Mary Seacole. Also known as Mother Seacole and the Black Florence Nightingale

                   

                                (1805-1881)  

      Mary was born in Kingston, Jamaica, to a Scottish military father and a free Black Jamaican mother. Her mother was a renowned healer known as "The Doctress," who passed down traditional Caribbean and African herbal medicine practices. 

  Mrs. Seacole established her reputation as a healer during a yellow fever outbreak in 1853, and, when, the Crimean War broke out later that year, she wished to do her share to aid the wounded.       Traveling all the way to London, she applied to the British Secretary at War and one of Nightingale’s colleagues to be included in the country's nursing corps.

    They turned her down! 

    Here is a quote from her 1857 autobiography, THE WONDERFUL ADVENTURES OF MRS. SEACOLE IN MANY LANDS: “Did these ladies shrink from accepting my aid because my blood flowed beneath a somewhat duskier skin than theirs?”

   Undaunted, she independently funded her own way to the Crimean War to care for wounded soldiers on the front lines.

   Near Balaclava, she established the "British Hotel," which served as a store, restaurant, and safe resting place for officers and enlisted men. In my book Lady Gallant, when my heroine Nurse Josephine Posey is injured and lost, Mary Seacole rescues her too. 

   Mother Seacole was known for bravely riding out to the active battlefields with medical supplies and food, tending to wounded and dying soldiers under cannon fire. The soldiers affectionately called her "Mother Seacole"

     Post-war found her bankrupt, but she published her autobiography, Wonderful Adventures of Mrs. Seacole in Many Lands, the first memoir by a Black woman in Britain. 

Today, Seacole's legacy is celebrated with a statue outside St. Thomas' Hospital in London—believed to be the first monument to a named Black woman in the UK.

 Lady Gallant has a lot of history sprinkled in, and Mrs. Seacole has a cameo, but there is also intrigue, and of course Romance! 

  Smack in the middle of the Crimean war, Josephine Posey, a Florence Nightingale nurse, meets Garrick Allen, the Times first war correspondent. With intrigue afoot and bombs bursting in air, they share the secrets of their past and dream of a future together.

  Blurb:  Disowned by her father and still mourning the death of her fiancé, Josephine  Posey joins Florence Nightingale’s brigade of nurses bound for the Black Sea. Thousands of British soldiers desperately await these angels of mercy and a new life awaits Josie. Amidst the chaos of death and despair, she finds a spark of hope, lighting the flame once more inside her soul.

     In search of the truth, Garrick Allen, one of Britain’s first war correspondents also journeys to the Crimean Peninsula. To him the soldiers seem all but abandoned by Queen and country, and as he smokes his cheroots and makes friends with a bottle, he writes his bold but honest dispatches for The Times.  Not wanting anything more than to finish his job and go home, Garrick is blind-sided by a nurse with attitude who offers him a new slant on life and a reason to love.

                     

My Stories: 

Western Romance: Break Heart Canyon * Undercover Outlaw * Cowboys, Cattle and Cutthroats * A Cowboy’s Fate*Special Delivery. 

Contemporary Romantic Thriller: Fatal Recall

Medieval Romance: The Dragon and The Rose * Iron Heart        *Promise Me Christmas. 

Victorian Romance: Lady Gallant * Victorian Dream 

Romantasy: The Fae Warriors Trilogy: Solace * Bliss * Portence 

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Leadville, Colorado the two mile high city

 

    Leadville, the highest incorporated city in North America, even the name sounds dangerous, and the town was. Fortunes were made and lost in a heartbeat. And some heartbeats were cut short by mine cave-ins, gun fights, starvation, and cold weather. 
    The characters in my book A Cowboy’s Fate, take an 1800’s road trip from Denver to Leadville. Despite being occasionally called Cloud City, it was a rough and tumble place, with flashes of cultural enlightenment and high living.  

                  

 The town definitely had its ups and downs. In 1860 gold was discovered, but that played out quickly. Then in 1877 silver became the magnet drawing thousands back up the mountain. 
  During its peak, Leadville bragged over 30,000 residents. It became the second largest town in Colorado. With 100 saloons and gambling places, multiple daily and weekly newspapers, and 36 brothels. It was even slated at one time to be the capital.

