If they could do it, then...

Post by Doris McCraw

aka Angela Raines

Photo (C) Doris McCraw

Julia Archibald Holmes is considered the first white woman to climb Pikes Peak in 1859.

Isabella Bird traveled through the Rocky Mountains alone in 1873.

Helen Chain painted 'The Mount of the Holy Cross' in 1879, and it is said she also climbed that same mountain.

So many women accomplished feats that most of us wouldn't tackle today. They accomplished these feats while wearing 'bloomers' in the cast of Julia Holmes, or 'travel' clothing that was popular in the later part of the 1900s. 

If you want to know more about these women, here are some links to provide that information.

https://westernartandarchitecture.com/articles/perspective-helen-henderson-chain-18491892

https://www.cogreatwomen.org/project/isabella-bird/

https://www.nps.gov/people/julia-archibald-holmes.htm

The exploits and legacy these women left inspire me to look at what we can do today to leave a legacy for future generations. Now, to find it.

Until Next Time

Doris McCraw

Victorian Style Self-Defense - What's a Lady to Do?

Victorian Self-defense

In the 19th century, women traveling alone or through secluded areas often found themselves vulnerable to attack. To protect themselves, many relied on everyday items. Hatpins and umbrellas served as discreet means of defense that fit within the fashion and social norms of the time, allowing women to carry a weapon without raising suspicion.

How to Defend Yourself, San Francisco Call, August 1904

Travel Essentials

American Etiquette Rules of Politeness, written by Walter Houghton in 1883, gave lots of advice, and some specifically included travel: "There is no situation in which a lady is more exposed than when she travels, and there is no position where a dignified, lady-like deportment is more indispensable and more certain to command respect." Mr. Houghton recommended carrying money in a strong pocket made in your upper petticoat, only reserving a small sum for incidental expenses in your dress pocket.

A pair of pockets from the early 19th century.

Looking Beyond Mr. Houghton's Recommendations

While traveling by Stagecoach, passengers were advised to expect annoyance, discomfort, and hardship. The risk of bandit attacks was real, and the unpredictable nature of the journey, harsh weather conditions, and rugged terrain added to the danger.

"Stagecoach," a 1939 film Starring John Wayne and directed by John Ford.

Best be Prepared-Pocket Pistols

The pocket pistol, also known as the Queen Anne pistol, originated in the mid-17th century as a small, concealable coat or pocket pistol. This style was used during the 18th century, evolving from a weapon reserved for the wealthy to a common sidearm in broader use as more and more manufacturers made them by the start of the 19th century.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Dragoon_Baby_Dragoon.jpg

Affectionately known as the "Baby Dragoon" and made without a loading lever, Colt turned out about 15,000 between 1847 and 1850, and the public loved them. This pocket model became the most successful of all of Colt's percussion revolvers. 

The Lady's Companion

Some manufacturers specifically marketed their small firearms to women. In 1866, Charles Converse and Samuel Hopkins produced around 800 pistols, which they sold under the trade name "Ladies Companion."

Original Remington Model 95 Derringer

The double-barrel Philadelphia Deringer was a popular vest-sized pocket pistol. The Rimfire Remington Model 95 gained widespread popularity, overshadowing all other designs and becoming synonymous with the term "Derringer." Approximately 150,000 units of this model were produced between 1866 and 1935. The Remington double-barrel derringer design is still being manufactured today.

  

"Stagecoach," a 1939 film directed by John Ford.

What's A Lady to Do?
Imagine yourself as a single woman in the post-Civil War era. After enduring unimaginable hardships, you travel by Stagecoach toward a new life. Though weary and covered in dust, hope fills your heart as you bounce over the rutted road, just hours away from your destination. Suddenly an obstruction on the road brings the stage to a stop, and a masked man approaches with his gun cocked. Do you reach for your pocket pistol? Or will that only prove to make things worse? My heroine in my new release, A Recluse for Christmas, faces a similar dilemma. What's a Lady to do?

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CZK49D8B

He's a former Union cavalry lieutenant who now serves as the guardian of his three nieces. Betrayed by his former fiancée and still troubled by his memories of war, Grady Buchanan is cynical and determined to keep the world at a distance. "If I must marry, the woman should be the quiet type, content to focus on tending to the family, leaving me to my solitude and peace."

She's a spirited bootlegger's daughter from the south who is on the run. Bethany Murphy is stubborn and resilient, looking for a fresh start, and determined to achieve her happily ever after. "Even chickens understand the importance of companionship. My husband doesn't realize what he's missing; fortunately, I don't give up easily." 

