When Research Becomes Obsession: The Creative Journey Behind Falling for a Cowboy's Legacy

River smiled. "When do I get to meet all the other Dalton J. Vargases? And how many are there again?"

Devon cleared his throat.

"Oh, boy. Here it comes," Drake said. "Devon is our resident historian. Not officially. He just loves history, including family history."

"Someone has to pass down information from generation to generation," Devon defended.

Dalton reached for the sriracha and liberally shook it over his tamale. Unlike River, he enjoyed the heat.

"Dalton J. Vargas, Sr., was our great-grandpa. He married a lovely Mexican woman named Maria. Their firstborn son, Dalton J. Vargas, Jr., was four years old when they started this place in 1952."

"Wow. It's that old?"

Devon nodded. "Junior is our grandpa, who we fondly call Padre. He also married a Mexican woman. Her name was Elena."

"So beautiful," River said, wistfully, as her eyes softened.

That scene was so much fun to write back in 2022. Devon's enthusiasm for his family legacy, the way he could recite their motto "We do not deviate from the Lord's plan" with such conviction, the pride in his voice when he talked about great-grandfather Dalton Sr. and great-grandmother Maria who founded the ranch in 1952.

But as I crafted those paragraphs, something unexpected happened. The more Devon talked about his ancestors, the more questions I had. What was their real story? How did a young couple manage to establish a 35,000-acre working ranch that would become a multi-million-dollar enterprise?

Down the Research Rabbit Hole

What started as background research for one scene quickly spiraled into what I can only describe as a creative obsession. I found myself mapping out timelines, creating detailed backstories, and diving deep into the founding couple's relationship.

But the question that haunted me most came when I dug deeper into those family verses the brothers quote throughout the series. The Vargas family draws their strength from Psalm 17:4-5 ESV: "With regard to the works of man, by the word of your lips I have avoided the ways of the violent. My steps have held fast to your paths; my feet have not slipped."

That line "I have avoided the ways of the violent" wouldn't leave me alone. What violence had Dalton Sr. and Maria avoided? What situation had been so significant, so defining, that it became the foundational verses for four generations of their descendants? Something big had to have happened—something that tested their faith so thoroughly that their response shaped an entire family legacy.

Before I knew it, I had outlined an entire origins story series. For three years, this research simmered in the background while I wrote the seven main Vargas Ranch books.

The Story That Demanded to Be Told

When I reached the end of Book 7—Falling for a Pregnant Cowgirl—I knew I had a choice. I could wrap up the series and move on, or I could honor the creative obsession that had been growing since 2022.

What started as a simple epilogue evolved into a full novella. Falling for a Cowboy's Legacy became my love letter to legacy, faith, and the stories that bind generations together. Writing their story allowed me to explore the deeper meaning behind Dalton Peak's name and the even more profound truth behind those family verses that have guided four generations through their love stories.

One of my favorite discoveries was uncovering the true significance behind the family motto. What readers thought they knew was just the surface layer. The research revealed connections I hadn't anticipated, historical contexts that added richness to the contemporary stories, and character motivations that explained so much about why the current generation acts the way they do.

A Gift to Readers

This novella works beautifully as a series epilogue for those who have read all seven books, providing the historical context and family revelations that complete the bigger picture. But it also stands alone as an engaging introduction to the Vargas world, giving new readers a taste of the family's foundational love story.

What started as Devon's enthusiastic dinner conversation in 2022 has become a full-circle moment: the origin story that explains everything readers thought they knew about this remarkable family.

Sometimes the best creative projects are the ones that choose us, rather than the ones we deliberately plan. After three years of following this unexpected creative path, I'm convinced that Falling for a Cowboy's Legacy was always part of the plan too.

Falling for a Cowboy's Legacy is available exclusively for newsletter subscribers. If you're not on the list yet, sign up here to get your free copy and discover the secrets that started it all