I always thought that the Mounties, or the Royal Canadian Mounted Police as they are now known, were the perfect heroes for historical novels. Their very existence depended on the dashing, professional, loyal, truthful personna they presented to the whiskey traders they were sent to rout and the natives they were sent to protect. Their iconic scarlet jackets quickly became symbols for law and order in the Territories and came to represent all that is good and truthful in literature and movies.
The Red Serge Novels are based on the initial formation and deployment of the North West Mounted Police. Leaving behind home and all that was familiar, these valiant men signed up to march across the North American continent to the newly acquired North West Territories and roust the whiskey traders threatening both the settlement of the Territories and the very existence of the indigenous native tribes. These books are books of the heart, heavily influenced by the 1936 movie, "Rose-Marie" starring Nelson Eddy and Jeanette McDonald, the wonderful novel, "Mrs. Mike" by Nancy and Benedict Freedman and the real Red Serge Wives.
None of these books would have been possible without the real Red Serge Wives, the women who left every thing behind follow the men they loved into that great unknown, the Canadian North West Territories. A group of Mountie wives put together a wonderful book entitled Red Serge Wives for the centennial celebration of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in 1974. Contained within the humble gold and scarlet covers of this book are stories of love, devotion and sacrifice submitted by wives and daughters, the most unrecognized members of the Mounted Police. Inspector (retired) Harold Routledge and his wife Greta , along with her co-authors were kind enough to share this book and their experiences with me.
So, here is my take on the Mounties and the women who loved them.
The Red Serge Novels are based on the initial formation and deployment of the North West Mounted Police. Leaving behind home and all that was familiar, these valiant men signed up to march across the North American continent to the newly acquired North West Territories and roust the whiskey traders threatening both the settlement of the Territories and the very existence of the indigenous native tribes. These books are books of the heart, heavily influenced by the 1936 movie, "Rose-Marie" starring Nelson Eddy and Jeanette McDonald, the wonderful novel, "Mrs. Mike" by Nancy and Benedict Freedman and the real Red Serge Wives.
None of these books would have been possible without the real Red Serge Wives, the women who left every thing behind follow the men they loved into that great unknown, the Canadian North West Territories. A group of Mountie wives put together a wonderful book entitled Red Serge Wives for the centennial celebration of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in 1974. Contained within the humble gold and scarlet covers of this book are stories of love, devotion and sacrifice submitted by wives and daughters, the most unrecognized members of the Mounted Police. Inspector (retired) Harold Routledge and his wife Greta , along with her co-authors were kind enough to share this book and their experiences with me.
So, here is my take on the Mounties and the women who loved them.
The Red Serge Novels
On July 8, 1874, 275 officers and men, 114 Red River carts, 73 wagons, two 9-pounder field guns, horses and a herd of cattle left Dufferin, Manitoba and marched west 1000 miles in seventy two days. Their assignment was to locate and destroy Fort Whoop-up, the infamous stronghold of whiskey traders plying their product to the Cree Indians.
Three years earlier, in 1870 the Canadian west, then called Rupert’s Land was transferred from the ownership of the Hudson’s Bay Company to the new Dominion of Canada. This shift in authority gave whiskey traders a toe hold and resulted in unrest and upheaval that culminated in the Red River Rebellion in 1869 and inter-tribal unrest among the native tribes. When this news reached the newly formed government in Ottawa, leaders there feared that rampant lawlessness would endanger the eventual settlement of these areas and the North West Mounted Police Force was born.
As the Force deployed throughout the west, their iconic scarlet Norfolk jackets became symbols of even-handed justice that earned them the respect of outlaw and settler alike earning them name, The Red Serge. Here are the stories of six men who answered the Canadian government's call for men to form the North West Mounted Police. They left behind homes, careers, families and all they knew to tame the Canadian Frontier.
Three years earlier, in 1870 the Canadian west, then called Rupert’s Land was transferred from the ownership of the Hudson’s Bay Company to the new Dominion of Canada. This shift in authority gave whiskey traders a toe hold and resulted in unrest and upheaval that culminated in the Red River Rebellion in 1869 and inter-tribal unrest among the native tribes. When this news reached the newly formed government in Ottawa, leaders there feared that rampant lawlessness would endanger the eventual settlement of these areas and the North West Mounted Police Force was born.