Children's Toys and Books from WWI

 

Last month, Captain Cavedweller and I traveled to Kansas City. One of the reasons we went was so I could do some research at the National World War I Museum there.

If you ever have the chance to visit the museum, I highly recommend it. We spent the better part of the day there and there were parts of it we didn't even get to!

One of the buildings was a display filled with children's toys and books, all encouraging the kiddies to be patriotic and support the war effort. There were even little military costumes to mimic what the soldiers were wearing.

Every boy needed his own set of soldiers to play with. 

Even Dolly Dingle paper dolls joined in the patriotic theme.

The Liberty Blocks were so colorful! I could easily imagine children spending many a happy hour playing with them. 

This book, Sailor Tommy by Florence Notter, was published in 1918.  It seems to be an action-packed story!

If you enjoy WWI history, I hope you'll take a look at Molly. 

Inspired by the Hello Girls, America’s first women soldiers who helped win World War I.

She longs to make a difference.
He yearns to claim her heart.

After years of managing the Pendleton telephone office, Molly Thorsen answers the call for women to serve as telephone operators during World War I. Upon her arrival in France, she navigates the challenges of working near the front lines and battles the prejudices and skepticism of the men around her. Determined to prove her worth and skill, Molly faces adversity head-on while unexpectedly falling in love with a charming soldier.

Friday Fitzpatrick may not have been eager to engage in combat, but when he is drafted into the American Expeditionary Forces, he embraces the role of a soldier with unwavering determination. While fighting to survive the harrowing battlefield experiences, he clings to his sanity by dreaming about the captivating Hello Girl who has captured his heart. Though his opportunities to see her are limited, she serves as a beacon of hope in the midst of his darkest days.

Through their shared experiences and the trials they endure, Molly and Friday find comfort and encouragement in each other's company, forging a connection that defies the chaos of a world in conflict. As the war draws to a close and they return home, will civilian life bring them together or pull them apart?

Find out in this sweet and wholesome historical romance filled with hope, faith, courage, and love.

Happy New Year!

USA Today Bestselling Author Shanna Hatfield is a farm girl who loves to write character-driven romances with relatable heroes and heroines. Her sweet historical and contemporary romances are filled with sarcasm, humor, hope, and hunky heroes.

When Shanna isn’t dreaming up unforgettable characters, twisting plots, or covertly seeking dark, decadent chocolate, she hangs out with her beloved husband, Captain Cavedweller.

Shanna is a member of Western Writers of America and Women Writing the West.

Chugga-Chugga Choo-Choo! ROLLING DOWN THE RAILS ON FREE LAND by Marisa Masterson

 

Oxford Science Archive/Print Collector/Getty Images

How was the West settled? Last month, I spent a good deal of my free time (not that there was a lot of it) researching land claims given to railroads in the United States.

No, I used the wrong word. They were not land claims. The government awarded grants and 'right of ways' to various railroads laying tracks west of the Mississippi River.

This is where it gets interesting. While most railroads received 400 feet right of ways, divided in half by the tracks, this changed after 1850. In that year, the government began to give away large chunks of land. 

Officially, this award was designated to be used exclusively for 'railroad business'. It gave the railroad a chance to survey the land and choose what would be the best stretch for their right of way. Then the railroad was supposed to file their choice and give back the other acres. 

Again, the word is OFFICIALLY. That rarely happened.

Instead, the General Land Office that oversaw claims withdrew almost two hundred million acres from what was available to claim based on the grants. For example, this made two-thirds of the land in Iowa no longer available to settlers. 

But what business did Congress imagine the railroads had that required this amount of land?

Settlement! The government turned a blind eye while railroads sold off parcels of land. At the same time, a growing part of the population was pushing westward, wanting to claim that land--but they wanted it under the free land act passed by Congress. 

Learning that the railroads owed huge chunks pushed the public to act. They forced the government to stop giving away the land. 

But what about the land already given to railroads? They were selling land for cash. These were the best parcels if a person wanted to settle near a town. The Homestead Act that allowed for free land had virtually no claims near to what some would call 'civilization', and all because of the railroad grants.

Confusing, right? Laws went back and forth, based on the elected Congress. It gave me a great idea, though.

My imaginary town named Fox Creek sits near the railroad tracks. In my next book for the Uncertain Sweethearts series, a man arrives in town and announces that he owns it. 

From the book, Maude Ropes the Sheriff:

A chair scraped. The rancher stood. He rolled up the deed, showing he was finished reading it. “You bought the land from the railroad. It’s what I thought.”

“So you know I got a right to everything.”

