Heather Fry Blanton Talks Proximity and Emotional Tension Trope

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Trust on the Trail: Forced Proximity and Emotional Tension in Frontier Romances

There’s something deeply compelling about a romance that begins with distrust and danger, especially when it unfolds on the rugged frontier. In Western and frontier fiction, the “forced proximity” trope—where two strangers are thrown together by circumstance—is a beloved storytelling device. Why? Because it strips away all pretense and forces characters to confront not just each other, but themselves.

In stories like my new release, Lance, from the Gun for Hire series, Lance Wister finds himself wounded and on the run. He’s got no choice but to accept help from a wary peddler named Cat Callahan. She could turn him in. But she’s running from something, too, and he could bring trouble to her door. Survival, however, demands that they work together, and slowly, necessity begins to shift to something deeper.

On the frontier, trust isn’t just emotional—it’s practical. Will this person guard my back? Tend my wounds? Keep my secrets? When you’re traveling alone through Colorado’s wild terrain, every decision is high-stakes. Forced proximity amplifies the tension, especially when characters are hiding past sins or running from pain. And it’s in those quiet, inescapable moments—sharing a campfire, sharing a wagon bed, binding a bullet wound—where the seeds of intimacy are planted.

But here’s where the faith element takes root.

In many of these stories, trust doesn’t just bloom between two reluctant partners. It also becomes a journey back to trusting God. Often, both characters are running from something, like danger, or more emotional elements like grief, betrayal, or shame. They’ve lost faith in people, and sometimes in the Lord Himself. But being forced to depend on a stranger reveals a deeper truth: that God hasn’t abandoned them. He’s working, even in the wilderness, even in the mess.

For Lance and Cat, being “stuck” together becomes divine design. It’s not just about survival—it’s about healing. Scripture tells us that iron sharpens iron (Proverbs 27:17), and sometimes God uses the most unlikely people and situations to refine us. What begins as distrust slowly turns to cooperation, then protection, and finally—if they’re brave enough—love.

That’s the heart of the frontier romance: it reminds us that in the loneliest, most desperate places, God still writes love stories. He still calls the broken into partnership. And He still brings beauty from the hardest trails.

 

So the next time you pick up a romance with a wounded outlaw and a wary heroine forced into close quarters, remember—it’s not just sparks and suspense. It’s about learning to trust again… each other, and the One who never left.

Can you think of a Western romance that hinges on forced proximity? What do you think of this trope? Comment below for your chance to win one of 5 copies of my new release. Lance and Cat are waiting to get to know you!

About Heather:

Heather Blanton is an award-winning and USA Today bestselling author of thirty Christian Western romances, including the highly rated and awarded “Romance in the Rockies” series.

She is a former journalist and often weaves real history in among her fictional storylines. She loves exploring the American West, especially ghost towns and museums. She has walked parts of the Oregon Trail, ridden horses through the Rockies, climbed to the top of Independence Rock, and even held an outlaw’s note in her hand.

Her novels are all Christian Western Romance because she enjoys writing about feisty pioneer women who struggle to find love and hold on to their faith. Like all good, old-fashioned Westerns, there is always justice, a moral message, American values, lots of high adventure, unexpected plot twists, and often a touch of suspense. Her work is inspired by authors like the great Louis L’Amour, Francine Rivers, and Linda Lael Miller, to name just a few. Her Defiance series has been optioned for TV.

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71 thoughts on “Heather Fry Blanton Talks Proximity and Emotional Tension Trope”

  3. I can’t think of a Western romance that hinges on force proximity. I know I’ve read some books and watched some television movies on this subject, but can’t recall a specific title. Best of luck on your new novel.

  4. I enjoy watching characters evolve as they overcome past trauma to become partners in life and love. I think it mirrors most of our lives, so many people today have to learn how to trust God and allow him to heal our hurts. That’s when we can truly love someone and allow trust in relationships.

  8. I love this trope! It is what I primarily read. And, I have read some of your books and look forward to reading Lance. Thank you so much for coming to P&P today. You are a gem.

  9. Good morning Heather! I finished Lance the other day! I don’t play on getting to the series I am enjoying! I loved the story and your surprise in Defiance with some long ago characters! I liked seeing them again! And him being a hero again! Also the two times God intervened on Lance. Sometimes we don’t actually “see” it, but it happens and sometimes we never know!

    I must ask, when is your Defiance series coming to the screen? Have you heard? To me, this would be the best western story! I could see some of those characters from Walker Independence in it. I hated that they closed that show. Recently, I saw 1883(two years ago) and finished 1923. Loved them both! Have you seen them? I can just see your Defiance series being on the screen! Characters coming to life!

