WESTERN WIVES by Kathleen Lawless @kathleenlawless

One of the many reasons I find the Wild West fun to write about is the opportunity afforded women during the time.  With a ten-men-to-every-woman ratio in many of the territories, women were more concerned about suitability than availability.  As someone who lives on an island where there are eight women to every man, I prefer those odds of 150 years ago. 

Unlike the East, where a woman’s marriageability was more likely based on social standing, family background and financial prospects, in the West, things were different.  Even a woman of questionable background could marry a man of her choosing, and if it didn’t work out, divorce was relatively easy to obtain in most areas. 

In keeping with those times I’m having a lot of fun writing about mail-order brides in the multi-author project, Widows, Brides and Secret Babies.  This popular, sweet western series stretches me as an author and offers me the chance to work with a talented array of other writers. 

I’m excited for you to meet Olivia in June and Rachel in August. 

Snippet from MAIL ORDER OLIVIA.  

Using an assumed name, Oliva shows up as a mail-order bride to the man she once loved, and was told had died.  Copyright 2020 Kathleen Lawless.  All rights reserved. 

         

          As the train slowed to a stop Olivia rose, settled her wiggly daughter on one hip, and reached for her valise, which was light enough to lift with only hand.  Because she had left Philadelphia in a hurry, she had packed only the bare necessities for Chloe and herself.

          She waited as passengers jostled past her, impatient to disembark.  No need to wonder if she would recognize Robert; she would know him anywhere.  When she stepped from the train, she spotted him instantly on the far side of the platform, talking to a plump, dowdy-looking woman.

          Pushing aside her fears and uncertainty, she covered the ground between them and reached the pair just as the other woman fisted some money Robert handed her, and rushed off. 

          Olivia knew exactly what had happened.  Robert had changed his mind.   Again.  The same way he had when he left her high and dry in Philadelphia, in a family way.  That wouldn’t be happening a second time!

          “Robert!  Her tone was more shrill than she intended, but it got his attention.  As he turned toward her, a myriad of expressions crossed his face.  Surprise and delight quickly faded to wariness.  His steps were hesitant as he approached her.

          “Livie!  What are you doing here?”

          “Looking for you, obviously.”

          “I don’t understand!”  

          “Neither do I.”

          Olivia was vaguely aware that the platform had emptied around them as they stood, gazes locked. 

          “You look well,” he said finally.  “I see congratulations are in order.  Where’s Harry?”

          “Harry died a few weeks ago.  Stumbled blind drunk in front of a train.”  She stated the facts with no more emotion than she had felt at the time, except relief that Harry was out of her life.

          “I’m sorry to hear that.”  His gaze darkened with emotion, only to vanish as quickly as it appeared.  “If you came to me for comfort, you’ve come to the wrong place.”

          “Nothing of the sort.”  She had come to ensure she and Chloe remained safe. 

Pre-order Mail Order Olivia here.  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B086JFJ6YC

Check out the entire series here.   https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B084WYL1QX

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Bobbins and Boots

by Shanna Hatfield

Admittedly, my imagination sometimes runs away with me.

When an idea for a story starts bopping around in my head like popcorn kernels in a hot pan, the "what ifs" race off in any number of directions.

As I contemplated the possibilities and ideas for my upcoming release, I knew the story would center around a mail-order bride.

But what if the mail-order bride arrived expecting to wed one man, and quickly found herself married to another.

I tried to imagine what it would be like to be that bride, traveling hundreds of miles, knowing a little (or at least thinking she knew a little) about the man she was to wed because of the letters they'd exchanged.

What would happen if she arrived and everyone she met told her what a horrible idea it was to marry her intended, if he ever actually bothered to show up in town?

And what if her intended finally did show up and she quickly realized she'd rather do just about anything than marry him... including marrying a complete stranger who just happened to come to her rescue?

See, these are the sort of questions that pop around in my head.

Of course, I couldn't help but wonder what sort of man would step in and marry a woman he knew nothing about just to keep her from having to wed a horrible man. 

Obviously, the kind of hero we all love reading about.

How does an act of kindness result in… marriage?

 One carefree cowboy is about to find out!

 Born dirt-poor into a life of hardship, Allie Tillman seizes the opportunity to better her situation by answering an advertisement for a mail-order bride in the West. Upon her arrival in Baker City, Oregon, she discovers her intended is a low-down, lying thief. Determined not to marry him, she grasps at the one thing that will keep him from forcing her to be his wife — marrying another man.

