With sweeping energy, Railroad Man bursts onto the canvas of the American West, where ambition and heritage clash in the age of iron rails. Navy veteran Arthur Edwards is tasked with extending the railroad from Cheyenne to Billings—but to succeed, he must win over the formidable Chief Pretty Eagle of the Crow Nation. Talks are tense and passions run high as cattlemen push for profit and resort to kidnapping Apony and her daughter Aylen, a tenacious railroad worker whose spark kindles Arthur’s growing affection.
As fate would have it, Arthur faces new dangers—this time from his own past, when US Marshal William Lloyd returns seeking his help to uncover a conspiracy within the railroad. Lloyd is the man who knows Arthur’s past and now holds a key to his future and redemption.
Enter Swiftwind, the legendary Appaloosa Stallion—a living myth whose speed and spirit inspire all who witness him. When the rescue mission erupts across the moonlit plains, it is Swiftwind who senses Aylen’s peril and races through the wilderness to find Arthur. With unwavering intuition, the stallion tracks Arthur down, urging him to mount up and daring them both into the heart of danger. Together, Arthur and Swiftwind plunge into the night, their courage intertwined as they risk everything to save Aylen from her captors.
Railroad Man dazzles as both an epic of progress and a tribute to the undying spirit of legends, love, and the unforgettable horse who changes fates forever. It is not only a tale of progress and cultural collision, but also a tribute to the enduring power of legends, the redemptive force of love, and the quiet heroism of a remarkable horse who, in bringing two hearts together, changes the course of their destinies forever.
Grant Leishman for Readers’ Favorite –
Railroad Man, Legacies Son by Dan E. Hendrickson is a Western, set in Wyoming and Montana, just after the Civil War, as large railway magnates sought to open up new territories and provide ranchers with a cost-effective method of shipping their produce east. Navy veteran and hero of the Civil War against slavery is the latest troubleshooter sent to the territory to assist in the extension of the railway line from Cheyenne to Billings. The local ranchers are desperate to see the railroad progress, so they can end expensive, long-haul cattle drives south to Colorado, and some will do whatever it takes to make this railroad happen. Standing in the way is a wise, elderly Native-American Chief, Pretty Eagle, of the Crow Nation, who wants a signed treaty outlining their rights and rewards. Can Arthur Edwards walk the fine line between the impatient cattlemen and the implacable Pretty Eagle? Complicating matters is Arthur’s immediate attraction to a young railway worker, Aylen, who just happens to be Pretty Eagle’s granddaughter. The stage is set for an explosive showdown.
Railroad Man, Legacies Son is another in the historical series from author Dan E. Hendrickson that chronicles the history of the Edwards family. The action is non-stop, and the plot twists and turns in exciting directions. The author tempers the narrative with a gentle and very proper romance between Arthur and Aylen, which gives a delightful romantic backdrop. The author was deeply sympathetic to the Native-American cause and drew their characters sympathetically and warmly. I also liked that the local sheriff, married to Apony, Aylen’s mother, and Pretty Eagle’s daughter, gave a sense of family and community. The legend of the unridable horse, Swiftwind, gave the entire story an extra lift. There are many underlying themes, but the one that stands out the most is humanity. The author reminds us how Western civilization allowed its greed, lust for land, and demand for dominance and progress to override basic concerns of human decency. By humanizing these characters, the novel reminds us of our common humanity. The story is another winner from this author, and I await his next book with bated breath. I highly recommend all this author’s works.