FIVE STAR FIRST EDITION Women's Fiction

On The Strength of Wings by Marthayn Pelegrimas
0-7862-3378-8, $25.95, Hardcover, 288 est. pages
Publication Date: July, 2001

Abigail Belshaw is a practical woman born into a family of practical men and artistic women in Baltimore in the year 1828. Her husband, Samuel Gray, is in the ship building business, as was his father and grandfather. Soon after their honeymoon, Samuel breaks the astonishing news that he plans to travel west by wagon train and set up an operation on the Oregon coast.

Abigail is appalled at the idea of making the trip but her family supports Samuel's decision. Angry and resentful, Abigail is obligated to accompany her husband.

Abigail soon discovers the wagon train is a traveling town and meets many of her "neighbors." While in Wyoming, Abby finds, much to her distress, that she is pregnant. Since the baby isn't due until winter, when the couple will be safely in Oregon, she attempts to ignore the pregnancy.

Samuel is bitten by a snake and the wound is cleaned. When the danger period is thought to have passed, Samuel suffers a heart attack as a result of the bite. His death happens near Sublette's Cut-Off, the pass that winds down to the Overland route to California.

Anger, up to this point has been the strongest force behind Abigail's remarkable endurance. But that must give way to understanding and tolerance. She must come to terms with herself and her future and decide whether to continue on to Oregon or return to her family and safety back in Baltimore.

Abby and two friends that she has met, Sarah and Coral, must now rely on each other if they are to survive the arduous journey. At Ft. Bridger, Abigail meets Julia Markham. The frightened woman confides she wants to escape her abusive husband, a lieutenant stationed at the fort. Coral, Sarah and Abigail end up smuggling Julia back to their wagon.

Together the women discuss changing their direction. Instead of continuing to Oregon-a destination decided by her husband-Abigail chooses to follow the trail to California.