Nebraska I didn't think was quite as good as Independence but good enough to read the next one.

We are introduced to a number of new characters, my favorite of which is Hosea, an escaped slave who maintains much of his African heritage including running rather than horseback riding, shooting poisoned darts, utilizing a strong leather shield, and killing with tiny clubs.

As unbelievable as that sounds much of the rest is at least plausible. The wagon train spends the winter in a understaffed Army fort. They battle natives, each tribe more vicious the further west they travel. Folks get sick and tired of buffalo meat.

I had @Voice for android read me the eBook. I still think this is my preferred way to consume such medium, but I somehow lost my place near the end, and didn't quite get it right, all of a sudden there was a wedding of someone I thought were still at odds with each other. When I get to Wyoming! it's gonna be a dead tree for me.

I found particularly heart breaking the story of the southern belle who was kidnapped during an Indian raid at the behest of the British St. Clair, Her Majesty's spy.