Richard Lawry author page - Devotionals from a Small Town

Hunger and death sweep over the Willie Handcart Company as, once again, they must cross the Sweetwater River.

Sophie's Journey - Chapter 36 - The Far Bank Sophie's Journey - Chapter 36 The Far Bank By mid-October, the trail was identified by loss. At Rock Avenue, the ground rose, rough and crac...

In this chapter, Sophie sees Captain Willie strike a man who had fallen in the snow. The man staggered to his feet, eyes empty. Men guarded the food, locked away, with sticks. Sophie felt the company’s fear growing. When they reached the Sweetwater, the water was black and cold. Sophie waded through, holding Peter’s hand. The river soaked their clothes and left them shivering. On the far bank, the ground rose steep and hard. That night, Sophie lay beside her children, their stomachs empty, their bodies pressed close for warmth. She did not pray for Zion. She only promised herself she would keep moving, for her children’s sake.

Sophie's Journey - Chapter 35 - Only a Mother Sophie's Journey - Chapter 35 Only a Mother The Wyoming high desert was sharp and empty. The horizon always seemed farther away at every s...

In this tense chapter of Sophie's Journey, Peder Mortensen confronts Captain Willie at Fort Laramie, bitterly accusing him and the Church leadership of abandoning 400 impoverished handcart pioneers to starve as winter approaches.

Sophie's Journey - Chapter 34 - Spoons for Hardtack Sophie's Journey - Chapter 34 Spoons for Hardtack The lantern’s light threw shadows on the adobe wall. Captain Willie sat on an empty hardt...

Chapter 33 of Sophie's Journey is a pivotal part of the story. Because they couldn't resupply at Fort Laramie, the Willie Handcart Company had to reduce rations.

Sophie's Journey - Chapter 33 - Fort Laramie Sophie's Journey - Chapter 33 Fort Laramie Fort Laramie appeared on the prairie, gray against the morning sky. Sophie saw the adobe walls,...

Chapter 32 of my historical fiction novel, Sophie's Journey, deals with the rising death toll on the trail.

Sophie's Journey - Chapter 32 - No False Comfort Sophie's Journey - Chapter 32 No False Comfort Gray light reflected on the muddy river, cold and distant. Sophie Petersen’s hands ached un...

The latest installment in Sophie's Journey finds the Willie Handcart Company traversing some very difficult terrain.

Sophie's Journey - Chapter 30 - Into Ash Hollow Sophie's Journey - Chapter 30 Into Ash Hollow After the meal, the captains called for the company to move. Ellen Cantwell's cry remained i...

The latest chapter of Sophie's Journey finds the Willie Handcart Company facing their first cold snap and a difficult stretch of the journey.

Sophie's Journey - Chapter 29 - Shadows of the Bluffs Sophie's Journey - Chapter 29 Shadows of the Bluffs Frost came hard for the first time, stiffening the tent canvas until it was hard and b...

After a two-month hiatus, I am once again writing on my historical novel, Sophie's Journey. In my latest installment, Sophie learns of an atrocity on the trail from a stranger who rides into camp.

Sophie's Journey - Chapter 26 - The Stranger's News Sophie's Journey - Chapter 26 The Stranger's News The camp was busy with morning chores. A single rider appeared on the horizon, gripping ...

In Chapter 27 of Sophie's Journey, Apostle Franklin D. Richards and his group catch up with the Willie Handcart Company on the banks of the North Platte River.

Sophie's Journey - Chapter 27 - The Apostle's Promise Sophie's Journey - Chapter 27 The Apostle's Promise Sophie woke with her cheek pressed against the tent canvas. She did not know when she h...

In my latest chapter, The Willie Hancart Company is forced to cross the Platte River to avoid the sand hills.

Sophie's Journey - Chapter 26 - The South Bank Sophie's Journey - Chapter 26 The South Bank The North Platte River stretched across the high plains, blocking the handcart company’s way....