This is an amazing story. Maggie Osborne's forte is character development and it shines in this book!
Twenty-four year-old Jenny Jones is going to die tomorrow before a Mexican firing squad - all because she wouldn't lie. She was attacked by a drunken Mexican and shot him to prevent an assault. The moment she said she'd shot the man, she was doomed -- circumstances didn't matter.
Margarita Sanders, a Mexican aristocrat who will die soon of consumption (tuberculosis), offers to trade places with Jenny. Her price? Take Margarita's 6 year-old daughter (Graciela) to the child's father (Robert Sanders, an Anglo) living in California. If he is no longer living, Jenny must raise the child herself.
The problem? Graciela is the heiress to 2 vast fortunes, from both her father and her mother. The Mexican cousins on the mother's side want to kill her (to inherit from Margarita).
Lest you think this is too simple a task, consider three other problems. Graciela is a prissy brat who is used to being waited on and coddled. Jenny and Graciela take an instant dislike to each other and Graciela wants to go to ANY relative rather than stay with Jenny.
Finally, lots of greedy people are related to Graciela - and they all seem willing to do a little killing in order to get a piece of the inheritance.
Fortunately for Graciela, Jenny is a resourceful, fearless woman who is on a mission. Just when it looks like there are too many of the enemy, Jenny runs into another one - Ty Sanders, brother of Graciela's father -- who doesn't want any help taking his niece back to California.
Before long, folks are being stabbed, shot and tossed off trains! There's lots of action and dialogue that rings true.
This is a wonderful story ... enjoy!
Twenty-four year-old Jenny Jones is going to die tomorrow before a Mexican firing squad - all because she wouldn't lie. She was attacked by a drunken Mexican and shot him to prevent an assault. The moment she said she'd shot the man, she was doomed -- circumstances didn't matter.
Margarita Sanders, a Mexican aristocrat who will die soon of consumption (tuberculosis), offers to trade places with Jenny. Her price? Take Margarita's 6 year-old daughter (Graciela) to the child's father (Robert Sanders, an Anglo) living in California. If he is no longer living, Jenny must raise the child herself.
The problem? Graciela is the heiress to 2 vast fortunes, from both her father and her mother. The Mexican cousins on the mother's side want to kill her (to inherit from Margarita).
Lest you think this is too simple a task, consider three other problems. Graciela is a prissy brat who is used to being waited on and coddled. Jenny and Graciela take an instant dislike to each other and Graciela wants to go to ANY relative rather than stay with Jenny.
Finally, lots of greedy people are related to Graciela - and they all seem willing to do a little killing in order to get a piece of the inheritance.
Fortunately for Graciela, Jenny is a resourceful, fearless woman who is on a mission. Just when it looks like there are too many of the enemy, Jenny runs into another one - Ty Sanders, brother of Graciela's father -- who doesn't want any help taking his niece back to California.
Before long, folks are being stabbed, shot and tossed off trains! There's lots of action and dialogue that rings true.
This is a wonderful story ... enjoy!
