Category Archives: Riley’s Ramblings

See more Riley’s Ramblings in Andi’s Attic >> April 1878, Fort Laramie, Wyoming Life at Fort Laramie has not been quite the same since last October, when Aunt Sophie died. For a couple of months, Mama helped Uncle Joseph with Baby Sarah. There were no recent new mothers in town, at least none who willing toContinue reading “A Day in My Life at Fort Laramie”

See more Riley’s Ramblings in Andi’s Attic >> This is the back story from “Riley, Proud Papa” in Yosemite at Last, when he is worried about Andi after she has Jared. He tells her a brief sentence or two about his Aunt Sophie. Here is the full story. October 1877, Fort Laramie, Wyoming One month ago,Continue reading “A Sad, Scary Day”

Read more Riley’s Ramblings >> Whoops! Sorry! I just saw that this was supposed to be scheduled for AM and it accidentally got scheduled for PM. We were driving for three days and just got back to California so I wasn’t keeping up with the blog schedules. Note: This Riley’s Ramblings is out of orderContinue reading “A Cactus Christmas”

See more Riley’s Ramblings in Andi’s Attic >> This post digs into Riley’s brief mention of his past in Courageous Love, where he is given charge of the Army’s cavalry horses. September 1877, Fort Laramie, Wyoming The most exciting, stupendous thing has happened to me! I’ve been at Fort Laramie for only three months, and today,Continue reading “Riley: Horse Boy”

See more Riley’s Ramblings in Andi’s Attic >> July 1877, Fort Laramie, Wyoming My new friend, Randy, is a fountain of information about anything war or Indian related. His pa, First Sergeant Ralph McGuire, no doubt relates every bloody detail about any of his father’s encounters with the “enemy,” as Randy calls them. I can’t helpContinue reading “The Indian Wars”

See more Riley’s Ramblings in Andi’s Attic >> June 1878, Fort Laramie, Wyoming It wasn’t until we were at Fort Laramie a full year that Pa finally told me that Mama was completely cured with what had been ailing her all those years when I stayed with Uncle Sid on the Circle C ranch. PaContinue reading “Mama Is Sick”

See more Riley’s Ramblings in Andi’s Attic >> June 1877, Fort Laramie, Wyoming The first thing I did when we got to the fort (after helping Mama and Pa unpack, that is), was hightail it to the stables and mount Midnight. I wanted to get a view of the fort from across the river. It’sContinue reading “First Days at Fort Laramie”

Read more Riley’s Ramblings in Andi’s Attic >> Late June 1877 I’m writing one more letter to Andi. I have a bad feeling that the mail is not very reliable. That’s too bad. I have never received any letters from my best friend, but I can understand why. I think Pa moves around too much.Continue reading “Off to Fort Laramie”

Read more Riley’s Ramblings in Andi’s Attic >> Fort Bridger, June 1877 After the letter I wrote to Andi, I found some new friends. I went to bed one night in early May and woke up the next morning to find a clump of teepees on our fort’s side of the river. There were sevenContinue reading “My Discovery at Fort Bridger”

Read more Riley’s Ramblings in Andi’s Attic >> Fort Bridger, May 1877 I tore a page out of my journal today and wrote a letter to Andi. I hope she gets it. I also copied the letter into my journal so I would remember what I wrote to her. Dear Andi, It’s only been sixContinue reading “Teensy-weensy Fort Bridger”