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Holding On (Colorado High Country #6) —
The Colorado High Country series returns with Conrad and Kenzie's story.

A hero barely holding on…

Harrison Conrad returned to Scarlet Springs from Nepal, the sole survivor of a freak accident on Mt. Everest. Shattered and grieving for his friends, he vows never to climb again and retreats into a bottle of whiskey—until Kenzie Morgan shows up at his door with a tiny puppy asking for his help. He’s the last person in the world she should ask to foster this little furball. He’s barely capable of managing his own life right now, let alone caring for a helpless, adorable, fluffy puppy. But Conrad has always had a thing for Kenzie with her bright smile and sweet curves. One look into her pleading blue eyes, and he can’t say no.

The woman who won’t let him fall…

Kenzie Morgan’s life went to the dogs years ago. A successful search dog trainer and kennel owner, she gets her fill of adventure volunteering for the Rocky Mountain Search & Rescue Team. The only thing missing from her busy life is love. It’s not easy finding Mr. Right in a small mountain town, especially when she’s unwilling to date climbers. She long ago swore never again to fall for a guy who might one day leave her for a rock. When Conrad returns from a climbing trip haunted by the catastrophe that killed his best friend, Kenzie can see he’s hurting and wants to help. She just might have the perfect way to bring him back to the world of the living. But friendship quickly turns into something more—and now she’s risking her heart to heal his.

In ebook and soon in print!


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I grew up in Colorado at the foot of the Rocky Mountains, then lived in Denmark and traveled throughout Europe before coming back to Colorado. I have two adult sons, whom I cherish. I started my writing career as a columnist and investigative reporter and eventually became the first woman editor of two different papers. Along the way, my team and I won numerous state and several national awards, including the National Journalism Award for Public Service. In 2011, I was awarded the Keeper of the Flame Lifetime Achievement Award for Journalism. Now I write historical romance and contemporary romantic suspense.

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Friday, October 30, 2009

Fall Vacation, Part II: Walking with the Rangers



Halloween is over. I spent it in costume at my brother's house, handing out candy to trick-or-treaters and spending some time with my brothers, my sister-in-law and my niece and nephews, who were adorable. Now that I don't have any kids in the house, I can enjoy how cute everyone else's kids are without the pressure of carving pumpkins, buying costumes and buying candy myself.

So now we pick up with Fall Vacation Part II:

So Thursday was spent in Ithaca. On Friday, Benjamin and I climbed into the rental car and drove for about four hours up to Fort Edward. The fort is mentioned in the movie Last of the Mohicans, as Monroe at doomed William Henry awaits reinforcements that will never come from Webb who is stationed at Edward. That "Edward" is this Edward. In my books, it's called Fort Elizabeth.

We checked in to our room at the Historic Inn of Fort Edward which is north of the site of the fort and east of the Hudson River. The inn is a wonderful, homey place run by very kind people. Debbie, who watches over the inn for its owners, worked there last year, and she remembered us. I took her a signed copy of Untamed.

The showers at this places are a-ma-zing! They've got granite and marble and they have jets coming out of the walls so that it's a shower and a massage. I've dreamed of taking another shower there. No joke!


Así que el jueves fue gastado en Ithaca. El viernes, Benjamin y me monté en el coche de alquiler y se dirigió por cerca de cuatro horas hasta Fort Edward. El fuerte se menciona en la película "El último de los mohicanos", como Monroe, condenado a William Henry espera refuerzos que nunca vendrá de Webb, que está estacionado en Edward. Que "Edward" este es Edward. En mis libros, se llama Elizabeth Fort.

Se verificaron en nuestra habitación en el Hotel Histórico de Fort Edward, que está al norte del sitio de la fortaleza y el este del río Hudson. La posada es un maravilloso lugar acogedor dirigido por personas muy amables. Debbie, que vela por la posada para sus propietarios, trabajó el año pasado, y se acordó de nosotros. La llevé una copia firmada de Untamed.

Las lluvias en este lugar son increíbles! Tienen el granito y el mármol y tienen aviones que salen de las paredes de modo que es una ducha y un masaje. He soñado con tomar otra ducha allí. No es broma!




