Look what our authors published in May!

 

Our authors have been busy writing your next favorite story.

Look what they published in May!

Ardith Yosemite Bride: National Park Brides, Book 23 By Zina Abbott       Once school was out for the summer, Ardith Cleary loved nothing better than to ride next to her father on his stagecoach runs to Yosemite National Park. There she met and became friends with several young people who live in the park full-time, including the Leonard sisters. However, as she closes in on adulthood, she realizes another form of transportation is threatening to make her father’s job obsolete. Her dismay over the coming of the Yosemite Valley Railroad conflicts with her growing friendship with one of the assistant rail company engineers.       After the death of his father, J. B. “Mack” McManus was forced to quit college without earning his degree in engineering. To help support his family and earn money toward the final year he needs to graduate, he accepts a job as a foreman overseeing grading rail bed and constructing the bridges needed to complete the rail line between Merced and El Portal, just outside of Yosemite National Park. The last thing he needs is the distraction provided by a cute and quirky redhead and her interest in how the railroad construction is progressing. Releases: May 6, 2026 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GPGW3C7G    Rigby's Roar: Mountain Men-Echoes of Thunder By Marisa Masterson       Rigby had a dream job studying plant life in the beautiful Colorado mountains, but when the river turns yellow and the plants start dying, he knows something is wrong. Determined to uncover the truth, he heads to the nearby mine to investigate. But what he finds there is chaos and tension bubbling beneath the surface.       As a professor from New York, Rigby is already a target for the angry miners, and now he must navigate the dangerous waters of a polluted river and a potential marriage to a stranger. Will he be able to protect his beloved mountains and his own future?       Join Rigby on this thrilling journey filled with western romance and rugged adventure. Fans of action-packed stories and heartwarming love will not want to miss this captivating tale. And for those who enjoyed "Heart of the West" by Penelope Williamson, this book is a must-read. Don't miss out on the excitement. Release date: May 12, 2026 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0G4XTWLZZ Summer Shenanigans: Sweet Historical Western Romance (The Sister's Mail-Order Bride Company Book 5) By Kit Morgan A woman on the run. A simple cowboy come to help. And a house full of matchmakers.       Sadie thought she knew exactly where she was headed. As one of several mail-order brides preparing to leave for Wild Rose Ridge, she has only a few short weeks before boarding the train west and beginning a brand-new life.       Then she meets Jesse Calloway.       While the other brides dream of handsome husbands and grand futures, Jesse is perfectly content with his horse, his campfire, and a hot cup of coffee beneath the stars. Kind, dependable, and impossible to forget, he's the last complication Sadie needs. But as time slips by, leaving becomes harder with each passing day.       Now, with train departure day fast approaching and a dangerous uncle determined to control her future, Sadie must decide whether to follow the plans she made long ago... or take a chance on the man she never expected to love.       A heartwarming clean and wholesome western romance filled with laughter, friendship, and a happily-ever-after you'll be cheering for. Release Date: May 29, 2026 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H3CVW2K7   Brides with Secret Babies on the Smoky Hill Trail By Zina Abbott A box set of Zina Abbott’s three romance novels from the Widows, Brides and Secret Babies series. Along with a few connected characters, all are set between 1865 and 1870. All include travel by stagecoach along the Smoky Hill Trail in Kansas Territory.           Mail Order Roslyn      Bullied by her aunt and guardian to travel to Junction City to marry, once she discovers the intent of her prospective husband, Roslyn refuses. After being told there are no jobs for a decent woman with a baby, she jumps at the offer to assist a stagecoach station manager’s wife.      After Elam lost most of his left leg during the War Between the States, he has been reduced to existing the best he can. All he has to his name is a Spencer repeating rifle, which he knows how to shoot well. Realizing Roslyn intends to travel to and live on the frontier prone to attacks by hostile Cheyenne, he now has a purpose. He will go, too, to protect the pretty woman and her baby.           Mail Order Lorena      Lorena, a reverend’s daughter from the South, makes the mistake of accepting help from her late husband’s half-brother. She finds herself trapped in a Salina saloon working as a cook while waiting for him to return from a freight run. Once both she and the saloon owner learn that her brother-in-law is dead, she soon must deal with her wages being withheld, the threat of a secret being exposed that could result in her losing what she values most, and being forced into prostitution.      Eustace, owner of a successful horse-breeding farm in Georgia, finds himself on the losing end of the War Between the States. After selling what he can, he accepts a job as a head stock tender at a stagecoach station on the Kansas frontier—anything to earn enough to pay the taxes owed on his land. To avoid the Union soldiers at neighboring Fort Ellsworth, he spends his time off in Salina, including the saloon. He refuses the three prostitutes who solicit him, but his interest is caught by the plainly dressed woman who only appears to replenish glasses or clean up spills. When the saloon owner offers  for Eustace to be the first to take Lorena upstairs for an entire night, he finds the temptation too strong to resist. Will he debauch her, or will he realize the former Union soldier saloon owner is intent on degrading him as much as her?           Mail Order Penelope      Her mother dead and her home gone, Penelope and the son she conceived before her husband died travels to Pond Creek to marry a man she met through correspondence. In spite of warnings from an Army surgeon that, due to the danger, she should turn back, she insists on continuing. It is only when she arrives at Monument Station that she learns the truth about her intended. However, with nothing to return to, and no funds to go anywhere, what should she do?      Marcus, an Army surgeon, quickly decides the pretty widow is stubborn and irrational. Yet, when he needs help performing surgery on several injured soldiers, he soon values her resourcefulness and abilities. Present when she learns the truth about her intended, he helps her consider other options. However, the thought that her working with Steward Polly as the Fort Hays hospital matron might result in Penelope becoming the next Mrs. Polly leaves a sour taste in Marcus’s mouth. Release date: May 31, 2026 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H3J2VFS2

