This fun western set in 1879 introduces us to the
Culpeppers in Texas. Young Jessie Culpepper is determined
to be a tomboy at the Bar None Ranch so she tries riding a
bronc. One collision with a fence post later, she's packed
off to a boarding school in England for the next seven
years despite her best efforts.
PLOTS AND PANS shows us that riding side-saddle is part of
becoming a lady, but Jessie rides in split skirts when
unobserved. Meanwhile at home, her father dies quietly
from a long illness. He leaves a portion of the ranch to a
young man who has worked there for years, Tucker, as well
as to Jessie and her brother Ed. A secret emerges...
Desta, the housekeeper, is related to the family through a
previous generation's relationship on a plantation. This
dignified lady has grown above her slave heritage, but she
can't cook well, apart from shoo-fly pies. Now nineteen,
Jessie books herself, and her mare, passage to Texas. She's
coming home.
I liked the portrayal of various attitudes. Dressing as a
cowhand or wearing a ball-gown, Jessie moves easily in two
worlds but she's convinced that her place is on the ranch
and she's come all the way without a chaperone. I admired
her spirit and doggedness. The men naturally resent
nursemaiding a young lady. With drifters coming and going,
the ranch is not a safe place for a woman. The pace is a
little slow at this point; then the fall roundup takes
place and the action picks up. Cookie is too elderly to
work the chuck wagon on this year's cattle drive, and the
only other cook they can find has a scornful attitude to
former slaves, which I suppose was common enough at the
time, but Jessie won't stand for it. She could do a better
job as trail cook herself!
Fire pit baking, dutch ovens and skillet cornbread make for
a mouth-watering read. Trail cooks have to be up three
hours before sunrise, gather wood as they drive and due to
shift working, there are always cowhands needing food. No
doubt about it, this was exceedingly hard work. I admire
the depiction of this busy life by Kelly Marie Hake who
really makes us feel we are in the thick of the action.
While this is an inspirational tale we are shown that
selling a Stetson on the Sabbath could save a life. PLOTS
AND PANS is a great read and a sweet understated romance.
Order dictates Tucker Carmichael’s life—his orders. On a
cattle drive, a
moment’s hesitation
can mean death. The Chisholm Trail is dirty, dangerous, and
no place for women.
After years
at school, Jessalyn Culpepper has come home and is
determined to show
everyone that a
woman can manage everything from cooking to cattle—whether
they like it or
not! Tucker
tries to manage his partner’s headstrong sister, horrified
when she wants to join
the cattle
drive. But when they need a chuck wagon cook, Jessalyn seems
the only solution.
Will God
stir up love along a trail filled with their Plots and Pans?
© 2003-2024 off-the-edge.net
all rights reserved Privacy Policy