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Abandoned by her no account husband to fend for herself and her young daughter in Kansas, Sally Wheeler is determined to go after him and bring back her son Matthew, who Luke Wheeler took for reasons Sally can’t fathom. He never was much of a father to either of their children and he was the worst kind of husband to her.
She cajoles her old friend, Moss, into taking her and her daughter with him on his hauling trip to Texas where Luke has supposedly gone. When a handsome stranger hooks up with the trio, Sally suspects that Rob Truman is looking for Luke. But she tamps down her worries about what will happen when Truman finds her husband and how she will get her son safely away from his father. She’s got enough to worry just getting to Texas on this difficult journey and having a capable man along to fend off Indians and outlaws could be a matter of survival. Above all else, she must get her boy back.
Rob Truman has only one thing on his mind—revenge, against Luke Wheeler. Not sure if the pretty wife is still in love with her snake of a husband, Truman proceeds cautiously in gaining Sally’s trust. What he doesn’t plan on is giving his hardened heart in return.
Ms. Parmley has created memorable characters in this story about good and evil in the Old West. Her heroine is strong, complex and all too human. My favorite character is Old Moss, whose mumblings and grumblings make him the Greek chorus of this tale. They come together to provide some strong emotional punch at the climatic moment in the story. As with many trips, however, the pace is a bit slow making the journey seem long, but like most journeys, the ending makes it worth it.
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