How can he carry on without the woman he's loved since they were children themselves?Pearl's comfortable life was turned upside down with the death of her beloved husband. She has three children depending on her and cannot afford the mortgage. Her best friend Mattie shows her the listing in the newspaper: "Looking for a Spinster or Widow of good character who can cook and keep house and be a good mother to the children. Your children would be welcome, too." Have her prayers been answered?

    

     When her wagon train was 8 miles from Fort Laramie, Wyoming, a Sioux Oglalas war party, in war-paint, suddenly appeared and began to encircle their wagons, pretending to be most friendly and asking for presents. The Indians urged the emigrants on, and offered to accompany them, so that they pushed on in company for a short time, until it was saw that they were approaching a ravine where his party would be at a disadvantage, and he insisted on camping outside of it. The Indians, after some hesitation, agreed, and the travellers began to make preparations for supper, when suddenly the Indians fired a volley at them. Some of those who escaped the attack succeeded in hiding in the brushwood, but Mrs. Kelly and her adopted daughter, Mary, as well as Mrs. Larimer and her children, became the prisoners of the Indians. After the second night of capture, Larimer and her son Frank managed to escape and were later reunited with her husband at Camp Collins, Colorado Territory. Larimer wrote of her harrowing captivity and escape in her 1871 book "The Capture and Escape: Life Among the Sioux." In describing dangers encountered during their escape from the Indians, Larimer noted: "The horrors of our situation were harassing to contemplate. The wolves seemed congregated upon the highlands, and, awaking from their night’s repose, their wailing cries echoed back from the distant hills with terrific clearness. These prowling creatures abound in that country, where some species attain a great size. Even the buffalo, which does not fear them in the herd, knows his danger when overtaken alone; and the solitary bull, secreted from its hunter, succumbs before the united force of a gang of wolves." Sarah Luse Larimer (1836-1913) was born in Pennsylvania, headed west in 1859 with her husband, living for a while in Allen County, Kansas, where she operated a photographic gallery. In 1864, along with her husband and son the family set out for the mines of Idaho Territory, when their plans were disrupted by Oglalas on the warpath. John Bratt in his 1921 book "Trails of Yesterday" writes of Larimer: "At Sherman Station I became well acquainted with Mrs. Larimer and her son, who kept a general store there, bought and sold ties and cord wood, while her husband had a star route mail contract from Point of Rocks north. There was also a Mrs. Kelly living near the station. These two women and Mrs. Larimer's son had been captured by the Sioux Indians near Fort Laramie. Mrs. Larimer and her son, after two weeks' captivity in the lodge of the chief, stole away one night and though the Indians hunted them day and night, they succeeded in eluding them and got back to the fort, after suffering unmentionable cruelties. Mrs. Kelly, not so fortunate, was taken by the Indians up on the Missouri River and kept with the band over six months." In describing the moment of rescue by a passing wagon train, Larimer writes that "as we sat in this shelter, which proved to be the last, a most joyful and welcome sound greeted our ears —one in which there was no mistake—our own language, spoken by some boys who passed, driving cattle."

    While some of these narratives are loosely based in fact, they are written with a large dollop of literary license. The characters are not "politically correct" in today's parlance and speak in the vernacular of their time and culture. Some of them you will like ...others you may not. No disrespect or offense is intended in the telling. These are their stories.The lead story "Fat of The Land" was a past runner-up in the national Raymond Carver short story awards.

    Laura broke his heart ten years earlier. Now she’s back, and right in the cross-hairs of his sworn enemy. Laura never stopped loving Brody. And when she learns of his unscrupulous rival’s plan to take his home, she can’t stay away. Even though he rebuffs her help, she is determined to make amends for the past. Can Brody save the ranch, keep its secrets, extract vengeance and protect Laura? All without losing his heart to her all over again? BRODY’S BRIDE is Book 1 in the sweet western historical series, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers by critically-acclaimed author, Kathleen Lawless. If you like cowboys, secrets, and intrigue in the old west, don’t miss this series. Each book can be read as stand-alone with no cliffhangers. No explicit sex.

    Mostly happy, that is. She has a wonderful family, plenty of friends, and her husband adores her. But something is missing. Something big. Thad Hewitt is a loving husband and father. He works hard to keep his family comfortable and well fed. He's a God-fearing man who thanks the Lord daily for all the ways he's been blessed. Though he can't quite put his finger on it, he knows something's wrong with his wife. He thinks he's come up with the perfect plan to cheer Janine up. Their wedding anniversary is coming and he wants to give her a special gift. A grand gesture to put a little spark back into their marriage. The plan is set in motion and Janine is none the wiser about what her husband is cooking up. When she becomes suspicious about his odd behavior, will the wedge that's developed between them be hammered deeper? Trust and communication in a marriage is the foundation. When that foundation cracks, can it be repaired?

    My secret, guilty obsession…”Emma Greythorne can light up any room she’s in. Born out of wedlock has never bothered her, nor has the gossip surrounding her. When it’s announced she has to marry the most notorious bachelor of London, however, her life is turned upside down.Jac Lancaster, Duke of Montfore, is an average man in an average world. Well, that’s if anyone believes that being exceptionally talented in everything is average. His wishes are to remain a bachelor. That is until he comes across the most beautiful Lady he has ever seen…But Emma and Jac quickly find out that all good things have an end. When family threatens to take everything from you, you know things have gone for the worse. And once scandal erupts, it’s hard to hide it. With all eyes on them, Emma is soon kidnapped from her house and Jac is the only one who can save her...