A Heart at Home

The rifle barrel pointed upward as its owner stepped out from behind the pine. "You're pretty quick, Mister. But I was quicker." The dark-haired girl stepped toward him, her rifle tucked easily over her shoulder. "Pa says Colorado Territory's full of bandits. Up to me to keep my brothers safe." She extended her hand. "I'm Martha Jane Canary." The jovial atmosphere returning, Sanderson shook the spritely young woman's hand with a grin. Surely no more than 13, her hair was shiny and dark, like ground coffee, and her eyes, almond-shaped and sparkling, were the same chocolaty hue. "Sanderson Redding. Nice to meet you, Miss Canary." "Call me Jane," she instructed, the hint of a smile tilting her full lips. "Hey...Redding, I heard of you." She tightened her grip on his hand hard and gave three sharp shakes. When she released him, Sanderson's fingers burned. She arched her brows and looked him up and down. "Is that so, Jane," Sanderson asked, oblivious to the youngsters who were still hacking away at his legs with their twigs. The other three boys dropped back, in obvious awe of their sister. She started toward the wagons, rifle over her shoulder. "Sure is. We had a stopover at Fort Dodge. Seems those Earp boys had quite a lot to say about you." The three oldest boys fell in silently behind her. It was obvious at once who was in charge. Gold. Massacres. Indians. Soldiers. Can Charlotte survive life on the trail or will the wildness of the west tear her family apart? Charlotte leaves behind her life in Arkansas to journey west with Sanderson, the man she loves and whose child she is carrying. However, the journey proves more difficult than either of them could have ever imagined. Wild animals, natural disasters, and a heavy Indian presence test not only Sanderson and Charlotte's strength and endurance, but their faith in each other, as well. Meanwhile, Minerva packs up the little rock cottage to journey west in the company of infant Jay Jay and Cotton just as peace Sanderson is trying to bridge between the Army and the Snake River Indians begins to fall apart. From Quanah Parker to Wyatt Earp, Charlotte and Sanderson rub shoulders with some of the west's most notable characters while struggling to remember what truly makes a home ... is love--Amazon.com.