As the Force deployed throughout the west, their iconic scarlet Norfolk jackets became symbols of even-handed justice that earned them the respect of outlaw and settler alike earning them name, The Red Serge. Here are the stories of six men who answered the Canadian government's call for men to form the North West Mounted Police. They left behind homes, careers, families and all they knew to tame the Canadian Frontier.
Alberta Skies
When Lauren Butler’s father is stricken with a massive stroke, she stays behind to nurse him rather than proceed with her marriage and accompany her husband to his posting as an Inspector in the North West Mounted Police. Little does she know that her father will miraculously linger between life and death for two years, despite medical opinions otherwise. Upon his death, Lauren decides to pick up the pieces of her life and join Adam in the rugged and wild District of Alberta in the North West Territories despite his vehement objections. Life in the Territories is brutal, primitive and isolated, especially for women, Adam insists. And he knows well after two years of helping bury the children and wives of tenacious settlers and the Cree Indians he watches over.
Upon her arrival, Lauren finds this is not the man she once knew. This Adam has become a hard man, one finely honed by the hardships of his job and hopelessly seduced by the beauty of the Territories. Now she must somehow carve out a place for herself in his heart and in this wild land that holds him captive. Available as an ebook from Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble (BN.com) and Smashwords.com.
Upon her arrival, Lauren finds this is not the man she once knew. This Adam has become a hard man, one finely honed by the hardships of his job and hopelessly seduced by the beauty of the Territories. Now she must somehow carve out a place for herself in his heart and in this wild land that holds him captive. Available as an ebook from Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble (BN.com) and Smashwords.com.
Finnegan's Gold
Penniless, pregnant and on the run after killing her abusive lover in self defense, Jenny Hanson wonders if life gets any worse than this. She needs a place to have her baby and chaos of Dawson City in the midst of the Gold Rush seems just the place for her to disappear in plain sight. But, while making her way to Dawson City, she hitches a ride with the very man sent to bring her to justice – North West Mounted Policeman Mike Finnegan.
Finnegan left behind a trouble past when he enlisted in the North West Mounted Police and sought solace in the wilderness of western Canada. And now, he finds himself embroiled in yet another fiasco when h e falls in love with Jenny Hanson. Can these two damaged people straighten out all that is wrong with their lives and find a future in each other? Or will Finnegan be force to arrest Jenny and see that she is tried for murder? Available as an ebook from Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble (BN.com)
Finnegan left behind a trouble past when he enlisted in the North West Mounted Police and sought solace in the wilderness of western Canada. And now, he finds himself embroiled in yet another fiasco when h e falls in love with Jenny Hanson. Can these two damaged people straighten out all that is wrong with their lives and find a future in each other? Or will Finnegan be force to arrest Jenny and see that she is tried for murder? Available as an ebook from Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble (BN.com)
Whiskey Runner
Maggie Hayes does love a good chase, careening a wagonload of bootleg whiskey across the Canadian prairie with the US Calvary in hot pursuit. She’s been hauling rot-gut for her Pa ever since she’s been old enough to handle a team, and she can handle a two-horse hitch better than any of her Pa’s men. Raised motherless by her whiskey trader father, Maggie has made peace with her way of life and embraces her abilities to outwit the authorities and competitors.
Freshly graduated from medical school and eager to bury his sorrow over a tragic past, Colin Fraser impulsively joins the Northwest Mounted Police. A nighttime raid by his detachment on the Hayes bootleg whiskey operation nets more than just whiskey. When the patrol brings back desperately ill Maggie, Colin nurses her back to health but quickly finds out he’s bitten off more than he can chew as he slowly falls in love with the trousered hellion now in his care. Available as an ebook from Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble (BN.com).
Freshly graduated from medical school and eager to bury his sorrow over a tragic past, Colin Fraser impulsively joins the Northwest Mounted Police. A nighttime raid by his detachment on the Hayes bootleg whiskey operation nets more than just whiskey. When the patrol brings back desperately ill Maggie, Colin nurses her back to health but quickly finds out he’s bitten off more than he can chew as he slowly falls in love with the trousered hellion now in his care. Available as an ebook from Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble (BN.com).
