Splendid Was the Trail

by Florence B. Smith (Author)

Uncontained Fire Eighteen year old April O'Brian works for twenty-seven year old Jake Osborn, who is a fire fighter and forest ranger. April is a fire spotter on the mountain Jake owns. She is hopelessly in love with Jake but to her, he seems unaware of her as a woman, but he is in love with her, and believes she is in love with Stanley Akins, the ranger she has dated for a year. After a one night affair with April, Jake is devastated for taking advantage of the vulnerable girl and leaves town to give her time to grow up and to know her mind. April is crushed but tries to keep her life together. After waiting eight months for Jake to return, she gives up and accepts the love offered her by Stanley Akins and agrees to marry him. The day after her marriage, she files for an annulment because of Stanley's lewd behavior and out an out abuse. When she's back working on the mountain, a serious fire breaks out. April is trapped. Stanley recuses her and threatens her if she doesn't come back to him. Jake arrives and saves her from his intimidation, and they return to fighting the fire. Before the fire is contained, Jake and Stanley are among five missing men. When April is certain they are dead, she goes to the charred mountain and contemplates life without Jake. She takes a gun with her, but before she pulls the trigger, she prays....