Wilderness 16 · Blood Kin/The Westward Tide

BLOOD KIN: Growing up in the wild frontier of the Rockies, Zach King survived countless dangers, from nature and from human predators. Like his father, the legendary Nate King, Zach has learned to anticipate threats before they appear. But even Zach can’t predict the danger he’ll face when he travels with his fiancée to meet her family in St. Louis. He knows they’ll probably look down their noses at him because he’s a half breed. He’s used to that by now. But he doesn’t know just how far his beloved’s family will go to “protect” her from marrying Zach. Some of the self-righteous relatives will stop at nothing to save the family’s good name…even murder.

THE WESTWARD TIDE: Life in the majestic Rockies is hard. Only the hardiest and bravest of pioneers can survive the never-ending dangers of the frontier. Still, young Zach King can’t wait to return there with his bride-to-be. For the frontier is his home, the only place he feels free from the constraints and prejudices of so-called civilization. But it looks like he’ll have to postpone the homecoming just a little longer. He has no choice but to agree to lead a wagon train of dangerously unprepared settlers into the mountains. Without his help they’ll surely die. But even with it, will they be able to survive a trek through lands ruled by bloodthirsty Pawnees?