An orphaned young woman finds hardship and romance on the Kansas prairie in this “enjoyable” historical novel by the New York Times–bestselling author (Library Journal). It is 1924 and nineteen-year-old Hallie Meredith and her five-year-old brother Jackie must fend for themselves in America’s struggling heartland. Forced to leave a housekeeping job when her married employer, wealthy landowner Quentin Raford, makes romantic overtures, Hallie becomes the cook for a threshing outfit. As she and Jackie travel from farm to farm across western Kansas, they become valued members of Garth and Rory MacLeod’s ragtag crew, which includes a Cherokee, a fugitive bootlegger, and a Mennonite who has been jailed for his stand against fighting. Hallie has finally found the home she desired, but her growing feelings for Garth threaten to set brother against brother at the worst possible moment—when the dangerous and powerful Quentin is ready to take vengeance for his wounded pride. A moving story of integrity, courage, love, and adventure on the Great Plains, The Unplowed Sky captures the beauty and the resilience of the American spirit that prevails against those who would destroy it and confirms author Jeanne Williams’s reputation as “a master novelist” (TheDenver Post).

When 19-year-old Hallie Meredith finds work as a cook with the MacLeod threshing outfit, she finds the s ecurity she has sought. And when the MacLeods face a dangero us adversary, she discovers the power of compassion and love . '

In the cattle drives of the Old West, pumpkin rollers were green farmboys, almost more trouble than they were worth. When Trey McLean leaves his family's East Texas cotton farm and sets off on his own to learn the cattleman's trade, he's about as green as they come. But Trey learns fast. He learns about deceit when a con man cheats him out of his grubstake and about love when he meets the woman he's destined to marry. And when luck finally sets him on a cattle drive to Kansas, Trey learns the trade from veteran drover Ivan Kerbow, but he also learns the code of violence and death from outlaw Jarrett Longacre, a man who will plague his life at every turn. At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

Two books in one from the Texas Rangers series by the beloved Western writer Elmer Kelton: Badger Boy and The Way of the Coyote Elmer Kelton, most honored of all Western writers, writes of the formative years of the Texas Rangers with the knowledge of a native Texan and the skill of a master story-teller. In Rusty Shannon, tough and smart-necessary survival attributes on the 1860s Texas frontier-Kelton has created one of the most memorable characters in modern western fiction. Badger Boy The Texas Frontier, 1865: The Civil War is over, and Texas is reluctantly yielding to the Union soldiers who are spreading across the state, even into the dangerous Comanche country. David "Rusty" Shannon, proud member of a "ranging company" that protects settlers from Indian depredations, finds that the rangers are being disbanded. He makes his way home to his land on the Red River, hoping to take up the life of a farmer and the hand of the beloved girl he left behind, Geneva Monohan. The Way of the Coyote The Civil War has ended and Union soldiers and federal officials have taken control of Texas as Rusty Shannon rides to his home on the Colorado River. As a child he was a captive of the Comanche, as a young man a proud member of a ranging company protecting settlers from Indian raids. Shannon's fate is intertwined with the young man accompanying him: Andy Pickard, himself but recently rescued from Comanche captivity and known by his captors as Badger Boy. Texas is in turmoil, overrun with murderous outlaws, lawmen exacting penalties from suspected former Confederates, night-riders, and the ever-dangerous Comanche bands. In this tempestuous time and place, Rusty tries desperately to resume his pre-war life. At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

"Western writers," says Thomas J. Lyon in his epilogue to Updating the Literary West, "have grown up with the frontier myth but now find themselves in the early stages of creating a new western myth." The editors of the Literary History of the American West (TCU Press, 1987) hoped that the first volume would begin, not conclude, their exploration of the West's literary heritage. Out of this hope comes Updating the Literary West, a comprehensive reference anthology including essays by over one hundred scholars. A selected bibliography is included with each piece. In the ten years since publication of LHAW, western writing has developed a significantly larger presence in the national literary stream. A variety of cultural viewpoints have developed, along with new tactics for literary study. New authors have risen to prominence, and the range of subjects has changed and widened. Updating the Literary West looks at topics ranging from western classics to cowboys and Cadillacs and considers children's literature, ethnicity, environmental writing, gender issues and other topics in which change has been rapid since publication of LHAW. This volume again affirms the West's literary legitimacy--status hard earned by the Western Literary Association--and the lasting place of popular western writing as part of the growing and changing literary--and American--experience. An excellent reference for a wide range of readers and an invaluable resource for scholars and libraries. Selected list of contributors: James Maguire Fred Erisman Susan J. Rosowski Gerald Haslam Tom Pilkington A. Carl Bredahl Richard Slotkin John G. Cawelti Robert F. Gish Ann Ronald Mick McAllister

"Re-centers and gives voice to a diversity of women naturalists and writers across time." —Cultivating Place In Writing Wild, Kathryn Aalto celebrates 25 women whose influential writing helps deepen our connection to and understanding of the natural world. These inspiring wordsmiths are scholars, spiritual seekers, conservationists, scientists, novelists, and explorers. They defy easy categorization, yet they all share a bold authenticity that makes their work both distinct and universal. Part travel essay, literary biography, and cultural history, Writing Wild ventures into the landscapes and lives of extraordinary writers and encourages a new generation of women to pick up their pens, head outdoors, and start writing wild.

Two complete novels in one low-priced ebundle edition from the legendary Western author Elmer Kelton: The Pumpkin Rollers and The Buckskin Line The Pumpkin Rollers When Trey McLean leaves his family and sets off to learn the cattleman's trade, he's as green as they come. But Trey learns fast. He learns deceit from a con man, and love when he meets the woman he's destined to marry. On a cattle drive to Kansas, Trey learns the trade from veteran drover Ivan Kerbow, but he also learns the code of violence and death from an outlaw who will plague him at every turn.? The Buckskin Line When his adoptive father is killed, Rusty Shannon joins the Texas Rangers. Mike Shannon's death haunts him; he owed his life to Mike, who rescued him as a child from the Comanche. With Texas in the throes of secession, Rusty has his hands full, but heads for a showdown with the Buffalo Caller, The Comanche warrior who killed his family. At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

Portrayals of America's people, places, and events in historical fiction integrate literature with history and make an exciting supplement to U.S. history classes. This book helps educators and students locate the best in classic and contemporary fiction in this subject area. Arranged in major chronological divisions of U.S. history, the annotated entries include standard bibliographic information, time period, subject, location, research base (if known), and whether the title is more appropriate for mature students or younger secondary students. VanMeter often lists prequels and sequels or notes when a title is more than 600 pages long. Extensive indexing provides access to entries on a wide variety of topics, from women, immigrants, and ethnic groups to military, political, and social events.

"Take your night watching to the next level with Bob King's bucket list collection of 57 remarkable night sky wonders and dark sky destinations. Fill your nights with adventure and the ability to see some of the incredible phenomenon of the sky with this must-have book. Learn all about the brightest and best stars, planets, meteors, comets and constellations using the naked eye, binoculars, telescopes and apps."--