Letitia holds nothing more dear than the papers that prove she is no longer a slave. They may not cause white folks to treat her like a human being, but at least they show she is free. She trusts in those words she cannot read--as she is beginning to trust in Davey Carson, an Irish immigrant cattleman who wants her to come west with him. Nancy Hawkins is loathe to leave her settled life for the treacherous journey by wagon train, but she is so deeply in love with her husband that she knows she will follow him anywhere--even when the trek exacts a terrible cost. Betsy is a Kalapuya Indian, the last remnant of a once proud tribe in the Willamette Valley in Oregon territory. She spends her time trying to impart the wisdom and ways of her people to her grandson. But she will soon have another person to care for. As season turns to season, suspicion turns to friendship, and fear turns to courage, three spirited women will discover what it means to be truly free in a land that makes promises it cannot fulfill. This multilayered story from bestselling author Jane Kirkpatrick will grip readers' hearts and minds as they travel with Letitia on the dusty and dangerous Oregon trail into the boundless American West. Three very different women. One dangerous journey. And a future that seems just out of reach. Letitia holds nothing more dear than the papers that prove she is no longer a slave. They may not cause most white folks to treat her like a human being, but at least they show she is free. She trusts in those words she cannot read--as she is beginning to trust in Davey Carson, an Irish immigrant cattleman who wants her to come west with him. Nancy Hawkins is loathe to leave her settled life for the treacherous journey by wagon train, but she is so deeply in love with her husband and she knows she will follow him anywhere--even when the trek exacts a terrible cost. Betsy is a Kalapuya Indian, the last remnant of a once proud tribe in the Willamette Valley in Oregon territory. She spends her time trying to impart the wisdom and ways of her people to her grandson. But she will soon have another person to care for. As season turns to season, suspicion turns to friendship, and fear turns to courage, three spirited women will discover what it means to be truly free in a land that makes promises it cannot fulfill. This multilayered story from bestselling author Jane Kirkpatrick will grip your heart and mind as you travel on the dusty and dangerous Oregon Trail into the boundless American West. Based on a true story. Jane Kirkpatrick is the New York Times and CBA bestselling author of more than twenty-five books, including A Sweetness to the Soul , which won the coveted Wrangler Award from the Western Heritage Center. Her works have been finalists for the Christy Award, Spur Award, Oregon Book Award, and Reader's Choice awards, and have won the WILLA Literary Award and Carol Award for Historical Fiction. Many of her titles have been Book of the Month and Literary Guild selections. Jane lives in Central Oregon with her husband, Jerry. Learn more at www.jkbooks.com. Jane Kirkpatrick is the New York Times and CBA bestselling and award-winning author of more than forty books. Her works have won the WILLA Literary Award, the Carol Award for Historical Fiction, and five Will Rogers Gold Medallion Awards. Jane divides her time between Central Oregon and California with her husband, Jerry, and Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Rupert. Learn more at JKBooks.com. A Light in the Wilderness A Novel By Jane Kirkpatrick Revell Copyright © 2014 Jane Kirkpatrick All rights reserved. ISBN: 978-0-8007-2231-9 CHAPTER 1 Having an Opinion 1844—Platte County, Missouri Letitia preferred the shadows, avoiding the skirmish before her. Butthe child tugged on her hand and led Letitia to the dust in frontof the Platte County courthouse. Men's voices sliced the air likethe whips of a field marse, sharp and stinging. The air was heavyas a wet, wool quilt, yet dust billowed around the two men as itdid when bulls scraped the earth. "She was contracted for, fairand square. She failed to do the work!" Letitia knew the speaker,Davey Carson, once of Ireland, now of Carroll Township, PlatteCounty, Missouri. Today, full of consternation. Bushy eyebrowswith the tint of auburn formed a chevron of scowl over his nose."Sure and I did nothing like she says I did. Not a thing. The girldidn't work, I tell ye!" Letitia shrank back, grateful his anger wasn't directed at her.She tugged at the child's hand to move toward the Platte City store. "We'll settle it in court then." The second man brushed pastDavey, leaving the Irishman like a shriveled pickle in the bottomof a barrel, no one wanting to touch it. Davey's red face scanned the disappearing crowd. When his eyescaught Letitia's, she glanced down. Hot sun brought out sweat onher forehead, intensified the scent of coconut oil and honey she'dused to smooth her crinkly hair. She turne