Good-natured cowboy Ben Amick had no idea a simple trip into town would completely change his life. When he happens upon a mail-order bride desperate to avoid marrying her fiancé, Ben does the first thing that pops into his head and marries her. Willingly, he gives her the protection of his name and his arms, never expecting her to capture his heart.

Humorous, heartfelt, and awash in sweet romance, Bobbins and Boots captures the tender and tumultuous emotions of falling in love.

Here is a little excerpt:

Fear churned in Allie Tillman’s nervous stomach like a butter paddle in a jar of thick cream. Since it was far too late to change the plans already set in motion, she stepped across the platform at the train depot and glanced around.

Questions about her future husband’s appearance pecked at her thoughts from the moment she’d received Joe Lambery’s letter. The missive confirmed his acceptance of her as his mail-order bride and included a train-ticket to Baker City, but didn’t include a photograph of him. Would he be tall and handsome or short and balding? Was he still in possession of all of his teeth? Although he sounded nice enough in the one letter they’d exchanged, what if he was cruel and spiteful.

A flicker of adventure nudged away a little of her anxiety as she glanced around the Eastern Oregon town she’d never heard of until she happened upon Joe Lambery’s advertisement for a bride. The sagebrush covered hills to the south and east, and the thick forest to the west and north was unlike anything she’d ever seen growing up on the flat prairie of Nebraska.

A deep breath filled her nose with fresh, clean air. Redolent with a hint of pine and a sprinkling of sage, she also detected the delicious smell of roasting meat. If she hadn’t teetered on the edge of full-fledged panic at what she was about to do, she might have paid more attention to her gnawing hunger.

In all her life, she’d never traveled more than ten miles from the sod house where she’d been born. Now, she was more than a thousand miles away from everyone and everything she’d ever known.

A quick scan of the faces of those still waiting to board the train revealed none of them seemed to be the rancher she’d come to wed. Not one of them wore a hat like the cowboys she’d seen on the train. Like she imagined Mr. Lambery would wear.

She pictured him as tall and broad-shouldered, with a friendly smile and a warm light in his eyes. 

Another glimpse around the depot confirmed no one appeared to be the right age for her intended. Two crusty old miners and a gentleman in a fine suit were the only people left outside, and they all were busy gathering supplies into wagons parked next to the platform.

Concerned, Allie hurried into the ticket office and stepped up to the counter.

“May I help you miss?” The man barely glanced up at her as he shuffled papers from a stack on his left to one on his right.

“Yes, sir, I’m looking for a man named Joe Lambery. Have you by chance seen him today?” she asked.

The papers stilled in the ticket agent’s hands and he slowly raised his gaze. One eyebrow traveled upward and he gave her a long, studying glance. “What in the world do you want with Joe Lambery?”

Startled by the disapproving tone of his voice and the disparaging look on his face, Allie took a step back from the counter. “He sent for me. We’re to marry and live on his ranch.”

“On his ranch?” The man’s second eyebrow joined the first, stretching close to his hairline.

Much to Allie’s dismay, the man guffawed loudly and slapped the counter with one hand. Tears rolled out of his eyes and he bent over, holding his stomach as laughter rolled out of him in great, uncontrollable waves.

Suddenly realizing she was quite serious, he curtailed his humor and straightened, giving her an apologetic glance.

“I’m sorry, miss, but I haven’t seen Joe Lambery for weeks.” His eyes held a hint of sympathy. “To my knowledge, there is no way to get a message to him, so you’ll have to find somewhere to wait until he wanders back into town. If I see him, I’ll mention your arrival.”

***

Bobbins and Boots (Baker City Brides, Book 4) releases March 23! And right now it's available on pre-order for only 99 cents.

***

USA Today Bestselling Author Shanna Hatfield writes character-driven romances with relatable heroes and heroines. Her historical westerns have been described as “reminiscent of the era captured by Bonanza and The Virginian” while her contemporary works have been called “laugh-out-loud funny, and a little heart-pumping sexy without being explicit in any way.”

Convinced everyone deserves a happy ending, this hopeless romantic is out to make it happen one story at a time. When she isn’t writing or indulging in chocolate (dark and decadent, please), Shanna hangs out with her husband, lovingly known as Captain Cavedweller.

Find Shanna’s books at:

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Shanna loves to hear from readers. Follow her online at:

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Full of Bull: Mail-Order Ruckus by @JacquieRogers #mailorderbride #western #romance

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Casanova – The Shy Bull

by Jacquie Rogers

In my latest book, Mail-Order Ruckus, the second book in Mail-Order Tangle (the first book, Mail-Order Promise, was written by Caroline Clemmons), Matt Johanssen buys a prize Durham bull. Several readers have asked me about him, so I decided to write a little about bulls today.

