Chasing the Horizon
Available for pre-order now
Coming in February–Read on to get your name in a drawing for a signed copy of Chasing the Horizon
“Hi, my mother is an escapee from an insane asylum and my father will slap her right back in there, and me with her, if he catches us.
If you think I’ve been secretive, that’s why.
Lied about my name. My relationship to Mother. My destination. Everything really.”
It makes it hard to fall in love……….and at the same time……….stay free.
Her only chance at freedom waits across the horizon.
Upon uncovering her tyrannical father’s malevolent plot to commit her to an asylum, Beth Rutledge fabricates a plan of her own. She will rescue her mother, who had already been sent to the asylum, and escape together on a wagon train heading west. Posing as sisters, Beth and her mother travel with the pioneers in hopes of making it to Idaho before the others start asking too many questions.
Wagon-train scout Jake Holt senses that the mysterious women in his caravan are running from something. When rumors begin to spread of Pinkerton agents searching relentlessly for wanted criminals who match the description of those on his wagon train, including Beth, she begins to open up to him, and he learns something more sinister is at hand. Can they risk trusting each other with their lives–and their hearts–when danger threatens their every step?
This is book #1
A Western Light
All releasing this year.
Toward the Dawn coming in June
Into the Sunset coming in October (not yet available for preorder, but soon!–and the cover is not yet official so it could change…but it probably won’t)
Do you like wagon train books? This is the first one I’ve ever written. I’d’ve said I know allllllllllllll about wagon trains until I started writing…and then the research began. Did you play Oregon Trail when you were a kid? I did. I kept dying of dysentery.
To get your name in a drawing for a signed copy of Chasing the Horizon…Leave a comment about Wagon Trains.
Author of Romantic Comedy...with Cowboys including the bestselling Kincaid Brides Series
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This book sounds intriguing! I’m definitely interested in reading it!
My children played wagon train when they were young, but those games weren’t around when I was that age.
I think crossing rivers would have been scary (I don’t know how to swim), and riding would have been very uncomfortable as well as boring. Walking, although possibly dangerous, would have been more interesting I think.
I DIDN’T Play Oregon Trail when I was a kid….did they even have computers then? I think I played it when my kids were kids. It’s all a little hazy………….it was long, long ago
I love wagon train books. I can’t even imagine walking all that way as most did but, the anticipation of the end of the journey would have been amazing.
160 acres of land. Your own land. can you imagine the lure of that to someone who was living in a cramped city with little money?
This book sounds great!
Thanks, Rhonda. It was a really interesting one to write and research.
Howdy Mary! Your books sound wonderful! I can’t imagine running away and being on the trail! That’s extra to worry about! Just being on the wagon train is a lot! That’s some brave woman!
Did you enjoy the research? What amazed you the most about the research?
Tracy, I was researching Insane Asylums and Wagon Trains. Two very NON similar things. It was all fascinating.
This book sound very interesting, that happened a lot back then its was easy to commit a wife or daughter or in your book both to Asylums. I always found Wagan trains very interesting and can’t imagine all.the work and hardships had go through heat, walking for miles, sickness. Going through rivers and so many were buried on those trails and lots of belongs was dumped, very sad reality.
I find it an interesting form of transportation back then.
It was the only way to go….and then they got the train to go all the way to Oregon and BAM no more wagon trains. A few still went but so much reduced…
YEA great way to start the new year with books from a favorite author!
I’m putting them in my calendar and have to pre order on I-books
aw, thanks Marian. I really appreciate that.
I remember playing the Oregon Trail game. To be on a real wagon train would have to take a lot of courage and stamina. Your new book sounds great. I am looking forward to reading it. I just finished the Legacy of the Rocking K Ranch. I really enjoyed it.
Deb, can you even imagine heading out across the whole nation, walking behind a wagon train all that way?
I have never played that game and love to read western romance!
Teresa, as I remember it, it’s truly plodding. I suppose now with……..well, whatever the games are now….it’d be pretty tame. But it was amazing when it was new.
The book sounds great. wagon trains were amazing but I am thinking that it was very difficult.
Debra, I went to the Western Trails museum in Independence, Missouri and the guy that gave me a tour said, 90% of the travelers survived and the ones that died, it was mostly cholera. Not the exciting trip I imagined,
Wagon trains – I can only imagine how hard life was traveling in one. Plus, the endurance of livestock as well. Tough life.
I saw a painting of a wagon train and there was a flock of sheep with it. I’ve heard they took livestock but probably mostly a milk cow or two, don’t you think? What pioneer had a cattle herd?
Mary, so good to hear from you, and so pleased that you’ve finally done a wagon train book. There’s nothing like it, anything can happen, it’s a dream for plotting. Glad to hear you are well.
