Wells Fargo Stage Coach

In the old west, stage coach rides were the norm for passenger travel. Dime novels managed to romanticize these vessels and their long treacherous trips through dangerous and desolate trails, but the reality was, they were dangerous. Not only did they carry passengers of great importance, they carried gold and silver bullion shipments, and the U.S. mail.

Oftentimes, the drivers were killed, and sometimes passengers too. They were often robbed, and because of the tight schedule they tried to keep, they pushed the horses to their limits between way stations, where they would swap out the draft horses. Wheels and axles were not always in the best of shape, and there were occasions when they lost a wheel going thirty-plus miles an hour. For a carriage made of wood, toppling over into ditches could mean total devastation for passengers, drivers, and sometimes, the horses.

The term shotgun, when referring to being a passenger in a vehicle, comes from the old west term that meant being in the position (armed with a shotgun) to protect passengers and the gold shipments on stage coaches. This man had to keep a close eye on the horizon while the driver concentrated on the road. Both worked together to keep everyone safe, but they couldn't always avoid being bushwhacked.

All of the stories I write, I romanticize the stage coach ride, which makes for a great story. Truth is, I prefer to keep the romantic side of the stage coach ride alive. I feel that if someone wants to know the reality of it, they can look up historical writings. For me, I'll stick to fiction and the romantic ride on a stage coach that takes my characters to a new and interesting place. If you want a taste of the old west and the romantic ride in a real stage coach, visit Tombstone, Arizona, where they still give tours in them.

*To see more pictures from Lisa Towns Meyers, see her Facebook page here: Lisa's Country Photos

This Mail Order Brides Series is based in Tombstone Arizona in the 1800's where my characters rode the stage coach to arrive as Mail Order Brides.

Civil War

Whenever there’s talk of the North and South, a lot of things come to mind, namely the Civil War.

From 1861 to 1865, Union soldiers fought against Confederate soldiers to uphold the Constitution.

The Confederates attacked Fort Sumter shortly after Abraham Lincoln was elected. 

Several southern slave states declared their secession from the US to form the Confederate states of America. Northern states, where slavery was legal, were known as the union.

The war lasted more than four years until the Union finally won when Robert E Lee surrendered to Gen. Ulysses S Grant at the battle of Appomattox, but not before approximately three quarters of a million soldiers were killed in combat. The Confederacy finally collapsed and slavery was abolished, freeing approximately 4 million slaves.

Please enjoy the pictures of a reenactment of the Civil War provided by my good friend, Lisa Towns Myers. If you would like to see more of her pictures, please visit Lisa’s country photos at the link below.

Lisa's Country Photos

 

CLICK HERE to see Giveaways on Samantha's website

Code of the West

Sheriff's Legacy, Preacher Outlaw, Outlaw in Petticoats HERE Code of the West In the days of the old west, men lived by an unwritten code, a set of rules that forced them to respect each other as men. They lived by the code, and often died by the code. If a man broke the code, he was often hazed until he either gave in and complied, or he was branded a coward and cast out. In the case of “fair fight” rules—part of the code, a man was subject to a duel if he was called out or challenged, or if another man broke the code and his honor. If he was not a fast-gun, he would die defending his honor, but it was better than living the rest of his life being branded as a coward if he backed down from the challenge. Oftentimes, depending on the time of day the offense occurred, these “fair fights” or duels were scheduled the following day at high-noon. This was to give each man the advantage of not having the sun at his back or in his eyes, giving each man a clear view of his target. The code of the west did not just apply to “gun-control”, though most of it was gun-related, keeping each man in check where his weapon was concerned. The code of the west was a way of life, and it extended beyond living by the golden rule. It was a rule of conduct in every aspect of the western man’s life, from how he treated others, to how he treated his horse.

Never shoot a woman ──── Never shoot a man in the back ──── Never shoot an unarmed man ──── Never borrow another man’s horse without his consent ──── Always keep your word   Samantha Bayarr http://www.christianbookreads.com/