The Heart of Cherry McBain: A Novel

The heat of an August afternoon hangs over a dusty trail as a horse lumbers forward, its rider half‑asleep and a restless collie leads the way. When the horse stumbles, the rider—King Howden—shakes himself awake and surveys a valley below, his broad shoulders and serious eyes hinting at a life of hard labor and unanswered questions. At twenty‑seven, he feels the weight of unfulfilled dreams, wondering whether the years spent chasing freedom have amounted to anything at all.

Beyond the ridge lies a nameless settlement, a fledgling town that has risen overnight from the ambition of newcomers seeking fertile ground before the railroad arrives. The community is a patchwork of hopeful pioneers, each carving a place in the wild prairie, and Howden finds himself drawn into its restless rhythm. As he confronts the challenges of building a life in this raw landscape, the story follows his search for purpose, companionship, and the promise that may finally give his heart a direction.