Your friend, Kathy Bailey, aka Kaybee
Heym Bailey I still remember your wagon train books,
I can only imagine how difficult it was to travel in wagon trains. Not just being very uncomfortable but very dangerous also.
The guy at the western trails museum said mostly everyone walked partly to lighten the load, but MOSTLY because riding in a wagon train was mercilessly uncomfortable. It was an improvement to get out and walk.
I love wagon train books and its been a while since I have read one. This one sound fantastic and I can’t wait to read it. Seems like my son had a computer game of the Oregon Trail years ago and I always enjoyed it.
Hi, Quiltlady. i hope you enjoy this one. I did tons of research on wagon trains and insane asylums…strange combo
Welcome and congratulations. Oh but this sounds like it will be a wonderful series. I cant wait. I know a little about wagon trains. Have read a lot about them. I grew up in the desert on a ranch and never gave it more thought than in books. I was plenty busy on the farm/school/4-H. I used to dream about taking a wagon train on the Oregon Trail. LOL.
I’m excited about it, Lori. It’s gotten some really solid reviews!
Never played Oregon Trail. Didn’t know it was a game–I’m an East Coast gal.
I haven’t read a lot of Wagon Trail books. I have seen TV shows and Westerns with the theme.
Don’t hunt it up now Denise. You won’t be impressed.
Oh, did you mean the video game? I don’t think my brothers had it. I thought you meant like a “cops and robbers” game. Lol
I do like wagon train books, and still watch reruns of the Wagon Train TV show!
I like books about wagon trains. Wagon train was one of my favorite tv shows. I am sure it was difficult at times. I love your books and can’t wait to read this one.
All I can really remember about the show is….they never arrived anywhere. Wasn’t the show on for years?
I’ve seen a few episodes of Wagon Train and liked it. I tried playing Oregon Trail but always died, my daughters were better at it. I have the OLD board game of Conestoga that is fun to play, sometimes I don’t die. I love westerns and am looking forward to reading all about your wagon train.
Naomi, somehow your casual acceptance of death is making me laugh, not proud of it. LOL
This book sounds so good! I have never heard of the game but my hubby has. I love stories about Wagon trains.
I love these covers, Mary! Congrats on the upcoming new series!
I love wagon train books. I played Oregon trails only a few times as I was older when it came out, but age didn’t help me. I died every time I played it. I can’t wait for your book. I preordered it yesterday.
karijean I have no memory of ever living to reach Oregon. LOL
I do not know really anything about wagon trains. Except for the handful of books that included wagon trains. So I am glad you did the research ?and I will just read about it. Excited for the new series.
Probably better to read about it than go on one 🙂
What deceptions men with money stooped to in the previous eras. It is disgusting. I have watched Wagon Train and also read lots about the hardships the members had to endure in all kinds of weather. I do not believe I would have persevered throughout that arduous trip. I probably would have been one of the casualties, sad to say.
I read a strange story about George Heart, the father of William Randolph Hearst and how he just plain bought a jury to find for his employees in some kerfuffle in The Black hills, The details are escaping me but bottom line, his men were guilty, and he paid off the jury to let then go.
I think riding in a wagon train would be rough, but if it’s the only way you know & can afford to get to your new home, then it is what it is. But with the risk of disease & dangers along the trail, it would be really tough.
I enjoy reading books about the Oregon Trail. On our last vacation we visited some of the stops along the trail..chimney rock, independence Rock, Fort Laramie and saw some tracks still there. I am convinced I would not have survived the trip.
Elaine, it’s starting to sound like a consensus. We’ve all gotten soft!!!
Wagon train stories are some of my favorites—the difficulties, the challenges, all the unknowns—while traveling with a large group of people, many of them strangers.
Woohoo! Yes, I love wagon trail stories. I have written a few myself. So much research! Can’t wait to read this new series, Mary! Love your humor and storytelling. LOL, we used to get to play Oregon Trail in the library at school. Fond memories, despite all the dying. 😛
When I read about the history of my family I found out that they traveled from New York to Minnesota in the 1800’s (I imagine that they came by wagon train, as that was the only way to travel back then). I was impressed.
We all had to get to the west somehow. I wonder how my family did it?
Hi, wow, your book sounds like a great read(very intriguing) and I love that it is a series, how exciting!! I never played Oregon Trail when I was little, but I did watch Wagon Train on TV. I thought it was very exciting and harsh at the same time, they sure had some hard trails and trials to go through. It always scared me when they had to cross the rivers on the wagon trains! I also loved the TV series 1883 which is the prequel to Yellowstone, so very exciting! Thank you for the chance at your great sounding and looking book! Have a great rest of the day and a great rest of the week.
I am so looking forward to this book! It sounds really good. I don’t think I ever would have survived a wagon train. I’m just not pioneer material. But I sure do love reading about them!
