An Unseemly Wife by E B Moore

No matter what you want to say about Ruth, an unseemly wife she is not...

Penguin sent me a copy of this book to read for review (thank you).  It has been published so grab a copy at your local bookstore now.

I enjoy reading Amish stories and the idea of them migrating across the states is one I haven't seen before.  That intrigued me enough to make me want to read this book.

Ruth has a happy life.  She has her own home, a loving husband and family, and all of her relatives close.  When the Englisher's come to look at her husband's horses, she's happy for the money they'll bring.  There are always projects to do.  But when her husband talks about moving to new lands where they can homestead and continue raising their family, she has doubts.  She tries to tell him, but he's determined to move on.  It even causes trouble with the Amish people, but he's her husband:  She must follow his direction.

Traveling across country is not easy.  She's never had to do everything herself, she always had neighbor women to help.  Now she's on her own and has none of the tools she had at home.  She's also lonely.  When she visits with a couple of the ladies in the wagon train, her husband is not happy.  They're not Amish.  However, there are times she can do nothing but accept help from them.

The further they travel, the more their relationship begins to fray.  When they leave the group and travel on alone, they all get sick...

This is a very sad story that makes me wonder how Ruth has the strength to carry on.  Her losses and her lack of faith in God make her very vulnerable.  But she doesn't give up.  And she begins to stand up for herself.  She's gone through a big transition and has emerged from her caterpillar into a beautiful butterfly that is determined to enjoy life and the family she has left.  I admire her.  This is fiction, but there are non-fiction stories that echo this life experience.  Stress and danger meld your personality into something more.  Ruth found that out.