Cowboy Christians examines the long history of cowboy Christianity in the American West, with a focus on the present-day cowboy church movement. Based on five years of historical and sociological fieldwork in cowboy Christian communities, this book draws on interviews with leaders of cowboy churches, traveling rodeo ministries, and chaplains who serve horse racing and bull riding communities, along with the author's first-hand experiences as a participant observer. Marie W. Dallam traces cowboy Christianity from the postbellum period into the twenty-first century, looking at religious life among cowboys on the range as well as its representation in popular imagery and the media. She examines the structure, theology, and perpetuation of the modern cowboy church, and speculates on future challenges the institution may face, such as the relegation of women to subordinate participant roles at a time of increasing gender equality in the larger society. She also explores the cowboy Christian proclivity for blending the secular and the sacred in leisure environments like arenas, racetracks, and rodeos. Dallam locates the modern cowboy church as a descendant of the muscular Christianity movement, the Jesus movement, and new paradigm church methodology. Cowboy Christians establishes the religious significance of the cowboy church movement, particularly relative to twenty-first-century evangelical Protestantism, and contributes to a deeper understanding of the unique Christianity of the American West.

What are the connections between cattle branding and Christian salvation, between livestock castration and square dancing, between rustling and the making of spurs and horsehair bridles in prison, between children's coloring books and cowboy poetry as it is practiced today? The Cowboy usesliterary, historical, folkloric, and pop cultural sources to document ways in which cowboys address religion, gender, economics, and literature. Arguing that cowboys are defined by the work they do, Allmendinger sets out in each chapter to investigate one form of labor (such as branding, castration,or rustling) that cowboys perform in their "work culture." He then looks at early oral poems that cowboys recited around campfires, on trail drives, at roundups, and at home in their bunkhouses, and at later poems, histories and autobiographies written by cowboys--most of which have never beforebeen studied by scholars. He discovers that these texts not only deal with work but with larger concerns, including art, morality, spirituality, and male sexuality. In addition to spotlighting little-known texts, art, and archival sources, The Cowboy examines the works of Twain, Steinbeck, Cather,Norris, Dana, McMurtry, and others, and features more than 60 historic photographs, many of which have not been published until now.

"Age and size ain't got nothin' to do with it," Mack's daddy once said. "You gotta want to be a cowboy." Mack Hughes wanted to be a cowboy, all right, and he was just twelve years old when he went to work for the famous Hashknife spread in northern Arizona. Growing up on the range, Mack lived a life about which modern boys can only wonder. He spins yarns of bad horses and the men who rode them, tells of wild dogs that ravaged young calves, and recalls lonely winter weeks spent at a remote camp-where his home was a shack so flimsy that snow blew through the cracks and covered his bed. Stella Hughes, author of the best-selling Chuck Wagon Cookin' and a cowhand in her own right, has compiled from her husband's reminiscences an authentic look both at Arizona history and at cowboying as it really was. Illustrated by Joe Beeler, founding member of the Cowboy Artists of America.

This book details the story of a young man, a fictional character, Clem Barnett, during the late 1940's and 1950's, raised as a boy in the mid-west with dreams and visions, based on romantic books and movies, of being a cowboy in the West. He finds himself venturing far from his home in northeastern Oklahoma to hire-out on two very different ranches; first, one in Montana and later, one in Idaho. There, he learns about ranching, the cattle business, and most importantly, about life. He also learns what the modern, for the time period, cowboy is and how it differs greatly from his romantic vision. He faces many adventures and interacts with a host of colorful characters in search of his dreams. Because the story occurs in the early 1950's, the young man is faced with the horrors of participating in the Korean War, and more importantly, facing the emotional effects thereafter. Unlikely characters assist in his recovery and he gains respect and love for the people of the Basque culture who helped him. The story ends with a simple love story and a realization that dreams can be elusive. In the end, he finds peace and happiness and seems to come close to living the life of the romantic cowboy he envisioned. Others see in him a person who so loves the life of a cowboy and confers upon him the title of the last romantic, real life, American Cowboy.

A COWBOY FOR CHRISTMAS? Bronc buster Gus Holt had shied away from weddings since he'd ducked out of his own a decade ago. But when ex-fiancee Mary McLean turned up in Montana—pregnant, alone, and lovelier than ever—Gus suddenly hankered to leave behind the bunkhouse for a marriage bed! Being a surrogate mom to her sister's child was the closest Mary figured she'd get to a child of her own. And she wasn't at all sure she trusted Gus's newfound enthusiasm for family… But Gus was determined. He'd win her over. Mary would darned well be his by Christmas—if he could just figure out how to gift-wrap forever!

AN IRRESISTIBLE ATTRACTION…Years ago, Emma Reardon had transformed herself from a poor farmer's daughter to an independent career woman. And though she'd sworn to never look back, everything changed while interviewing Nick Barlow. For Emma was drawn to the charming rancher whose precarious lifestyle mirrored a past she'd wanted to forget. A FOREVER LOVE? Experience cautioned Nick to rebuff the beautiful city sophisticate who didn't understand his deep ties to the land—or his proud cowboy code. Yet, when impending danger brought them together, Emma's sassy spirit and soft vulnerability set his own pulse racing. Now the stakes were higher than ever as he put his heart—and their future—on the line….

Uneasy Allies Mariah Stewart has a passion—to save racehorses from slaughter once they're done racing. Zach Johnson has a passion, too—raising winners. Mariah and her protests are one more annoyance on a list that may cost him his family stables. And when his best horse goes down, she pesters him about his plans for it. The thing is, Mariah is also a vet. Her crazy proposal to save Dasher might work, and what does Zach have to lose? Only his sanity! Maybe his determined bachelorhood, too. Because Mariah just…gets under his skin. Zach knows she feels it—she heats up every time he's near. But is the attraction between them enough to set aside everything they believe in?

At McCall Ranch, the days are hot. And the nights are scorching… Single mom Heather Browning will do anything to get away from her controlling ex-husband—including buying a rundown strawberry farm in Montana. The locals think she’s crazy. But her kids are safe, and her ex is finally out of the picture. When her only horse comes up lame, Heather turns to local veterinarian Randy McCall for help. This sexy cowboy takes one look at her rundown farm, and realizes she’ll need more than a horse to get out of this mess. Heather moves her family to the McCall Ranch, while Randy helps her whip the farm into shape. She can’t help but notice Randy's easy charm and smoldering good looks. But the last thing Heather needs is another man… Randy wasn't looking for a relationship, but he’s never been one to turn his back on a woman who needs help. At first, he figures he can keep Heather at arm’s length. But when one soft kiss makes his heart feel like it was struck by lightning, Randy hits the brakes before things get out of hand. But can he stop himself from falling in love?

ns explore our environmental history, uncover the role of nature and the land in the western past, and examine the West as the world's first multicultural society.