BABY JANE
A paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division discovers an abandoned infant, barely hours old, hidden on the edge of the woods. Sergeant Craig Donnelly and two others quickly transported the baby (now called Baby Jane) to the Army hospital for needful treatment.
Sergeant Craig Donnelly immediately bonds with the baby and begins his journey toward full adoption. Sparks fly between him and his adopted brother’s section chief, Lieutenant Debra Simmons, forcing them to focus on the problems of fraternization and the hurdles of adoption. They stick to their objectives, regardless of their disruptions, and eventually succeed.
Story of an Abandoned Baby
Excerpts:
1. She realized two important factors: she no longer had a home and the baby was ready to enter the world. Her labor pains were now less than three minutes apart. The first urge to push, to scream, and to push the pains away engulfed the girl.
2. Craig kept his smile. “Looks that way. At least, I speak my mind when it’s time.” Debra said, “Darned if you don’t! I’d be lying if I told you this doesn’t affect me. Adopting Baby Jane is a big step and a heavy responsibility. It’s time for me to speak my mind.” Debra paused before bracing herself for the onslaught. “As much as I adore the little girl, I can’t allow her, or you, to change everything I’d worked so hard and so long for.”
3. “It’s beautiful!” she said, slipping the ring on her finger. Hugging his neck, Debra added, “You’ve made me happy. I love you so.” Sitting on his lap, her eyes still on the small sparkler, she brought the wedding date subject up.
Red Hand's Prize
Red Hand’s Prize by Greg Bruorton is a gripping historical novel set against the rugged backdrop of the American frontier. Follow the harrowing journey of Jason and Melissa Ruston and other pioneering families as they travel westward, seeking new beginnings. Their expedition takes a tragic turn when they are ambushed by Red Hand and his Oglala warriors.
Sarah Ruston, the Rustons’ young daughter, is taken captive. As she navigates life among the Oglala, she battles her grief and anger, ultimately forming a complex bond with her captors. The unexpected arrival of her cousin, Captain Eugene Ruston, ignites a dramatic clash between her past and present.
This compelling narrative delves into themes of survival, cultural conflict, and personal transformation amidst the unforgiving realities of frontier life.
Excerpts:
1. “With fear controlled by inner resolve, Sarah whipped out her paring knife and sliced open Red Hand’s leg from mid-thigh to kneecap, instantly gushing blood. Surprised at the child’s actions, the chief backhanded the girl, throwing her against the iron frame of the Conestoga.”
2. “That fiery spirit may kill you while you sleep, too. I imagine she was the one who cut your leg.”
3. “Why do men get to have more than one wife? Why can’t a woman have two husbands, even three? Think about it, Sarah said, her eyes liquid with thought, ‘with another husband, you could take it easy and another wife would have one of them— ‘She thought further. ‘No, that wouldn’t do, either; you’d be carrying a baby inside you all the time. Men are that way.”
The Legacy of
Iron Horse
SARAH RUSTON is the only survivor of an assault by Red Hand and his warriors in April 1860. The Indians ambushed the trailing wagons before focusing on the lead wagon owned by the Rustons. Screaming and swearing at her attacker, Sarah is quickly tied down to the chief’s pony and later thrown into his lodge. The family cannot understand this sullen, yet fierce little girl. With the knowledge of medical healing from an uncle, Sarah quickly became the village’s traditional healer. At age sixteen, Sarah consents to marry the village’s esteemed warrior, Iron Horse. Upon settling in their new reservation home, tearful farewells are exchanged when Sarah and her family travel to California for a new life. Sarah’s son, Jason, studies law and then accepts the district judgeship in Rapid City. History reports that the American Indian is subjugated. Ironically, they are still honored and respected in the present day.