It is 1832, winter still holds southwestern Colorado in its icy grip. Little Jacob Ogden was born in June and is about to take his first steps. His parents, Sam and Little Fire, have chosen to settle down in Grand Junction, Colorado. It has been a year of many changes, so far all good. In this ninth volume of the Sam Ogden Mountain Man Series, Sam and his Partner Clyde Patterson have decided to give up the life of a free trapper. They have decided to settle down in southwestern Colorado, in a new settlement called Grand Junction. Sam and Little Fire have made some new friends at the settlement of Grand Junction, the Olivers. John and Kate Oliver own and run the General Store, formerly the Trading Post of Grand Junction. They have adopted Sam and his family, sharing their home in Grand Junction. Sam, in turn, has invested his money from trapping in the Store, and is now part owner. Sam and Clyde bring many skills to the community. They have built a sleigh for the winter hauling of goods back and forth from the major supply center on the Santa Fe Trail: Bent's Fort. In this ninth volume of the Sam Ogden Mountain Man Series, "Bent's Fort Run," Sam and his partner, Clyde Patterson, are on a "run" to Bent's Fort for supplies to restock the store. As usual, they face challenges from renegade trappers, Indian hunting parties and the rough winter weather of Colorado. The Sam Ogden Series is as follows: 1.Hard to Kill 2.Winter Down 3.Rendezvous Prize 4.The Deerslayer's Destiny 5.Sam, My Warrior 6.Rocky Mountain Cabin 7.Free Trappers 8.Wilderness Wagoneer 9.Bent's Fort Run
About the Author: Robert M. Johnson has spent most of his adult life living in mountainous regions. He currently lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia not far from Stuart's Draft, the birthplace of the first Mountain Man, John Coulter. Monticello, the home of Thomas Jefferson is just down the road. He recently visited Bent's Fort in La Junta, CO and the beautiful Grand Valley region of southwestern Colorado. The author has spent countless hours hiking and camping in high mountain regions. His interest in all things western has been a lifelong passion. The period between 1810 and 1860 holds a special place of interest for him. The information and inspiration that we have from this historical time in the American West is certainly a rich source of ideas and ideals. The frontier was constantly transforming itself and the people who were part of it. This new story, "Bent's Fort Run," brings to life the exciting perspectives of Manifest Destiny. It follows the development of an early settlement in the southwestern Colorado Territory, the Grand Valley area. Grand Junction had a name before it had an identity and the great challenge of self-subsistence settlers was getting supplies from east of the Rockies. Bent's Fort near Pueblo Colorado was one such center of supplies. From Free Trapper to Commercial Drover, Sam Ogden and his partner, Clyde Patterson, take it all in stride. In rain or snow, the supplies are still needed by the settlers of Grand Junction, so that is the task of these men who could make it happen!