 

 Hardscrabble miners, and ruffians of every nature “settled” the town, but the wealth amassed soon drew all manner of folk to the city, both the famous and infamous. They made the daunting trip by foot, by mule, and finally by train. 
   The Leadville, Colorado & Southern Railway still follows the headwaters of the Arkansas River route.

And the French Gulch Water Tower is still standing, amidst terrific views of Mount Elbert, Colorado's highest snow-capped peak.

   One of the most famous stories associated with Leadville is the saga of Baby Doe Tabor, and it reads like a tragic soap opera. 

  Previously married and divorced, Elizbeth (Lizzie) McCourt, had already acquired the name Baby Doe and when Horace Tabor saw her, he was enchanted.                    

   Tabor built a grand theater in Denver, and an opera house in Leadville. 

    The Leadville structure was touted as being the best between Chicago and San Francisco. 

                       

  John Phillips Sousa performed there, Jack Dempsey boxed on the same stage...the stage which still features a trap door Houdini allegedly used during his famous disappearing act. Susan B. Anthony and Oscar Wilde also tread the boards.

                                       

 Infamous characters like ...Doc Holliday, Frank and Jesse James, Buffalo Bill, Tom Horn, Bob and Cole Younger and the Daltons passed through Leadville. And stories of Wyatt Earp shooting a marble off the piano at the famous Pastime Saloon (still in operation) are a part of what has made Leadville one of the last remaining authentic early western towns.

  With the repeal of the Silver Act and the panic of 1893 the Tabor’s fortunes were wiped out. Horace died in Denver. Baby Doe returned to Leadville, and although she found religion, she could find no investors for the Matchless Mine.                                   

                    

 Out of sheer guts and determination, she survived another 35 years, visited only on occasion by her two daughters. During the winter of 1935, after a severe snow storm, she froze to death, surrounded by her ramblings and journal entries. Some called her a madwoman—she was definitely a woman from which legends are born, and Leadville claims her as their own.

                                         

  In 1895, in an attempt to draw tourists to their town to bolster their flagging economy, Leadville constructed a mammoth ice castle. It opened January 1st 1896. Encompassing 58,000 square feet, it was dubbed the Crystal Palace. The palatial building included an ice skating rink, a merry-go-round, a toboggan run, and several social enterprises, including gambling, restaurants, and dance rooms.   

 Unfortunately, Leadville had a very early thaw in March, which destroyed the most magnificent ice palace in history.
  

  Today, one of the winter attractions in Leadville is ski-joring, where they close off main street, build terrifying ski ramps, and pull fearless skiers behind a horse running at full-gallop.    

  For those who prefer summer sports, there is
 pack burro racing....up a mountain.                                 

                   

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I hope my characters, Cody and Britania lived a long and happy life in Leadville. A town where, if you're lucky, dreams can come true. 

Blurb: Colorado, 1880

   Kicked out of England for offending the Royal Family, Britania Rule heads for Leadville, in the Colorado backcountry. Passing herself off as a highborn lady, she pursues her dream of opening a parlor of spiritual enlightenment. 

  Cody James, her guide, thinks he must be half-crazy to hire-out to a female. But his luck at the gaming tables has run dry, and she’s his meal-ticket out of town. Betrayed by the only woman he ever loved, and shot and left for dead by a man he once called friend, Cody declares himself a loner. 

   Traveling side by side, they deny their desire for one another, but the Tarot cards say otherwise—and their hot night of passion confirms the prediction. Will love be waiting at the end of the trail? Or could Cody’s past destroy their future? 

Excerpt:

   Cody burst out laughing, this time even harder.  

   Glancing around the back of the wagon, the reason became clear and Britania gasped in alarm. One of her trunks had burst open, spewing lacy be-ribboned undergarments hither and yon. These were not items worn by the type of lady she pretended to be. They were outrageous dainties, a jezebel’s delight, couture de jour for a whore. 

  “Oh, bloody `ell.” 

