Angel on the Great Medicine Trail
The first book of the "Angel" series
In 1851 Angela Harrington travels the Oregon Trail with her family to start a new life in the Oregon Territories. Her beautiful sister and their mother, a widowed Bostonian socialite, face the trip with trepidation. They have hired a seasoned guide, but their fears are greatly increased when they learn they must share their wagon with a bounty hunter and his mysterious prisoner, a young half American Indian man.
Only Angela and her younger brother Ben are excited about the frontier with all its beauty and possibilities. Along the way they encounter bears, snakes, thieves, and must face their own worst fears and true natures.

Chapter 19
As the family stared in horror, the captive lunged and grabbed Finch by the throat. He hung on, staring into his eyes. Finch fell to his knees. He struggled to peel the fingers from his neck. His eyes bulged, his face growing redder and redder. While one hand dug at the fingers, he reached with the other spasmodically under his vest. He pulled out his pistol and pressed it against his foe's temple. His face dripped with sweat.
"Let go," he rasped thinly. The prisoner did not loosen his grip.
"Let go. I'll kill you."
Lou moved carefully alongside. "Let him go, Kid."
The prisoner shook his head, his eyes locked on Finch's. "Do it," he said.

Chapter 23
Angela couldn't breathe, couldn't think, couldn't see. He looked into her eyes until she was able to focus.
"I won't let anything happen to you."