Jacqui Nelson’s North of the Border - Inspiration for my Trick Rider Story

Who's next on my North of the Border guest blog series? 

Today it's me, your North of the Border host, Jacqui Nelson :) 

And I'm sharing the inspiration for my Wild West trick-riding heroine, Eldorado Jane, from my novel, Between Home & Heartbreak.

How, when and why did Canada become part of my inspiration for this story? Read on and see...

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I love writing about classic Old West events. So I always wanted to create a story about a female trick rider in an iconic show like Buffalo Bill's Wild West (which first started in America in 1883). 

I haven't seen many trick riders in action. I'd like to see more.

Where I grew up (in northern Alberta, Canada) the most popular sports/activities seemed to be hockey and ice skating (in the winter) and the rodeo and the fair (in the summer). There weren't many female hockey players or rodeo riders, but the women ruled the barrel racing. Our small town (population 1,500) had two brothers who became champions in the saddle bronc event. I wondered about the sisters of rodeo-royalty families. What were their talents? What were their dreams? Where did they go and what did they do?

In a small town in a remote location, you often have to go somewhere to even figure out what your dreams are. That was me. I left home at eighteen but came back often. I loved the farm, but I loved to explore and discover new things as well.

Then, many years later, after attending a Tournament of Kings dinner show in Vegas or it might have been the Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament in Orlando (I went to both), I heard a rumor that the sister of one of those super-star rodeo families had been riding in those shows!

A Medieval Times Princess riding in the California Rose Parade

My youthful ponderings had been given an answer. Or at least a partial answer. My mind took off exploring again, thinking about trick riders and what types of shows they might join or leave—and why.

Eventually, Eldorado Jane (my trick-riding superstar of my show, Colonel Calhoun’s Wondrous West) showed up in the Texas Hill Country in 1879. Eldorado Jane has left the show, but it hasn't left her. A show without its star attraction is a show that isn't drawing the biggest crowds and isn't paying its bills. So, Colonel Calhoun tracks down Eldorado Jane (aka Eldora) and insists that a show must be put on—to make money and to make a point. If you've worked so hard to become a star and a success, how can you give that up? And how many people (your employer, your fellow performers, your fans) won't let you give up your show life even if you wanted to?

Here's an excerpt from Colonel Calhoun’s Wondrous West show where (in the wake of a violent death that has yet to be solved) there's a lot more going on that just the show...

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The hushed beat of Indian drums built to a mighty pounding that filled the show tent.


Standing in the middle of the ring, Eldora laid her palm over her heart and gazed around with the exaggerated alarm of an actor. The dread beating in Lewis’ heart was real.


A horse charged in carrying a chief wearing a feathered war bonnet, face paint, and a breastplate full of too many adornments to decipher at his speed. A half-dozen whooping and chanting, bare-chested braves on nimble ponies followed him. When Eldora leapt on her own horse, they chased her around the ring.
 A handful of seconds later, the warriors corralled her by the target with the bulls-eye.

“Don’t worry,” Vandrill’s grip on Lewis’ shoulder tightened, warning him not to leave his seat in the crowd. “It’s part of the act.”


The chief pulled Eldora off her horse and into the throng. A loud whoop sounded and the riders raced for the exit, revealing Eldora bound with rope to the target. Using long measured strides, the chief marched away from her. After ten steps, he spun to face her again. This time with his palms raised high.


The drums went silent. So did the crowd. They all stared at the chief who finally stood still enough for Lewis to see beyond the face paint and war bonnet. The chief was Hawk and his breastplate contained not only feathers and beads but animal claws.


Claws that could’ve been used to murder someone and make it look like a mountain lion. A reclusive animal that usually stayed far away from towns, even when injured.


Hawk pulled a tomahawk from his belt, widened his stance and drew back his arm. He aimed the blade at Eldora.


Lewis grabbed the pistol that Vandrill held close against Lewis' side and yanked the barrel earthward. He used his other hand to slug Vandrill in the jaw.


The entire time they wrestled for the weapon, Vandrill kept his gaze on the show ring. “Stop fighting me and start helping Eldora,” he hissed. “Brutus has arrived and he looks spitting mad. I don’t want to shoot him if it can be avoided. So, release the gun and get going.” He shoved Lewis toward Eldora. “Your lady needs you.”

Vandrill was right. Brutus, the buffalo that had previously moved at a placid pace, now careened wildly around the ring. Hawk didn’t even glance at the beast. The Lakota brave’s gaze hadn’t wavered. Neither had his tomahawk, still raised and ready to throw at Eldora.


Lewis jumped over the wall separating the crowd from the ring. He raced forward with only his body to protect her.

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If you'd like to read the first chapter of Between Home & Heartbreak, visit my excerpt page on my website. Or you can find the story on Amazon US, UK, Canada, and Australia. And on Kindle Unlimited as well.

Sitting Bull & Buffalo Bill in Montreal, Quebec, 1885

Before the invention of film, vaudeville and variety shows were the entertainment of the day. Everyone traveled. The show often traveled to reach the guests, and guests traveled to reach the show. Just like I traveled to see a trick rider from my hometown who I didn't even know I was going to see.

On a side note, some Canadian travel trivia... 

William Frederick “Buffalo Bill” Cody (the creator of Buffalo Bill's Wild West) was born in Iowa Territory but lived for several years in his father’s hometown in Toronto Township (in Ontario, Canada) before his family settled in the Kansas Territory.

Do you have a favorite show you've traveled to see or would like to travel to see? 

Comment below for a chance to win an e-copy of Eldorado Jane's story... 

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Fall in love with a new Old West... where the men are steadfast & the women are adventurous. 

You'll find Wild West scouts, spies, cardsharps, wilderness guides, and trick-riding superstars in my stories. Those are my heroines. Wait till you meet my heroes! My love for historical romance adventures with grit and passion came from watching Western movies while growing up on a cattle farm in northern Canada.

I've been nominated for over 20 awards and won the RWA® Golden Heart® & the Laramie® but my best reward is hearing from readers who have enjoyed my stories.

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