Right from the first, racism, point of view problems, and totally improbable plot developments. If you liked the Haven’s gothic eugenics in “Her Father’s Son,” you’ll…uh, well, you’ll read this.

Plus this completely absurd set of sentences, really taken in sequence WITHOUT EDITING, I promise:

“You borrow trouble, my wife,” answered John Kirkman, “you are not well. They will never again dare to rise against the English. We are too powerful.”

John Kirkman glanced about. He felt an impending, ominous fear which he could not explain. Life had been secure and peaceful — too much so.

He must have been distracted, I suspect.

Predictions: Father John Kirkman will make a surprise appearance at a most opportune time, saving red haired Gloria from some terrible fate.

Also, the black silk given to the blacksmith (awkward symbolic color references, or just plain bad writing?) will also play a part as well, however implausible.

I can’t wait.

I’m actually intrigued by the racial theme and was hoping it would be somehow developed. It strikes me as a pretty realistic touch and how it might affect a person or family moving to a completely different society (not just the United States, but also Zion) would make for a really interesting theme.

I’m continually surprised at the range of stories you present to us Ardis. This is fascinating fiction of a variety I would not have guessed.

But relax — the racism, beyond the very occasional stray remark, is pretty much over with this episode. Now we’ll settle into the life of Gloria, with one wrenching trial after another with which she copes (in varying degrees of absurdity) before she triumphs .. well, Gloriasly.

Not even half way through, my head was spinning with the constant changes back and forth between Gloria’s and Margaret’s point of view, and trying to figure out where the initial flashback ends and where the ongoing story takes up. I was also surprised at my apparent lack of historical knowledge (because a lot of things just aren’t making much sense to me). I take it this chapter is set in the the early 1860s?

Then there were these oddities:
“last lap of the journey to the Missouri.” Lap? They were racing in circles to get there?
“his wife was distracted.” Really? Is there no better word for describing a woman’s response when her husband goes missing?
“voluminous pocket for the purse where she had kept a precious five hundred dollars in gold.” That’s one mighty sturdy pocket.

But of course, all of that is miniscule compared to the “ick” factor of Margaret’s bald-faced racist opinions. What different times we live in.

So, to end as I began, thanks for the Story, Ardis. I enjoyed the Mrs. Benson stories, though this author’s previous serial was just weird. Nevertheless, I know I’ll be just as curious to find out how it ends as any of the serials before.