Sonny is raised in a white trash family on the wrong side of town. His buddy, Aubrey, has an even worse reputation for hell raising. Both of their lives would have ended badly had they not been invited to work on the biggest ranch in the county. The prize, marriage to the sickly ranch owner’s daughter, Missy. The prize turns into a competition where friends become enemies. During a drunken beige, Beau, the man Sonny calls his father, murders Sonny’s mother and is sent away. It is a tragedy that marks the biggest change in the young cowboy’s life. When Beau is released, revenge becomes all consuming for Sonny. He convinces Aubrey to help him. The two connive to do the old drunk in, but the old sot outfoxes the young cowboys, forcing Sonny to provide him a job on the Forest Ranch. The old man suffers a dehumanizing accident, and witnessing the suffering, Sonny has a change of heart concluding fate has punished Beau and set him free. Freedom from his obsession for revenge allows him to put all his energy into winning the hand of the boss’ daughter, Missy. This becomes a fierce competition with Aubrey. After all, a cowboy dreams of owning the land on which he works. That dream can only come true if he marries into the family. The competition between the two cowboys for Missy’s frail hand is filled with amusing shenanigans as well as tragic consequences. The novel is filled with rich characters scratching out a living on the vast empty ranch land of Central California. Where there is little to go around, cowboys turn to thieving, drinking, womanizing and rabble rousing. But there are consequences to such a hard life, death, accidents and heartache. Silver linings do exist once in a blue moon. Which of the two handsome cowboys have a silver lining in their future? It belongs to only one of them.

“Thompson-Hernández's portrayal of Compton's black cowboys broadens our perception of Compton's young black residents, and connects the Compton Cowboys to the historical legacy of African Americans in the west. An eye-opening, moving book.”—Margot Lee Shetterly, New York Times bestselling author of Hidden Figures “Walter Thompson-Hernández has written a book for the ages: a profound and moving account of what it means to be black in America that is awe inspiring in its truth-telling and limitless in its empathy. Here is an American epic of black survival and creativity, of terrible misfortune and everyday resilience, of grace, redemption and, yes, cowboys.”— Junot Díaz, Pulitzer prize-winning author of This is How You Lose Her A rising New York Times reporter tells the compelling story of The Compton Cowboys, a group of African-American men and women who defy stereotypes and continue the proud, centuries-old tradition of black cowboys in the heart of one of America’s most notorious cities. In Compton, California, ten black riders on horseback cut an unusual profile, their cowboy hats tilted against the hot Los Angeles sun. They are the Compton Cowboys, their small ranch one of the very last in a formerly semirural area of the city that has been home to African-American horse riders for decades. To most people, Compton is known only as the home of rap greats NWA and Kendrick Lamar, hyped in the media for its seemingly intractable gang violence. But in 1988 Mayisha Akbar founded The Compton Jr. Posse to provide local youth with a safe alternative to the streets, one that connected them with the rich legacy of black cowboys in American culture. From Mayisha’s youth organization came the Cowboys of today: black men and women from Compton for whom the ranch and the horses provide camaraderie, respite from violence, healing from trauma, and recovery from incarceration. The Cowboys include Randy, Mayisha’s nephew, faced with the daunting task of remaking the Cowboys for a new generation; Anthony, former drug dealer and inmate, now a family man and mentor, Keiara, a single mother pursuing her dream of winning a national rodeo championship, and a tight clan of twentysomethings--Kenneth, Keenan, Charles, and Tre--for whom horses bring the freedom, protection, and status that often elude the young black men of Compton. The Compton Cowboys is a story about trauma and transformation, race and identity, compassion, and ultimately, belonging. Walter Thompson-Hernández paints a unique and unexpected portrait of this city, pushing back against stereotypes to reveal an urban community in all its complexity, tragedy, and triumph. The Compton Cowboys is illustrated with 10-15 photographs.

The House of Bair tells the story of one of the most remarkable families of the early 20th century. The Bairs built a dynasty in the small ranching community of Martinsdale, Montana. They left behind a legacy of philanthropy---and, displayed in their ranch house, a vast and invaluable collection of American and European art and antiques. The Bairs left their home as a museum to the people of Montana---a seemingly simple request that ultimately divided friends, sparked numerous lawsuits, and made national headlines. Rostad details the fight of the community to save the ranch museum and uphold the wishes of these beloved and colorful figures in Montana's history.

"A charming tale of a couple of young people in the early 1900's and the beginning of motion pictures. Complete with romance, peril, and a villain." ~May, Verified Reviewer It's 1905, early in the Silent Film era, and orphan Amy Wilkes is "discovered" by producer Martin Tafft at a Pasadena Health Spa. Whisked away to the movie-making set, Amy is glamorized and placed before her leading man: a rugged, oh-so-handsome Arizona cowboy named Charlie Fox. Charlie, another "natural", needs money for his ranch, not the naive attentions of a beautiful starlet no matter how far she turns his head. On screen, sparks fly between Amy and Charlie, as the pair struggle to act like people they're not. Off screen, they face the scuttling machinations of the other actors and Charlie realizes what Amy truly dreams of--love and security. He offers her both. But first, Amy must open her heart. AWARDS: Romantic Times KISS Award REVIEWS: "Alice Duncan's knowledge of the 1900's film era brings a sparkle to COWBOY FOR HIRE. Highly recommended." ~Word Weaving "What a delightful read! Fascinating era... fascinating backdrop... and a lovely romance!" ~Norah Wilson, USA Today bestselling author THE DREAM MAKER SERIES, in order Cowboy for Hire Beauty and the Brain The Miner's Daughter Her Leading Man

Max is used to being called Stupid. And he is used to everyone being scared of him. On account of his size and looking like his dad. Kevin is used to being called Dwarf. And he is used to everyone laughing at him. On account of his size and being some cripple kid. But greatness comes in all sizes, and together Max and Kevin become Freak The Mighty and walk high above the world. An inspiring, heartbreaking, multi-award winning international bestseller.

