The Old West - what things used to cost By western author Nick Brumby “Howdy, I’m Ma Harrison. You scoundrels watch yourselves. Questions are free. But steal as much as a toothpick, and you’ll get today’s special – a coffin.” With today’s inflation rates hitting eye-watering levels, I thought I’d remind myself of what things used to cost. Back in the Old West money

The Cowboy Code By western author Nick Brumby “Cowboys need nothin’ more than a hat, horse, and the will to ride.” Were there rules to being a cowboy? No. But every cowboy, ranch hand, range boss, and cowpuncher knew there were basic principles by which everyone lived by. Some were just common sense and courtesy, such as: When approaching someone from behind, give a

Wild West stagecoaches By western author Nick Brumby "Leroy, I swear if you don't move them stinkin' feet outta my face I'm gonna kick ya off this here stagecoach." Often braving terrible weather, pitted roads, treacherous terrain, and attacks from bandits and Native American warbands, stagecoaches were an integral part of the westward expansion of the rapidly growing United States of America. Stagecoaches

Wild West oxen By western author Nick Brumby "Martha, you can take yer iron horse and poke it where the sun don't shine. I'm trustin' these ladies to get us home." Horses are fine and good, but when you absolutely positively needed to pull a load of freight from Kansas to Colorado, oxen were overwhelmingly the most popular choice for freight wagon trains.

Old West chuckwagons By western author Nick Brumby "Beans are ready, boys. Eat'em or don't, ain't no skin off my nose. Any more complainin' and you'll have skunk for supper." A cattle drive cook works his magic in front of his chuckwagon. One of his most important jobs was carried out in the early hours, before the cowhands climbed out of their bedrolls,

Texas Ranger James Hawkins By western author Nick Brumby "Don't mess with Texas, boy, it's the last mistake you'll ever make."* This is Texas Ranger James Hawkins, circa 1875. And that's a stare that would stop a bullet dead in its tracks. James Hawkins enlisted in Company D of the Rangers in Blanco in 1874 under Captain Rufus Perry and rode with most

Colonel George Custer By western author Nick Brumby "There are not enough Indians in the world to defeat the Seventh Cavalry." - Col. George Custer Custer and his chief scout, Bloody Knife, consult a map of Sioux country on their first campaign together in 1873. Custer's two Russian wolfhounds lay sprawled at his feet. Bloody Knife was half Sioux and half Arikara. The