     Not all of our authors make their books available on pre-order. For those who do, those advance sales go a long way to help their book ratings.

Below are some future books.

June Releases: 

For Liberty and Love: Petticoats & Patriots Book 1: A Sweet Patriotic Romance Series Across American History

By Shanna Hatfield

She never intended to become a spy … or fall for one.

          Philadelphia, 1776

As whispers of revolution turn swell into a roar for freedom, Lucy Carlson is no longer content to simply watch from behind the counter of her father’s jewelry shop. When a mysterious woman—none other than Martha Washington—leaves behind a locket, Lucy discovers the piece is more than a pretty keepsake. The necklace is a secret vessel for the revolution that carries the promise of love.

Drawn into a dangerous spy ring, Lucy begins crafting coded messages concealed within the locket’s clever design, living a secret double life and risking everything she holds dear in a time of sacrifice and war.

      Continental soldier Branch Barton is a man defined by duty. Tasked with rooting out traitors, he moves through the shadowed world of deception and divided loyalties. He’s trained to trust no one, yet he finds himself drawn into a slow-burning connection with the jeweler’s spirited daughter.

      But when Lucy begins to suspect Branch may be a Redcoat in disguise, their fragile bond is tested by mistaken identity, growing mistrust, and the threat of betrayal.

      In a war where even allies can become enemies, Lucy and Branch must navigate a world of hidden truths and guarded hearts. With the fate of the colonies—and their hearts—hanging in the balance as Lucy delivers a message in enemy territory, will they find the courage to trust each other and choose love?

