• LOIS SLATER

Liza and Lizzie Baxter.

I love this series about these two wild-eyed, ornery women. Both raised in the harrowing West intertwined without choice in a man's world. Abe Baxter taught the twins to be wise in their strength's and beliefs. He would say, "Know when and where to pick your battles. Never run from a fight but always stand firm in your beliefs. Family is the most important concern to protect out here in this savage land. Never turn your back on them."

Liza and Lizzie Baxter were tall, curvy built with long black hair the color of a raven's feather. But, the mesmerizing feature the two of them expelled the most were their eyes. So blue, they looked like moon drops on a lost forgotten lake. That is until they turned dark black when you overstepped your bounds. They aren't perfect by any means. Oh heavens no. And, a lot of folks said they were their own worst enemies. But they were steadfast when you needed them. They could shoot a fly off the end of a cow's tail. They could rope any snot-nosed mangy calf, throw it to the ground and place the Lazy AB brand on em. They rode the horses that no one else would ride. Big, rangy, and fast. The wilder, the better.

They had been taught by Chief Mad Dog how to make medicines out of the different herbs and plants. They were quick to learn. And the teachings had paid off more than once to save lives. Many times Dr. Slater would come to the ranch and ask for their recipe for healing. He got met at the door with a shotgun. They loved to play checkers or poker with Luke, one of the hired hands. In all honesty he was the only one who would play because they both cheated. The accusations that flew back and forth, well, let's not ruin it.

There are characters that come and go in this Western Series. Some you'll miss, some you won't, some you'll simply fall in love with. You'll laugh, and you'll cry. You'll ask yourself "does good prevail over evil?" And, why that one? Who is the Fox? The, Wolf? Two young tumbleweeds that turned the Western Woman upside-down. "Stem of the Wildflower," is Liza and Lizzies birthright! I pray you will fall in love with all of the characters as much as I did inventing them in my thirty year dream.