Not a Clinging Vine

When Hallie Stillwell was a young woman, she had to ride with the cowboys because it wasn't safe to stay home, what with the constant bandit raids and all. Today, at 94 years old, she's still regaling visitors with stories at her ranch in Alpine, TX, where you can buy her book I'll Gather My Geese at Hallie's Hall of Fame. Stillwell is one of three Alpine ranchwomen profiled in Heather Gilmour's triptych tribute to women and ranching. Beverly Weyerts recalls joining a roping club as a young girl and being drawn to animals ever since. Here is a woman who openly admits that "she likes working with goats," and there's no question that after a hard day out in the fields Ms. Weyerts probably sleeps better than most of us. The third profile is on Kay Love, who is raising a family and helping to run a ranch. Love makes a few telling observations about tending the land: comparing the longstanding ranching tradition to the johnny-come-lately environmentalists. There's no real connection between the three profiles (except that each is a ranchwoman in Alpine, TX), and most general collections wouldn't need this, but universities with strong women's studies and larger libraries might want to consider. Recommended. (R. Pitman)