Chuckwagons, black cowboys, and Old West dentistry

Dec 18, 2025 5:01 pm

December, '25

Howdy pard,

Christmas ain’t even here yet, and I’m already exhausted. Let me fill your mug with joe and top it up with a shot of somethin’ to keep you warm at night!

What a month we’ve had. Because it's Christmas, I’m playin' Santa Claus and have found a pile of free novels and stories for you to choose from – go ahead and fill up your saddle bags. I’ve got some interesting scuttlebutt about the special place a chuckwagon holds in a cowboy’s heart, as well as interestin' background about black cowboys and Old West dentistry. I’ve got a documentary about the ‘500 Nations of Native American life’, as well as a recipe for cowboy prime rib.

Dang, you look cold – here, let me top you up. As my ol’ grandpa used to say, ‘When in doubt, let your horse figure it out’.

Free books for the holidays

There’s nothing like putting your feet up with a good book… and I’ve some great books here for you to choose from. Crime fiction, cozy mysteries, political thrillers, religious thrillers, whodunnits…. help yourself – they are all free!

Here’s a couple of titles to whet your interest:

The Samurai of Rust, by James Dargan
Bundle up, it’s murder out there, by Bonnie Blume
The Vengeance of Mirickar, by Stuart J. Whitmore
The Pop Star and the Devil, by Rektok Ross

Click here to get your free books!

https://books.bookfunnel.com/gone-for-the-holidays/73hqh5n7d5

Chuckwagons and feeding cowboys

Cowboys are tougher than rawhide, but after a long day in the saddle even the toughest cowpoke needs a good meal. Food was one of the few comforts a cowboy had when driving cattle north. Any good trail boss worth their salt knew this and ensured that the cowpunchers riding for his outfit ended every day with a full belly.

Find out more about the essential role that chuckwagons played in the life of the cattle drive right here: https://nickbrumbywesterns.com/chuckwagons-and-feeding-cowboys/

‘Action-packed’

Thank you to everyone who has picked themselves up a copy of Redding’s Ace – the feedback has been wonderful. Here’s just one review:

“This is a witty and fun cowboy tale that races along at a frantic pace and really feels like watching an old western movie or one of the TV shows of my youth. Think ‘Rawhide’ or ‘Bonanza’ or even ‘High Noon.’ There is also an element of ‘Blazing Saddles’ lurking in the background.”

Get your copy at major ebook retailers - or check out the extra-special edition containing exclusive content not available anywhere else, delivered by Bookfunnel, and readable on any ereader (including Amazon, iPad, Kobo, Nook), your tablet, phone, computer and/or the free Bookfunnel app.

You can find it here: https://nickbrumbywesterns.com/reddings-ace/

Want to finish the Sixgun Drifter series? Here’s Book 1, Redding’s Fandango:

https://nickbrumbywesterns.com/reddings-fandango/

Hide away from the world with a free book

There’s nothing like a great story, and these free quality titles are just waiting for you to start page one! Pick one, pick them all – it’s up to you. But don’t wait – just like fireworks and apple pie, they are perfect for summer!

Here’s a couple of titles to whet your interest:

Deadly Dynasty, by Lyssa Lund
Caffeine and a Corpse, by Gemma Harper
Killing Game, by CM Martens
The Changling’s Curse, by Mariana Percy

Click here to get your books!

https://books.bookfunnel.com/readytobesweptaway/iuozjc9we4

Free Tickets to Mystery & Adventure

Buy a ticket to adventure with these fantastic free novels. They’re all about story and fun and are waiting for you to download them! Pick one, pick them all – it’s up to you. But don’t wait – they are all free and they won’t last long!

Here’s a couple of titles to whet your interest:

An Irish Mystery, by DC Salmon
Ranger Selection, by Thomas Sewell
Through Twisted Eyes, by Steve Hudgins
The Broken Mask, by Juliette Trott

Click here to get your books!

https://books.bookfunnel.com/thecountdowntoexcitementstartsnow/grt1n28e12

Did you know?