Release date: June 16, 2026

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H1JQG598

 

Her Heart's Allegiance: Petticoats & Patriots Book 3: A Sweet Patriotic Romance Series Across American History

By Kit Morgan

     In a house filled with British officers, colonial spies, and dangerous secrets, falling in love may be the most reckless act of all.
     Anna Turner serves quietly at Pembrooke House, hiding her patriot loyalties beneath the careful routine of a household maid. But when cheerful messenger Nathaniel Reed begins delivering private correspondence to the British captain residing there, Anna becomes convinced he’s the enemy.
Nate, however, is hiding secrets of his own.
As two rival spy rings unknowingly move information through the same household, suspicion turns to uneasy partnership—and then something far more dangerous. Because in a city where spies are hanged in the streets, one wrong move could condemn them both.
And surrendering her heart to Nate Reed may prove deadlier than war itself.
     Throughout 250 years of American history, a well-loved locket finds its way into the hands of eight spirited heroines—each standing at the crossroads of love and destiny, and each inspired by a true patriot. As it journeys from one heart to the next, these stories unfold with sweet romance, unwavering hope, and a deep love of country, proving that even in uncertain times, love is always worth the risk. Start reading the Petticoats & Patriots series today!

Release date: June 30, 2026

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H24GGJZZ    

July Releases: 

Sophia's Dance Surprise (Rejected Mail-Order Match Book 9)

By Zina Abbott

     While a young teenager, Sophia Schmidt, along with her mother, were forced out of the only home Sophia had ever known. After staying for a short time with her Onkel Peter Fischer—her mother’s younger brother, she, her mother, and a new stepfather arrive at their new home in Helena, Montana Territory, where they join the Schmidts’ cousin and his wife. Years later, Peter and his family decide to leave their Pennsylvania home to set up a new butcher shop in the German community of Helena. He also brings his apprentice. Sophia decides Max is handsome enough. Too bad he is so stand-offish.
     As much as Max Berger enjoys his tight-knit German community, he is drawn by the potential and challenges of building a future in the West. When the master butcher to whom he is apprenticed decides to move to Montana Territory, Max begs to go with him. Once there, he is drawn to Peter’s niece, who treats him like he does not even exist. Unfortunately, while he is still an apprentice, becoming romantically involved with any women is off-limits. How can he capture not only Sophia’s attention and interest—but also her heart—to persuade her to wait until he is free to court? During a celebration in the German community, he hopes asking her to dance will change everything.

Release date: July 30, 2026

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0G4FGKSL5

"Day Is Done" - History of Taps (Bugle Call)

 

This past Memorial Day, we watched the PBS special "The National Memorial Day Concert." as we always do, and once again tears trembled on my lashes at this haunting melody. And again, I needed to find out how this tune came to be.

Have you ever attended summer camp as a Girl/Boy Scout, attended a military funeral, or a patriotic memorial ceremony, and been moved by the rendition of "Taps" performed by a bugler?

Sometimes known as "Butterfield's Lullaby" or "Day Is Done," "Taps" was developed during the Civil War in 1862 by Brigadier General Daniel Butterfield. Dissatisfied with the formal bugle call signaling "lights out," he revised an existing call known as the "Scott Tattoo" to create a more melodious tune. He arranged with his bugler to play the new 24-note version, which quickly gained popularity among Union troops and later spread to Confederate forces as well.

The first documented use of "Taps" in a military funeral occurred when a Union artillery officer ordered the tune played for a deceased soldier instead of the traditional three rifle volleys, which were unsafe due to the proximity of the enemy. This established "Taps" as a respectful and discreet tribute for fallen soldiers.

The name "Taps" likely derived from the earlier practice of striking three slow

drum beats after the "Tattoo" or "Extinguish Lights" call, which the soldiers referred to as "Drum Taps" or simply "Taps." Butterfield's bugle call replaced the drum beats, but the nickname persisted.

"Taps" concludes military funerals at Arlington National Cemetery, and in every city and small town in the United States. It is sounded every evening at 23:00 (11:00 pm) at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, as well as during the thousands of military wreath ceremonies conducted there every year.

The final bugle call of the day on military installations, "Taps" is played as a signal to service members that it is quiet time or "lights out, and often by Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and Girl Guides to mark the end of a scouting event or a campfire.
"Taps" is a bugle call and is not considered a song as such. However, Union soldier, Horace Trim is often credited for a set of words intended to accompany the music.