Willow's Way
Despite his past experience as a professional clown, Inspector Steven Gravel of the Northwest Mounted Police takes his job very seriously. But a routine patrol of his territory beyond newly established Fort McLeod reveals a surprising oversight – a sprawling and successful cattle ranch. Owner Cletis Dawson, widower and father to three daughters, is eager to supply the fort with beef. But Steven begins to wonder if business is the only thing on Dawson’s mind when marriageable middle daughter Emily is thrust into his path at every chance. Yet, it’s not gentle Emily, nor flirtatious, exasperating Elizabeth who catches his eye, but the oldest daughter, Willow. Stubborn, standoffish and set on having her own ranch and cattle herd, Willow is unwilling to be courted and spurns men, marriage and everything associated with the two. Harboring a deep terror of childbirth after her mother’s death, she has envisioned a life for herself that distances her from that which she fears most. Enchanted by the woman adept at delivering calves and melting his heart, Steven must find a way to make Willow face both her fears and the deep commitment developing between them. Available as an ebook from Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble (BN.com).
Grass Dance
After General George Armstrong Custer’s defeat at the Battle of the Little Bighorn in June of 1876, the Sioux flee north to Canada seeking shelter and food with the U. S. Calvary in hot pursuit. Irishman Braden Flynn is assigned the task of escorting the desperate Sioux into Canada where the North West Mounted Police wait to act as mediator between the Sioux seeking exile and the U. S. Government bent on imprisoning them on newly established reservations.
As he rides alongside these tragic people and learns their ways and sorrows, he cannot help but admire the resilience and loyalty of Sitting Bull’s niece, Dancing Bird. Fearful for the future of her people, Dancing Bird trusts no white man, not even the kindly, scarlet-clad North West Mounted Policeman sent as their protector. Now, amidst the clash of two governments and murderous upheavals, Braden comes to know that Dancing Bird is meant to be his wife. But to win her trust – and her love – he will have to overcome years of broken promises and mistrust between their people.
As he rides alongside these tragic people and learns their ways and sorrows, he cannot help but admire the resilience and loyalty of Sitting Bull’s niece, Dancing Bird. Fearful for the future of her people, Dancing Bird trusts no white man, not even the kindly, scarlet-clad North West Mounted Policeman sent as their protector. Now, amidst the clash of two governments and murderous upheavals, Braden comes to know that Dancing Bird is meant to be his wife. But to win her trust – and her love – he will have to overcome years of broken promises and mistrust between their people.
The Big Story
While slogging away in the obituary section of her uncle’s San Francisco newspaper, Samantha Wilder chafes under the indignity of her unrealized potential. She is convinced that her future is that of a star reporter, if only she can get that one big break.
Then, she reads about the Yukon Gold Rush and the millions of dollars in gold dust passing through the hands of the famously upright North West Mounted Police. Her reporter’s instincts spring to life. Surely there is a chink in the armor of at least some of these staunch red-clad guardians. Surely somebody is skimming a little gold dust for himself and she’s just the reporter to sniff out the scandal. Soon she has included poor, bespeckled photographer Oscar Timits in her plan and they set off for Dawson City.
Once there, Sam runs headlong into Inspector Duncan McLeod, a fifteen year veteran of the Force. Duncan thinks he’s seen it all until he crosses paths with Sam and her wild scheme to sell very much alive miners professionally written obituaries, complete with photograph.
Unknown to him, the scandal of Samantha’s dreams is fomenting right under Duncan’s nose. Two miners who have lost their claims devise a cunning and dangerous scheme to steal a large amount of gold and frame Duncan for the crime. Now, Sam has her scandal and her story but does she have the courage to ruin the life and reputation of a good man, one that has come to love her deeply.
Then, she reads about the Yukon Gold Rush and the millions of dollars in gold dust passing through the hands of the famously upright North West Mounted Police. Her reporter’s instincts spring to life. Surely there is a chink in the armor of at least some of these staunch red-clad guardians. Surely somebody is skimming a little gold dust for himself and she’s just the reporter to sniff out the scandal. Soon she has included poor, bespeckled photographer Oscar Timits in her plan and they set off for Dawson City.
Once there, Sam runs headlong into Inspector Duncan McLeod, a fifteen year veteran of the Force. Duncan thinks he’s seen it all until he crosses paths with Sam and her wild scheme to sell very much alive miners professionally written obituaries, complete with photograph.
Unknown to him, the scandal of Samantha’s dreams is fomenting right under Duncan’s nose. Two miners who have lost their claims devise a cunning and dangerous scheme to steal a large amount of gold and frame Duncan for the crime. Now, Sam has her scandal and her story but does she have the courage to ruin the life and reputation of a good man, one that has come to love her deeply.
