EVER SEE "OVERLAND TRAIL" - THE TV SHOW?

Post by Doris McCraw

aka Angela Raines

Photo property of the author

Saddle up as we join Fred and flip as they travel through the old west of the TV show "Overland Trail", on my journey through the lesser-known early television shows the short live show starred William Bendix as Fred Kelly, the superintendent of the Overland stage company, and Doug McClure as Flip Flippin, his sidekick.

The show had only 17 one-hour-long episodes, but boy are they fun. The show began on February 6, 1960, on NBC. Its competition: "Lassie" on CBS, and "Walt Disney Presents" on ABC. It ended its short run on June 6, 1960.

This was the show that brought Doug McClure to the notice of the television-watching public. His chemistry with Bendix is something to behold and there is just something about his smile.

The background for the television show has a Bendix character, Fred Kelly, as the person who raised McClure's character, Flip Flippin. Due to that relationship, the young Flip worked with Fred on the Overland stage line. Although I'm not sure the McClure character's name would go over with the television-watching public today there is no denying the joy in watching the two try to outsmart each other. Yet, one can tell the mutual affection of a father-son relationship underneath.

If you would like to catch up on the other television shows in this series they are linked below after the show in this post.

"Overland Trail" - YouTube

For the earlier posts in the series, see below:

Trackdown - Self-Defense

Cimarron City

Whispering Smith

Yancy Derringer

Range Rider

Until Next Time: Stay safe, Stay happy, and Stay healthy.

Doris

New Release -- Yolanda’s Hope (The Barlow Wives Book 5) Kindle Edition by Agnes Alexander

 

Yolanda Stinson has had her eye on handsome Paxton Barlow ever since they were kids. Though she’s four years younger, she’s always hoped that one day he’d notice her. When the Stinson ranch is attacked and Yolanda’s father, Daniel, is severely injured, Paxton steps in to help—and to protect the Stinson family and holdings.

But Paxton is shocked to realize that Yolanda is all grown up—not the little girl he remembers from their growing-up days. And his beautiful neighbor has the power to make Paxton see red when she looks at another man! A confirmed bachelor, now the youngest Barlow brother is confronted with a decision he never thought he’d have to make.

With more attacks on the Stinson ranch, Paxton vows to get to the bottom of what’s going on—and as the sinister plot unfolds in unimaginable ways, he and Yolanda find themselves in a desperate situation.

But some hard losses bring Paxton and Yolanda together in an unbreakable bond of trust and love. As they fight together to hold on to the legacy Yolanda’s father worked so hard to build, can they also hope to make something of their own? Can Paxton promise Yolanda a future, and be the answer to YOLANDA’S HOPE?

EXCERPT

Yolanda Stinson sat the plates on the table and glanced at her mother. “How long do you think it will take Daddy to finish in the barn?”

Shirley turned from stirring the green beans in the big black iron pot on the stove. “I don’t think it’ll take him much longer. That’s why I want to go ahead and finish up dinner. He’s been up working since dawn because he intended to go to town. He didn’t take much time to eat breakfast. I wanted to have everything ready when he comes in because I know he’s going to be tired and hungry.”

Before Yolanda could answer, the thundering sounds of horses came through the open kitchen window.

“What in the world could—”

Shirley hadn’t finished her sentence when several shots rang out.

Yolanda ran to the back door and jerked it open. Her mother was on her heels.

One of the riders turned his gun toward the house and fired. The bullet hit the post holding up the porch roof. Before he could get off another shot, Shirley jerked Yolanda backward and slammed the door shut.

“Mama, what—“

“I don’t know, Yolanda. Shut the window, and I’ll get the rifle. I don’t know who they are or what they want, but we have to keep them out of here if we can.”

     

New Release — Sisters by Lynna Banning

 

When Ellie Grenfell’s fiancé, Deputy Sheriff Jack Mallory, is wounded in the line of duty, she does what she’s done her entire life—she sends for her older sister!

Widowed Verity Varner returns to Smoke River, Oregon, to help Ellie and serve as her chaperone until the wedding takes place. But shortly after Verity’s arrival, she realizes Jack’s wound has become infected, and he loses part of his arm.

Over the months of Jack’s recuperation and learning how to cope with his disability, Ellie reveals her selfishness and disinterest in Jack’s daily struggle. Verity understands the obstacles Jack faces, offering sympathy and encouragement—and she also understands something else: Ellie is not the person Verity thought she was.

