Author’s Note
Located in the San Juan Mountains, the Creede mining district sits in the southern part of Colorado. The San Juans are sometimes called the “Alps” of America, with high rugged peaks separated by deep valleys. The landscape is filled with forests of spruce, pine, fir, and aspen, open meadows filled with wildflowers, rushing mountain streams, and sparkling lakes. The area is also rich with valuable metals—gold, silver, copper, lead, and zinc.
Early prospecting in the 1870’s revealed silver-bearing ore, leading to a major discovery in 1889 by Nicholas C. Creede. In August 1889, Creede and his partners—E.R. Naylor and G.L. Smith—were prospecting on Campbell Mountain when they located the Holy Moses claim. The Creede mining boom began in the fall of 1890 when word spread that the Holy Moses had been sold for $70,000 to Denver investors. Hundreds of prospectors descended on Campbell Mountain as well as nearby Bachelor Mountain, where the Amethyst Vein was discovered, becoming Creede District’s most productive lode.
During Creede’s early years, the area was often referred to as ‘No Man’s Land’ because parts of the camp were located in Saguache, Hinsdale, and Rio Grande counties. Due to this confusion, it was necessary to file mining, homestead, and lot claims in all three counties. And although each county fought to gain control of the potential riches of Creede, none would assume jurisdiction or provide police protection. The issue was resolved by an act of the Colorado legislature in March 1893 when the County of Mineral was formed from parts of each of the three counties, and a provisional city government was organized.
As prospectors staked out their claims in the early 1890’s, there were many cases of claim jumping, overlapping boundary lines, and moving of boundary stakes. The result was litigation that often led to the suspension of activities until the cases could be resolved in the courts. The case between the Last Chance Mining and Milling Company and the Del Monte Mining Company went all the way to the United States Supreme Court, delaying production from these mines for several years.
From 1891 to 1899, mines on the Amethyst Vein had the greatest economic impact on the Creede District, with most of the production coming from high-grade oxidized ores in the southern portion. (Oxidized ores are preferable since they can be shipped directly to smelters without further processing.) The majority of the value was silver. In 1892, the total estimated output of mines in the Creede District was $4,215,800, for which the Amethyst Mine accounted for over half.
In 1893, a silver panic dealt a devastating blow to the Creede economy. U.S. President Grover Cleveland sought to solve an economic crisis by repealing the Sherman Silver Purchase Act, which had been passed in 1890 in response to a large overproduction of silver by western mines. It required the U.S. Treasury to purchase silver using notes backed by either silver or gold. This legislation was critical for Creede and other silver mining towns because it had stabilized silver prices.
While the panic of 1893 didn’t completely shut down silver mining in Creede, it did seriously decrease production. The dollar value of silver produced in 1894 was only 31 percent of the 1893 number, but by 1898-1899 it had rebounded to approximately 60 percent of the 1893 figure.
Acknowledgments
With this book my Wings of the West saga comes to a close. It has taken me 13 years to write the five novels in this series, and it’s with great relief that I find myself at the end of this journey. These stories have been my heart’s desire, my training ground as a writer, and my nemesis as I struggled with plots and historical research. I’m incredibly proud of the work I’ve done along with the tenacity I’ve acquired to see a project to completion.
For this book, I have many people to thank. Author Ann Charles contacted me after reading several of my books and not only became a fan but a friend and mentor. She graciously beta-read this novel while in manuscript form, offering unwavering support and enthusiasm. A big thank you to my proofreaders: Marcia Montoya, Tanya Brown, Janet Lessley, Judy Tucker, and Sandra Brown (who actually read the book twice), and a special shout-out to reader Deborah Dunham who went above and beyond, offering an in-depth line-edit that brought to my attention many improvements to my grammar. One thing is certain—a writer is always learning.
My editor, Melissa Maygrove, has once again done a tremendous job in clarifying my thoughts and pointing out story discrepancies. I’ve had several editors throughout the course of this series but it’s been Melissa who has taught me the most.
This book proved to be my wake-up call when it came to technology. I lost an early, and nearly complete, version of this story when my external hard drive failed. To my heartbreak and chagrin, I had no backup. It was my 22-year-old and IT-savvy son, Sam, who helped me through it, trying in vain to recover the data (in the end he couldn’t) and advising me on how to manage my files better. After re-writing the entire manuscript again, I lost the story a second time but thankfully had a backup. Needless to say, I’m happy this book is finally complete and published before another computer gremlin strikes again.
I must, of course, include a big thank you to my husband. His endless support makes it possible for me to pursue a writing career, and his brainstorming abilities have aided me through many a plot-conundrum; his viewpoint has frequently helped me see a different perspective that’s hiding within a scene. He also makes me laugh every day.
And finally, a huge thank you to the readers. While writing is done inside a bubble, it’s what happens later when a reader engages with the story that the work transforms into something more. In the end, it’s the joy we share in this life that makes all the difference. I hope my work brings a small amount of delight to your days.
About The Author
As a child, Kristy McCaffrey frequently narrated to herself. It soon became apparent that she had an affinity for this writing thing. Raised on a steady diet of sci-fi/fantasy and tales of King Arthur, she transferred this love of mythic storytelling to penning western romances once she decided, at long last, to pay attention to her natural inclinations. Educated as an engineer, she swiftly gave that up to be a stay-at-home mom and aspiring author. She and her husband live in the Arizona desert where their four children are in varying stages of flying the nest. A great love of travel frequently ends up on her blog, along with attempts at humor. This is often at the expense of her kids, which has led them to proclaim, “We will no longer read your blog, Mom.” They also refuse to follow her on Twitter. Kristy believes life should be lived with curiosity, compassion, and gratitude, and one should never be far from the enthusiasm of a dog. She also likes sleeping-in, eating Mexican food, and doing yoga at home in her pajamas.
