The Buffalo’s Last Stand, Book 2, Retta Barre’s Oregon Trail by Stephen Bly

Retta Barre has never met a hero, except for the ones she reads about in her books. She does know that they’re strong, courageous, and handsome or pretty. Everything she’s not. Of course, the world doesn’t expect much from her anyway. She’s just a plain-looking, 12-year-old who’s more stubborn than brave. She owes what little strength she has to her dull daily chores.

And yet, when her friends go missing, Retta doesn’t think twice. Sometimes friendship requires courage and the extraordinary. She heads out to help them. However, she doesn’t know the danger that’s about to come her way.

Through it all, Retta discovers that friendship and courage she needs. They are her strengths. And true heroes include ordinary people who face extraordinary challenges–just like her.

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Excerpt from adventures on the Oregon Trail, The Buffalo’s Last Stand:

 Along the North Platte River, two days west of Robidoux’s Trading Post, near Scotts Bluff, Tuesday, June 29, 1852.

Dear Diary,

I think he likes me. I could tell it by the way he ran away. Boys are like that, Joslyn says. And Joslyn knows. If nothing else exciting ever happens in my life, perhaps this day has been enough.

Retta jammed her journal into the back of the covered wagon. She licked her fingers and tried to mash her thick, dark brown bangs flat against her forehead. Then she plopped down on an upturned bucket, so she could scrape mud off her shoes. Warm air, shouts of men, and painful shrieks of wagon wheels drifted on a breeze.

Retta’s mother climbed out of the wagon with slow, deliberate steps. “You’re a muddy mess, young lady. What have you been doing?”

“William told us to stay out of the way while they moved the California wagons to the front. So some of us hiked to the river.” Retta gently hugged her mother’s waist. “How are you feeling now?”

“Better. I needed that nap. I don’t like feeling so tired all the time. Did you get your moccasins?”

Proudly, Retta held up the knee-high deerskin moccasins.

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