Behold A Lone Horseman - Paperback

by Jeannie Hudson (Author)

Behold A Lone Horseman is the enthralling story of a tender and passionate love between a liberated young heroine and a fearless man, both caught up in the pursuit of wealth, power and artistic achievement in 1876 Colorado Territory. Aiden Endicott, a dashing Englishman already possesses wealth and influence from his gold mines in Colorado and Dakota Territories but it is his gentle, caring insight and worldly perception that captures Regan's heart. Yet, from the onset, their love is threatened by insurmountable obstacles from the past. Since she was a child, Regan was charmed by her aunt, Lareina Charles' success as a journalist in the male-dominated West and has aspired to her own career in that untamed culture. Aware that she must have the very finest training, she spends seven years as an apprentice under her father a world-renowned photographer in Philadelphia who is most famous for his exhibitions of historic images collected throughout the East and Canada. Regan has always believed she has the talent and ambition to do similar work. After her father's death when she is seventeen, she is ready to take up her quest to record for future generations her own collection of historic photographs in the American West. Always encouraged and supported by Lareina, she accepts her invitation to come live with her in Denver where she can begin her career in earnest. As her train from Philadelphia nears Denver, she first encounters the darkly handsome Aiden Endicott who quickly captures her heart and imagination. The pair fall in love in the midst of titanic change and power struggles in the awakening land. Yet, their deepening romance is threatened by the past. Regan opens a portrait studio in Lareina's home to finance her future work in the field. She is stunned by her immediate success. But this triumph is hollow in the face of growing turmoil in her relationship with Aiden. He abruptly severs their bond and flees to Deadwood in the Black Hills of Dakota Territory on the pretense of checking on his mining interests there. Heartsick, Regan follows, joining the Wild Bill Hickok/Charlie Utter expedition that offered miners protection while traveling to the gold fields in the midst of hostilities between the Sioux and the miners encroaching into their Holy Wilderness. During the expedition, Regan is befriended by Wild Bill who is charmed by her spirit and courage. In return, she is intrigued by his heroic history and delights in taking photographs of him for her collection. When she meets with Aiden, a new menace forces them to remain apart.To salve her broken heart, she spends the summer hard at work, collecting photographs of the teeming town of miners and other locations in the Black Hills. She is often confused and bewildered by the growing conflict between the whites' and the Sioux, the miners' hatred of the Indians on whose hunting ground they are digging for gold. Ultimately, another encounter with Aiden ignites a crisis of the heart that forces him and Regan to remain estranged. Defeated and bereft, Regan returns to Colorado Territory. Once back with Lareina, she recovers her faith and tenacity and vows to unlock the mystery that still threatens their future... Behold A Lone Horseman is a feast for the heart and imagination. Readers who enjoy a story of intricate suspense with depth of character set against a colorful historic backdrop will love this novel that will keep them reading long into the night

Author Biography

Jeannie Hudson grew up on a Wyoming ranch where her rapport with animals was nourished. She began writing during high school when she wrote a student column for the local newspaper. During college, she edited the student newspaper and began selling short stories to national magazines. She married after college and began writing full-time, selling five suspense novels during the 70s while signing with an agent. When she divorced her husband in the late 80s, she also lost her beloved agent to cancer. She moved to MN to take a job, began raising beagle show dogs and continued writing. By 2005, she had remarried and moved to the Black Hills of SD where she wrote and published five books, the tenth coming out this year.