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Don’t miss THE WREN
Wings of the West: Book One
The Wren
Ten years have passed since her ranch was attacked, her folks murdered, and Molly Hart was abducted. Now, at nineteen, she’s finally returning home to north Texas after spending the remainder of her childhood with a tribe of Kwahadi Comanche. What she finds is a deserted home coated with dust and the passage of time, the chilling discovery of her own gravesite, and the presence of a man she thought never to see again.
Matt Ryan is pushed by a restless wind to the broken-down remains of the Hart ranch. Recently recovered from an imprisonment that nearly ended his life, the drive for truth and fairness has all but abandoned him. For ten years he faithfully served the U.S. Army and the Texas Rangers, seeking justice for the brutal murder of a little girl, only to find closure and healing beyond his grasp. Returning to the place where it all began, he’s surprised to stumble across a woman with the same blue eyes as the child
he can’t put out of his mind.
The Dove
Wings of the West: Book Two
The Dove
Disappointment hits ex-deputy Logan Ryan hard when he finds Claire Waters in the midst of a bustling Santa Fe Trail town. The woman he remembers is gone—in her place is a working girl with enticing curves and a load of trouble. As a web of deceit entangles them with men both desperate and dangerous, Logan tries to protect Claire, unaware his own past poses the greatest threat.
Plagued by shame all her life, Claire is stunned when Logan catches her on the doorstep of The White Dove Saloon dressed as a prostitute. She lets him believe the worst, but with her mama missing and the fancy girls deserting the place, she’s hard-pressed to refuse his offer of help. As she embarks on a journey that will unravel the fabric of her life, one thing becomes clear—opening her heart may be the most dangerous proposition of all.
The Sparrow
Wings of the West: Book Three
The Sparrow
In 1877, Emma Hart comes to Grand Canyon—a wild, rugged, and, until recently, undiscovered area. Plagued by visions and gifted with a second sight, she searches for answers about the tragedy of her past, the betrayal of her present, and an elusive future that echoes through her very soul. Joined by her power animal Sparrow, she ventures into the depths of Hopi folklore, forced to confront an evil that has lived through the ages.
Texas Ranger Nathan Blackmore tracks Emma Hart to the Colorado River, stunned by her determination to ride a wooden dory along its course. But in a place where the ripples of time run deep, he’ll be faced with a choice. He must accept the unseen realm, the world beside this world, that he turned away from years ago, or risk losing the woman he has come to love more than life itself.
The Blackbird
Wings of the West: Book Four
The Blackbird
Bounty hunter Cale Walker arrives in Tucson to search for J. Howard “Hank” Carlisle at the request of his daughter, Tess. Hank mentored Cale before a falling out divided them and a mountain lion attack left Cale nearly dead. Rescued by a band of Nednai Apache, his wounds were considered a powerful omen and he was taught the ways of a di-yin, or a medicine man. To locate Hank, Cale must enter the Dragoon Mountains, straddling two worlds that no longer fit. But he has an even bigger problem—finding a way into the heart of a young woman determined to live life as a bystander.
For two years, Tess Carlisle has tried to heal the mental and physical wounds of a deadly assault by one of her papá’s men. Continuing the traditions of her Mexican heritage, she has honed her skills as a cuentista, a storyteller and a Keeper of the Old Ways. But with no contact from her father since the attack, she fears the worst. Tess knows that to reenter Hank Carlisle’s world is a dangerous endeavor, and her only hope is Cale Walker, a man unlike any she has ever known. Determined to make a journey that could lead straight into the path of her attacker, she hardens her resolve along with her heart. But Cale makes her yearn for something she vowed she never would—love.
Stand-Alone Novel
Into The Land Of Shadows
Kate Kinsella has no choice but to go after Charley Barstow and talk some sense into him. After all, he’s skipped town, leaving a string of broken hearts and his pregnant fiancée, Agnes McPherson. But Kate didn’t count on being kidnapped by a band of criminals along the way.
Ethan Barstow is hot on his younger brother’s trail, too. He rescues Kate, believing her to be Charley’s fiancée, and suggests they try to find him together. Kate’s reluctance has him baffled.
All hell breaks loose when they discover Charley in search of a copper mine—not wishing to be found by anyone; certainly not Kate! But, then, Kate was always trouble—and now she’s brought it to his doorstep, with tales of a pregnant fiancée and his brother Ethan, who he hasn’t seen in five years.
Can Ethan and Kate ever find their own love and happiness with one another through the dark deception and hurt? Or will they both return INTO THE LAND OF SHADOWS...
Contemporary Adventure Romance
Deep Blue
Don’t miss this first book in a sexy and suspenseful new series!!
In the deep blue ocean lives an ancient predator…
Dr. Grace Mann knows great white sharks. As the daughter of an obsessed shark researcher based at the Farallon Islands, Grace spent her childhood in the company of these elegant and massive creatures. When a photo of her freediving with a great white goes viral, the institute where she works seeks to capitalize on her new-found fame by producing a documentary about her work.
Underwater filmmaker Alec Galloway admires Dr. Mann and jumps at the opportunity to create a film showcasing the pretty biologist. As he heads to Guadalupe Island in Baja California Sur for a three-week expedition, it’s clear that his fan-boy crush on Grace is turning into something more serious. But even more pressing—Grace’s passionate focus on the sharks just might get her killed.
Contains strong language and sexual content.
The Bluebird Page 26