Evans moved his chin from side to side, denying Clyde’s statement. “Folks in town will need a judge to rule that you own their places. The government sold this same land to Paul’s father.”

“Hey! You tryin’ to pull a fast one? The land agents wouldn’t make that kind of mistake,” Clyde protested.

Paul shrugged as he stood and offered his hand. He looked at it and reluctantly took it. The two shook, with Clyde gripping the offered hand more tightly than he should. The other man did not grimace, and that disappointed him.

“We will need a judge to visit and decide the matter,” O’Hanlon said, repeating the rancher’s conclusion.

“What about the rent owed me? I want that money.”

Evans sighed. “Wait for the judge.”

He spoke slowly, as if he gave instructions to an idiot. It rankled Clyde. He wanted to reach across the desk and grab the rancher by the throat. His fingers clenched, ready to act.

A sudden question distracted him. “Why’d you choose Fox Creek to build your saloon?”

“Huh?”

He turned and stared at O’Hanlon. “What kind of question is that?”

The store owner shrugged. “I’m curious. Seems kind of a big coincidence, you knowing the sheriff and all.”

“Yeah, Fergus, how come you settled here?” The rancher asked, his green gaze piercing. He wanted an answer.

O'Hanlon was the kind of man Fergus could ignore. Sort of mild and wimpy. Evans was a different matter. He was all steel and iron, as hard as a man could be. Clyde knew he would appear weak if he refused to answer.

“Well, I ran into a woman who told me ‘bout the place. She lived here, but she hated it.”

The store owner’s eyes widened. “Did she tell you her father is the blacksmith in town?”

“Yeah, Mick something or other.”

“Murphy,” the other man supplied. “She left her two little girls and ran off with a salesman.”

Clyde grunted. “Yeah, she surely did hate Fox Creek. And she told me all about the people living here. Said they needed a saloon.”

“And when you heard Jeff’s name, you made your plan,” the rancher interrupted.

Rubbing his hands together, Clyde chuckled. “Yep, I decided to take this town away from him.”

Are you wondering who Jeff is? Why does the man named Clyde want to steal his town?  Also, what can be done to keep him from claiming the town? After all, he has a deed from the railroad.

You will need to read the book to find out.

COMING SOON!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DD7SB7N9

Look what our authors published in December!

 Our authors have been busy writing your next favorite story.

Look what we published in December!

 

What's in a Name?: Love for 3 Lucindas (Love in the West)

By Marisa Masterson

Three ladies connected to the name Lucinda in intertwined stories of convenience, marriage, and love.
Lemon Pie by Lucinda
Lucy never imagined that Ty Goodson would bid on her pie at the auction. But after a night spent in a cave and a shotgun wedding, Lucy finds herself in a forced marriage with a man who longs for a different woman. Will she win his love and escape the men chasing them?
Mail Order Lucy
Lucinda's father sends her on a train to New York to prevent her from breaking up Ty and Lucy Goodson's marriage. But after meeting a fellow passenger, the two switch places. Lucinda finds herself on a poor farmer's doorstep, pretending to be his mail-order bride. Can she convince Andy to become a rancher and find happiness with a man who ignites a passion in her heart?
A Match for Maggie
Maggie—the fake Lucinda--in danger when her past comes back to haunt her. But with the help of handsome US Marshal Reg Parker, she discovers safety and love. However, life twists for her when Reg sends her to Denver as another man’s mail-order bride. There, she discovers her groom is missing. Will she be safe in Denver, and who will be the man to marry her?
A Christmas Eve to Remember
Lucinda and Maggie must rely on their loved ones for support. But when Reg is arrested, will he and Maggie spend Christmas apart? And with the return of a dangerous threat, will Maggie and Lucinda make it through the holiday unharmed?

Release date: December 2, 2024

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DLGMSY9P

 

A Pony for Christmas: Western Christmas Magic

by P. Creeden

     Will hope, love, and peace make its way to the western frontier this year and help someone in desperate need of the spirit of Christmas?

     Little Susan Price has never spoken a word. Her father, Wayne Price, has never quite understood how to bring his child out of her shell, but has fully accepted her as she is. But at five years old, he’s worried how other children will respond to little Susie’s silence. Christmas is coming, and he really doesn’t even know what he might get her for a gift. Through it all, his stalwart mother has plans to help both his son and granddaughter. Perhaps finding a wife and mother might be the cure to all their ills.

     Eleanor Hunter’s father runs the livery in Golden, Colorado and she’s always been one of his hardest workers. When a black pony comes to town with a man who is ready to shoot it, she stops him and buys the pony for a dollar. Now her father wants to know what she’s going to do with the feral thing. But the more time she spends with the pony, the more she realizes that he just needs confidence, love, and trust. And she’s happy to give him both. If only it were so easy to get the man who she’s been in love with for five years to trust her as well. But then his mother steps in.

