actresses, great actresses – and then there is Sarah Bernhardt.”

Bernhardt organized her own tours of England, the U.S., and Canada. She played Western venues for practical reasons. The money was good and the crowds enthusiastic.

In 1881, Bernhardt appeared to a full house at the Tootle Theatre (also referred to as the Tootle Opera House) in St. Joseph, Missouri. The Tootle Theatre was considered one of the finest theaters west of the Mississippi, with fifteen hundred seats, three balconies, and opulent boxes. Its stage hosted figures as varied as Buffalo Bill Cody, Edwin Booth, and Oscar Wilde.

The Tootle Theatre in St. Joseph, Missouri.

When Bernhardt played Camille in French, the editor of the Atchison Globe, Ed Howe, was in attendance. He recorded the moment with awe and bemusement: “At exactly 8:31 last night, Sarah Bernhardt made her appearance, walking down the centre as though she had but one joint in her body, and no knees. Her dress was of white and costly stuff and cut so low in front that we expected every moment that she would step one of her legs through it.”

Sarah Bernhardt

Many American audiences could not follow her French dialogue, but it didn’t matter. Critics wrote instead about her dramatic stage presence. Her performances became cultural events, bringing European theatrical prestige to towns and cities that rarely saw international stars.

This tour carried her to 157 performances in 51 cities, including New York City, Philadelphia, Boston, Chicago, and Atlanta. The top price for a ticket was $40, which is about $1,308 today. Box office receipts exceeded $3 million in the 1880s. Her success was such that she returned to the States nine times during her career. Bernhardt passed away in 1923, leaving behind a lifetime of accomplishments.

The ""Electric" Physician

 Post (C) Doris McCraw

aka Angela Raines

Image (C) Doris McCraw

The following is taken from an earlier post.

I have spoken of Dr. Harriet Leonard before, but I felt she deserved for folks to know more about her.

She was born in New York in 1829 and died in Colorado in 1907 at the age of 79 (?). She was married to John Leonard, and they had seven children, four of whom survived to adulthood, according to the 1900 census. John died in 1895/6.

Along with Julia E. Loomis, the first woman doctor in Colorado Springs, Harriet Leonard was the first woman doctor in Manitou Springs, Colorado. Her advertisement appears as early as July of 1878. Her ad read: "Mrs. H. A. Leonard M.D. ELECTRICIAN. Special attention given to nervous and chronic diseases. Office in the Mineral Bath House. Manitou." This form of treatment was not that unusual in the 1870’s. You can read more at: http://blog.nyhistory.org/electric-medicine/

Dr. Leonard was the proprietor of the Bath house in Manitou Springs, a rather unusual position for a woman. Nonetheless, Harriet was constantly working and learning. There is some indication she may have gone to Truth or Consequences, New Mexico (originally known as Hot Springs) for a time, but no definite proof has been found. It would not be out of the question, as the town has numerous hot springs. The springs in Manitou are mineral, not hot springs. It would make sense, given her history, that she would spend time there. She was in Denver when she first arrived in the area, according to Denver City Directories.

Another difference between Dr. Leonard and the other female physicians was that she was an allopath, whereas Dr. Loomis and others were homeopaths. Dr. Leonard graduated from the Keokuk College for Physicians and Surgeons. Dr. Loomis, a graduate of the Cleveland Homeopathic College for Women, as were the two other women doctors who joined these two early pioneers.

When she fell and broke her leg, she declined quickly and passed away in September 1907, and is buried in Evergreen Cemetery in Colorado Springs, CO.

If you want to learn more about Harriet and the other women doctors, you can check out the ebook "Under the Stone" at this link: "Under the Stone"  

Until Next Time,

Stay Safe and Enjoy Life

Doris

Book 6 - Circuit Judges: Death Comes To Town - Rhoda By Amanda A. Brooks

My Circuit Judges Website – circuitjudges.site123.me

My amazon Author’s Page – amazon.com/author/aab

Here is an excerpt from Book 6 - CIRCUIT JUDGES: DEATH COMES TO TOWN - RHODA.

PRETENDED TO BE ASLEEP

My Models Inspiration for

Circuit Judge Lucas "Luke" Stiles - Luke Perry ❤️

Circuit Judge Adam Stone - Paul Greene 

Circuit Judge Nicholas "Nick" Reese - Tyler Hynes

Rhoda Fenton - Maria Bello

My Song Inspiration

RIDERS ON THE STORM by THE DOORS

Tucson, Arizona

May 4, 1882

“Is everyone asleep?” Luke asked.

“Everyone except us,” Adam sarcastically said. “It’s almost midnight and we need to be up at the crack of dawn.”

“You can sleep when you’re dead, Adam,” Luke pointed out. “What we need to discuss is more important than your beauty sleep.”

Glaring at both Luke and Adam, Nick exclaimed, “You two are acting more like boys than men! Stop arguing and let’s get on with this!”

Luke sighed.

He then said, “I’m planning on turning Rhoda over to Velma. She’s way too dangerous to have around.”

“She’s a very dangerous and very loose cannon,” Adam pointed out. “I’m tired of sleeping with one eye open every night.”

“And I’m tired of all of you thinking that I’m going to murder you in your nice, warm beds. I told you that I’m not going to. When are you going to start trusting me?”

