Hawken's Wife

Meggie MacIntyre, barely 18 and daughter of Jim Mac is a wild, undiciplined gal who had wanted to rescue Tildy from a forced marriage. Now she is learning the responsibilities of surviving on the trail. Bold and unafraid until...... Captain Matt Hull figures it is up to Jim Mac and her brother, Pete to reign her in. I loved the intro of "Hawkin" into the wagon train. He has been looking for Trail Godfroy and his train to travel with them to Bear River Valley. Hawkin intends to set up a trading post there. Bear River turns out not to be so welcoming, with Peg-Leg there. Traveling with him is Les and Monty, slaves on the lam. You have to smile when, during a hail storm, Les sees Meggie shout in exasperation for the hail to stop .. and it does. He considers her a witch. Little items of interest is that Meggie travels with her chickens, a cat and her pony, John Charles. [what a name]. Ah yes, and then Platte shows up, a scruffy looking mutt. He seems to preferr Hawkin. The descriptions of the time and tribulations are well worth reading. I know that I had seen the breaking of the wagons going down a steep decline in a movie. Hawkins couldn't remember his past up to 3 years ago and then did he let loose. [had a very good reason - almost]. He found Meggie intriguing and of course the pheromones did their job. But he could not get involved with a proper lady until he could remember his past. He might even be married. Faith Tole, not being happy about it, nevertheless accompanied her father and brothers on the trail - but she has no desire to be married, she was tired of picking up after men. Yet she and Rachel Hunter, Tildy Hull and Granny all pitched in to help others. Meggie sortof kept on the sidelines except when help was needed. After being practically exposed to men's lust she starts to avoid Hawkin and has learned a lesson on not getting ahead of the men on the train. Then the Oregon train shows up and ends up causing trouble. So do the highly adventureous boys of the train. I just wish that we had traveled onto California and that Faith had been given a romance of her own. Oh yes, Meggie does finally get around to seducing Hawkin - strange after her attitude of don't touch me. Definitely a good read --m - great set of books - even by themselves.

I'm not usually a reader of romance novels, but I enjoyed this one. Ms. Muir has a feeling for the atmosphere of the old west that comes through in her story.

This book was good. I liked it. You probably will too