A Cowboy Christmas: An American Tale

A WESTERN ADVENTURE — a magical tale about cowboys who burned themselves like candles for experiences worth living and values that created strength and revealed character….

The Tale Begins just beyond the far banks of the Mississippi River and thunders across the high skies of the Arizona and New Mexico territories westward to California gold. WB, not yet sixteen in 1873, crosses the mighty river without fear and leaves the muddy shores of civilization behind. With empty pockets, a spark for life, and a wild sense of freedom, he tells his story with wit and grit in a cowboy’s soup of words, following his heart while searching for adventure and fortune in a new world.

Disillusioned by the harsh realities of the Great Plains, WB’s roam takes a dramatic twist when he meets the love of his life. As they fall in love, fate strikes, and they are separated. Crisscrossing the Far West in search of each other, they struggle to stay alive. Overcoming the perils of a wild frontier and a western theater of unraveled characters, they discover a land bigger and more beautiful than any dream….


“Tom Van Dyke has crafted an inspired story of the Old West 1873. A well-researched tale of an adventuresome young man, carving out a life that most men can only dream about. Hold on tight. It’s a page turner and a fast ride. This magical tale fits like a vintage Stetson and good pair of boots.”

— Marshall Trimble, Official Arizona State Historian

“INSPIRING! A Cowboy Christmas reveals the true American West but goes even further. A man and woman who refuse to let a soaring relationship disappear is a sign of life on Earth at its best.”

— Michael Blake, author of Dances With Wolves