Independent and spirited, Eva is determined to seek a life that includes adventure and travel. Living in Ohio with her parents in the 1880s, her prospects reduce to Will's marriage proposal. Through fateful twists, she begins corresponding with Frank, a stranger who lives in the wilds of Washington Territory. As the love story unfolds, he asks her to come west and marry him. The prospect of a long trip is exhilarating yet daunting. All the while, Frank's letters detailing his adventures captivate Eva's imagination. Along with his brother, the young men head west with a wagon train and encounter dangers-stampedes, cutthroats, and stumbling onto the "silent killer" of early western trails. Unexpectedly reuniting with their uncle, they track outlaws and a stolen gold shipment. Adding to their peril is the scheming owner of the Sourdough Wind Mine in the gold-mining camp of Yreka. The novel folds together two stories set thirty years apart, and shared through an exchange of letters. This fictional historical tale is based on a true story of love and adventure, during the period 1855-1880. Crisp action scenes, historical authenticity, and unique writing style elevate this novel among its peers. Years of research and travel underpin the book.
About the Author: Bride by Mail is the final novel in the four-book, Six Bulls series. The author says, "From research and personal accounts, it has been a privilege to weave together an anthology of American westward expansion in the 1800s, from North Carolina to Ohio and Indiana, southwest to Missouri, across the plains, over the Rocky Mountains, and finally to California, Oregon, and Washington." I marvel at the spirit of early pioneers who settled the American frontiers. They had perseverance, overcame many fears and self-doubts, and were, of necessity, self-reliant. They have my greatest admiration, and it is an honor to incorporate some of their experiences and family tales in all the novels, including this one. From my research, I have a better understanding of the plight of Native Americans, as westward expansion occurred. Despite being fierce and resourceful, ultimately they were swept aside by the oncoming tide of settlers. There came a time for understanding and compassion by the conquering invaders. In too many instances, this did not occur, and that stain is part of our American historical legacy. Other Richard Puz novels: Six Bulls-The Ohioans (print and e-book versions) Rafting from Ohio to Missouri down the big rivers of America, pioneers load their families and possessions on flatboats, seeking a new life on the American frontier. Adventures abound during their exciting and dangerous trip. The Carolinian (print and e-book versions) Abraham matures during the Battle of New Orleans and later applies those principles on his tobacco plantation in North Carolina. Shunning slavery, he moves his family west. Their adventures produce a riveting account of pioneer life in the wilds of a new country, while battling the ever-present Hooker, the slaver. Avenge (e-book and print versions) The theft of prized horses sets a young man on a journey of adventure. On the trail of the last outlaw, he roams the vast and wild American frontier, tracking the murdering rapist, as the two men clash in an epic battle of wits, where only one can survive. Short Story E-Books Abraham Arkansas Storm Beanblossom Creek Captain Jonathan Buzzard Canyon of Death Danny Boy Newtonia Roaring River Runaway Slave Smoke Sourdough Wind Mine Three Bells Stain