Thunder in the Valley

Book excerpt: Western writer Jim R. Woolard’s classic award-winning debut still rides hard and fires point blank from all barrels . . . Bitter experience has taught Matthan Hannar wound his way upriver, avoiding settlers that wanted to hang him, and Indians seeking fresh scalps. When he spied Zelda Shaw struggling for her life with a Shawnee brave, he could stay hidden no longer. But saving her life meant two people had to be protected from the cold, starvation and those who would kill them both. And Matthan was taking Zelda home, dowMatthan Hannar that to survive the harsh, untamed wilderness of the OhioValley in 1790, , it’s best to avoid all contact with settlers (likely to hang you) and Indians (even more likely to slaughteryou). Success on those fronts means he might not starve, drown, or freeze to death. But while he’s winding his way upriver as stealthily as he can, he stumbles across Zelda Shaw furiously fighting off a ferociousShawnee brave. Breaking his own rules means Matthan Hannar has s now got to keep Zeldab alive, too, or face the wrath of her kinfolk. In order to do that he’ll have to kill off a hell of a lot more . . .