   She clamped a hand over her mouth wishing she could call back the words as her upper-class accent gave way to East End twang. On hands and knees, she scurried around gathering up the incriminating garments and stuffing them back into the trunk.

     Using only thumb and forefinger, Cody carefully disengaged a pink rosebud-covered corset dangling off the back of the wagon. “Interesting choice of underclothing, Miss Rule. Can’t say as I’ve seen such pretties outside a bordello.” He offered up the garment, the garters taunting and swinging back and forth in front of her nose.

   “They were gifts, if you must know,” she said, wresting it from his grasp, “going away presents from my girlfriends. And since I nearly met my death a moment ago, I would think you would be more worried about me, rather than the contents of my wardrobe.” 

   “Sorry,” he said, his tone indicating he wasn’t—his half-smile reinforcing the point. 

     He rummaged around in another pack, and extracted a bottle of liquor. “I guess you being such a lady, it would be foolish of me to offer you a snort of whiskey. I know I could sure use one.” Uncorking it, he took a large swig.

   Her mouth watered. She had done her share of elbow bending, and right now, a drink sounded just the thing.

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My Stories: 

Western Romance: Break Heart Canyon * Undercover Outlaw * Cowboys, Cattle and Cutthroats * A Cowboy’s Fate*Special Delivery. 

Contemporary Romantic Thriller: Fatal Recall

Medieval Romance: The Dragon and The Rose * Iron Heart *Promise Me Christmas. 

Victorian Romance: Lady Gallant * Victorian Dream 

Romantasy: The Fae Warriors Trilogy: Solace * Bliss * Portence 

Blog www.ginirifkin.blogspot.com

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The wild rose press     https://wildrosepress.com/?s=rifkin&post_type=product&type_aws=true

1887-1961 Hesperia Hotel: Locomotives, Candlelit Nights, and Western Charm

 

Imagine rolling into the high desert of California on the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. You step off the train and there it is: a three-story, red adobe beauty—the brand-new Hesperia Hotel. With 28 rooms, running water (a serious luxury at the time), and desert views for miles, it must have seemed like an oasis in the middle of nowhere.

The hotel sat on the west side of the railroad tracks, surrounded by 35,000 acres of land that speculators were eager to sell. Newspapers went so far as to call Hesperia “The Denver of California.” Bold claim, right?

A Desert Dream—or Desert Scheme?

The masterminds were Judge Robert Widney and his brother Dr. Joseph Widney, along with Ontario developers George and William Chaffey. They bought up land, gave the settlement a poetic name (Hesperia meaning “western land”), and launched a massive promotion campaign.

The sales pitch promised a desert utopia: broad tree-lined boulevards, shady parks, fine schools, grand churches, healthy air that could cure whatever ailed you, and even riches from mining in the nearby mountains.

The reality? Well… let’s just say some of it was more illusion than fact.

Trickery in the Desert

One of the most famous “sales tactics” involved tricking eager easterners who couldn’t tell a yucca from an orange tree. The promoters literally trimmed up Joshua trees and stuck oranges on the ends of their bayonet-like spikes to give the illusion of flourishing citrus groves.

Still, the developers grand idea did put Hesperia on the map—and today, more than 100,000 people call it home.

The Hotel’s Heyday

Back in its prime, the Hesperia Hotel was more than just a place to sleep. Guests enjoyed modern marvels like hot water, flushing toilets, and speaking tubes for communication. The hotel boasted a spacious dining room complete with a bandstand, a piano bar, and fancy balls in middle of the Mojave.

Once the California Southern Railroad line pushed through the Cajon Pass in 1885, many settlers and tourists came by rail. Victor (later Victorville) became the major stop, but Hesperia snagged its own small depot, drawing curious travelers. By the way, this platform actually could be moved.

The Beginning of the End

For a time, the hotel thrived. But when Route 66 rerouted travelers away from Hesperia, the once-bustling stop faded. The hotel closed its doors in 1926 and, after decades of decline, was torn down in 1974.

Today, nearby Los Flores Ranch lands are filled with tract homes, and the once-grand hotel exists only in photographs and stories.

