Cavanagh, Forest Ranger: A Romance of the Mountain West

"Cavanagh, Forest Ranger: A Romance of the Mountain West" by Hamlin Garland is a story focusing on a woman named Lee Virginia Wetherford as she goes back to her childhood home in the Mountain West after being away for ten years, and she has to face hard truths about her mom’s life and how the area has changed. The story looks at ideas like missing the past, feeling let down, and how the old West is turning into a more modern place with businesses. The book starts when Lee Virginia gets to the Mountain West, excited to be back where she grew up, but she soon sees that her hometown isn’t the same, and the dreamy idea of the West is gone, replaced by new tourist spots. As she spends time with her mom, Eliza Wetherford, she's sad to see how bad their hotel is and how her mom's health and reputation have gotten worse. The beginning of the story shows the problems Virginia deals with, like how she fits into this new world and the struggles of getting along with the locals, especially a guy she doesn't want to be with. Virginia’s adventure starts with her wanting to help her mom and feel like she belongs again, even though life in the countryside is tough.