This is Jim's Broadway Café — which now was free wi-fi. It's a wonderful, cozy place with plastic table cloths, delicious food and fantastic maple cream pie. Jim, the owner, was there the two days we were in Fort Edward, and he came out to say hello both days. He remembered us from last year, too.


Esto es Broadway Jim's Café - que ahora estaba libre wi-fi. Es un maravilloso lugar acogedor, con manteles de plástico, comida deliciosa y fantástica tarta de crema de arce. Jim, el dueño, estaba allí los dos días que estuvimos en Fort Edward, y salió a saludar los dos días. Se acordó de nosotros desde el año pasado, también.



In this photo, Cousin It is being attacked by Thing. Or that's what it looks like, anyway. It's actually me making some strange hand gesture while talking to the lovely and kind Eileen Hannay, who runs the Rogers Island Visitor Center. She shared a year's worth of news with us and the helped me renew my membership. I am now a Ranger Sergeant. She knows so much about the history of the place. And, yes, she's read my books, all of them. She's waiting for Naked Edge to come out.

En esta foto, "Cousin It" está siendo atacada por "Thing". O eso es lo que parece, de todos modos. Es realmente me toma de la mano un gesto extraño al hablar con la encantadora y amable Eileen Hannay, que dirige el centro de la isla de visitantes Rogers. Ella compartía valor de un año de noticias con nosotros y el me ayudó a renovar mi membresía. Ahora soy un sargento Ranger. Ella sabe mucho sobre la historia del lugar. Y, sí, ha leído mis libros, todos ellos. Ella está esperando "Naked Edge" para salir.



This is taken from about the same place as the photo Benjamin took last year. There aren't as many leaves this year, because it got colder earlier in the season. Benjamin is standing on the shore of Rogers Island (Ranger Island) looking back across the Hudson River toward the site of Fort Edward (Fort Elizabeth). All that remains of the fort today are some deep, buried wooden beams that jut into the Hudson, some of which were torn up by dredging, unfortunately, and big wooden planks that were taken from the fort and used in some of the historical houses in town. Where you see a faint white shape on the shoreline — a little boat — is where the bateau bridge crossed the water to camp.


Esto está tomado de sobre el mismo lugar que la foto de Benjamín tomó el año pasado. No hay tantas hojas de este año, porque se hizo más frío a principios de temporada. Benjamín está de pie en la orilla de Rogers Island (Isla de Ranger) mirando hacia atrás a través del río Hudson hacia el sitio de Fort Edward (Fort Elizabeth). Todo lo que queda de la actual fortaleza son algunos de profundidad, enterrada vigas de madera que sobresalen en el río Hudson, algunos de ellos fueron arrancados de dragado, por desgracia, y los grandes tablones de madera que fueron tomadas desde la fortaleza y se utiliza en algunas de las casas históricas en la pueblo. Donde se ve una silueta blanca débil en la costa - un pequeño bote - es donde el puente de barco cruzó el agua al campamento.



I stroll from the Rogers Island Visitor Center along the road that marks the historical shoreline of the island back toward the encampment where Robert Rogers and the Rangers truly lived during the French and Indian War. Everything from the left of the road was dredged up from the Hudson through the years.

Yo paseo de la Isla de Visitantes Centro de Rogers en el camino que marca la línea de costa histórico de la isla hacia el campamento donde Robert Rogers y los Rangers realmente vivieron durante la guerra franco-india. Todo, desde la izquierda de la carretera fue dragado desde el río Hudson a través de los años.



Last year when I visited Rogers Island, I had to stop where Benjamin was standing when he took this picture. The private landowner wasn't letting anyone on the site of the encampment. He's probably afraid people will damage the archaeological sites or try to steal stuff. But this year, we were able to walk on to the actual site of the encampment. For me, it felt like a pilgrimage. To my left (also your left) you can see some of the excavated cabin sites. To my right is the excavated officer's cabin and the burial area.