Day is done, gone the sun,
 From the lake, from the hills, from the sky;
 All is well, safely rest, God is nigh.

Fading light, dims the sight,
 And a star gems the sky, gleaming bright.
 From afar, drawing nigh, falls the night.

Thanks and praise, for our days,
 'Neath the sun, 'neath the stars, neath the sky;
 As we go, this we know, God is nigh.

Sun has set, shadows come,
 Time has fled, Scouts must go to their beds
 Always true to the promise that they made.

While the light fades from sight,
 And the stars gleaming rays softly send,
 To thy hands we our souls, Lord, commend.

The haunting and solemn melody of "Taps" has become deeply ingrained in American military culture. Its 24 notes bring to mind reflection, respect, and mourning, making it one of the most recognizable and emotionally powerful bugle call in U.S. history.

Back In Time - Colorado 1861 & 1873

 Post by Doris McCraw

aka Angela Raines

Image (C) Doris McCraw

This post is taking a trip back to the 1860s-70s in El Paso County, Colorado, with a look at its first sheriff and an unsolved death.

When Colorado became a territory in 1861, formed from parts of the Kansas, Nebraska, Utah, and New Mexico Territories, El Paso County was among the original 17 counties. 

Rankin Scott Kelly, born in 1826, was the first Sheriff of El Paso County. Appointed in 1861 when the county was formed. He, along with his deputy, was the law in an area that covered over 2,200 square miles. But Kelly had a secret. He had struck a man at about the age of thirteen who had left his sister to fend for herself when their boat capsized in the lake they were on. Thinking he’d killed the man, Kelly ran, hid nearby, then left Maine for areas west. It was not until shortly before he died in 1913 that he learned the man had not died. (Side note, Kelly’s story was written by a former El Paso County Sheriff, John Wesley Anderson. PBS also did a piece on Kelly) *See the link at the bottom of this post.

Near Pioneer Section of Evergreen Cemetery
Image (C) Doris McCraw

And now to the unsolved death. There is a mystery around the 1873 death of William H. ‘Judge’ Baldwin. Baldwin arrived in the area around 1868. Known as the town drunk, Baldwin, who received the name judge for judging various sheep contests at territorial fairs. He was a sheep farmer whose ranch was located north and east of Colorado Springs. (The city was founded in 1871, and a dry town)  His body was discovered on November 3, 1873, at the bottom of Green and Stilzer's slaughterhouse well around 2pm. His pockets were turned out, and his wallet was missing. His horse was tied outside the fence, and his hat and shoes were found on the floor about five feet from the well. His face had a bruise near one eye. It was believed he was around 38-40 years of age at his demise. He had been scalped once while in South America, and according to legend, barely missed being scalped a second time during an altercation with the Indians here. It is believed he is buried somewhere in the pioneer section of Evergreen Cemetery in Colorado Springs. 

Documentary on Kelley

Until next time

Stay safe and keep reading and writing.

Doris

Angela Raines - Amazon

Doris A. McCraw - Amazon

Pendleton Petticoats Makeover

A while back, I concluded my P Pendleton Petticoats series (all 11 books) needed a makeover.

Putting new covers on that many books all at once felt like a daunting task, but it was definitely worth it!

I thought you might like to see the evolution of the first book, Aundy.

Back when I first published the book in 2013, I was working with zero budget for buying nice book covers. So I made my own despite my lack of experience with them.

The woman who appears to be running off the cover was me, wearing an outfit my mom had made for me years ago. I photoshopped in the background and the lamb.

That finished the book. And I wrote a few others in the series.

Then I decided Aundy and the other books REALLY needed an upgrade.

By then, I could afford to spend a little on book covers and used images I found on a stock photo website I subscribed to.

I’m not sure if this cover is better or worse!

The next cover was much, much better (my skills had improved and I had access to better images).

Yet, it was still time for an update.

I am so, so pleased with the way Aundy turned out. And I love that Garrett is now on the cover as well!

