Life’s twists and turns

I was up at the Marias Heritage Center last evening reading "Montana History". As I have blogged before, we are currently reading Helena author Lenore McKelvey Puhek's (it rhymes with Buick but she's driving an old Edsel rent-a-car this week) "Forever Friends"...the journey of two families from Civil War Virginia to Montana Territory 1860-1868. Talk about the twists and turns of life...the upper class southern miss, Amelia Roberts has been up in Boston attending a WOMENS medical school. Her beau, before she left in a snit because he had been conscripted to the Confederate Army, is still on the lam and about to run away to Montana where his Ma and Pa are. I believe that Amelia believes he's is dead or at best, MIA. Now as we get into chapter 22, Amelia's not as bright as she thought she was and finds herself in need of some "special tutoring". And you guessed it, her tutor appears to be "Mr. Right". I mean, what can you say about a young, handsome, debonair (he comes from money and the upper class and crust of Boston), young fellow and a doctor to boot! He's Dr. James Martin and it's not long before the tutoring ends and the romance starts. These two are almost immediately smitten with one another. What about her former beau, the earnest Jeramiah Hicks who gave her a beautiful locket and his heart?! Forget about that poor sap, this new guy in her life can probably buy her Boston's finest jewelry store and take her on a cruise to boot. Meanwhile poor Jeremiah is hoofing his way away from the Army and up to Montana. This tale has me intrigued and I can't wait to read more next Tuesday evening as we commence chapter 26. I think we'll find out in this coming chapter who Jeremiah's friend Joseph really is and I've got a feeling that's HE'S a GIRL. Let's recap where we are now. Amelia's in Boston being swept off her feet, Beulah's (Amelia's servant/friend/maid/caretaker) is also in Boston learning how to read and write, and Jeremiah's heading to Montana with Joseph who I figure is going to turn out to be "Josephine"! And, the Civil War continues on. There's never a dull moment when you're reading one of Lenore Puhek's books. This is the third in a series featuring pioneer women. See you next week at the Heritage and in the meantime, I strongly encourage you to go out and get yourself a copy of the book, "Forever Friends". Trust me, you won't be able to put it down. And Jeremiah...my heart goes out to you, brother...