Hello dear friends and fellow historical romance lovers!
Every book I write begins with a spark—an idea that won’t leave me alone. Mail-Order Freighter was no exception. This time, the inspiration came from a question that tugged at my imagination: What if a woman in the Old West inherited not just a store… but an entire freighting business—and the danger that came with it?
Researching this book was both exciting and eye-opening. I dove into the world of 1800s freighters and wagon trains, learning about the rugged, relentless work these men (and sometimes women!) did to keep goods moving across the rough terrain of the West. From hauling mining equipment and tools, to delivering food, barrels of flour, and even coffins—these freight wagons carried it all. It really made me appreciate the hardships they endured—hours spent on hard wooden seats, in the blistering heat or freezing wind, without even a roof for shelter. It sure makes our modern-day road trips feel like luxury cruises!
I also loved researching the inner workings of a mercantile. In Helena’s case, her store is the heart of the town, stocked with everything from canned goods and bolts of fabric to lantern oil and hand tools. But as the story begins, she’s not just running the mercantile—she’s fighting to keep it out of the hands of a dangerous man who’s determined to take everything she has. With her late husband gone, and a baby on the way, Helena is running out of options… and time.
Enter Issac—a ranch hand with a restless spirit and a heart ready for more. When he agrees to take on a favor for his boss, he never expects to walk straight into Helena’s storm. And after an accidental scandal and a quick decision that changes both of their lives, Issac becomes more than just a helping hand—he becomes Helena’s husband.
But marrying her doesn’t make the danger disappear. In fact, it puts a target on his back. I love writing characters who are brave in quiet ways, who make hard choices, and who find strength in each other—even when everything seems stacked against them.
Writing Mail-Order Freighter reminded me that sometimes God sends us help in unexpected ways. Just when Helena had lost hope, her letter—her plea for help—was answered.
If you enjoy stories with grit, faith, romance, and a little suspense, I hope Mail-Order Freighter finds a special place on your reading shelf!
Now I’d love to hear from you:
What kind of freight do you think they would’ve hauled in those days? Supplies for the mines? Dry goods for the store? Maybe something unusual? Let me know in the comments! One lucky reader will win an eBook copy of Mail-Order Freighter!
BLURB: (shortened version)
Mail-Order Freighter
Newly widowed and expecting a child, Helena is desperate to protect the mercantile and freighter business she ran with her husband. A ruthless man is determined to claim both—and her—and her time is running out. With no one left to turn to, she sends a letter, praying for help.
Issac, a restless ranch hand, agrees to a favor that leads him straight into Helena’s troubles. When circumstances place them in a compromising position, there’s only one honorable choice: marriage.
But marrying Helena means more than protecting her. It means stepping into danger—and risking everything.
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Until next time,
Blessings,
Paulette D. Marshall
Sounds like a great book – if it hadn’t been for the freighters, the west would have been much slower in being settled.
So true Ginni. Have a great 4th of July.
Welcome!
There are so many things which could be in the freighter. Various sundries and goods for the mercantile, mining supplies, mail-order items from back east, etc…
So ture Denise. Have a grea 4th of July.
In gold-mining areas, freighters may have also hauled dore or gold bars to the nearest mint. Of course, this would have been extra dangerous.
True! Great. Hope you have a terrific 4th of July.
I would think food staples like sugar; salt, flour and coffee along with hard spirits.
Food and staples were defiantly top of the list unless you owned the saloon. Have a happy 4th of July
Sounds like a good book. Hard to say but I think it would be a mix of a lot of things dry goods food staples hardware supplies, etc.
Sharon, thank you. Great relplay. Have a wonderful 4th of July.
Dry goods
Great answer. Happy 4th of July!
It sounds like a great book. I would think they would carry dry goods, tools, maybe a special mail order like a cook stove and flour, sugar and coffee. Loved the article.
Great reply! Happy 4th of July!
The Mail Order Freighter sounds delightful. I look forward to reading it soon. I have read a tale of another woman freighter out in California in the mining days. She had a hard time as she competed with a man who was greedy and wanted all the business. She faces many hair-raising days on the muddy mountains trails to make a delivery before he did. Only, thankfully, she was not pregnant. In her case she carried mining supplies as well as food and necessary items for them to live. Sometimes they took appliances like stoves, and such.
Great comment and true. There were a few famous women Freighters that shared thier stories. I love reading me too. Have a wonderful 4th of July.