Despite what Hollywood might want you to believe, in the 1870s and 1880s, as many as 25 percent of the 35,000 cowboys in the Old West were black. Black cowboys such as Bass Reeves were famous for their skills riding horses, managing herds and enforcing the law. In 1875, Bass Reeves became a U.S. Marshal overseeing the vast expanse of Oklahoma Territory before it became a state. He served for 27 years and tracked down as many as 3,000 criminals during his career. It’s believed that Reeves is the basis for The Lone Ranger stories.

Frontier Marshall

I’m proud to recommend some great historical fantasy that came across my desk – Frontier Marshall, by Michael Cardwell.

Here’s the story (spoiler-free!):

“U. S. Marshall Danny Coogan returns to his roots in Montana to settle into the sleepy town of Darwin with his pregnant wife. But as Danny races into town ahead of an early blizzard, the storms of his past threaten his future. Not only has the ambitions of the Ghost Buffalo Society set some of the local Indians on a path toward insurrection, but Danny’s best friend, Edmund Goodrunner, working undercover for the Tribal Council, has gone missing.”

Get your free book here:

https://storyoriginapp.com/swaps/9144811c-c548-11f0-ab4c-d7c5a0014418

More great reading

There’s nothing like a great story, and these quality titles are just waiting for you to start page one! Pick one, pick them all – it’s up to you. But don’t wait – just like fireworks and apple pie, they are perfect for summer!

Here’s a couple of titles to whet your interest:

Viking Dawn, by CR Dempsey
Hyde Park Deception, by Richard Lyntton
Albert and Marie, by MJ Dees
Freydis, by Rachel Tsoumbakis

Click here to get your books!

https://books.bookfunnel.com/timespenths/udje7yv02k

Documentary: 500 Nations- the story of Native Americans

Journey through millennia of Native American history, exploring diverse cultures across North America. This first instalment examines ancient civilizations, their daily lives, and artistic achievements. The documentary uses historical accounts and breathtaking visuals to reconstruct these forgotten worlds.

Find out more about Native American history in this great documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6K4ar1nm5A

Mystery, Thriller and Suspense

Bone-chillers aren’t for everyone – but those in the know can’t get enough of them. These fantastic free titles are just waiting for you to start page one! Pick one, pick them all – it’s up to you. But don’t wait – ironically, time is short!

Here’s a couple of titles to whet your interest:

Jinxed at Blackjack, by PJ Petersen
Bed, Breakfast and Murder, by Olivia Page
Fool Me Once, by Liz Hedgecock
Thieves in Velvet, by Stella Sinclaire

Click here to get your free books!

https://books.bookfunnel.com/thrillingfreebies-dec/8dxlgst1x5

Did you know?

Your local Old West dentist could be the guy who worked as a bartender, or a wrangler, or a barber. Nothin' like the sight of a set of pliers to get you lookin' after your chompers.... Trained dentists in the Old West sometimes had nitrous oxide to numb the pain, but often they just gave patients a shot of whiskey. Extraction was almost the only treatment available for toothaches until the middle of the 19th century. To pull out the teeth, frontier dentists usually relied on pliers or a similar instrument that used the patient’s jaw for leverage. That method sometimes led to a dislocated jaw.

Cowboy prime rib

There is something mighty special about a rib roast on Christmas. When that rich aroma fills the kitchen and the pups start circling the counter, you know a fine feast is on the way. Prime rib has become a tradition for so many folks this time of year, but this cut can also be one of the most intimidating to cook. It costs real money, and nobody wants to mess it up.

Let Cowboy chef Kent Rollins show you how to make prime rib for yourself:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exwU837X8oo

Get to know Sheriff Sol Redding

Check out my ‘Sixgun Drifter’ western series right here:

https://nickbrumbywesterns.com/sixgun-drifter-series/

From me to you: your free western

Get your free and exclusive copy of my first western Redding’s Maverick here: https://BookHip.com/NGKAHW

Nice to see you again!

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