WELCOME TO THE ROMANCING THE WEST BLOG TOUR

Why do we enjoy writing and reading about the West? What is it about cowboys that is just plain irresistible? Over thirty authors and bloggers tackle these and other questions by explaining why we love Romancing the West.

But that’s not all, as you enjoy some awesome blogs and find fantastic books, for every post you comment on with your email address, you will be entered for some amazing prizes.

***PLEASE LEAVE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS TO QUALIFY***

Grand Prize: A swag pack which includes books (both ebooks and paper), Amazon gift card, custom made butterfly jewelry, book cards, magnets and much more all tucked away in a keepsake box. (Available to US residents only. Winner will be announced on February 26 at 10 PM EST)

THE COWBOY CODE, ALIVE AND WELL

Let’s get past the rippling muscles, the slouch of the Stetson, the jingle of spurs and exactly what those chaps seem to be highlighting.  Let’s forget about The Virginian’s mysterious smile, the twinkle in Rowdy Yates’ eyes, or the dimple in Paladin’s chin.  I’m talking about the man within here, whatever the heck he looked like, the man you really fell in love with.  After all, if these guys had been wimps, two-timing city sidewinders or snakes-in-the-grass, would you have fallen for them?

Cowboys live by a code.  Over the years, the code has taken many forms and been written, so to speak, by many of our heroes. Zane Grey was the first to actually put the creed in print in his 1934 book, Code of the West.  While ranchers and cowpunchers would break virtually any territorial, state, or federal law if it suited them, they were actually living by their own code of ethics; after all, they wouldn’t shoot a man in the back, would they?  Although there are often variations on the theme, most of the code follows a sort of western version of the Ten Commandments.  Think about “Remove your guns before sitting at the dining table” and all that that implies.  Or how about “He must always tell the truth?”  I’m afraid that when I read “He must always keep himself clean in thought, speech, action and personal habits” I saw the code stretching a bit as well as 99% of western romances flying out the window.  It might have worked back in Hopalong Cassidy’s day, but by the time we get to Smith & Jones or Maverick, it’s adios. It is pretty biblical.

Some of the more famous cowboys of television fame had their own codes that paralleled the traditional one.  The Lone Ranger believed, “That God put the firewood there, but every man must gather and light it himself.”  Roy Rogers had a ‘prayer’ that included the words, “…when trails are steep and passes high, let me ride it straight the whole way through.”  On the website Old West Legends http://www.legendsofamerica.com/we-codewest.html there is a long list of what constituted the code of the west.  It includes such advice as, “Cuss all you want, but only around men, horses and cattle” and “Always drink your whiskey with your gun hand to show your friendly intentions.” More recently, in the book Cowboy Ethics:  What Wall Street Can Learn from the Code of the West by James P. Owen, we have “Ride for the Brand” and “Talk less and say more.”

So think about the man this code projects.  Strong, trustworthy, well-mannered, respectful of women yet a fighter and a doer, a defender while still being excitingly hard-living and a little bit of rough.  Is the code alive and well? Yup, sure is—and living in Wyoming.  Back in 2010, Wyoming Governor Dave Freudenthal passed a state code based on the tenets put out in the Owen book.  Although the bill entails no penalties or fines, as a gesture it is an admirable doctrine to have in this day and age.

And, of course, if you package all that with the mysterious smile and the slouched Stetson, well…what could be better than that?

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I am pleased to offer one ebook of Loveland to a reader who answers the following question (answer to be found on this website) and leaves their response as a comment.  All readers who leave a comment with their email address will be entered, as noted above, for the grand draw.  

For more exciting blogs on this Blog Hop, go to http://cowboycharm.blogspot.com/2012/...  or simply click the button in my side column.

     Ques.:   In Loveland, Lady Alex and Jesse argue because (a) she has kissed another man (b) she stole his gun (c) he took her horse.