All her life, Verity has been a surrogate mother to Ellie, putting her sister’s needs before her own. But, now, the unthinkable has happened—Verity and Jack have fallen in love, even as his wedding to Ellie draws ever closer. How can Verity choose between her love for Jack and her loyalty to Ellie? Will she risk her chance for true love to preserve the bond between SISTERS?

EXCERPT

Verity bent over the feverish private, a soldier she did not recognize, and dipped the scrap of muslin into the basin of water for what seemed like the hundredth time. An hour ago, the post doctor had dug an arrowhead out of the boy’s back, but because he’d ridden a day and a half before reaching the fort, his wound was now infected. She squeezed out the excess water and again bathed his bare back, then slid the cloth around to wipe the sweat from his forehead.

Just as she drew the cooling fabric down his backbone, the door burst open and a burly orderly stepped inside. “Telegram, Miz Varner.” He waved a folded piece of yellowed paper at her.

“Thank you, Jasper.” She reached her free hand to take it from the grey-bearded man, slid it into the pocket of her canvas work apron, and continued sponging the boy’s back.

The orderly retreated and she heard his boots clump on down the hallway. Who on earth would be sending her a telegram? The only person who knew she was still here at Fort Hall was her sister, Ellie, and—

Her heart dropped into her stomach. Something has happened. She dropped the cloth into the basin and hurriedly scrabbled in her apron pocket for the telegram.

     

New Release -- Innocent to the Last (The Innocents Mystery Series Book 6) by C.A. Asbrey

Nat, Abigail, and Jake are hot on the trail of the mysterious man behind the scenes who orchestrated the murder of baby Ava. Determined to bring her killer to justice, they are prepared to do whatever they must, no matter where the clues lead. Rebecca, an attractive newspaper woman investigating the same deadly gang of criminals brings complications into the mix for their plans—and for Jake’s heart.

With a slew of hired killers on their tails, the stars align when they bump into Nat and Jake’s old gang, The Innocents, in the midst of a train robbery. They strike a reluctant deal with The Innocents to take refuge in their old hideout at Ghost Canyon—at a price. Abi’s ability to break into a new type of armored car, one containing a rumored “golden boy” statue, gains them their refuge and buys them some very limited time.

When the hired killers show up at Ghost Canyon, there’s hell to pay with the surprise attack Nat has devised. If Jake survives, will he be able to find peace—and love—with his heart’s desire, at last? Can Nat and Abi deliver retribution for the death of their young daughter?

In a story filled with surprise villains, unexpected love, and gut-wrenching action, these twists and turns keep Nat, Abi, and Jake INNOCENT TO THE LAST…


EXCERPT

     Rebecca turned over and punched her pillow. Why couldn’t she sleep? There was something worming into the back of her brain, but she couldn’t quite scratch the itch. All of a sudden, she saw herself standing in her office today, waving that check in the face of those damned men. The Farmers & Stockworkers National Bank in St. Louis. That was Meagher’s bank. What was it her father had always told her? If you want to bring someone down, look at where the money came from. She knew Meagher probably paid his henchmen in cash, but whoever he was in thrall to would pay by more sophisticated methods. And Becky Kershaw now had his bank details. She pushed herself upright and ran a distracted hand through her silken blonde hair. The bank. How could she see their records?

     She’d never done anything for the newspaper other than general office and printing work. Her father had acted as the reporter, and when they merged, Fernsby had taken that over. Her role never changed. She knew nothing about how to investigate a powerful man.

     Not for the first time, she wished she knew more about how journalists got private information like bank details. Nobody had ever taught her how. She couldn’t get a job in the bank. They usually only employed men. Rebecca dropped back down, running scenarios and fantasies through her mind, all of them ending with Meagher’s corruption proven by her work. How great would it be to bring down the mayor? It might at least give her some kind of future with another newspaper. And she really needed one. Meagher would arrange an accident if she stayed in Greenville. She had to leave tomorrow, at the latest.

     Schemes and plans percolated until she drifted off to sleep. By the time dawn lit the world she had convinced herself that there was no downside to her grand idea. Even if she was caught holding up the bank, a court appearance would throw enough attention at Meagher to make it worthwhile. She could declare her accusations and get them reported in the press that way. Besides. She wasn’t going to get caught—even if she was, she wasn’t actually stealing any money. All she needed was the name and address of the man paying Meagher.

