Joined Trails

About the Book

Join the adventure, romance and tragedy of families in the late 1830s and early 1840s. Many couples married very young; but the life expectancy was around 40 years of age. Couples often stayed close to family, even living on the same land. Each couple in this story has different reasons to move west, but they join their lives as they join trails. Two young couples are soon joined by a third, newlywed couple on the wagon train. The Iowa Territory was known for fertile grass lands for farming and tracks of forest for lumber. What could not be expressed was the varied beauty of the Iowa landscape. Matthew and Zeta Emmerson, Ruben and Amy Younst and Jack and Cassandra Draper join together on the same wagon train and develop friendships. They meet and befriend John Fetters, Old John, on the trail after the tragic loss of his wife, Fran. Join them on their adventure.

About the Author

Kaitlyn Collins was born in Iowa; it was the most natural place to set the background of her book. She has lived in many states and enjoyed the unique beauty of each area. The eldest girl of a large family, she was often the built in babysitter. She and her elder brother were the story tellers. For many years she was a certifi ed nursing assistant and loved the historical stories that the residents would tell. Kaitlyn graduated from the University of Central Oklahoma with a Masters in Adult Education. After earning an alternative teaching certifi cation she taught in two states and settled in Amarillo, Texas. The favorite subject she taught was history. Recently retired, she still keeps active in the apartment community she lives in and attends her church. She enjoys singing, writing and the company of good friends. She brags of being an “adoptable grandma” and does that real well.