Last week I packed up and headed west. Sounds like the opening to a shoot-em-up novel, doesn’t it? Well, in a way, it was.

The long trek to Kearney, Missouri took about four hours on a steamy hot afternoon that felt more like August than June. After a stop to eat and cool off, we headed for our first destination, Mount Olivet Cemetery. The cemetery wasn’t enormous, but it had tombstones from present day back to well over a century ago. Despite the small size, it still took some searching to locate the family I sought. After about ten minutes of hunting, an arrow painted on the concrete stand of a directory caught my husband’s eye. We walked thirty paces in the direction indicated, and found it.

Yes, we’d just done what the Pinkertons failed to do. We found Jesse James. This more modern stone replaced the original, which had been steadily chipped away by souvenir hunters. The grave site sits in the shade of large evergreen trees, quiet and peaceful, surrounded by the resting place of other members of the James family. There are flowers above the stone, and if you look closely, you can see a penny someone left between Jesse and Zee’s markers.

The next morning, we drove to the Jesse James Farm and Museum. It’s not far from the cemetery, with a road that winds through rolling hills and fields.

Upon arriving at our destination, we found a large modern structure that houses a gift shop, a tiny theater, and several rooms of memorabilia from the James family. We chatted with staff, watched a twenty minute film about Frank and Jesse, and then walked with our guide a short but scenic distance to the original home.

The property is lovely and the acres around it well-manicured. Despite the heat of the day, standing in the shade wasn’t so bad, and I imagined how the family must have enjoyed the same respite during the hot months of summer. After touring the tiny home, we walked to the original burial site of Jesse James – right outside his mother’s bedroom window, where she could keep a sharp eye on it. A rifle stayed near her  bed, just in case a grave robber or vandal had the audacity to show up.

After the tour, I had a wonderful meeting with the farm’s knowledgeable and kind staff. They answered my questions, and we had a fine time talking about the James family, and all the events that happened at the farm. I left an advanced reader copy of my book, I am Mrs. Jesse James, and they made me feel like I was a celebrity. (As I said, they are very kind!)

I’m hoping for a return trip later this summer, when a true Jesse James authority will make the trip from Great Britain for one of her regular visits to the farm. We’re acquainted through social media, but I’ve yet to meet her in person. It’s an understatement to say I’m looking forward to the possibility of a fascinating and lively discussion.

There is so much more to Jesse and Zee’s story than what I can share here. I am Mrs. Jesse James releases on August 28, and is available on preorder now. I promise you’ll discover many, many more details when you read it.

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Pat Wahler is the author of I am Mrs. Jesse James, a novel told from the perspective of the wife of the infamous outlaw. She is also co-author of a children’s picture book, Midnight the One-Eyed Cat, releasing in September; and author of a Christmas-themed collection of short stories, essays, and poetry, Let Your Heart Be Light: A Celebration of Christmas, releasing in early October.