The tenderfoots

"The Tenderfoots" by Francis Lynde is a historical fiction where Philip Trask, a young man from New England, journeys west to Colorado during the late 1800s in search of independence, after his family faces difficulties and his father goes missing. On a crowded train filled with people hoping to find treasure, Philip gets his first taste of the West. He quickly gets involved in the lives of others when he defends a young girl named Jean from a drunk passenger on the train, creating a bond with Jean and a hint of possible romance. As Philip faces the many challenges of the rough Colorado environment, he is forever changed.