     What could go wrong?

     

Harvey Girls

By Kristy McCaffrey

Fred Harvey, an ambitious English immigrant, didn’t initially hire women as waitresses. He only did so after the male waiters he employed at the Harvey House in Raton, New Mexico, engaged in a drunken midnight brawl and were unable to report for work the following day. Harvey was furious and fired them all, including the manager. Tom Gable, the new manager, suggested hiring women, because they were less likely “to get likkered up and go on tears.”

But it wasn’t so simple. At the time, female waitresses were nothing more than “saloon girls,” better known to deliver "something extra" along with food to their customers. Harvey needed to replace that image with a more wholesome appearance. His critics also cautioned that Harvey would never entice women to come west and work for him, leaving civilization behind for the wild frontier. Turned out the critics were wrong. In the 1870’s thousands of women applied, likely due to a shortage of men in the East, and women from lower-income families viewed this as an opportunity to improve their lives.

Harvey Girls

Harvey’s advertisement sought “young women eighteen to forty years of age, of good character, attractive and intelligent” to come work in the West. He was very strict on the requirements. A Harvey Girl had to have finished at least the eighth grade, speak clearly, have good manners, and be neat in appearance. When a woman signed a contract (anywhere from six months to a year), she agreed to learn the Harvey system, follow instructions to the letter, obey employee rules, accept whatever location she was assigned, and abstain from marriage for the duration of her initial contract. If she broke the marriage contract, she forfeited her pay and railroad pass home. Working six days a week, Harvey Girls would become synonymous with superior service.

Wages were $17.50 per month with room and board included. The girls usually lived upstairs in the facility they worked or in a nearby dormitory, chaperoned by Housemothers. They were given a strict curfew and only allowed to visit with men in the parlor. Since many Harvey Girls were the adventurous sort, stories abounded of mischief which usually involved sneaking around.

Harvey Girls were essentially the country’s first group of women who made a decent wage independent from a man, of considerable merit since women didn’t have equal rights at the time. Over the course of 90 years over 100,000 women worked as Harvey Girls.

Connect with Kristy

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New Release — Patrice’s Shame (The Barlow Wives Book 3) by Agnes Alexander

Beautiful Patrice Dickerson is all too happy to leave Philadelphia to claim half of a ranch in Wyoming—an unexpected windfall from an aunt she never knew. But the catch is, the other half has been left to a man that Patrice has never met. Patrice can think of nothing but the new start this gift means for her—to outrun the shame that has threatened her all her life. Her mother, a well-known prostitute, has lately been pressing Patrice to join her in “the business” with threats of letting everyone know Patrice is her daughter—and Patrice lives in fear that her society friends will discover who she really is. 

 Gavin Barlow has suddenly found himself the owner of half of the Hopewell Ranch—a spread that adjoins the Barlow family land. When the new joint owner from back East arrives, Gavin plans to ask him to sell out. A ranch the size of the Hopewell spread would expand the Barlow holdings significantly. Surely, an Eastern dandy will be eager to sell… 

 But when Patrice arrives in Wyoming, Gavin is unprepared for her haughty demeanor. He never expected his “partner” to be a woman—and a rude one, at that! His hopes to buy her out are dashed in the face of her self-importance—a façade to hide her secrets. 

 An accident steals Patrice’s memory. Who is she, and why is she in Wyoming? Her sweet personality is totally opposite the Patrice that Gavin has come to know and be wary of—but which “Patrice” is the real one? As their relationship blossoms into true love, each of them hopes for a life together on the ranch they’ve inherited, but is it possible? 

Patrice’s mother follows her to Wyoming with an evil plan of her own, threatening to expose Patrice’s background to Gavin. Can they still find true love in spite of PATRICE’S SHAME?

EXCERPT

     Patrice shook her head. Were these people crazy? Who in the world would voluntarily let a horse throw him in such a manner? Didn’t he realize he could be killed?

     She shrugged. If someone had to lose their life, let it be Gavin Barlow. That way, she would own this ranch alone, wouldn’t she? Then, when she sold, she’d have twice the money.

