Her Father's Laugh

Her Father's Laugh is the second book in the Angel
on the Great Medicine Trail series. Angela, her mother, older sister Lillian, and young brother Ben survived the wagon trek across the country to the Oregon Territories. However, they have not yet reached their destination, the land on the Bear River that their father had dreams for and left to them.

In the fall of 1851 they stagger into the home of Angela's uncle, Doctor Daniel Harrington. Here unbeknownst to her mother, Angel is reunited with Rory.

If Angela and Rory are to have a future they have many obstacles to overcome. First, Rory,somehow, must find the strength and will to recover from the beatings and botched hanging he suffered at the hands of Barton Finch. Also, they need to learn that there is strength in trusting others, that life is not a war of them against the world.

Chapter 15

In the afternoon a lone horseman galloped into the yard, stirring up the dust. Cary Wilson came out of the shed where he was shoeing a horse. Others dropped their work to approach.

An Indian, Cary observed.
"Hello." He put himself in front of the Indian. "We're not hiring any scouts. If you want to refresh your horse and yourself, you're welcome."
"Not looking for a job," the stranger said. He led his horse past Cary, tied her to a post and peered through the dust.
Cary held his hands up peacefully. "What are you looking for then?"
"My wife."