When a military man comes home for the holidays, he gets a second chance at love on Big Heart Ranch in this heartwarming romance of joy and faith. Former navy SEAL Zach Norman has been avoiding his ranching roots—and the woman he couldn’t have. Back to visit his brother’s widow, Emma Maxwell Norman, and her adorable toddler twins, the bah-humbug cowboy is roped into helping prepare the ranch for the holidays. Working side by side, can Emma and Zach overcome their troubled past . . . and receive the greatest Christmas gift of all—love? “My favorite part of this story is the feeling it gives you—a feeling of warmth, family, and God’s love.” —Inkwell Inspirations “A sweet Christmas story of new beginnings and forgiveness . . . Their story is a tender one that will have the reader cheering for them to find their happily-ever-after.” —She Lives to Read “It was the perfect Christian holiday story with some romance and lots of fun. Highly recommend this book and the entire series!” —EmpowerMoms.net

As Halloween nears, Monster tries out a variety of costumes, including a cowboy, a ballerina, and a ninja, but finally comes up with the perfect idea.

Published for devotees of the cowboy and the West, American Cowboy covers all aspects of the Western lifestyle, delivering the best in entertainment, personalities, travel, rodeo action, human interest, art, poetry, fashion, food, horsemanship, history, and every other facet of Western culture. With stunning photography and you-are-there reportage, American Cowboy immerses readers in the cowboy life and the magic that is the great American West.

Rachel Swaby and Kit Fox present Mighty Moe, the untold true story of runner Maureen Wilton, whose world record-breaking marathon time at age 13 was met first with misogyny and controversy, but ultimately with triumph. In 1967, a girl known as Mighty Moe broke the women’s world marathon record at a small race in Toronto. This was an era when girls and women were discouraged from the sport and the longest track event at the Olympics for women was 25.6 miles shorter than a marathon. Thirteen-year-old Moe’s world-beating victory was greeted with chauvinistic disapproval and accusations of cheating—as were many of her achievements in the sport she had excelled at from the age of ten. Within less than two years, the controversy took its toll and Maureen quit running. Here is the untold story of Mighty Moe’s tenacity and triumph in the face of adversity as a young athlete—and of a grown-up Maureen finding her way back to the sport decades later. This inspiring biography for readers and racers of all ages showcases the truly groundbreaking achievements of an unassuming, amazing young athlete. Mighty Moe includes an introduction by Kathrine Switzer, the first woman to officially register and run in the Boston Marathon (and Maureen’s only fellow female competitor at the 1967 record-setting race), and an afterword by Des Linden, the first-place finisher of the 11,628 women who raced the 2018 Boston Marathon.

In the classic nature work, The Yosemite, the great American naturalist, John Muir, describes the Yosemite valley's geography and the myriad types of trees, flowers, birds, and other animals that can be found there. The Yosemite is among the finest examples of John Muir nature writings.The Yosemite is a classic nature/outdoor adventure text and a fine example of John Muir nature writings. In this volume, Muir describes the Yosemite valley's geography and the various types of trees, flowers and animals that can be found there. John Muir (April 21, 1838 - December 24, 1914) was a Scottish-American naturalist, author, environmental philosopher and early advocate of preservation of wilderness in the United States. His letters, essays, and books telling of his adventures in nature, especially in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California, have been read by millions. His activism helped to preserve the Yosemite Valley, Sequoia National Park and other wilderness areas. The Sierra Club, which he founded, is a prominent American conservation organization. The 211-mile (340 km) John Muir Trail, a hiking trail in the Sierra Nevada, was named in his honor.[2] Other such places include Muir Woods National Monument, Muir Beach, John Muir College, Mount Muir, Camp Muir and Muir Glacier. In Scotland, the John Muir Way, a 130 mile long distance route, was named in honor of him. In his later life, Muir devoted most of his time to the preservation of the Western forests. He petitioned the U.S. Congress for the National Park bill that was passed in 1890, establishing Yosemite National Park. The spiritual quality and enthusiasm toward nature expressed in his writings inspired readers, including presidents and congressmen, to take action to help preserve large nature areas. He is today referred to as the "Father of the National Parks" and the National Park Service has produced a short documentary about his life. Muir has been considered 'an inspiration to both Scots and Americans'. Muir's biographer, Steven J. Holmes, believes that Muir has become "one of the patron saints of twentieth-century American environmental activity," both political and recreational. As a result, his writings are commonly discussed in books and journals, and he is often quoted by nature photographers such as Ansel Adams. "Muir has profoundly shaped the very categories through which Americans understand and envision their relationships with the natural world," writes Holmes. Muir was noted for being an ecological thinker, political spokesman, and religious prophet, whose writings became a personal guide into nature for countless individuals, making his name "almost ubiquitous" in the modern environmental consciousness. According to author William Anderson, Muir exemplified "the archetype of our oneness with the earth", [ while biographer Donald Worster says he believed his mission was "...saving the American soul from total surrender to materialism." 403 On April 21, 2013, the first ever John Muir Day was celebrated in Scotland, which marked the 175th anniversary of his birth, paying homage to the conservationist. Muir was born in the small house at left. His father bought the adjacent building in 1842, and made it the family home.