Texas brides and romance?
You bet!
Nine of Barbour’s favorite historical fiction novella writers have collaborated on a romance collection with an emphasis on Texas.
As the descendent of Texas pioneers, I’ve written a story to include one of my ancestors.
The Hanks family of Texas
My great-great-great-grandfather, Reverend Thomas Hanks lived in Tennessee in the early part of the 19th century.
A circuit riding minister for the Primitive Baptist Church, he had thel family “itchy foot” and left his wife and children behind to explore new worlds with the Gospel in mind.
His wanderings took him across the swamps and rivers of Tennessee and Arkansas to the fertile land of Texas, then part of Mexico.
True to his calling, “Daddy” Hanks slipped in and out of the Roman Catholic country, illegally preaching, baptizing and also marrying.
Since he was a Baptist, not a Catholic priest, all the marriages he conducted were illegal.
Col. James Hanks, CSA
Once Texas became a republic, however, Hanks obtained a legal license in Nacogdoches and rode the circuit once more, to remarry everyone legally.
A Centennial of Texas Baptists notes the response at one lonely farmhouse:
One “bride” was in the cow pen when the preacher appeared with the astounding tidings that she must go through another ceremony if she would be a lawful wife.
She washed her hands obediently, but permitted one doubtful murmur to escape. “All right, Daddy Hanks, but I have a good notion not to have Mr. Gilliland this time. I know too much about him now.”
Legal Texas brides!
I thought of this story while interacting with my fellow writers in The Texas Brides Collection.
Four of my co-writers were Texas brides themselves: Kathleen Y’Barbo, Lynette Sowell, DiAnn Mills and Darlene Franklin.
Since my groom and I followed I-10 on our honeymoon,the Lone Star state does remind me of romance and a bright future—as it does in the nine novellas in our collection.
Lynette Sowell
Lynette Sowell, perhaps, had the most “Texas-style” wedding in that her husband’s groom cake was in the shape of Texas.
The fact it had a Starship Enterprise piped on top in icing was testimony to another important cultural joy in his life. (Lynette wouldn’t let him wear a Starfleet shirt during the actual ceremony, however).
Darlene Franklin
Lynette and Darlene both are native New Englanders who married men in Texas.
For Darlene’s family the rehearsal dinner included a lesson in the definition of sweet tea on a steamy June evening.
To her mother, tea was a hot drink, but she quickly learned that sweet tea is what the rest of us call “iced tea.”
Kathleen Y’Barbo
Kathleen actually eloped to Hawai’i for her wedding–which is where her groom was on temporary duty at the time.
But they’re both native Texans (Kathleen’s ancestors go back 10 generations), and they had a wedding reception there, which qualifies!
(Our other “pen pals” include Darlene Mindstrup and Tamela Hancock Murray)
What would makes these stories Texan? Click to Tweet
In The Texas Brides Collection, we include tales of young widows struggling on farms, horse ranches and even a river supply landing, when they meet men (un)willing to help them in the 19th century.
Rangers represent order and devotion during an unsettled time.
The stories also include reformed men and women trying to build new lives for themselves following troubling pasts.
Two former gamblers determine to change their lives and live in peace.
Really, all these stories lack is a Reverend Thomas Hanks moseying up to the farmhouses with a slow drawl–though his son does make an appearance in my An Inconvenient Gamble.
As a justice of the peace, my great-great-grandfather Colonel James Hanks performs a wedding just in the nick of time!
Why not take a look?
Tweetables
A Texas Brides Collection features Texan brides–authors and heroines! Click to Tweet
Weddings, gamblers, Rangers & a bevy of brides. Texas Brides Collection! Click to Tweet
Very interesting, the thought of thinking you are legally married when you are not. Wonder how the couples handled that with asking for forgiveness for living in sin or if they did not take it so seriously.
I signed up to receive your blog by e-mail so I can be entered in your contest. I really like your writing style. Since our son is moving to Texas that gives me even more motivation to read your book!
You may want to check out bookfun.org and consider doing some kind of promotion there. Since they started doing the magazine it seems to be getting more and more members.
Blessings, Janice G