Christy, me too. I’m a wimp.
This book sounds absolutely fantastic. I remember as a young girl always playing Cowboys and Indians. We would take turns being both of them.
In real life traveling in a wagon on a wagon train had to be very interesting if you love adventures, but it is presented in books, and movies as a very hard trip in a wagon going west. I can’t even imagine traveling through the water in a wagon or some of the narrow trails they traveled on. The wildlife threat of some of the animals you could meet would terrify me. I love reading stories and watching movies, but I di not think I would be a very good wagon train traveler.
Thanks for this opportunity to read this story.
Becki, I bet I’d fall off the wagon on the first creek crossing and drown. I might’ve found the inner strength to be a tough pioneer….but if that happened, it’d be a surprise to everyone, including me. I’m unusually fond of air conditioning!!!!!!!!
could be fun
I love stories about the wagon trains heading west!! What an exciting, grueling adventure! Definitely not for the faint of heart. The stories fascinate me, yet I wonder if I’d’ve survived!
I love your books & will be looking forward to this series! 🙂
Can you imagine? Here’s your wagon It’s gonna take five months. Wow.
I don’t know anything about this Oregon Trail game. Being born in the late 1960s, those type of games didn’t exist yet when I was growing up. I like western romance books, so this book sounds really interesting. My dad still watches reruns of the Wagon Train TV show.
Hanging around P & P is the right place for western romance lovers. 🙂
I’m really looking forward to this book! Wagon trains were such an important part of our history and I learned about them many years ago by watching the TV series with my Daddy. I’ve become a fan again and I’m reliving my youth by watching Wagon Train on INSP. Now, I can truly appreciate just how hard these journeys would have been. Can’t wait to see your take on them!
I watched a bunch of episodes when I was starting this series.
I love your books!
Thanks, Terry. I really appreciate that.
I love all of your books and look forward to this! I really enjoy reading about the wagon train travelers. I know the men and women were strong people just making the trip. Then all the dangers they faced! Stronger people than I could ever imagine being.
Thank you for sharing your ministry with us!
Hi Kathy, I hope when you read it, you feel like you’re going along for the ride!
Here’s a bit of history with wagons for you: Stone City Artist Colony from 1932-1933, some of the artists stayed in wagons. Not canvas covered, but similar shapes, right? https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1086/quarbullarchamer.3.4.1556810?journalCode=quarbullarchamer
That’s a cool slice of history I’ve never heard of. Thanks Karen!
I admire the settlers that traveled out west by wagon train. I’m not sure I’d have wanted to make such a long harrowing journey, but I’m glad they were brave enough to do so.
I read Undaunted Courage, a story of the Lewis and Clark expedition, and when they got to the Mandan Village in North Dakota on their way home, they met men heading west. One of their corps turned around and went back. They opened the floodgates. This was??? 1805 maybe? that trickle became a downpour. By 1820 there was a fort in Nebraska. The wagon trains started in 1840. Thirty-five years later. It seems crazy to set out on this journey, but in truth, nothing could stop that tide sweeping west.
Your new book sounds amazing. I think traveling on wagon trains would be hard for men. It would be extremely hard for women and children. Thank you so much for sharing. God bless you.
My research said that riding in those wagons was so miserable, bumpy, hot, airless, that they PREFERRED to walk.
Hi Mary, Yes, I love Wagon Train books. Your books sound very interesting also. I like to read about our history & people moving West. Must have been really hard travel for everyone. The weather, wagons breaking down, uncomfortable trip inside a wagon, walking or riding. It took real courage for our pioneers to build this country. Your reader…
This series sounds wonderful! I have read a few wagon train books. I’m sure I will love this one!!
My favorite wagon train books are the Kinship and Courage series by Jane Kirkpatrick. The second grade class I work with is currently studying pioneers. Today they made paper covered wagons. It’s mind boggling to learn of all the pioneers went through during those long, hard months on the trail. I’m looking forward to reading your new series.
I have always been interested in wagon trains and the life people lived while traveling on them. I haven’t seen or read that many books about them. The TV mini-series INTO THE WEST is, to me, probably the most accurate depiction of what it was like. They certainly did not glamorize it. The game wasn’t around when I was growing up and we never got it for our children. We had a few things that were similar. I would be curious to see how I would fare if I did play it. I look forward to this new series.
We still have episodes of the show Wagon Train airing on one of our retro types of TV stations available on our antenna. Scotts Bluff National Monument is a very interesting place to visit to learn more about the fascinating history. I am looking forward to the new series.
That sounds like a great new story. I absolutely love the way you write and how well researched your stories are. I always feel like I am living the tale as it’s being told. You really have a gift for bringing the characters to life
I love your books! Love the adventure! Watch all the old wagon trail shows and movies. Cant wait to read this…..