Lone Tree Claim: On the Dakota Frontier
Katie doesn’t want to work at her family’s Chicago pub for the rest of her life. She’s heard that as a 21-year-old widow, she can claim 160 acres of land under the Homestead Act, but she doesn’t know anything about setting up a life out west. Serendipitously, Harold Hughes, a man who served with her late husband in the Civil War, shows up in the fall of 1865 with an exciting offer. She could work for him and his wife on their new sheep ranch in the Dakota Territory. Katie jumps at the chance; this will be the perfect opportunity to learn the workings of a ranch so she can start her own someday.
Unfortunately, Mr. Hughes is not the man he seems, and things do not go as she had imagined. Luckily, there are kind people on neighboring properties and in the nearby town, and her new friends are willing to help her learn the things she will need to succeed. One of the people she meets is Jake Riley, an attractive cowboy who works at a cattle ranch. He draws her in instantly with his charm, and they certainly have a physical spark, but if she were to marry again, she would lose her claim, and it would go to her husband. Is a chance at love worth giving up everything she has worked so hard for?
Katie is tested repeatedly by nature and the constant dangerous tension between sheepherders and cattle ranchers, but nothing dampens her determination. The novel is full of adventure and moves along at a quick pace. There is a violent scene that some readers may find triggering, but overall, the book is warm and uplifting. Fans of found family stories and strong female characters will enjoy this one.
