Helen in America
by
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A tiny figure of a woman stood at the rail of a ship. No more that 5 foot tall, the top rail hid her face. As the ship moved slowly through the gentle waves, splashes of sea water surrounded her small feet, clad in black high button shoes, bits of salty water made their way through the button holes. The bottom of her long black skirt waved in the wind, while the pristine white petticoat became soaked by the splashing waves. She shivered as she pulled her fur lined coat closer around her. Her eyes, shrouded by the mantle over her head, hiding the tears flowing from her eyes. With her hands clutching the rail, her mind filled with thoughts of her future in America.
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About the Book
As Helen clutches the rail of the ship as it gently rolls through the ocean waves, her mind fills with thoughts of her future in America. While her memories of the past year haunt her nightly, she has no idea that she is the subject of talk on the ship. Everyone wants to know how an unescorted woman has gained access to a first-class cabin and a seat at the captain’s table.
Helen, who grew up in an affluent family, is traveling to meet her betrothed, Gustav Krueger, who, once she arrives in America, plans to take her to the Dakotas to homestead with him. As her journey leads her away from devastating circumstances in the old country to a new life in a foreign land, she must accept that she will not see those she left behind—including her true love—for a long time, if ever. But when she arrives at the dock and Gustav is not there to meet her, a chain of events unfolds that leave Helen wondering if life in America will demand more of her to survive than she imagined.
Helen in America continues a story of perseverance, strength, and determination as a young woman attempts to prevail against all odds in a new land.
About the Author
Beverly Westman grew up in a small town in North Dakota where she relied on her active imagination to create stories from a young age. Throughout the years, she has also used the visual medium of oil painting to tell stories. Now retired, the mother of four adult children and grandmother of seven spends her time volunteering and writing. Helen in America is the second book in a series.