by Vivi Holt
She reached out and plucked one from the top of the barrel. It felt cool to the touch, and as she pushed it into her mouth and bit down hard into its crisp flesh, the juice ran down her chin and dripped onto her skirts. She leaned back against the hard, rounded side of the barrel and put her feet up on top of the cheese as she munched.
Just then, the wagon jolted and moved forward. She stopped chewing and sat upright, listening intently. She could hear the bellowing of the cattle and the whistles and calls of the cowboys – they were moving out. She wondered where they were headed. Never mind – wherever it was she hoped it was as far from Fort Worth and Quincey Ewing as she could get. She lay back down and took another bite.
Keep reading…
Also by Vivi Holt
Orphan Brides Go West
Mail Order Bride: Christy
Mail Order Bride: Ramona
Mail Order Bride: Katie
Mail Order Bride: Holly (coming soon!)
Cutter’s Creek
The Strong One
The Betrothed
Cherished
Paradise Valley
Of Peaks and Prairies
For an updated list of my books, please visit:
www.viviholt.com
Join my VIP email list and I’ll personally send you an email reminder as soon as my next book is out! Tap here to sign up.
About the Author
Vivi Holt was born in Australia. She grew up in the country, where she spent her youth riding horses at Pony Club, and adventuring through the fields and rivers around the farm. Her father was a builder, turned saddler, and her mother a nurse, who stayed home to raise their four children.
After graduating from a degree in International Relations, Vivi moved to Atlanta, Georgia to work for a year. It was there that she met her husband, and they were married three years later. Vivi also studied for a Bachelor of Information Technology, and has worked in the field ever since. She spent seven years living in Atlanta and travelled to various parts of the United States during that time, falling in love with the beauty of that immense country and the American people.
She now lives in Brisbane, Australia with her husband and three small children. Married to a Baptist pastor, she is very active in her local church, and continues to work part-time as a Knowledge and Information Manager. Whatever spare time she has left after all of that goes into writing – something she has only recently discovered, but now loves to do.
Acknowledgments
Once again, so many people have contributed to this book, and I’m grateful for all of them. My beta readers, Heather and Judi - thank you for your hard work!
Thanks also to Ray Anselmo, my editor, who makes the editing process as painless as it possibly can be. Thanks to my ARC team, who cheer me on and support me, and for all my readers who keep giving my books a chance.
Thanks to Kit Morgan, Annie Boone and Kari Trumbo who did me the honor of inviting me to work with them, and have since become my friends. Your words of encouragement mean so much.
Finally, thank you to God my Heavenly Father who inspires me, spurs me on, and calls me to be the person He destined me to be. He is without rival, and He fills my heart with joy.
Historical Note
And Author’s Remarks
This book follows an ongoing secondary storyline of the Lakota war on the Bozeman Trail. In reality, that war was headed up by Chief Red Cloud, and had already finished by the time period in which this story is set. So, instead I have invented a Lakota chief, Gray Wolf, and continued the war on the settlers. It makes the story more dramatic, and did actually occur, just at an earlier time. I hope you’ll enjoy the story and overlook the timing!
Before writing this book, I read Follow the River, by James Alexander Thom. The book was an intense read, which I enjoyed and was sickened by at various times. It followed the journey of a woman in Virginia who was kidnapped by Indian raiders. Likewise, the kidnapping of Maria Holloway is continued in this book, and was inspired by the story of the woman in Follow the River. Maria’s journey will be uncovered in an upcoming Cutter’s Creek book, which I’m excited about sharing with you.
Another section of this book is of special importance to me. It’s when Sheriff Brentwood has an encounter with God on the Bozeman Trail on the way home from discovering Maria.
“I made them for you.
Clifford startled, his eyes widening.
I could have placed lights in the sky only to see by, but I made a beautiful blanket of stars so you could enjoy them as well. They’re for you. All for you. Ask me how much I love you.
The voice he heard was small and quiet, yet definitely not of his own mind. His mouth fell open, and he drew in a quick, short breath. “H-how much do you love m-me?” he whispered into the night’s silence.
I made every single star for your pleasure. That’s how much I love you.”
This passage is meaningful to me, because it’s almost the exact exchange I had once with my Heavenly Father as I stared at the stars above me. He told me that He made them beautiful because of His love for us. The next time I asked Him how much he loved me, he simply said “Stars!”, which made me chuckle and get a little teary. It’s my hope that the passage touches you as well — and you consider asking God about His love for you.
Once again, I hope you enjoyed the story. Stay tuned… there are more on the way!
Warm regards,
Vivi Holt
