Ridin’ the Divide by Stephen Bly I thought I saw a coyote try to cut across my trail … A bag of bones, a pointed nose, a scrawny, matted tail. Most coyotes ain’t worth rememberin’ or wastin’ too much pity. But I hadn’t spied a civilized thing since I left El Paso City. […]
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 […]
The White Bird Battlefield near White Bird, Idaho, is the site of the first altercation in the Nez Perce Indian War of 1877. Nez Perce Chief Joseph led his tribal band from the Oregon reservation near Wallowa until they stopped at White Bird Battlefield in one of his last hurrahs against the U.S. government. The […]
How would you describe prospectors? Ever known any? How about grizzly and gray bearded? Dirty clothes and wide brimmed hat turned up in front? Pick in one hand and gold pan in the other? And of course, a faithful mule to ride. Driving along the Salmon River between Slate Creek and Lucile, I noticed a […]
The richest, most glamorous gold mines in the Old West possessed quartz with gold. Quartz with gold was not rounded or water worn. It was very bright, irregular, high quality, and often twisted in form. Quartz with gold was found in massive underground gold mines rather than surface placer mines. Quartz is a natural […]
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 […]
Looking Over His Shoulder by Stephen Bly Every era and generation has its unwritten rules of proper behavior. The Old West was no different. One of those had to do with the proper way for a cowboy to turn around, looking over his shoulder. He didn’t want to do it too often or it would signal […]
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 […]
Reflections On Shane the Movie by award-winning suspense author James Scott Bell In my opinion Shane the movie is not just the best Western ever, but one of the top five films of all time.* Mythic, amazing to look at, and featuring one of the great villains: the grinning Jack Palance. He earned an Oscar nod […]
Are you a long-ear? You might be if you keep your ear to the ground. In an old western movie a seasoned Indian scout crawls out of the saddle, drops to his knees, and lays his ear to the ground. Then he’ll say, “Three riders. Going south. About four miles away. One of the horses […]
In the frame short story in this anthology, Ben and Marnie Pearson never intended to start a jewelry collection. But when they were given a box of leftover jewelry at an estate sale, they were intrigued by the colorful contents . . .
The sparkling jewels featured in this collection may have been passed down through generations or discovered accidentally, but each has its own unique short story. From diamonds to emeralds, opals to rubies, these stones have witnessed it all.
Here in The Jeweler's Heart are their fascinating tales told by seventeen of the talented novel writers of ChiLibris. For fans of inspirational fiction and heartwarming tales, The Jeweler's Heart is a treasure.
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