Why This Hotel Caught My Eye

As a local, I couldn’t resist bringing the Hesperia Hotel back to life in my western time travel novel, Time to Save a Cowboy. It struck me as the perfect meeting place for my time-traveling lovers, Mia and Dusty, before they headed off for the Los Flores Ranch.

For more information click here: https://www.amazon.com/Time-Cowboy-Western-Travel-Romance-ebook/dp/B07K62JGP7

 

 

Elk in Colorado

    Elk arrived in northern Colorado around 8,000–10,000 years ago and in southern Colorado around 4,000–5,000 years ago. 

   Elk have two canine teeth, also known as ivories, "eyeteeth," "dog teeth" or even “whistle teeth”. Because they are vestigial tusks, these teeth are made of the same material as tusks on walruses, wild boars, and elephants. As antlers evolved to be larger, the canines receded to shrunken remnants of the ivory weapons once used for defense and fighting during the rut. I am still amazed that they shed these massive sets of antlers, and grow new ones every year. 

Although sometimes called whistlers, the teeth are not involved in the elk's bugling which comes from their vocal chords and nose. 
                      some amazing footage of elk bugling

   The ivory teeth held great significance for some of the High Plains Native American tribes such as the Cheyenne, Lakota, Apsáalooke, Dakota, Kiowa, to name a few. At only two teeth per animal they were a prized commodity. Using the teeth to decorate leather ceremonial dresses indicated status and the prowess of the wife's husband's hunting ability or his wealth for trading. If used in bargaining, 100 ivories would buy you a good horse.

                     

A Lakota legend explains the importance of the teeth: 

"Two elk teeth remain after everything else has crumbled to dust… and for that reason the elk tooth has become an emblem of long life. When a child is born, its parents desire long life for it and for this reason an elk tooth is given to a child."

 We are so fortunate to be able to see great gatherings of these beautiful creatures in Estes Park the town and surrounding area. 

If you do go there, resist the urge to get a selfie or to pet these animals. An adult male can weigh 1200 pounds and they are lightning fast when need be. Besides, they deserve our respect and to be left alone to make their way through the world. 

In my story Trapper's Moon, a Still Moments Magazine Reader's Choice award, I'm sure Kade and his partner Tucket dined gratefully on elk many a time. The heroine, Blind Deer, had survival on her mind, and although she repairs a shirt for Kade, she has no time to sew ivory teeth on her own clothing. 

Blurb: 

    As a free trapper, mountain man Kade McCauley is wary of the Hudson Bay Company. Their form of vengeance against those who are not part of the company can be deadly. When he and his partner are attacked, he fights back, only to discover one of his shots struck an innocent. A woman who touches his soul, and he will do anything to keep her safe. 

   While searching for her Native American tribe, Blind Deer crosses paths with Kade—with near fatal results. Once she is patched up, she decides it is safer to travel with him than alone Their uneasy alliance turns to genuine caring, but Blind Deer's past gets in the way, and she must choose between love or old obligations. 

    But nothing in life is carved in stone except the mountains, and those formidable peaks have been known to change the course of a man's life or a woman's.

Available here

My stories: 

Western Romance: Break Heart Canyon * Undercover Outlaw * Cowboys, Cattle and Cutthroats * A Cowboy’s Fate * Special Delivery. 

Contemporary Romantic Thriller: Fatal Recall

Medieval Romance: The Dragon and The Rose * Iron Heart                                 *Promise Me Christmas. 

Victorian Romance: Lady Gallant * Victorian Dream 

Fantasy: The Fae Warriors Trilogy: Solace * Bliss * Portence 

Blog   www.ginirifkin.blogspot.com

Facebook    https://www.facebook.com/people/Gini-Rifkin-Author/100001680213365

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Cowboys and Knights

 

OpenArt.ai Desilusión@shepherd_scientific_29

 There seems to be a general tie-in between knights of old and cowboys past and present. Whether they rode for the brand, for their liege lord, or for the cross they were loyal, protective of women and children, and their life could depend upon the bond of trust they built between themselves and their horse. 