Durham Cattle

First of all, Durhams are now called Beef Shorthorns. In the 1800s, they were the dominant breed found in the Old West, although not so much now. These cattle were a result of a systematic breeding program developed by the Colling brothers in Durham County, England. At this time, Shorthorns were used equally for milk and beef. Later, Thomas Booth selected animals better suited for beef, while Thomas Bates bred for milk, and that’s when the Milking Shorthorn and Beef Shorthorn breeds came about. Because my book is set in 1881, I use “Durham,” the more common American term for the breed at the time.

In brief, Laura Dickerson (heroine), describes a quality bull:

She squeezed in between them and studied the bull. “Nice conformation—straight back, squared body, strong hindquarters. You should get some quality calves from him.”

A good bull has a short, muscular neck with a hump. He has a clean underline and his legs are square under his body, with hooves that don’t toe-in or toe-out. Quality calves come from quality dams and sires, so just any bull won’t do. You pick the best of the best.

2,000 Pounds of Muscle and Testosterone

A lot of people don’t know what bulls are all about. They’re a lot different than cows. You can herd cows or steers. Bulls—not so much. A cow will run away from you but a bull will stand his ground, and if he feels threatened, will charge. So in fight-or-flight terms, a cow is flight and a bull is fight. They’ll charge just about anything and aren’t the slightest bit intimidated by horses or a man on horseback, so cowhands keep a sharp eye on a bull's behavior to prevent injury to their horses or themselves. Or both.

Cattle Handling Tips- Moving Bulls

Demeanor

Just like any other animal (or human), bulls have a variety of temperaments and this is an inherited trait. Docile bulls are good as long as they also have a strong libido (after all, they do have to perform). Aggressive bulls breed aggressive calves, so the rancher has to take that into account. In a situation where cows run on open range, they need to be more aggressive to survive, so it’s not necessarily a negative. If the cattle operation is primarily on close ranchland, then a more docile bull would be more desirable.

In Mail-Order Ruckus, Casanova is both—he’s aggressive toward just about everyone except Laura. As for libido, he’s good there except he’s shy and isn’t interested in performing in front of others, whether cows or humans.

The Real Casanova

Actually, Casanova is the product of two Holstein bulls my dad had on our farm. One bull was named Pete. Pete would snort, bellow, and paw the ground whenever my dad came around and I was given warnings of dire consequences if I went anywhere near the bullpen. But Pete liked me to scratch his ears. I’d sneak out to the bullpen and visit him when Dad wasn’t around.   Pete never once exhibited aggressive behavior toward me.

Then we had another Holstein bull named Goober. He was a mellow bull, but when we put him with the cows, they chased him all over the pasture. Finally, Dad had to have a birds and bees talk with him. It turned out that Goober did just fine when there was only one cow in the bullpen and he had some privacy.

I combined both bulls into Casanova, who took a liking to Laura right away, but was shy about doing the deed under observation. I included all these scenes in Mail-Order Ruckus, and I hope you enjoy them. Here’s the scene where Matt turns Casanova out with a herd of cows in heat.  This is almost exactly what happened why my dad put Goober in the pasture with several heifers.

Excerpt from 

Mail-Order Ruckus

by Jacquie Rogers

Book 2 in Mail-Order Tangle

Matt herded his prize bull to the pasture where he’d earlier put the quality cows in heat. If the bull did his job, in nine months he’d have some fine heifers and they’d be the best breeding stock in the territory. The Durham bull had cost a fortune, but quality sires built quality herds, and quality herds made money.

“Have fun,” he said as he veered away. Matt didn’t drive the bull too close to the cows because a smart man never got between a bull and a cow in heat. The bull would be happy to have such pretty cows clamoring for his attention, and he’d mosey on over to the herd soon enough.

Except he never did.

One cow lifted her head and sniffed. So did another. And another. Next thing he knew, the cows barreled toward to bull at full tilt. The bull let out a snort—or maybe it was a squeak—and turned tail, running as fast as his legs would carry him back to his corral. The cows nearly trampled Matt’s horse. He spurred the gelding and galloped after the bull.

Once the bull was past the gate, he ran directly to the hay manger. Matt dismounted and closed the gate, but scrambled to the top of the corral fence when the cows thundered toward the bull, thwarted by the fence. They gathered around, mooing and carrying on.

Obviously, Matt’s prize Durham bull had a lot to learn about sex.

♥ ♥ ♥

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