Long Live the Cowboy

“Each year since 2005 the U.S. Senate has passed a resolution designating the fourth Saturday of July National Day of the American Cowboy.”

"Whereas pioneering men and women, recognized as cowboys, helped establish the American West...that cowboy spirit continues to infuse the nation with its solid character, sound family values, and good common sense; Whereas the cowboy embodies honesty, integrity, courage, compassion, respect, a strong work ethic, and patriotism."

What woman in her right mind doesn't love a Cowboy--the kind in romance novels, that is! Before I make my case for Cowboy Addiction I'd like to remind readers we're hosting our second One Day Only Media Blitz on July 16th



On July 16th I'll be blogging at www.harauthors.blogspot.com about Dexter: Honorable Cowboy book two in The Codys: First Family of Rodeo continuity.



Help spread the word by mentioning my book and posting a link to http://www.harauthors.blogspot.com/ on all your favorite social media sites--Facebook, MySpace, Twitter. The more places you link to and mention Dexter: Honorable Cowboy the more chances you have to win a copy of my book and some neat "cowboy stuff".

Return to www.harauthors.blogspot.com and tell us where you're spreading the word in the comment section of the blog--that way I can keep a tally of your activity. I'll post the winners' names in the comment section of the blog on July 17th--be sure to return to see if you're one of the lucky winners!

How many different kinds of COWBOYS are there anyway? Cowboys in romance novels are darn near perfect, but in real life, cowboys come in all shapes, sizes and cognitive abilities. Here are a few of those Wild West men we can't resist.

Cowboy Outlaw


Naked Cowboy


Calendar Cowboy


Old Buckaroo Cowboy

Real Working Cowboy


Urban Cowboy


Seen-better-days cowboy


Now that we've had an eyeful of Cowboy Candy….what is it that women find so sexy about the Cowboy Way of Life? It for sure ain't the food these guys eat.

Sonofabitch Stew

2 pounds lean beef
Half a calf heart
1/2 pounds calf liver
1 set sweetbreads
1 set brains
1 set marrow gut
Salt, pepper
Louisiana hot sauce
Kill off a young steer. Cut up beef, liver and heart into I -inch cubes; slice the marrow gut into small rings. Place in a Dutch oven or deep casserole. Cover meat with water and simmer for 2 to 3 hours. Add salt, pepper and hot sauce to taste. Take sweetbreads and brains and cut in small pieces. Add to stew. Simmer another hour, never boiling.

Vinegar Pie

1 cup sugar
2 tablespoons flour
1 cup cold water
4 eggs, beaten
5 tablespoons vinegar
2 1/2 tablespoons butter
Combine sugar and flour. Add the rest of the ingredients and place in a saucepan. Cook until thick and pour into a prepared pie crust. Bake in a 375-degree oven until the crust is brown

Okay, so maybe Cowboy Food isn’t romantic, but let's talk about COWBOY INCOME--how much do these rope-throwin' chaps make? The average Old West cowboy drew $25 to $40 a month--I can't get my nails done for that little money. Today, a typical salary for a cowboy in New Mexico is about $1,600 a month. Cowboys may also get free housing, paid utilities, insurance coverage and perhaps some beef. Thanks, but I'd rather be wooed with diamonds instead of a side of beef.

Okay, so we don't chase after Cowboys for their cooking or money or gifts of beef…. We do however love these guys because they practice the

COWBOY CODE OF THE WEST.
Don't wave at a man on a horse. It might spook the horse and the man will think you're an idiot.

After you pass someone on the trail, don't look back at him. It implies you don't trust him.

Riding another man's horse without his permission is nearly as bad as making love to his wife.

Never shoot an unarmed man. Never shoot a woman at all.

Always be courageous. Cowards aren't tolerated in any outfit worth its salt.

A cowboy always helps someone in need, even a stranger or an enemy.

Real cowboys are modest. A braggert who is "all gurgle and no guts" is not tolerated.

A cowboy doesn't talk much; he saves his breath for breathing.

Cuss all you want, but only around men, horses and cows.

What about Cowboy Codes of Wooing?

Here's some Cowboy relationship advice found in Just one Fool Thing After Another: A Cowfolks' Guide to Romance by Gladiola Montana & Tex Bix Bender

Just because you learned a lot from you last lover's leap don't mean you ain't jumpin' off a different cliff this time.

When a man asks a woman to share his lot, she has a right to know how big it is.

You gotta wear the boot to know where it pinches.

When you don't have a thing to worry about, you go and get married, and suddenly the world is a worrisome place.

For better or for worse means for good.

A man in love is incomplete until he marries--then he's finished.

No matter how much he loves you sometimes he'd just rather have an inch of rain than anything else in the world.

Most marital graves are dug with a lot of little digs.

When a woman makes up her mind you can always be sure she's gonna do exactly what she says--or not.

Have I made my case that Cowboys are addicting? Okay, now it's time for you to share—what do you find addicting about cowboys?

Marin