Description
A historical novel of the Spanish-American War era, following a rancher's son from the Missouri horse country to the charge at San Juan Hill. Coming-of-age frontier fiction of family legacy, first love and promises made across two thousand miles. His Father Never Spoke of the Past. Now the Past Is Speaking to Him. When Luke Cardiff comes home from college to his family's horse ranch in Missouri, he leaves behind Stella May, the girl he cares for, and travels to Amarillo, Texas to settle family business. He's always suspected there's more to his horse-loving, schoolteacher father than meets the eye. In Texas he learns the truth: his father's earlier life was one of violence, murder and mayhem, a life his mother never allowed to be spoken of. Amarillo holds another surprise. Luke falls in love with a beautiful Mexican woman, and when the call goes out for volunteers for Teddy Roosevelt's Rough Riders, he answers it, promising to come back for her. Raised among horses, he's appointed Sergeant of Remounts and follows the Rough Riders to Cuba, surviving the battle of San Juan Hill. Home again in Missouri, Luke finds Stella May has been waiting to marry him. But he carries more than one obligation, and at least one of them points back to the Southwest. Two promises. Two women. One choice that'll decide what kind of man he becomes. Footprints of My Father is a standalone historical novel, for readers who love frontier family stories, soldiers' coming-of-age journeys and loves divided by duty. Perfect for fans of Jeff Shaara, John Jakes and Ken Follett.