    As far as your question, Two Mules for Sister Sarah comes to mind! LOL I have read a few books like that, but they don’t come to mind, but a movie I’ve seen a hundred times does! Good luck on Lance(I recommend it and the series!) and Defiance coming to the big screen!

    Many blessings!

    • Lordie! I wrote a chapter! I have contacted you several times Heather, but your mail returned. Not sure if it was my end or yours. It was about the time your son was leaving for service. I think my question at the time(I sent the same question to Linda Broday) was how you felt about why readers are wanting more contemporary books these days? Is it the youth? No interest in the past? I’ll be honest, I simply cannot get into a contemporary books these days. I’ve read them, but my “escape” will be away from this time! LOL Just me!

      • And, I’ll add, readers are not necessarily looking for more contemporary stories. You just mentioned two period pieces that are VERY popular. My email is gowest36@gmail.com. Hit me up and I’ll answer, and add you to my newsletter, if you’d like. Thank you for reading!

  10. Heather, this is so true. I can think of a couple of examples — “Stagecoach,” where a disparate group of people were thrown together and had to rely on each other, with John Wayne and Claire Trevor thrown into the pressure cooker and coming out together. It’s also true of just about any story that takes place on a wagon train, as wagon trains are like small towns on wheels and you can’t get away from them. My first published book was a wagon train romance, “Westward Hope,:” Pelican/White Rose 2019. I really miss the genre.
    Kathy Bailey

  11. I can’t think of a story right now but I will agree that trust is the most important thing in a relationship.

  12. I have read stories like this but cannot think of the name. Trust though does come into it. He was protecting her and they got caught in a snow storm. Ahh it is She Steals my Breath by Karen Kay. Such a great book!!

  13. Heather, I cannot wait to read LANCE! I used to get teased a lot about always wounding my heroes somehow! LOL This is such a favorite trope of mine. I am so excited about this entire series and looking forward to reading every single story, but I have to say, the wounded hero is one of my favorite scenarios. I’ve got LANCE on my Kindle–NOW, I have to find the time to sit down and READ! Loved your blog post!

    • Writing the wounded hero is a tricky thing, though, isn’t it?! He can’t be too wounded to be of any good, or he has to heal up pretty quickly. LOL! Thank you for reading! I’m behind on the series, but I’m plowing through!

  14. One is The Rancher’s Unexpected Gift by Jody Hedlund. I like the trope as long as the animosity between the characters doesn’t get out of hand before it gets better.

  15. I can’t think of one right now ,but I do like it, thank you for the giveaway!

  18. Lori Wick wrote one in the Californian series with the youngest Donovan daughter. She was forced to marry a man who rescued her in a snowstorm.

  19. Thank you so much for coming, Heather. We love having you. I love forcing characters together and especially if they’re not keen on each other. So I love this trope and have used it many times before. Emotional tension is really fun to write. Congratulations on your release of Lance!!! I just love your cover. Wishing you much success.

  21. I love this trope! It wasn’t exactly forced, but this is similar to how my boyfriend and I started dating. We had been friends for two years when he called me up one day, told me his car was broke down, and asked if I could take his friend to his chemo appointment. I told him sure, and we ended up spending about four hours together while his friend was taking his chemo. He couldn’t get parts for his car, so I ended up taking his friend to appointments for about a month, and the more time I spent talking to him, the more I started to fall for him. I finally confessed my feelings, and we’ll celebrate our 6th anniversary as a couple on July 2nd! We took care of his friend together until he passed away about a year after we started dating.

  24. I Think With All My Heart would be an example of this trope. I love this trope. Your book sounds like a great read. Have a Great weekend. Thank you for joining us today.

  25. I can’t think of any right now . I love your books and can’t wait to read this one.

  28. I can’t think of one at the moment, but then again I do have a bad memory. I do love the forced proximity trope though.

  29. I’m a reader that loves to read pretty much everything. Historical, fantasy, romance, retelling … If it sounds Ike a good read, to the TBR list it goes!

  32. The first one that I thought of was Two Mules for Sister Sara. Not the usual type of characters or story line for this trope, but it worked well.

  33. Just finished Lance last night, Heather, and as usual, it was fantastic. Loved Cat. I think the “forced proximity” trope is a great one allowing for lots of imagination and adjustments. It allows the author room to create a new story with that old trope. And often, faith fits in somewhere. Maybe it’s sort of automatic, since the two people involved have no choice but to trust each other. And if you can trust a stranger, you can certainly trust God. Thanks for a good read, Heather.

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