Trials, Romance, and Faith on the Oregon Trail

antique photo of wagon train
A western silhouette of a couple dancing together

Rebecca’s Journey
Journey Series Book 1

Dance under the stars and moon. Ford rivers. Climb mountains. Trade with Native Americans. Heal the sick. Bury the dead. Live with indescribable fatigue, fall in love, celebrate at the end of the trail…

two gold rings on paper

Wedding at Journey’s End
Journey Series Book 1.5

Following several months of clearing land, building homes, and fencing forces Rebecca Pierce and Zachary Miller to postpone their wedding. February, and the promise of spring, becomes the perfect timing for the wedding the new community has been anticipating.

old schoolhouse painting

Katie’s Journey
Journey Series Book 2
 

James and Elizabeth Miller and their daughters Katie, Hazel, Helen, and Ruth finish their trek tired, dirty, and grief stricken.  

Wildflowers along a trail
Wildflowers along a trail, at Tom McCall Nature Preserve, Columbia River Gorge, Oregon.

Aaron’s Journey
Journey Series Book 3 

Aaron Smith was twelve years old when he crossed the country with his parents. He learned to have hope and honor despite the tragedies and uncertainties in the early years of his life. Now, he had to learn how to be a man.     

Why Open Rood?

Open Rood sounds strange, but several years ago my husband and I thought it would be interesting to name any business we started The Open Rood. Why? Because my husband is named Frank Cross; Frank=Open (honest) Cross=Rood (an ancient name for cross). It’s merely a play on words. 

From the Blog:

  • The Oregon Trail – Preparing for Leaving Day

    The Oregon Trail – Preparing for Leaving Day

    Decisions to travel west in the coming year usually took place around a fire in the home of a family. The decision was usually determined by the man of the house…

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  • Family Legacy

    Family Legacy

    Sam unlocked the door and held the screen to prevent the tell-tale squeakfrom waking his wife. He dropped into the paint-chipped porch glider to pull on hisboots before going for a walk. Any other day the chill in the air, the sounds ofbirds, and the sweet scent of honeysuckle and roses would have energized him.The…

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  • Christmas

    Christmas

    When I was 11 years old my mother dressed my brother and me up to go to town for the annualparade complete with the appearance of Santa, shopping, and cheeseburgers with fountain cokesat City Café. I wore a red and green plaid taffeta dress with a red bow on the left hip. Plus,several itchy petticoats….

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