Release date: December 09, 2024

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DFVP33DN

 

A Surprise for Christmas: Confederate Widows, Spinsters, and Proxy Brides

By Zina Abbott

     Analia Cantrill and what remained of her family fled the South as the Yankees approached South Carolina. They took refuge with her aunt’s family in Baltimore. Following her mother’s death, circumstances all but force Analia out. With nothing left to draw her back to the South, she decides to seek a husband in the West—hopefully one who will leave the difficulties of the War Between the States in the past and accept her situation.

     Jeffrey Holden struggles to overcome his hatred for the Southern rebels responsible for the death of his older brother. After corresponding with several women, some stopped writing after he admitted a war injury now required him to walk with a cane. Others he rejected because they were from the South. He decided upon Miss Cantrill from Baltimore. Even though Maryland still allowed slavery during the war years, it stayed with the Union. The woman’s uncle rose to the rank of captain in the Union Army. Surely, she was an acceptable choice.

   Analia feels a sense of unease when, in the same letter with her fare to join him, Jeffrey expresses his happiness over finding a nice Northern bride. She suspects, once he hears her speak and discovers who she brings with her, he will be in for a big surprise.

Release Date: December 09, 2024

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0D1LVNY3L

 

Minda: Christmas Quilt Brides Book 22

By Linda Carroll-Bradd

     Philadelphia socialite Minda Gayle Harleigh is still in hiding. Wishing to avoid the social shame of being jilted at the altar like her cousin, she embraces a leap year tradition so she can be the one asking. At the summer gala for the Penn Sailing Club Regatta, surrounded by family and friends, she proposes marriage to her beau. Ernst Heinrich III refuses, telling her she has stripped him of his dignity. Now she’s scouring matrimonial newspapers to find someone out West who knows nothing of her background and her inappropriate boldness.
     Montana farmer Kunz Lambrecht has barely won back his standing in the Butte City German community after rejecting a mail-order bride almost three years earlier. No one accepted his rationale that someone with hearing loss could be in danger on a farm. Again, he places an ad in Brides by Mail and is amazed to connect with an Eastern woman who is visiting his town the following month.
     But when the two meet, will they hide behind their past mistakes, or will they see their correspondence connection for the real possibility it presents?

Release date: December 13, 2024

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0DG6H5486

Mack: Christmas Quilt Bride Book 23

By Angela Raines

     Colin "Mack" McCullough was in the wrong place at the wrong time and at age 14 was sent to prison. Now, eight years later, out of prison, he is offered a shot at redemption: by escorting Myra Aldridge safely to Denver, a high-stakes job that could help him rebuild his life. But the question lingers—was he hired because of his past, or despite it? Either way, danger was bound to follow.
     It wasn’t that Myra Aldridge hated traveling—it was that her father made all the decisions without asking her. At almost eighteen she felt old enough to make her own choices, and the last thing she needed was some hired escort watching her every move and telling her what to do.

Release date: December 20, 2024

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DKYB6YVL

Trifle by Tilde: Old Timey Holiday Kitchen: Book 36

By P. Creeden

     Tilde Visser has only one dream for Christmas, to live in a house again and bake a Trifle for her mother. Until now, her family has been living with other Dutch in tent communities. But when there’s a robbery in their small town and one of the Dutch are blamed, the whole community lands in an uproar. Then Samuel, the kind baker who has been helping the Dutch, gets involved in the trouble as well.
     Tilde must find a way to clear Samuel’s name before there’s a territory dispute, and help everyone find peace before Christmas. But she might just find love as well…

Release date: December 21, 2024

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DHV6YL9K

A Recluse for Christmas : Confederate Widows, Spinsters, and Proxy Brides

By Kimberly Grist

Join these Southern Belles on a Christmas journey to bridge the North and the South. Pasts fade and futures ignite amidst prairie snowflakes under western skies. Before each love story can unfold, the bride and groom are wed by proxy—having never met. Wounded souls find redemption in the bitter winter winds, and love’s embrace is the gift that warms their hearts. Find tales of hope, healing, and holiday joy as these Southern Belles, left alone by the war’s harsh realities, navigate cultural differences to forge new lives wed to their western, Yankee grooms. Will every heart discover the true spirit of Christmas and defy expectations? Fall in love right along with every star-crossed couple when you immerse yourself in each of these sweet holiday romances today!

Release date: December 23, 2024

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CZK49D8B