You book sounds amazing. I think they would haul things like fabric and maybe food items like candy for the kids. They would also have to haul farm and mining supplies.
Thank you Debra. Great comment. Have a terrific 4 th of July.
I think the freighters would haul everything anyone needed to make a home like food stuff, iron pots-pans for cooking and boiling-washing the clothes outside or to make soap, blankets, farming supplies, seeds, tools, furniture, and maybe a piano.
Connie, great comment and true. Have a terrific 4th of July.
I think they would have hauled anything, that someone needed.
Great comment. They would have hauled many things. Have a happy 4th of July.
It probably depended on where they were going. Mining supplies for a mining town, farm implements for a farming community, but basic supplies like flour, sugar, and grains for all of them. Something unusual? I think of school books or a wedding dress from back east for a special bride.
So true Elaine. Wonderful comment. Happy 4th of July.
This book sounds great! I can just imagine the freighters carrying all the things you mentioned as well as water pumps, kitchen stoves, and the newest sewing machines.
Rhonda, thank you. I hope you get a chance to read it. Your comments are very true.
Sounds like a good book! From books I’ve read and movies and TV shows, I’m thinking anything could be packed in a freight wagon! Anything from food to supplies for mines, to a piano bought specifically for a person or church. Some of them would even carry smaller livestock, like chickens!
Great answer, Trudy. Have a wonderful 4 th of July.
Good morning , your book sounds like a great read and I love your book cover! I would think they could pack just about anything in the freight wagons that they could fit, but mostly everyday necessities, not too many luxuries. I enjoyed reading your post. Have a great weekend. (not entering this ebook giveaway as I am not tech savvy and dont read ebooks, but Thank you. )
Alicia, Good morning. Thank you! Great comment. Have a wonderful 4th of July and a terrific weekend.
The book sounds really good. I think they would carry foods and dry goods but nothing fancy.
Thank you Barbara. Great commennts and very true. Have a good day.
I think they would carry anything that they sell, especially food and everyday items. They probably carried special order things like stoves, tubs, etc. Your book sounds fascinating.
Karijean, very good point about special order things. Thank you. I hope you get a chance to read it. Have a terrific day.
Well, this story has a bit of a twist with a woman freighter owner.
I think they hauled all those things. Anything and everything a person may need (or want) that was wasily shipped. Mostly dry goods. Meats and such were always a local thing.
Carrie, great answer. Hope you have a terrific day.
It has always fascinated me reading about the freighters in novels. The roads they had to travel, or should I say trails, had to have made traveling miserable. But they did what they had to do. I can see them hauling just about anything, from glass for windows in cabins and stores, to fabric, shoes/boots, hats, guns and ammunition, to food necessities, i.e. flour, sugar, lard, etc. They would have had to haul cookstoves, bedsteads, just too numerous to even think of. And, I panic when I leave my grocery list at home. lol Thank you for your research. Can’t wait to read your book.
Sarah, great comment and I agree about the grocery list. I hope you get a chance to read my book. I enjoyed reasearching for that book. Always so much to learn.
Have a wonderful day.
Maybe they hauled Moonshine and other alcoholic beverages to places
looking forward to read book
Crystal, they could have. I hope you have a chance to read my book. Have a wonderful day.
Virtually everything early communities needed that they could not produce themselves had to be hauled in by freight wagons. Later on trains could bring it in, but freight wagons would still have to bring it to outlying areas. It could be anvils and iron for the blacksmiths or fabrics for the seamstress and housewives. Sugar, flour, salted meat, coffee, tin canned goods, candies, furniture, shoes & boots, maybe even a crate or two of books. Pianos and church bells would be infrequent cargo. Hard liquor of quality would have to be shipped in. Until local production could be set up, beer and poorer quality liquor would have to be shipped in. Cookstoves, potbelly stoves, and cast iron ware would need to be hauled in by freighters.
One thing for sure, they would never be lacking for work
Patricia, great comment. So true about never lacking the work, they would have to worry about the dangers that lay ahead.
Have a wonderful day.
I’d guess a little bit of everything. Enjoyed reading your research. Adding the book to my reading list.
Vickie, I’m glad you enjoyed reading it and thank you for putting it on your want to read list. Have a terrific day.
I think they would have hauled dry goods & weapons.
Non pershiable food. Thank you for the giveaway opportunity