Distant Heart
by Tracey Bateman
A wagon train. What images do those words bring to mind? As the book opens, this particular wagon train has stopped. A group of Indian warriors has ridden into camp under a flag of truce. They’re interested in a trade, but not an ordinary trade. The chief had his eyes set on a young woman named Toni. It would seem that Toni’s life had gone from “out of the frying pan, into the fire.” She’d just been rescued from a life of forced prostitution, only to be seen by many in the wagon train as their way to have free passage across this territory. Her friend and wagon-mate, Fannie, is engaged to the wagon master, so for now she’s safe. But the chief isn’t one to give up easily.
As the book progresses Toni feels more and more isolated. There are many in the wagon train that can’t forget Toni’s past and assume that once they reach their final destination that she’ll go back into prostitution. Fannie and Blake plan to marry once they reach the fort, so Toni will be left to handle the wagon on her own the rest of the way.
There is someone traveling with the group who does have Toni’s best interests at heart. Sam Two Feathers. He’s traveling as a guide. Having both white and Indian blood gives him a unique perspective on things.
The author delves into many different emotions and concepts. One of the main ones is forgiveness and what it means. As Christians, shouldn’t someone’s confession of sins be accepted and the person be allowed to go on living as if it had never happened? What does it mean to be a Christian? Issues of race are dealt with.
There were some things about the book that I didn’t completely understand. This is the second book in a series of three so I’m assuming that my questions are because I didn’t read the first book. I would suggest that “Defiant Heart” should be read first, then “Distant Heart.” The series concludes with “Dangerous Heart.”
Reviewed by Lynn Worley
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