Toss the Box or I’ll Shoot! A common old western movie scene has become a cliché. The masked holdup men drag trees across the lonely, isolated canyon road. The stage comes to a screeching, bone jolting stop. And men with black hats suddenly appear. They threaten to shoot the driver and his guard if they […]
What’s a Jerk Line Anyway? One hundred years after the invention of the automobile, they still measured the strength of an engine by its horsepower. And I love it. Of course, I’d be more fascinated seeing a ten-up freight wagon rig rather than the latest issue from Detroit. Now, that was real horsepower. Or mule […]
Which is Best, Hackamore or Metal Bit? A cowboy’s Spanish produces a rather humorous language. Take the good Spanish word jáquima, meaning headstall, that leather halter you slip over the head of your horse. This word derived from the Old Spanish xaquima. From the Americanized pronunciation of jaquima, the spelling of hackamore entered the written […]
Hoolihan Roping Trick by western author Stephen Bly I never laid any claim to being a roper, but I do enjoy tossing a loop now and then. One thing you learn right away. There are different types of throws to lasso a critter. One of the slickest is what old timers call the hoolihan. Most […]
Novel Release Lillian’s Legacy by Carmen Peone Novel release Lillian’s Legacy features Lillian Gardner, a healer in using natural medicines. She considers herself the black sheep of her family. In an attempt to prove her value, she sets off into the wilds of Eastern Washington and Indian Territory. Her companion is Doctor Mali Maddox, an […]
Ever been caught losing your hat? I was driving out to the corrals when a cowboy neighbor hiked out of the woods. He was dusting off his hat and brushing his jeans. I stopped to visit and noticed his torn flannel shirt and a scratch across his face. “Howdy,” I said. “Can I help?” “Did […]
A Black Horse Named Johnny Poe by Janet Chester Bly Fictional black horse Johnny Poe plays a big part in the novel I’m writing. He seems so real to me. If I don’t catch myself, I’m ready to head out to the corrals in the morning to feed him. Or wonder if he’s jumped my neighbor’s […]
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