
Lee Virginia Wetherford returns to the mountain West after years away, driven by memories of her father's bold deeds and the romantic image of Roaring Fork. The open road stretches beneath a blazing August sky, and as the sagebrush gives way to fenced fields, the clash between past and present awakens her.
In Sulphur City she finds the polished Hotel Alma, a far cry from the rugged outposts of her youth. A sleek automobile, driven by a wiry young man, replaces the creaking stagecoach, and the cramped carriage becomes a stage for new acquaintances and quiet jokes. The journey reveals an evolving West, where irrigation ditches glitter and modern farms line the creek.
Amid the changing scenery Virginia meets a stoic forest ranger whose quiet competence hints at a deeper bond with the land. Their brief exchange suggests a partnership that could bridge her nostalgic longing with the new realities of the frontier. Listeners will feel her inner conflict as she navigates both physical and emotional terrain.
Language
en
Duration
~7 hours (420K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
Release date
2008-08-09
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1860–1940
Best known for vivid stories of Midwestern farm life, this Pulitzer Prize–winning writer brought unusual honesty and sympathy to the struggles of ordinary people. His work helped shape American realism, especially in the memorable "Middle Border" books.
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