If you are unfamiliar with the series, Aundy is the first book.

A widowed mail-order bride.

A stubborn rancher.

An unexpected second chance.

Aundy Thorsen crossed the country to become a mail-order bride … only to find herself a widow days later. With nowhere to turn and no intention of going back to Chicago, Aundy sets out to build a life for herself in Eastern Oregon. But forging a future on a rustic homestead is harder than she imagined, especially when it means wrangling unruly chickens, tending sheep, and proving she can manage on her own. The last thing she wants is help from her infuriatingly handsome neighbor.

Garrett Nash has spent his life working the family ranch and understands just how unforgiving the frontier can be. When tragedy leaves Aundy alone, the steady, protective cowboy offers his help out of obligation. Admiration for the brave, determined woman soon turns into something far deeper and richer.

However, Aundy has already risked her heart once and paid the price. She refuses to make that mistake again. But Garrett isn’t offering to rescue her. He’s proposing a true partnership.

In this sweet and wholesome historical western romance, a slow-burn love story unfolds between a strong heroine and the rugged rancher next door. Filled with warmth, gentle humor, and hard-won hope, Aundy is a moving story of second chances, found family, and a love powerful enough to take root in the wild, untamed West.

Welcome to Pendleton, Oregon, where courageous women, steadfast cowboys, and a close-knit community build lives filled with hope, humor, and lasting love. Each story in the Pendleton Petticoats series delivers a heartfelt romance, rich western charm, and a deeply satisfying happily-ever-after.

Start the journey today—and discover the story that began it all.

Aren't they pretty!

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.

Connect with her at her website at shannahatfield.com

From Campfire Laughter to Quiet Faith: Songs That Carried Pioneers West

By Kimberly Grist

The journey west was not for the faint of heart. Pioneer families faced long days on the trail, unpredictable weather, illness, and the vast unknown that lay ahead with every mile. Comforts were few, yet one of their most enduring sources of strength was always with them—whether tucked away in trunks, remembered from memory, or carried quietly in their hearts. In times of weariness and uncertainty, music reminded them why they had begun their journey and provided them with the strength to continue.

🔥 Songs Around the Campfire
Life on the trail had its lighter moments. After long days of travel, when the wagons were circled and the fire was lit, music often filled the evening air. Laughter came easily with familiar tunes like “Goober Peas,” “Oh! Susanna,” and “Jimmy Crack Corn.” Songs such as “Camptown Races” and “Buffalo Gals” brought rhythm and energy—sometimes even prompting a bit of dancing if a fiddle was nearby.

Many of these songs were simple, repetitive, and easy to learn, making them perfect for families traveling together. Children could join in, their voices blending beneath the wide-open sky. In those moments, the hardships of the day eased, replaced—if only briefly—by music and shared joy.

🎶 Lighthearted Campfire & Folk Songs 

In many cases, no instruments were necessary. However, when available, a fiddle, harmonica, or banjo brought energy to the gathering, transforming an ordinary evening into something truly unforgettable.

🌾 When the Music Quieted
But as the fire burned low and the laughter faded, a different kind of song often followed.

The lively tunes that brought smiles gradually gave way to something deeper—hymns of faith that spoke to the heart in a way no other music could. These songs lingered in the stillness, offering true comfort, courage, and hope to those facing the unknown.

In those quiet moments—when the stars stretched endlessly overhead and tomorrow’s journey remained uncertain—hymns transformed into more than just music. They became a steady reminder that, no matter how far the road stretched ahead, no one was walking it alone.

The journey west demanded courage—so it’s little wonder that these quiet songs of faith helped pioneers take the next step. They gave voice to fear and hope, longing and trust. In the midst of hardship, they turned weary miles into moments of worship and reminded pioneers they were never truly alone.

✨ A Message That Still Echoes

It’s no surprise that many of these same hymns still find their way into the stories we love today. The faith that carried pioneers forward is the same faith that continues to speak to us now.

