Call of the Trumpet (46 page)

Paul Campbell has fought the Turks, Germans, and the occasional rogue crocodile. A confirmed bachelor, veteran of the Great War and Jack-of-all-Trades in the rough country of Western Australia, he is free to live the rest of his life in peace. He has only one goal: to make life easier on the residents of the Outback by flying medicine, supplies, and the occasional letter to those who live in Australia’s sprawling Interior. That is, until a wounded woman lands on his doorstep begging for a gentle hand and a warm kiss—even if she doesn’t know it yet.

A new doctor, Helen Stanwood leaves the relative comfort of her San Francisco home with a mission. She will abandon and forget the pain of her former existence by devoting herself to helping those in need. But when she arrives in Australia she is faced with the realization that she can’t run away from herself, her past, or …

The Flyer.

Emma Perkins’ life appears idyllic. Her husband, Jared, is a hardworking farmer and a dependable neighbor. But Emma knows intimately the brutality prowling beneath her husband’s façade. When he sends their children away, Emma’s life unravels.

Deep in despair, Emma seeks refuge aboard her uncle’s riverboat, the Spirit of the River. She travels through a new world filled with colorful characters: captains, mates, the rich, the working class, moonshiners, prostitutes, and Gage-the Spirit’s reclusive engineer. Scarred for life from a riverboat explosion, Gage’s insight into heartache draws him to Emma, and as they heal together, they form a deep and unbreakable bond. Emma learns to trust that anything is possible, including reclaiming her children and facing her husband.

Jared Perkins makes a journey of his own. Determined to bring his wife home and teach her the lesson of her life, Jared secretly follows the Spirit. His rage burns cold as he plans his revenge for everyone on board.

Against the immense power of the river, the journey of the Spirit will change the course of their lives forever.