Catch the Horse or Good Saddle First? True cowboys and cowgirls usually treasure a good saddle. No one likes being bucked off a horse, especially an Old West cowboy. You’d get a lot of ribbing for that. Out on the range if your old broomtail decided to break in two, hop for mama, jackknife, swap […]
FINDING A WELL-FITTED HORSE SADDLE During the cold winter months of north-central Idaho, my horse saddle spent most of its time on a stand in my Winchester office. I built a strong stand and cinched it down because most guests who came in to talk to me liked to climb up on it. It made […]
THE SPREAD’S OLD MAN I once worked on a big outfit called the Pleasant Valley Ranch. Every week a cowboy or two rolled up that long, dusty driveway in their beat up pickup to ask to see the old man about a job. Now, the old man was the owner of the spread and the […]
The No-See-Ums Plagues In most books about the Old West, you seldom read about the bugs. Oh, there are great stories about bears, snakes, and mountain lions. But what about when the cowboys, prospectors, mountain men, and pioneers had to face the dreaded enemies of mosquitos, fleas, lice, gnats, and no-see-ums? Each of these little […]
ON THE TRAIL NIGHT GUARD DUTY On old-time cattle drives, every cowhand except the horse wrangler and cook had to take turns riding night guard. Once the cattle settled in for the night and all sat down, it only took two men to watch over them. These two rode in opposite directions, circling the herd. […]
And Don’t Gimlet Your Faith In the Old West, one way you could measure the work and skill of a cowboy–watch how he took care of his horse. In those days, a horse provided your job, your travel home, and your net worth. And your escape route. Also, many times a horse could be your […]
A FULL SIXTEEN HANDS by Stephen Bly At 6’2” I’ve never been accused of being small. In fact, my size 12 cowboy boots prove embarrassing in a rodeo and ranch world where the smaller the foot, the better. So I pick out fairly big horses. When I climb on some little Texas pony, my feet drag […]
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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