Although our lives are very different from those early days on the frontier, the need for comfort, hope, and reassurance remains the same. Hymns possess a timeless quality; they connect us across generations and gently remind us of the source of our strength.

Teddy Roosevelt Visits Yosemite National Park by Zina Abbott

 

The majority of this  post was a originally published on this blog almost ten years ago on August 8, 2016. With my inclusion of this incident in my current book, Ardith Yosemite Bride, I felt it appropriate to share it again. In fact, if you have already read Part 1 of the book, in which I fictionalized several characters, you might almost feel like you are reading the account from the point of view of Ardith and her two friends, Lucy and Julia Leonard.

~oOo~ 

In 1903, President Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt visited Yosemite National Park. Guided into the Yosemite wilderness by naturalist John Muir, the president went on a three-day wilderness trip that started at the Mariposa Grove. 

 

Pres. Roosevelt, John Muir and the official presidential delegation at Grizzly Giant Tree in Mariposa Grove, Yosemite National Park

He also visited Sentinel Dome, Glacier Point, and Yosemite Valley among other points of interest in the park. Muir seized the opportunity "to do some forest good in talking freely around the campfire," and the President, referring to John Muir, is quoted as saying "Of course of all the people in the world, he was the one with whom it was best worth while thus to see the Yosemite."

 

President Theodore Roosevelt and his Official Delegation enter the part at Wawona

President Roosevelt, accustomed to being surrounded by enthusiastic crowds, wanted his experience to the park to be one of isolation and “roughing it.” For most of his journey he was accompanied by only four others: John Muir, two of the men hired as the first civilian park rangers in 1898, Charlies Leidig and Archibald C. Leonard, and a packer (Army packer Jacker Alder). President Roosevelt slept on a stack of forty wool blankets covered by a shelter half. Food for the party was cooked over an open campfire by Charlie Leidig.

 

Pres. Theodore Roosevelt leads party including John Muir, Charles Leidig, Park Ranger and cook, Archie C. Leonard, Park Ranger and Army packer, Jacker Adler

From Charlie Leidig’s Report of President Roosevelt’s visit: “On May 3/16, 1903, …they broke camp at Mariposa Grove and were on horses by 6:30a.m. The president directed Leidig to “outskirt and keep away from civilization.” Leidig led the party down the Lightning Trail. They crossed the South Fork at Greeley’s and hit the Empire Meadows Trail. They especially avoided approaching the Wawona Hotel for fear the President would be brought in contact with members of his own official party which had remained for the night at Wawona. They had a cold lunch on the ridge east of Empire Meadows. There was lots of snow as they crossed towards Sentinel Dome; they took turns breaking trail through deep snow. In the Bridalveil Meadows the party plowed through5 ft. of snow. The President mired down and Charley had to get a log to get him out. It was snowing hard and the wind was blowing.”

From Charlie Leidig’s report of President Roosevelt’s visit: “On May 4, the party went down to Glacier Point for pictures that had been prearranged….”

 

President Theodore Roosevelt at Glacier Point

 

From Charlie Leidig’s report of President Roosevelt’s visit:

As they left Glacier Point, the President rode in front dressed in civilian attire. The rangers wore blue overalls, shaps and spurs. They went into Little Yosemite Valley for lunch. Here they encountered a considerable crowd of valley visitors, since it had been widely advertised in the papers that the President was visiting the park.

 

Pres. Theodore Roosevelt and John Muir at Glacier Point

There was considerable disagreement in the matter of plans for the Presidential visit. The President wanted a roughing trip and through Pardee, Wheeler and Muir such a trip had been worked out. On the other hand, Mr. John Stevens, Guardian of the Valley under State administration, and certain of the commissioners, especially Jack Wilson from San Francisco, had made plans for a large celebration. The Chris Jorgensen studio home had been set aside for the President’s official use. A cook had been set engaged from one of the best hotels in San Francisco to serve a banquet. The commissioner had arranged a considerable display of fireworks, which John Degnan claims amounted to some $1800 worth….

