A young woman named America becomes pregnant before marriage in the mid 19th century. After her boyfriend dumps her, she finds that her best option is to go west on the "Overland Trail" with a man who is willing to wed her simply to have a partner to travel and establish a law practice in Oregon.
The trail to Oregon is rough. Many hardships befall the expectant girl and her wagon train. After half the trip she discovers that she does love the man who is now her husband. Shortly after that he is killed attempting to replace the wagon axle. America is taken in by a less than hospitable family. After America delivers her baby, she is left for dead and the baby is taken by her hosting family. Friendly natives find America and with their help she tries to retrieve her daughter.
This book was enjoyable to read. The first half gave a wonderful insight to the sufferings and tribulations that happened to various wagon trains flowing west in the 1850's. The story, however, became a little hard to believe in the last half of the book. Everyone on the trip with whom America had become friendly were killed, except for a black couple whom America could not ride with because it was not considered "proper". In the very end America and her recovered daughter become fugitives of the white man's law and go to live with the natives.
The trail to Oregon is rough. Many hardships befall the expectant girl and her wagon train. After half the trip she discovers that she does love the man who is now her husband. Shortly after that he is killed attempting to replace the wagon axle. America is taken in by a less than hospitable family. After America delivers her baby, she is left for dead and the baby is taken by her hosting family. Friendly natives find America and with their help she tries to retrieve her daughter.
This book was enjoyable to read. The first half gave a wonderful insight to the sufferings and tribulations that happened to various wagon trains flowing west in the 1850's. The story, however, became a little hard to believe in the last half of the book. Everyone on the trip with whom America had become friendly were killed, except for a black couple whom America could not ride with because it was not considered "proper". In the very end America and her recovered daughter become fugitives of the white man's law and go to live with the natives.
