Marie Sontag

California Trail Discovered Marie Sontag

A week after the housefire, Daniel sifted through the scorched remains of his home in search of something to salvage. Kicking his parents' twisted metal bedframe, he glanced at Pastor Lovejoy. "Pastor, do Hannah and I have to move West with Morgan and his relatives?"

Pastor Lovejoy nudged a pile of ash with the toe of his leather boot. "Morgan's your legal guardian now. You have to go where he goes."

Daniel thrust his arm out and pointed west. "But all the way to Oregon Country?"

The pastor pinned Daniel with a stare. "Son, it's your job now to care for little Hannah. You might only be thirteen, but you're a survivor. And, by God's grace, I know you'll do more than just survive."

***

All Daniel wants to do is get back to Illinois to find out who murdered his parents. He doesn't want to travel the Oregon Trail with his guardian, Jim. He doesn't want twelve-year-old Virginia Reed, a member of the Donner Party, as a friend. And he certainly doesn't want anything bad to happen to his little sister Hannah as they travel West. Confronted by both good and bad Indians, good and bad whites, how will Daniel be able to protect Hannah on the long trek? Will he ever discover the mystery behind his parents' deaths? Will he ever find a real family again?