Tuesday, August 18, 2020

LASSO MY HEART By Kathleen Lawless @kathleenlawless


Lasso is also one of those interesting words that is both a noun, originating from the Castilian word lazo, “noose or snare”, and a verb, where something (livestock, typically) is lassoed.

Even today, the lasso is a basic component in any cowboy’s gear.  I’ve had my hero use one in a contemporary romance, and the bad guy use one in a historical romance.  Which got me wondering about the history of this handy, braided piece of rope, which is typically 60 to 100 feet long and sits coiled on the right-hand side of a cowboy’s saddle, in front of the rider.

In my part of the world, credit for this useful tool goes to the Native American craftsmen, who brought the concept from Mexico where it was further refined in the Cowboy territories of the US.  But North America doesn’t get all for credit.  In Ancient Egypt, in a temple built in 1280 A.D., a relief drawing shows Pharaoh Seti I using a lasso to bring down a bull.  Clearly, the Ancient World used a lasso first.

I am pretty sure I will never look at a length of rope quite the same way.

While he doesn’t use a lasso, Daniel Chambers does manage to steal Rachel’s heart in MAIL ORDER RACHEL, Book 24 of Widows, Brides, and Secret Babies.  This clean and wholesome historical western romance is available for Pre-order now, to receive on your Kindle this Friday.        https://www.amazon.com/dp/B088HFGF49



Excerpt from MAIL ORDER RACHEL  

          Daniel paced the platform impatiently.  The train was late.  It had been several months since he had been introduced by mail to a sweet-sounding girl from Boston who had agreed to become his wife.  Even her name was sweet.  Mary Margaret.  He felt in his heart that any woman with a name like that had to be a Christian.  She was Irish, she had told him, with red hair and freckles.  Her words sounded hesitant, as if fearing he might reject her on that fact alone. 
          He’d heard that the Irish immigrants hadn’t been treated very well back East, and could hardly wait to make up any indignities suffered by his sweet bride.

          Finally, the train pulled into the station and discharged its passengers.  Daniel, who stood taller than most, watched each passenger disembark, but there wasn’t a single redhead in the lot.  His shoulders slumped.  Surely Mary Margaret hadn’t changed her mind? 
          As the platform started to clear, he watched a porter approach a young woman with an infant.  The porter carried an infant’s traveling basket which he dropped at the woman’s feet.  The woman didn’t look happy, and heated words were exchanged.  Daniel felt sorry for the little tyke, for the woman held it on one hip as if it were a bag of flour.  
          The porter left and she turned defiant blue-gray eyes his way.  “You must be Daniel.”
          He swallowed his surprise.  This couldn’t possibly be Mary Margaret, his sweet Irish bride.  “Who are you?” he asked as he took a hesitant step toward her and the infant. 
          Dark hair tumbled about her shoulders and looked as if it hadn’t seen a comb in weeks.  As he reached her side, the baby let out a pitiful cry. 
          “I’m Rachel, Meg—I mean Mary Margaret’s friend.  She sent me in her stead.”
          “I don’t understand,” Daniel said.  “Why would she send you?  And who is this?”

To see all the titles in the best-selling series, click here.  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B086GGVGP2

Happy Reading!  See you in September! 

Kathleen

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3 comments:

Alicia Haney said...

Wow, what a Great sounding book!! I already love it and I want to read it, I will be adding it to my TBR list!! I Love the cover it is Gorgeous! Thank you for sharing a little bit about your book and also about the Lasso. aliciabhaney(at)sbcglobal(dot)net

Marcia King-Gamble said...

Intriguing. Loved the info about the Lasso. I had no clue. Was thinking Lass might make a great name for a hero.

Margaret Tanner said...

Interesting post Kathleen.