     After touring the rest of the first floor, she turned and headed upstairs. In the hall, she hesitated in front of Gavin’s door. Wondering if the man’s room would be as unkempt as he seemed to be, she opened the door. Knowing no one would be the wiser, she bit her lip and stepped inside, expecting a mess.

     Instead, the room was not only tidy, but the bed had been made and there were no clothes strewn around. A pair of boots sat by the chair at the window and a stack of books lay on the table beside the chair. At least that tells me the man can read.

     She was about to reach for the wardrobe door when a deep voice said, “Looking for something, your highness?”

     She jumped and whirled around. “I…uh…I…”

     “Go right ahead and search the place, if you like. Since I tore my britches and it’d be indecent if I kept wearing them, all I intend to do is put on another pair. If you want to watch me do that, I have no objection.”

     As she ran out of the room, she heard Gavin laughing. 

      

The Comanchero's Bride by Kaye Spencer – June #blogabookscene #PrairieRosePubs

The #blogabookscene theme for June is On the road again.  The traveling excerpt below is from my western romance novel, The Comanchero's Bride. Mingo and Isabel are on the run from a powerful man hellbent on killing Mingo so he can marry Isabel.

EXCERPT

Isabel lost track of the days. Hour after weary hour, creaking saddle leather, plodding steps of horses’ hooves, and the wind worrying the grass were the only sounds. Sometimes, she couldn’t remember what it was like to be warm. Other times, she shed her heavy garments. Horseback riding for pleasure had been one of her favorite pastimes, but with a sidesaddle and only on short jaunts, not for grueling miles at a stretch in a saddle that she had to straddle in an unladylike fashion. Still, tiresome though it was, crossing the prairie on horseback was like attending a traveling school. Each hour, each day brought something new, and she soaked it up with the exuberance of a child who has just learned to read and then realizes an entire world of unimagined adventure awaits her discovery.

Mingo showed her how to keep her directions straight in the dark by using the North Star as a fixed point and to tell time at night by the position of the constellations. Watching The Hunter’s trek across the sky helped her endure many long, cold hours, and when it hung low in the western sky, she knew sunrise was near and that usually meant food and rest in the warmth of Mingo’s arms as they snuggled under the blankets in some secluded hideaway. She learned how to go without hot meals and baths, but most useful of all, she learned how to sleep in the saddle as miles of dark, monotonous prairie sameness lulled her into a stupor.

 

She loved listening to the stories Mingo told of his life, which helped to pass the time. Then other times, he often didn’t speak for hours, needing silence in order to hear the night noises—coyotes yipping, owls hooting, the breeze humming through the greasewood and scrub trees, and an occasional cow lowing or dog barking in the distance. He said these things talked to him, explaining to him what stirred out in the dark places where he couldn’t see.

 

Always, though, he focused on the land, constantly surveying it from near-to-far and back, both ahead and behind, and Isabel soon fell into the same observations. He made decisions with the seasoned confidence of a man who knew how to make their passing virtually invisible.

 

He was a mercurial spirit, constant, yet ever changing with uncanny intuition, which prompted him to leave an obvious path for a trail only he could see. They left tracks. He covered their tracks. They doubled back, and they circled around. He purposely chose rough terrain to discourage followers and to make their passing difficult to trace. 

 

Sometimes they rode by daylight and rested by night. He plotted their way from water source to water source then, for no reason she could discern, he would pass up watering holes when they needed to refill their canteens. When she asked, he could only shrug and say he listened to his instincts. Even though he thought out every move with deliberate care, the moment she was comfortable with their routine, he changed it. She observed his every movement, questioned him to find out his thoughts in order to learn everything she could.

 

She prayed nothing would separate them again, but always in the back of her mind, the possibility lurked. And she knew it was those same fears, although he never said so, that pushed him to teach her how to live and survive without him. He told of landmarks to watch for in order to keep her bearings straight for the Rio Grande. She memorized the names of allies along the way and where they lived. He assured her as long as she kept her path southerly, someone in his family would eventually locate her.

 

 

The Comanchero's Bride is also included in the boxed set Under a Western Sky.

 

 

 

 

The Comanchero's Bride is available as a single novel HERE.

 

It is also included in the boxed set, Under a Western Sky, which is available HERE.

 

 

 

 

Until next time,

Kaye Spencer

 
 

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