Vampires, Wars and Martians
Doing research for my current project I expected to find plenty of facts relating to the American West. My third book takes place during the Spanish American War and follows the famed First Volunteers, better known as Roosevelt’s Rough Riders. I figured I would find plenty of accounts like that of Oklahoma cowboy and bronc […]
Cowboy 1901
In the sand hills near Nara Visa, New Mexico there is a monument. A humble monument. Stones arranged in a rectangle six by three feet. On one end of the stacked stones a larger rock with “Cowboy, 1901” chiseled into it. For 125 years Cowboy has laid at rest. His name lost to history. Known […]
Winter Losses
“Can I help you find anything?” Asked the sporting goods clerk. “Maybe, I need big treble hook.” I said while standing in the hook isle. “How big?” “Big enough to catch four-hundred-pound calf.” I said looking over the assortment of fishing tackle. “What are you fishing for?” The confused clerk asked. “Calves,” I replied. Winter […]
New Springplace
Oaks, Oklahoma once called “New Springplace” by Moravian missionaries became the one of many bloody scenes during the American Civil War. Over a thousand miles from the battle fields in the east a group of “Pin Indians and federal troops shot and killed Reverend James Ward as his wife held their eight-month-old twin sons […]
Axe in Hand
I can’t remember John Wayne cutting ice or Louis L’amour romanticizing winter chores. Although, besides Elmer Kelton, L’amour came close to true life depictions of cowboy life. Jack Schaefer’s “Monte Walsh” and A.B. Guthrie Jr’s “These Thousand Hills” are for sure top contenders. “Monte Walsh” happens to be my personal favorite with “The Time it […]