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.
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?”
Happy Reading! See you in September!
Kathleen
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3 comments:
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
Intriguing. Loved the info about the Lasso. I had no clue. Was thinking Lass might make a great name for a hero.
Interesting post Kathleen.
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