From Four Feet to Four Wheels

Me, riding with my cousin in Florida

Throughout history, the humble horse has served mankind well. They have provided heavy labor, transportation, and pulling power to build nations. Now, they still serve as wonderful pets, partners on trails, and service animals that help heal. But what about the transition from horse to horsepower?

From the beginning of history, the horse played an important part in human life. Early hunters and gatherers used the horse as a source of food, but as domestication blossomed, they became the primary form of transport across the globe. The horse originated in Europe, though an early form did exist in America only to go extinct, and when European settlers arrived in the New Land they brought horses with them. Descendants of these horses became the American Mustang and Cracker Horses of Florida.

A Cracker Cowboy from the 18th Century

Horses, mules, and oxen transported pioneers across the vast reaches of America to new homes in the west, as they pulled wagons laden with all earthy possessions to the wild west. Horses were important to this early period but as times changed and the country grew they were slowly replaced by the automobile.

The transition from horse to horsepower took time but accelerated dramatically with the mass-produced Model T Ford. From 1908-1927 Ford produced fifteen million Model T cars. With few good roads and no real rules on driving one of these early autos the adventure began and people everywhere took to the roads. Although the Model T was one of the first mass-produced cars it was far from being the first automobile. In 1769 the first steam-driven car was invented and in 1885 Karl Benz created the first petrol-driven automobile. After the gas combustion engine was created many manufacturers began making custom coaches. These sleek, streamline, and unique automobiles of The Great Gadsby fame.

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This past summer, during our tour of Alaska, my husband and I had the great privilege of visiting the Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum in Fairbanks. We spent the entire day looking at cars, learning the history of the auto in Alaska, and reading about the fashion of the times displayed along with the gorgeous autos. This day helped to inspire aspects of my current work in progress, Blake Allen.

In the Generations of the Cattleman's Daughters I have been following the lives of the James daughters' descendants and the progression of life beyond the Broken J Ranch. In this new addition to the series Blake, Clay and Meg's son, becomes a peace officer of the 1920s. The roaring twenties were known for their fast cars, fine frippery, and daring criminals.

My hero has his hands full as he and his family begin to make the switch from horse to horsepower as the changing times demanded, that doesn't mean that old ways and family traditions would be left behind. As Clayton Allen begins to transition his horse breeding operation from cattle horses to more racing stock to fill demand, his only son steppes out to bring down one of Wyoming's biggest gangs. He will need the help of an unlikely friend and a speedy car to get the job done.

American history is full of transition, and this shift from horse to horsepower was a significant if understated one. Here are just a few of the beautifully preserved cars of the era, along with the fashion of the time. This day, well spent was such a huge inspiration. As an author, you never truly know what will spark an idea for the next story or bring aspects of a yet unwritten work to life.


Don't forget to watch for the next installment of the Cattleman's Daughters, arriving soon.

Additionally, you can find all of the Cattleman's Daughters Series Free on Kindle Unlimited and I have bundled the Companion Stories for this series into one special deal.