Luke, Adam, and Nick quickly turned around to find Rhoda standing behind them!

Due to the moonlight, they could see hurt written all over her face.

Long moments of very intense silence passed before Luke finally said, “We thought that you were sound asleep.”

“Did you now?” Rhoda bitterly asked. She then just stared intently at Luke, Adam, and Nick for a long moment before finally saying, “I pretended to be asleep. As you know all too well, I barely sleep. If I let down my guard, I’d no doubt be dead.” And then, suddenly laughing a dry, bitter laugh, she added, “I’ll sleep when I’m dead. Isn’t that right, Circuit Judge Stiles?”

Luke just stared intently at Rhoda for a long moment before finally asking – despite the fact that he already knew the answer to his question - “How much did you overhear?”

Suddenly glaring at Circuit Judge Stiles, Rhoda said, “I am leaving for Mexico right this very minute to murder Aloysius Ryan in cold blood. Once I do, I will disappear off the face of this earth. Neither you nor Velma will be able to find me. And if you even dare to try, you will end up six feet under!”

She then quickly hurried towards her waiting horse, climbed up onto it, and quickly rode towards Mexico!

When Adam and Nick started to hurry back towards the campfire and their horses to go after her, Luke simply said, “Let her go. For now.”

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!! 🤠💌🤗

Red’s Enemy Cowboy blends fiery enemies-to-lovers tension with heartfelt small-town charm.

 I’m excited to release a new contemporary western romance.

Red’s Enemy Cowboy blends fiery enemies-to-lovers tension with heartfelt small-town charm.

 

Autumn Hood and Pete Wolfe have one thing in common—they can’t stand each other.

Lifelong neighbors and sworn rivals. Autumn is sharp-tongued, stubborn, and unapologetically herself. Pete finds her infuriating… and impossible to stop thinking about.

 

Then the two rivals are forced to work together. What starts as nonstop bickering quickly ignites into undeniable attraction. Every argument carries a spark. Every glance lingers just a little too long.

Soon, rivalry gives way to something deeper.

 

Autumn and Pete must face the one thing they never expected: falling for the person they swore they’d never love. The question is—are they brave enough to risk everything for it?

https://www.amazon.com/Enemy-Cowboy-Cowboys-Sunrise-Ridge-ebook/dp/B0FMQQCVX8

 

Happy reading,

Niki J. Mitchell

 

Dime Novel Romance ~ Julie Lence

Ah, February. The month dedicated to love. Sweethearts gift each other with flowers, candy, and dinner. Students address cute Valentine’s Day cards to hand out to classmates while snacking on anything from cupcakes to heart-shaped candies. Parents may surprise their kiddos with a small trinket, and Hallmark continuously airs romance movies geared to tug at your heartstrings. But neither Hallmark nor the movie industry were the first to draw your attention (and your purse strings) to sweetheart’s month. Books did that, to include the dime novel.

When I think of dime novels, the first thing that comes to mind is a short stand-alone paperback from the 1800’s featuring dashing heroes from the old west. While some of what I imagine is correct, there was more than one story in a dime novel and not all centered around action, adventure, and intrigue. Some were romances. Selling for 10 cents a copy (some for 5 cents) and averaging 100 pages in length, with their brightly illustrated covers and slimness, dime novels were easy to carry and often marketed toward the working class.

While one person isn’t credited with creating the dime novel romance, Erastus and Irwin Beadle were the first to publish the dime romance, under the imprint Beadle’s Dime Novels. Malaeska, the Indian Wife of the White Hunter was the first title.  Check out this dime novel and a few others below.

Malaeska, the Indian Wife of the White Hunter by Ann S. Stephens, is often cited as the first American dime novel. Malaeska includes works from authors Charles Garvice and Laura Jean Libbey, to include Only a girl's love and Daisy Brooks; Or, A Perilous Love, respectively Other stories  include The Girl He Loved by Adelaide Stirling and Forrest House by Mary Jane Holmes. 

 

Belles & Beaux: A Home Weekly for Winter Nights and Summer Days. [1874]

Belles & Beaux was one of the very first story papers devoted exclusively to young women and marked publishers Beadle & Adams’ first attempt to reach an all female audience. Launched in  January 1874 for ten cents per copy, it was a mixture of serialized love stories, (usually with two stories running at a time) short stories, poems, and reader’s letters. The first issue featured a poem entitled “Belles and Beaux, Greeting”, and included a large illustration detailing the phases of courtship and marriage.          

 

Waverly Library. “The Only Young Ladies Library of First-Class Copyright Novels Published. Complete and Unabridged. Price but Five Cents Each.” [1879-1886]

The Waverly Library was Beadle & Adams most significant contribution to women’s dime novel romances. This series began in November 1879 and was one of the first sustained and successful attempts to reach a woman’s market in cheap, mass-produced fiction. It promised to cover “the field of Love and Society Romance” with a complete story in each issue. Advertisements promised “Wholesome, Vigorous and Fresh” stories avoiding tedious narrative… nothing but good strong stories of today.  (Source: https://chnm.gmu.edu/dimenovels/wp/romance-series-and-story-papers.html)

 

My favorite romance stories are Double Standards by Judith McNaught and Gentle Rogue by Johanna Lindsay. What are some of your favorite romance stories?