Frannie Reilly, thank you for joining us on the North Coast Limited to Livingston, Montana. Are you excited to be on a train headed to Yellowstone National Park?

Gosh, no. I’m on this train against my will! 

My Dad sent me away to spend the rest of my precious summer with my sister Claire and be miserable. He thinks I’m running around with “a bad crowd” back at home. Sure, I got in a little trouble. And maybe the police were involved. But it was just a lark, not the end of the world. Instead of just grounding me like usual, he banished me to nowheresville. My bossy sister, Bridget, is in the car behind us and watches me like a hawk. As if I could escape from a train! 

Both your sisters will be with you in Yellowstone? That sounds like fun.

Are you kidding me? They treat me like a baby even though I’m eighteen years old. Sure, Claire and Bridget used to love me, and we used to have fun. But that was before Claire married her cowboy and moved to Montana. She left me with Dad and bossy Bridget, who works all the time. Dad pretends everything is fine and dandy, but he’s beside himself with worry about Claire, especially now that she and Red have a baby.

What do you think of your new brother-in-law, did you say his name was Red?

Yes, because he has red hair. And I think he’s swell. He and Claire had only known each other for a couple weeks – I know because Claire’s best friend Millie told me the whole story about that summer she and Claire worked in Yellowstone and met these cowboys – and then the next spring Red showed up in Willmar with a ring! Dad had a conniption. Even Bridget, who loves all that romantic junk, was worried that Claire was moving too fast. But Claire said yes and three weeks later they were married. She really stood up to Dad. I kinda felt bad, though, about what Dad did at the wedding. Red didn’t deserve that. 

What happened at the wedding, if you don’t mind me asking?

Well . . . I better not say. Claire would be mad at me and Bridget would tell me not to air our dirty laundry in public or something dumb like that. That’s the problem in this family. Claire and Bridget and Dad pretend everything’s just perfect, but it’s not. We never talk about anything real —  like Mother, or the world ending in a mushroom cloud, or about how Claire left and doesn’t call home anymore. Bridget didn’t even tell Claire that I’m coming out with her, she’s just going to dump me on Claire and Red and go off to her job as a nurse.

But hey, I’ll tell you a secret . . . I have another plan and it’s a doozy. I’m not going to waste my summer babysitting, no siree. I’m going to have some fun, and Bridget and Dad won’t be able to do a thing about it.

Oh, no. Here comes Bridget now. Don’t tell her I said anything about anything.

(Bridget Reilly) Hello. I do hope my sister hasn’t been making a nuisance of herself.

Not at all. We’re just talking about her trip to Yellowstone. Do you mind telling us what brings you to Yellowstone National Park, Miss Reilly?

I’ll be working at the hospital in a place called Mammoth Hot Springs. They apparently are quite short on nurses this summer and are in dire need of help. It will be a wonderful way to add to my nursing experience. My sister, Claire, lives in a town called West Yellowstone and I’ll get to spend some time with her and meet our new niece, Jenny. 

It will be a terrific visit, won’t it Frannie?

(Frannie) If you say so.

What are you looking forward to seeing the most in Yellowstone?

(Frannie) I want to see a Grizzly!

(Bridget) Frannie, don’t be ridiculous. We don’t want to see any bears . . . or snakes . . . or anything else that can kill us. Dad told me to take care of you and I’m going to do just that.

(Frannie) For your information, Bridget, I can take care of myself.

(Bridget) Don’t be rude, Frannie.

If you’ll excuse us, we’re about to arrive in Livingston and need to get our things. It was lovely talking to you. Frannie, say goodbye.

(Frannie) Goodbye. Remember, I didn’t tell you anything about anything.

(Bridget) What on earth do you mean by that, Frannie?

(Frannie) That’s for me to know and you to find out.

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Stephanie Landsem writes historical fiction for women, about women. She’s traveled the world in real life and traveled through time in her research and imagination. As she’s learned about women of the past, she’s come to realize that these long-ago women were very much like us. They loved, dreamed, and made mistakes. They struggled, failed, and triumphed. She writes to honor their lives and to bring today’s women hope and encouragement. Stephanie makes her home in Minnesota with her husband, two cats and a dog, and frequent visits from her four adult children. Along with reading, writing, and research, she dreams about her next travel adventure—whether it be in person or on the page.