When Joe and I were in Wyoming researching the town of Cody for The Butterfly Cage, Book 2 of the Delafield & Malloy Investigations Series, we took a trip to the Buffalo Bill Center of the West.

This is an amazing place with five different museums. The first one we checked out was the gun museum. That’s where I found the gold-plated revolver owned by Cassie Waters, the town’s respected Madam. Cassie and her gun play an important role in my book. You could say that Louisa and Cassie are enemies who become friends when Cassie lets Louisa borrow the gun for protection. .

Fashion plays an important role in all of the books in the Delafield & Malloy Investigations series. In this book I had the chance to write about fashion choices besides evening gowns and day dresses. While Louisa is traveling on the train to Cody, she notices a Native American woman. Here’s the passage:

“Seated across the aisle was a young couple, the woman in a deerskin dress and a man in leather leggings and a buckskin shirt. Elaborate beadwork decorated the bodice of the woman’s dress, and she wore beautiful beaded moccasins of buffalo leather. Louisa found it difficult not to stare. She noticed the woman surreptitiously examining her own clothing — a smart traveling outfit of pinstripe gray with a wide white collar and a red hat with a lone feather. When their eyes met, they shared a quick smile. Women will always be interested in the clothing of other women, Louisa thought.”

The Center for the West has an entire museum devoted to the culture of the Crow people and other tribes. Look at this stunning dress worn for Pow Wows. And the shoes!!!

Here, art and fashion are one and the same. Check out the intricate beadwork on this belt and the pattern on the jacket below. (I adore the fringe.)


I love sharing my research with readers. Let me know if you ever have questions about anything in the Delafield & Malloy Series.