WHEN O’BRIAN SACKED HIS SADDLE I saw Three Fingers Bob at the post office and got caught up on what’s happening to all the old timers in the area. Bob was born a mile or two down the road about 85 years ago. He keeps me up on the latest news of the older set. […]
Sage Hen Wilderness Living One time I drove down into the Arizona Strip country. As I headed down a 150-mile round trip on a narrow dirt and boulder road, it dawned on me this would be a lousy place to have trouble with my pickup truck. I hadn’t seen another rig for about 50 miles. […]
A PASSION FOR THE AUTHENTIC ANTIQUE Being a writer of western novels, I’ve had a particular interest in authentic antique guns of the Old West. I try to make sure my readers know the difference between a Henry, a Winchester ’66, a Winchester ’73, and a Sharps. I try to make sure I get the […]
Legends & Lies Try to pronounce Hassayampa, a legendary old time cowboy word. Some good words like that can’t be let go, even if you don’t know the definition. Cowboys might forget the original source by giving a word a new meaning. For instance, down in Arizona you’ll find a stream named by the Indians […]
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 […]
Sometimes we get the idea that every old time cowboy was so tough he didn’t run from anything. According to some pulp writers, he faced down enemy attacks from every direction. He could turn a thousand head of stampeding cattle. Face down a dozen gunfighters in the street. Ride through the desert with a hundred […]
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