El año pasado, cuando visité la isla de Rogers, tuve que dejar de donde Benjamin se encontraba cuando se tomó esta foto. El propietario del terreno privado no dejar a nadie en el sitio del campamento. Es probable que la gente tenga miedo a los daños a los sitios arqueológicos o tratar de robar cosas. Pero este año, hemos sido capaces de caminar en el sitio real del campamento. Para mí, era como una peregrinación. A mi izquierda (también a su izquierda) se puede ver algunos de los sitios excavados de cabina de pasajeros. A mi derecha está la cabina del oficial de excavaciones y de la zona de enterramiento.




I was able to walk right up to the excavated sites and look in. None of the artifacts remain on site. They're all safely in museums or stored away. But the foundation of the cabin — almost certainly an officer's cabin based on the artifacts found there — can be seen inside. They're covered with plastic. So think for a moment... This might have been Robert Rogers' actual cabin. It might have been the cabin that belonged first to Iain MacKinnon and then to Morgan. I wish I could have put up a sign that said, "Annie slept here."


Yo era capaz de caminar hasta los sitios excavados y mirar hacia adentro Ninguno de los artefactos que quedan en el sitio. Son todos de manera segura en los museos o guardados. Pero la fundación de la cabina - casi con toda seguridad la cabina de un funcionario sobre la base de los artefactos encontrados allí - se puede ver en su interior. Están cubiertas con plástico. Así que piense por un momento ... Esto podría haber sido real de cabina de pasajeros Robert Rogers. Podría haber sido la cabaña que perteneció primero a Iain MacKinnon y luego a Morgan. Me gustaría haber puesto un cartel que decía: "Annie dormido aquí".




Here's a closer view of the little enlisted cabins. This where Killy, Brandon, McHugh, Dougie and the others would have lived. The cabins stood in long rows with shared walls kind of like stalls and not really much bigger than that. The little covers you see here are in place to protect the excavated sites.

Aquí hay una vista más cercana de lo poco que se alistó cabañas. Aquí es donde Killy, Brandon, McHugh, Dougie y los demás han vivido. Las cabinas de pie en largas filas con la clase compartida paredes de puestos y no como realmente mucho más que eso. Las cubiertas poco que ve aquí son para proteger los sitios excavados.



Here, you can see what was the cemetery for the Ranger war dead from the French and Indian War. It's marked out by stones. There are no headstones, possibly because they only had wooden crosses to mark their graves.

Aquí, usted puede ver lo que era el cementerio de la guerra Ranger muertos de la guerra franco-india. Es marcado por las piedras. No hay lápidas, posiblemente debido a que sólo había cruces de madera para marcar sus tumbas.



This put a lump in my throat. It's sad that it took so long to get this marker placed here. But Fort Edward/Rogers Island is one of the most neglected historical sites in the United States. It was British HQ during the French and Indian War (Seven Years' War), and that war and its aftermath are what created the United States. You'd think more care would go in to this place. I hope it will soon be a state park. There are folks who are working hard to make that happen.


Esto trajo lágrimas a mis ojos. Es triste que haya tomado tanto tiempo para conseguir este marcador colocado aquí. Pero Fort Edward Rogers Island es uno de los sitios históricos más descuidados en los Estados Unidos. Fue la sede británica durante la guerra franco-india (los Siete Años, la Guerra), y que la guerra y sus secuelas son las que crearon los Estados Unidos. Se diría que más cuidado que entrar a este lugar. Espero que pronto será un parque estatal. Hay personas que están trabajando duro para que esto suceda.



This is another look at this sacred ground.

Este es otro aspecto en este suelo sagrado.



I walked to the opposite shore of the island and looked toward the other side of the river where Morgan took Annie when she an Iain were married. So Ranger Camp is behind me and Fort Edward is across the water, also behind me. Where I am standing is close to the actual historical location of the infamous whipping post. It stood on the this shore not far from the latrines, which would have been to my left.

My heart fills with so many feelings when I visit Rogers Island. I found myself moved to tears standing there and looking across the water.

Me acerqué a la orilla opuesta de la isla y miró hacia el otro lado del río, donde Morgan tomó Annie cuando se casó con ella una Iain. Así Ranger Camp está detrás de mí y Fort Edward es a través del agua, también detrás de mí. Cuando estoy de pie cerca de la ubicación histórica real de la picota infame. Se encontraba en la costa del este, no muy lejos de las letrinas, lo que hubiera sido a mi izquierda.

