Maggie's Wilderness Trail, 1784

For fans of historical fiction that centers strong women, this page-turning tale of Maggie Moore’s travels on the Wilderness Trail in 1784—inspired by true events—is packed with courage, faith, adventure, and heartwarming family values.

In 1784, Maggie Moore is pregnant when her husband announces they must take the Wilderness Trail to Kentucky to find new farmland. Reluctant to go but determined to protect her children, she prepares for the journey by practicing in secret with the new long rifle her husband brings home.

The trail tests the Moores and their traveling party with starvation, storms, and attacks. Always by Maggie’s side throughout the journey is her servant, Bess—a Black woman the Moores treat as a member of their family. When a Cherokee hunting party raids their camp, Maggie shoots a Cherokee warrior, employing her excellent aim to save John’s life. During the attack, the chief of the hunting party, Waya, observes Maggie’s courage, her use of the rifle, and how well she treats Bess. Deciding she is brave like the wife he grieves—murdered by the military when he was away—he becomes her fiercest ally, intent on protecting her from Shawnee threats.

Based on true events, this page-turning tale of one woman’s evolution from terrified young wife into an empowered woman who fights for freedom and justice is a testament to the fact that survival demands both fierce courage and profound compassion.