In defense of Delia : a Sangamon novel / Pat Stoltey.

"1838: Delia Pritchard gets a chilly reception when she rides into the village of Sangamon thirteen years after she ran away. She is riding a Palouse stallion, is dressed like a man, has a bullet in her shoulder, and is leading a brown mare with a seven-year-old black boy astride. General store owner Jeremiah Frost calls her "Trouble" and cautions his young daughter to stay away. Delias brother, Colin, now the owner of the stable and blacksmith shop, isnt happy to see her either. Some think Delia killed her parents and burned down their cabin with the bodies inside. Colin thinks it might be true, but he doesnt know the full story behind her quick departure from Sangamon when she was only sixteen. Recent rumors say that Delia runs with outlaws from Cave-in-Rock and that shes wanted for shooting a lawman. Delia is directed to Doc Hemmers office to get patched up and hopefully leave town in a day or so. The doctor, however, insists she stay at least two weeks after he removes the bullet so she can recover in his care. He and his assistant, schoolteacher Mary Proud, watch over Delia and the boy, Jackson, not realizing that Delias presence brings risk to the town. She stole from the Biedler brothers, a vicious gang of thieves and murderers, and she escaped two amorous but dangerous former riding companions, Moose and Beak. All of them may be on her trail. Moose and Beak make a fatal mistake when they show up in Sangamon ahead of the Biedlers. Traveling preacher John Claymore, in town to say good-bye to his Sangamon flock as he leaves the ministry and heads west, is on hand to witness the burial of the two ruffians killed by the gang. The preacher has already stayed a little longer in Sangamon than he intended because of Doc Hemmers mysterious patient with the beautiful eyes. He wants to know who she is and why she is traveling with this young black child. Eventually Delia tells the story of rescuing Jackson from bounty hunters who had murdered Jacksons freed parents on their own farm. When the Biedler gang rides into Sangamon, they terrorize the towns residents and push Doc Hemmer down the general store stairs, causing him to break his leg. After heading for the saloon, one of the drunk outlaws mounts his horse and chases Jeremiahs fleeing daughter. The first person to the rescue is young Jackson. Mary takes the children to safety while Delia and farmer Annie Gray hold the outlaw at gunpoint. Annie shows no mercy, killing the man with a igutshot. As the other outlaws search for the brother, whose body is now hidden in Doc Hemmers chicken house, Delia rescues the doctor so Mary can set and splint his leg. Delia and Mary move Doc and the children to Annie Grays barn to hide. Delia realizes the outlaws are not leaving town without their brother, and she suspects theyll kill everyone once the brothers body is discovered. Delia and Annie return to the Main Street and, with the help of the two ladies who own the hat shop, force a shootout. As the townsfolk flee the stable where theyd been hiding before the Biedlers set it on fire, all they see are the dead men on the street. No one questions what happened. They dont want to know. More than ever, the townsfolk want Delia to leave. They reluctantly offer to keep Jackson so he can go to school, but they have no intention of letting him mingle with their own children. Delia leaves alone, but Jackson refuses to stay behind under those conditions. He saddles his own horse and rides after Delia. Before long, they catch up to the preacher who left town earlier but has circled back. He asks to ride with Delia and Jackson for a while. Delia is reluctant, but finally agrees when Jackson votes yes"-"--