Mi corazón se llena de tantos sentimientos en mi visita a la isla de Rogers. Me encontré conmovió hasta las lágrimas de pie y mirando a través del agua.




The Rangers have long been gone from this place, but their echoes remain — if we listen very carefully.

Los Rangers han sido durante mucho tiempo pasado de este lugar, pero sus ecos siguen siendo - si escuchamos con mucho cuidado.

10 comments:

Debbie H said...

Oh, Pamela! I could feel every bit of it! I'm with you, I would be in tears if I visited there. I love going to historical places and tried to take our kids, when they were preteens, to see sights close to us.

Thank you for sharing your adventure to Ranger Island. I hope Connor whispered his thoughts to you about his upcoming book.

Hugs

This gives me shivers, Pamela. It must have been so inspiring. I'm sure you could feel the real Rangers' presence. Places like that are so powerful.

Hi, Debbie — I'm so glad I was able to convey it to you. It really is such a remarkable place, but most people have never heard of it. Sad!

Connor was doing some whispering while I was there, indeed. :-)

Hi, Linda — I so agree with you. Places like that, where people have truly suffered, seem to be indelibly stamped. At least that's how I feel. They resonate somehow. And this is a place I feel compelled to be. My friend Kat (the real Kat) says she thinks I lived there during the F&I War. I don't know that I believe in reincarnation at all, but it was a fun thought when I was there.

I've had people say the same thing to me about the Civil War, Pamela. Whenever I look at pictures from that time, I feel a very powerful connection. I've never been to any of the battlefields, but I've promised myself I will someday. The First World War era is another time period that affects me that way. Who knows why?

Mary G said...

Wow that was awesome Pamela. I wish you had been my history teacher. You made everything so
interesting.

Debbie H said...

I agree with Kat. When we are drawn to a time period, throwing ourselves into everything about it, it's because we lived during that time in a past life. I firmly believe in past lives, psychics (honest ones), etc.

Ronlyn said...

Love it Pam. I can feel the Rangers there with you through your words.

Mitzi H. said...

You describe it so beautifully!!! I can't wait to read more of these historical novels you'll be writing. The Rangers were an awesome group of men and we all need to remember the sacrifices they made to win our freedom. I love your books. Great Work!!!

Sorry to have vanished off the face of the earth. I came down with a horrid migraine on Monday, spent almost all day Tuesday in bed, and have been playing catch-up ever since.

Hi, Linda — That's interesting. My son has been a World War I buff since he was about 10 years old. He started reading college-level textbooks about World War I when he was that age and would go up to the university to talk with professors who specialized in that era to talk with them — because they were the only ones he had access to who knew more about it than he did.

We should get the two of you together! LOL!

The Civil War is such a tragic and also fascinating period. My family has ancestors on both sides of that one.

Hi, Mary — Oh, thanks so much! I wish I'd been your history teacher too. History speaks to me. I love it and always have. I don't read nonfiction — unless it's about history and then I can't get enough.

Hi, Debbie — It's certainly fun for me to contemplate. I know I had ancestors involved with the war.

Hi, Ronlyn — I'm so glad! When I'm there I just get lost in it and I want so desperately to be able to share it with those of you who care about Iain, Morgan, Connor and the others. I'm glad it touched you.

Hi, Mitzi — Thank you! And you're absolutely right. Those Rangers were the start of our U.S. Army Rangers. That's what they eventually became. Eileen Hannay, from the Rogers Island Visitor Center, says it's very touching to see buses of U.S. Army Rangers roll up and watch big men — special forces guys — break down crying because they're standing there on the island where it all began.

The things these first Rangers accomplished without Gortex and outdoor gear and accurate weapons and cell phones and radios and GPS are astonishing to me. Truly heroic acts.

JennJ said...

Hi Pamela! Oh that is just too awesome being able to actually stand and walk where those soldiers lived and died. And with your characters being in that setting I can only imagine that it was doubly so for you. LOVE the photos and getting to share the experience through your eyes. :)
I can't wait to read Conner's story!

BIG HUGS

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