They had a code by which they lived, and it goes without saying, when faced with injustice they were courageous and willing to fight against all odds. Of course there were blackguards, outlaws and ne'er-do-wells no matter the time period, which made their lives dangerous as well. 

 Hope-Eriana-Photography

     Many years ago, when I started reading romance novels, medieval settings were the most popular. I've now branched out to historical westerns, in both reading and writing. Knights and cowboys inspire stories of romance and bravery. But these protagonist can be more complicated then they appear as they navigated society, politics, and a changing world. 

 

   From longbow to crossbows, and from repeating rifles to double action revolvers, scientific inventions also changed their lives. 

    Although often solitary, a special friend or partner with whom to hangout or go adventuring with was always welcome.  

   They sought respect and reputation, their word was their bond, but most were humble, not braggarts, letting their actions speak for themselves. And they were certainly not perfect, in fact often flawed. In a romantic sense that makes them more relatable, and tugs at our heartstrings. And while they may have had wanderlust in their DNA, like all of us, they harbored hopes and dreams, and the desire to love and be loved. 

   Whether you favor cowboys or knights, there are  plenty of winter evenings left for reading snuggled up by the woodstove, or being tucked in under a warm quilt. 

 Keep the spirit of the season going with my Medieval Novella  Promise Me Christmas, a Colorado Authors' league finalist (e-book only $.99 until Dec. 31st) Or perhaps try Break Heart Canyon, my Olde West romantic adventure, christened Best Historical Romance of the year by Colorado Authors' League. 

Available here    99 cents until 12/31/24 

     Blurb: The nights are growing longer and the winter snows are coming—Darkenwald Castle is under siege.  
   Lord Guy Blackthorne is prepared to lay down his life for his children, his wife, and all who seek his protection. But as renegades, mercenaries, and political intrigue surround his ancient family stronghold, he’s forced to stay his hand against those who would dare to attack his fortress.  
   As supplies and hope dwindle, Lady Vespa fears Yule will not be one of good cheer, and the children shall have no gifts this year. At least she and Guy have one another, for that she is thankful. But there are few private moments to share their love, and every endeavor to satisfy their passion is interrupted when the enemy attempts to invade the castle. 
   On Christmas Eve, when a battle to the death begins, Guy faces his greatest challenge. Now Vespa’s wish for a happy Yule celebration turns to a prayer for her beloved’s safety. 

                                                                      Available here

Blurb:               

 Unearthing artifacts in Colorado sounded like easy money to Ryker Landry. Then he met the woman who owned the land. 

   Una MacLaren vows no fortune hunter will desecrate the ancient relics of Break Heart Canyon—even if the man is a handsome scoundrel. Fighting to keep her goat farm afloat as local cattlemen hatch deadly schemes to make sure she fails, she has enough to worry about. 

   Captivated by the courageous redhead, Ryker joins forces with Una and her Deerhound, MacTavish. But what does he desire most, the woman or the artifacts? 

    When the mythical white cougar again prowls the rocky cliffs, the legend of Break Heart Canyon draws them into a web of danger. Now only daring and blind trust can save them. 

                   

       Wishing everyone a prosperous, 

                   peaceful, happy, Holiday Season. 

My stories: 

Western Romance: Break Heart Canyon * Undercover Outlaw * Cowboys, Cattle and Cutthroats * A Cowboy’s Fate * Special Delivery. 

Contemporary Romantic Thriller: Fatal Recall

Medieval Romance: The Dragon and The Rose * Iron Heart                                 *Promise Me Christmas. 

Victorian Romance: Lady Gallant * Victorian Dream 

Fantasy: The Fae Warriors Trilogy: Solace * Bliss * Portence 

Blog   www.ginirifkin.blogspot.com

Facebook    https://www.facebook.com/people/Gini-Rifkin-Author/100001680213365

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Goodreads                     http://bit.ly/2OnHbrK

Barnes and Noble          http://bit.ly/2xPs9S4

AudioBooks                  https://adbl.co/2OlWbGJ

LinkedIn                        https://www.linkedin.com/in/gini-rifkin-15950489/

Universal link                https://books2read.com/u/3JLGMv