 

Yosemite National Park map

So there was considerable party awaiting the President at the top of Nevada Falls and Little Yosemite. The President requested that all the people be kept at a distance in order that he could carry out his desire for a “roughing trip”, so everybody was kept at a respectful distance.

When the party reached Camp Curry at 2 P.M., they found a big crowd of women in front of the camp. They had formed a line across the road in an attempt to stop the President. They all wanted to shake hands with him. Charlie Leidig states, he was riding second in line with a Winchester rifle and six shooter. His horse was a high spirited animal. The President said, “I am very much annoyed, couldn’t you do something?” Leidig replied, “follow me.” He gave spurs to his horse and as he reared, women fell apart and the President’s party went through the gap. The President waved his hat to the group in the road.

 

Camp Curry, circa early 1900s

 

…..Accompanied by five or six members of his party, the President walked back across the Sentinel Bridge to his horse. Muir had accompanied the President to the Jorgensen studio. The original party of five mounted their horses and started down the valley to pick a camp site near Bridalveil Falls where Muir had suggested they spend the last night in camp….They went down the south side of the [Merced] river followed by a big string of people on horseback, in buggies, surries, and others on foot. Leidig stated there must have been between 300 or 500, or possibly 1000 of them in the crowd, filling the Bridalveil Meadows. As they reached their camping places on a grassy slope just south of the present road through Bridalveil Meadows, the President said to Leidig, “These people annoy me. Can you get rid of them?” Charlie said he walked out and told the crowd that the president was very tired and asked them to leave. They went—some of them even on tiptoe, so as not to annoy their President.

When Charlie returned to the camp site the President said, “Charlie I am hungry as Hell. Cook any dam thing you wish. How long will it take?”

Charlie told him it would take about 30 minutes, so the President lay on his bed of blankets and went to sleep and snored so loud that Leidig could hear him even above the crackling of the campfire.

After dinner, Muir and the President went out int the meadow until way after dark. When they returned they sat around the campfire where the President told them of his lion hunting trips.

People came again in the morning. Crowds could be seen all through the brush. Leidig kept them away. The stage came down containing the President’s official party. After breakfast, the President and Muir got into the stage and as they left the President called Leidig and Leonard to him and said, “Boys, I am leaving you. Good-bye, and God Bless you.”

 

Pres. Theodore Roosevelt in rear seat on way to Inspiration Point, Yosemite National Park

Roosevelt is quotes as saying, "There can be nothing in the world more beautiful than the Yosemite, the groves of the giant sequoias...our people should see to it that they are preserved for their children and their Children's children forever, with their majestic beauty all unmarred." While he was president, Theodore Roosevelt established five national parks, 18 national monuments, 55 national bird sanctuaries and wildlife refuges, and 150 national forests.

It was my privilege as a volunteer in the Merced California Family History Center to have worked with sisters, then-living Lucille C. Davenport as well as Joyce C. Hammer, descendants of Park Ranger Archibald C. Leonard. With their permission, I will be telling a bit of their grandparent’s story in next month’s blog.

 

Ardith Yosemite Bride, my second book published in the multiple-author series, National Park Brides, is now available for sale as an ebook or for no additional cost with a Kindle Unlimited subscription. To find the book description and purchase options, please CLICK HERE

 

 

 

 

 

Also, through May 14th, my first book in the National Park Brides series, Anthelia Yosemite Bride, is on a Kindle Countdown sale for 99 cents. It is also available on Kindle Unlimited. For that book description and purchase options, please CLICK HERE  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sources:

Bingaman, John W., “Guardians of the Yosemite”http://www.yosemite.ca.us/library/guardians_of_the_yosemite/history.html

Charlie Leidig’s Report of President Roosevelt’s Visit in May, 1903

Theodore Roosevelt, The John Muir Exhibit, http://vault.sierraclub.org/john_muir_exhibit/people/roosevelt.aspx