Jerris Nelson moves from Missouri to Wyoming when she is fifteen years of age. She is thrilled at the idea of really living in the West, until she finds it can be frightening as well as exciting. She makes friends with Paul Thomas and his mother, affectionately known as "Tommy." Rachel Steward, a visitor at the Thomas ranch, takes Jerris in tow and attempts to teach her about the customs of cowboy land. Just as she is beginning to feel at home, Paul has an accident which upsets the Thomas plan for moving their horses to a new ranch in California.Tommy, urged on by an enthusiastic Rachel, decides to make the journey into a pack trip for girls similar to those she has led before. The idea frightens Jerris at first, but she finally realizes she cannot miss the trip. Knowing nothing about horses, Jerris feels herself a real dude, fighting her own cowardice all during the long trek over the Rockies. As the adventure unfolds, she finds herself in more than one difficulty. But gradually, through determination and gallant effort, she conquers her instinctive fear and becomes a true horsewoman.This entertaining book has a most lovable heroine-in addition to quantities of horses For older girls and horse crazy young men.Jacket drawing by Sandra JamesDodd, Mead & Company DOREEN FOOTELived in Los Angeles with her husband, Dr. Emile Painton and her two sons. (She was formerly a teacher of Physical Education in the Long Beach Schools.)Miss Foote attended Cornell College in Iowa for three years and then went on to the University of Southern California for her B.A. and M.A. degrees. Here she won a double award from Delta Psi Kappa, professional Physical Education sorority, for the highest scholastic standing and best athletic ability. She has served as director and counselor at summer camps for girls, as field worker and volunteer leader with the Camp Fire Girls, as playground director of the Long Beach Municipal Recreation Department and with the health department of the Y.W.C.A.Between times, Doreen Foote has managed to travel around the world and up and down from Alaska to South America, including a horseback pack trip in the Rockies. Her hobbies cover camping, gardening, cooking photography, reading, pets and collecting unusual rings, as well as writing articles, stories and books on physical education, poetry and outdoor adventure.
