The Mountains of Eternal Snow Series

The Mountains of Eternal Snow (Revised). Book 1: Two for the West, 79,400 words. (Based on the life of James K. Moore, longest-practicing military post trader in America.) In the spring of 1864, Martin McLaughlin, age 21, headed for the West. He was not interested in going but he had incipient tuberculosis so he had little choice. He encouraged three male friends to accompany him. Together, the quartet took the train to end of tracks–St. Joseph, Missouri. At about the same time, a young Quaker girl, Edith Teague and her family left their cabin and farm, and moved temporarily to St. Jo. The Civil War was causing problems for all Missouri settlers since half the state was for the North and half was for the South.  Martin and Edith met by happenstance on the banks of the Missouri River. It was love at first sight for both. He was leaving for the Idaho Territory with his friends but she agreed to write him in Virginia City. When the quartet couldn't find transportation on the river, they ended up as bullwhackers, honchoing yoked oxen that pulled two-ton supply wagons, walking seven hundred miles across the plains at 15 miles per day. First they encountered a heat wave, then Shoshone warriors looking for a fight with Sioux. When the Shoshone camped nearby, the four lads visited the teepee village. Martin got talked into a Shoshone "cure" for his incipient tubercular cough and almost died. His friends left him behind but believed he would catch up later. In St. Jo, Edith was befriended by her spirited aunt who was planning to teach negroes in a church school. Edith wanted to help. Her mother's emotional fabric was not geared to change or stress, and was dismayed Edith was falling under her aunt's progressive influence. Then she suffered more anxiety when her Quaker husband joined the Missouri Militia. When Edith began to teach that summer, rabid masked men against teaching blacks, burned the schoolhouse. Unfortunately, Edith's aunt was inside. Edith was devastated but continued to read about heroic women who were helping to teach and bring civilization to the West. Martin's friends remained in Virginia City where the uncle of one had a gold mine. Martin got a job with the Holladay Stage Line. While he played shotgun, the stage was robbed. Everyone was killed, save Martin who was badly wounded. Edith created a bond with one of her aunt's associates in St. Louis, a suffragette. She got approval from her parents to spend time with her friend and join the suffragette election in Lawrence, Kansas which included a bill to pass Women's Suffrage. They lost. By then, Martin had still not written. When Edith finally enquired, she was told he had been killed during the hold-up. His death and the suffragette loss formed the impetus she needed to leave home and teach. She answered an ad for a position with a family in Carter Station, Wyoming Territory. When she discovered her mother was hiding Martin's post-robbery letters, she received approval from her father to leave. By the time Martin had healed, Holladay had sold out to Wells Fargo. Martin took a job with them in Salt Lake City, but didn't' like it, so decided to return to freighting. He had an offer from an entrepreneur who told Martin he should take a load of freight for him to the sutler in Fort Bridger after which be would be his partner in a new store in a new town called Bear River City. Martin was delighted with the sutler's enterprise and decided that was for him. In the meantime, everything was coming together. He would be a merchandising clerk and partner. Edith had become a distant thought.

The Mountains of Eternal Snow (Revised). Book 2: Heartbreak and Heaven, 85,300 words. Edith leaves home to teach in Wyoming. She meets UPRR supervisor John Casement, and travels with him to Carter Station. He is enamored.  The Carter family and her teaching is fine; the location is desolate. However, after she sees a handsome wagon driver who reminds her vaguely of  other person, she dreams of him and his calico cat. A riot destroys Bear River City where Martin is employed and the town dies. Martin decides to get a job with the sutler at Ft Bridger. His thoughts include a woman in a yellow bonnet which he suddenly realizes must be Edith. He becomes manager for Carter's warehouse at Carter Station and is reunited with Edith. He loves her but needs to be established before he can ask her to marry him. On a stagecoach to South Pass City, Edith obtains a promise from the governor to sign Women's Suffrage if legislation is passed. The coach is attacked by Sioux and saved by Washakie's Shoshone. In South Pass City, Edith rallies women for Women's suffrage at election time. It passes and Wyoming is the first territory to permit women to vote. Edith has three admirers: a lieutenant she met during the Indian attack, John Casement, and Martin. The Lieutenant is killed and Casement won't marry her because of his unpredictable lifestyle. Martin leaves for the Wind River Valley to become the new trader and Sutler for Fort Washakie. He returns, and he and Edith marry. At Ft. Washakie, Edith holds a dinner for post principals: Captain Torrey, the Indian Agent, the post doctor Maghee, and the agricultural agent. Between them she becomes acquainted with the post and reservation in which it is located. She learns Shoshone and that she is pregnant. In 1874, General Sheridan, who doesn't like Captain Torrey, arrives. Then the post prepares for battle when Indian hostiles who have been killing local citizens, are located. Doctor Maghee passes out in Martin's saloon and Martin is forced to drive the doctor's wagon (and Maghee) to the forthcoming Battle of Bates. The battle is a draw. The government fails to provide the Shoshone what they need. They start to rebel. Martin and Edith hide the chiefs until the governor arrives to resolve problems.  An Indian Bureau investigator examines then dismisses charges against Martin, but the Indian Bureau revokes duel trading licenses so Martin loses his Indian Trader license. Disease plagues the valley with Diphtheria, measles, and Scarlet Fever. Then a weary Edith loses her new baby and falls into depression the same winter a hundred-year storm hits. Many people and thousands of cattle are frozen to death. In 1875, President Chester Arthur visits the valley. After Martin reveals his problems, the president promises to take care of him ,but nothing happens. Two years later, a conscientious senator enables Martin to get his license back. When he walks to his house, Edith is smiling because she is pregnant again. She wonders whether he will kiss her before or after he tells her his news.