Beyond the Rock

Letty Schulz had only wanted to be an obedient daughter when she agreed to marry Rudolph so many years ago. It had been her dying father’s wish she marry so that she would be taken care of and their farmland would not go to waste.

Now after so many years and four children, Letty was living the life of an abused woman. Almost every night, Rudolph would head to the saloon in town and carry-on with the barmaids and then come home and beat her and the children. All he had ever wanted was more farmland, and prove he was a man by siring children. Recently, he had become even more abusive as Letty’s old love, David Whitfield, had returned to town. Rudolph was constantly accusing Letty of still having feelings for David and was sure she was carrying on with him.

One night, Rudolph came home and spanked the youngest girl so hard she fainted. When he came at Letty, she took a skillet and hit Rudolph in the side of the head. As she stood over him watching his blood spread out over the kitchen floor, Letty was sure she had killed him. Not wanting to lose her children, Letty packed them up and decided to try and make it to Colorado where her brother had a ranch.

This is just a nice, easy-going romance. You won’t find any torrid love scenes, but a satisfying story all the same. What I really liked, though, was Letty’s courage to go out and dare to change her life.

The descriptions and characters in this story are very realistic. As Letty and the children ventured across the country, I was constantly sitting on the edge of my seat wondering if they would get away from the sheriff undetected, or make it through the river’s rapids to shore. You certainly will not be bored reading it.

Reviewed by: Kathy