CHASING A CHANCE: Where Did It Come From

 Post(C) by Doris McCraw

With the release of the latest novel, "Chasing A Chance", I took a trip down research memory lane. There was a story I'd read that also played a part in the novel's creation. 

So, where did this story come from? It all started with a story I read a number of years back by Lauran Paine called, "Holding the Ace Card". In the story, a woman left her son to be raised by a foster family. He hadn't seen her since that time, but she asks him to help her with a range war as he's become an outlaw and gunfighter.  I was intrigued by the story of a women who would leave her child then ask for help from that same child. But other than an award winning short story, I didn't do anything else with the idea.

Next, I was at the library, doing my normal research. For those who don't know, normal research for me is finding pieces of information and traveling down rabbit holes trying to find everything I can about a subject. I came across a snippet about a town called Boston, Colorado. WOW! This is not to be confused with the Mining town associated with the Boston Mine Camp near Breckenridge, Colorado. 

Boston came into existence in the Southeast corner of Colorado and had a brief and bloody existence. There were primarily two factions that led to the demise. But during its heyday, it had two newspapers,  five saloons, a three-story hotel, bank, drug store, hardware store and three livery stables. It vied for county seat of Baca county with the town of Springfield. 

Photo of the Comanche Grasslands outside La Junta,CO

Boston was also said to be the home of the Jennings Gang, which is another story to be told later. It was reported that at one time the town had over one thousand residents. They even had sidewalks, put there by an ordinance of the city. The walk were said to be eight feet wide and extended for four blocks on Main Street and two blocks on 9th Avenue. The town was proud of being the only other city in Southeast Colorado, beside Lamar that could brag about such. 

Digging into the history of that town and its demise is still a work in progress. I do know one newspaper reported that 'the town of Boston, Colorado was in flames'. However for those who want to read a bit more, there is information out there. I found this short piece interesting, but there is so much more to the story of this short lived town. Boston Colorado's Demise.

In future posts I will share more of the story of Boston, and other research. In the meantime, happy reading.

Angela Raines - author: Where Love & History Meet

For a list of Angela Raines Books: Here 

Photo and Poem: Click Here 

Angela Raines FaceBook: Click Here

Doris Gardner-McCraw -

Author, Speaker, Historian-specializing in
Colorado and Women's History

Member of National League of American Pen Women,

Women Writing the West,

Pikes Peak Posse of the Westerners

#BlogaBookScene: "Gunvar's Gift"

I wanted to share a short scene from the recent "One Yuletide Knight", published by Prairie Rose Publications.

It is part of the 'Baby It's Cold Outside' #blogabookscene. In the story "Gunvar's Gift", my offering to this anthology, my hero has been betrayed and is now trying to find his nemesis. He is approached by two men, one he knows:

Excerpt:

       Out of the darkness and snow, Gerold watched the two men making their way toward him. He braced himself for battle, calling out, “Halt, come no further.”

The two stopped, and then Gerold heard laughter as one called out, “Is that anyway to greet an old friend?”

“I have no friends.”

“Come, come, don’t you recognize me?”

“Of course I do, Marcus, but...”

“I am your friend. We’ve been hunting you,” Marcus said as he moved forward.

“Yes, I know. I know you have been hunting me, but you won’t take me,” Gerold replied as he prepared to strike. “That is far enough and don’t try to keep me busy while your partner gets behind me.”

“Gerold, we are not going to take you, or harm you. We want to help you,” Marcus responded, stopping his forward movement. “The other man is Peder.”

“So, you’ve teamed with the enemy. Am I that valuable?”

You can find more great stories here: One Yuletide Knight

For more great scenes follow Twitter and the hashtags: #blogabookscene, #PrairieRosePub, #MedievalRomance, and #WesternRomance

February’s Blog-a-Book-Scene theme: All You Need is Love

See you in February! Until then Happy Reading

Angela Raines

Angela Raines - author: Where Love & History Meet

For a list of Angela Raines Books: Here  

Angela Raines FaceBook: Click Here

Angela Raines is the pen name for Doris McCraw, author, historian specializing in Colorado and Women's History.

"GIFT OF FORGIVENESS" January #blogabookscene

 Gift of Forgiveness - a novella, by Angela Raines – January #blogabookscene #westernromance #PrairieRosePub @PrairieRosePub

Blog-a-Book-Scene is a monthly themed blogging endeavor from a group of authors who love to share excerpts from their stories. Find us on Twitter with the hashtag #blogabookscene and #PrairieRosePub.

January’s theme is Baby, It’s cold outside. The cold wintry excerpt below is from my western romance novella, Gift of Forgiveness

They've both lost so much -
but do they have the courage to try again?

Excerpt:

 "George, I done told ya we ain't to do anything that'd leave a mark... We'll just have some fun somewheres else when we collect the rest of our pay."

George sighed, his breath blowing on Nettie's face making her want to gag. The strain of the pretending was taking a toll on body and mind. Nettie felt the sun starting to set, the air getting cooler. The thought of being left somewhere was terrifying, although if they did leave her, perhaps she could escape and find Albert.

Suddenly, Nettie was thrown off of the horse. Opening her eyes slightly she caught a glimpse of Shorty and George swinging on each other. She started to get up, but her legs wouldn't hold her. The two men started laughing. Nettie fell back, frustration eating at her.

"We knowd you was foolin'," George Smith said, pulling Nettie to her feet.

"Figured if you was foolin' you'd try somethin' if we pretended to be distracted," Shorty Wasson cackled. "An' it worked."

Picking herself up, Nettie felt a cold north wind blow across the area. There was a chance of snow soon, she felt. That terrified her even more.

The Gift of Forgiveness is available on 

Amazon: eBook KindleUnlimited

February’s Blog-a-Book-Scene theme: All You Need is Love

See you in February! Until then Happy Reading

Angela Raines

Angela Raines - author: Where Love & History Meet

For a list of Angela Raines Books: Here  

Angela Raines FaceBook: Click Here

Angela Raines is the pen name for Doris McCraw, author, historian specializing in Colorado and Women's History.