Gone to Idaho
by
Book Cover & Preview Text
Gone to Idaho continues Emma’s story, now a teenager, and her father after the loss of her mother and brother in the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. Upon learning that his wife might be living in Idaho, Papa takes off to find her, leaving Emma behind. Devastated at being left, Emma follows disguised as a cowboy. Juan, a childhood friend, expecting Emma to attempt the trip alone, follows Emma. Before leaving Denver for Idaho Emma learns that her father has been seriously injured in Idaho and is hospitalized.
Emma’s mother, Ida, saved from a burning building during the 1906 earthquake, has amnesia. Her hero, Jamie has taken it upon himself to care for her until she recovers her memory. They travel to Boise, Idaho where Jamie plans to start a business. By happenstance, Ida and Emma cross paths at the same hospital. Because of a strange physical reaction when they meet, they avoid each other but Ida’s interest in her father mystifies Emma.
Financial problems force Emma’s returns to Santa Fe while her father is still in a coma. Although she suspects Ida may be her mother, she’s not certain. The facial scaring from the fire she was pulled, impairs Emma identification. Jamie, however, who shelters Papa under his roof in hopes of Ida recovering her memory, is convinced that his charge is married to Emma’s father. Coming out of his coma just long enough to be reunited with his wife, Emma’s father dies but not before Ida’s memory returns.
Overwhelmed by her husband untimely death and coping with remembering her past life, Ida leaves Boise saying she’s going home. Learning that she’s never traveled past Colorado, Jamie, fearing that the amnesia has returned, travels to Denver to search for her. Emma alerted to the situation, also goes to Denver. She is successful in locating Ida but her mother doesn’t recognize her. Unhappy, Emma leaves Denver via train but is joined by her mother who explains her offish behavior. The two begin the process of become friends and musicians.
Two love triangles emerge in the book. One between Jamie and his best friend Dillon for the affection of Ida. The other between Juan of Spanish decent and Wolfe a Texas German and Emma.
Formats
Book Details
About the Book
Ida saved from a burning building during the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, is rescued by Jamie, a passerby. Left scared and not remembering who she is, her hero, after failing to locate any of her family, takes her along with him to Idaho where he seeks his fortune.
Ida’s husband Bruno, who has been searching for his wife learns she might be in Idaho and sets out to find her leaving his daughter behind. Emma, frustrated at being left behind again, follows her Papa. Two young friends, Juan and Wolfe, contrive to join and protect Emma on her journey to locate papa. Arriving in Idaho, Emma learns her father is hospitalized in a coma resulting from a run-away horse accident. By chance, mother and daughter meet, both experience some strange physical reactions but don’t recognize each other. Eventually Ida’s memory returns, allowing a brief reunion of the couple before Bruno, Emma’s papa dies. Reconciliation between daughter and mother takes longer, complicated by past wounds and disagreements. Several budding romantic attachments during the story provide mystery and laughter right to the last chapter.
This second book in the New Mexico Gal Series, continues the story begun in Gone to Texas of the challenges and biases faced by early twentieth-century men and women as the United States began its westward expansion to the Pacific Ocean. The story glimpses history starting in 1906 of San Francisco, Seattle, Denver, Emmett and Boise, Idaho over a ten-year period.
About the Author
Enid E. Haag has been a story teller and writer all her life. Now a retired librarian and researcher, she writes historical novels set in early 20th Century United States. She lives in Edmonds, Washington with her Scottish Fold companion Gilly. This is her second book in the series, New Mexico Gal.