1. How was Josephine’s life changed by a world event—the assassination of President Lincoln? What world events have changed your life, and how?
2. Josephine desperately wanted to escape her family’s house of mourning. Was she being selfish or do you empathize with her? How do you think she should have treated the situation?
3. Would you have been the sort of person to want to go west? Would you go as a worker, a pioneer, a tradesman, a farmer, a soldier, or . . . ?
4. The nineteenth century was a time of immigration. Where did your family come from? When did they immigrate to the United States (or have they always been here)? Why did they leave their homeland? Did they thrive here?
5. In chapter 12, as Josephine is heading out to Cheyenne with Lewis, Frieda says, “The Almighty is very adept at getting people to the right place at the right time.” When have you experienced God getting you to the right place at the right time?
6. Josephine was impulsive, yet sometimes her impulses led her in the right direction. What do you think about her choice to take Nelly away from Miss Mandy’s? How would you have handled the situation?
7. What do you think about Josephine’s sudden choice to start a store out west? What nudges occurred that led her in this direction?
8. Do you think Josephine ever loved Lewis? Did he ever love her?
9. In chapter 24, “Josephine felt a surge of exhilaration at the possibilities that were within her grasp. Her future was not destined and designed by others, but would be molded and fashioned by herself.” Have you experienced such a crossroads in your life? What decision did you make as a result?
10. Josephine realizes that her journey has been mapped by God, and so she surrenders her future to Him. What moments in your life do you recognize as God-moments, leading you toward surrender and full trust in Him?
11. Because Josephine’s journey involved taking risks, the lives of Frieda, Nelly, and Aunt Bernice were forever changed. Are you a risk-taker? Whose lives have your risks affected—and how? If you aren’t a risk-taker, are there any instances in your life when you wished you would have been more courageous? How would your life have been different? How can you be courageous now?
12. Near the end of the book, Hudson talks to Josephine about grief: “From what I’ve seen, grief is personal. It’s not something you can plan or force. No one can tell you that it’s right, or enough, or too little. Let yourself grieve as you need to grieve, and forgive yourself the rest.” What have been your experiences with grief?
13. What do you think will happen to Josephine and Hudson? Nelly? Frieda? Aunt Bernice? Vera?