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Texas Orphan Train
When loner Will Hunter hired on to drive a wagon load of people out of San Antonio, he wasn't expecting a dozen orphans, a New York Placing Agent, and the biggest tomboy in town, Amanda Jean Haywood, who knew more about horses than Will had ever dreamed. Forced by the Agent's untimely death to head up the Orphan Train, not only does Will run into the expected late winter blizzards, floods, stampedes, thieves, and Comancheros, but he also, with Amanda's help, has to figure out how to handle the plagues of hornets, buffaloes, and snakes that the dozen children bring upon the wagons. By the end of the arduous trek, Will realizes that a loner is the unhappiest man in the world; that only by taking on the problems of those for whom you love and care, can a man truly be content.
- GenresWesterns
195 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1998
85 people are currently reading
26 people want to read
About the author
Kent Conwell
66 books25 followersKent Conwell grew up in the Texas Panhandle in the town of Wheeler, population 848. The West was an integral part of his life. The solitude of the Panhandle, which offered little more than school and work, encouraged his reading and writing as well as his exploration of the vastness of the rolling prairies, the emptiness of which carried the presentiment itself of mystery and death.
A quest for adventure had been woven into his life by his grandfather, who had run away from his Tennessee home when he was 14. He bullwhacked his way to the Panhandle where he met his future wife who had traveled from Illinois to Texas.
After moving to Fort Worth where Kent was more at home at the stockyards than school, he earned a B.S. and began teaching. Later, he moved to Port Neches where he acquired a M.Ed. and Ph.D.
A successful educator, his love for writing about the West and its enigmas, a period in history unique to America, has never waned. After twenty-two westerns, he wrote his first mystery.
He has won awards for short stories, screenplays, mysteries, and westerns.
A quest for adventure had been woven into his life by his grandfather, who had run away from his Tennessee home when he was 14. He bullwhacked his way to the Panhandle where he met his future wife who had traveled from Illinois to Texas.
After moving to Fort Worth where Kent was more at home at the stockyards than school, he earned a B.S. and began teaching. Later, he moved to Port Neches where he acquired a M.Ed. and Ph.D.
A successful educator, his love for writing about the West and its enigmas, a period in history unique to America, has never waned. After twenty-two westerns, he wrote his first mystery.
He has won awards for short stories, screenplays, mysteries, and westerns.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
May 6, 2023
Loved it!
Cute and funny western adventure! I will definitely read more from Kent Conwell! Highly recommended especially if you love westerns! Five stars!
Cute and funny western adventure! I will definitely read more from Kent Conwell! Highly recommended especially if you love westerns! Five stars!
August 4, 2014
Book was interesting about finding homes for orphans in 1870's in Texas.
I thought of "The Searchers" and Dee Brown's books. Also would go w/the Daybreakers of Louis L'Amour.
Interesting read of the lay of the land in North West Texas and the Comanche Indian Tribe.
I thought of "The Searchers" and Dee Brown's books. Also would go w/the Daybreakers of Louis L'Amour.
Interesting read of the lay of the land in North West Texas and the Comanche Indian Tribe.
February 23, 2020
A KC. Texas Western Action Adventure (TOT)
KC. has penned a Texas western action adventure titled, "Texas Orphan Train" which begins with a young cowboy agreeing to drive a wagon for a man who worked with orphanages and seeing that they could have a good home. They started in North Texas and worked their was towards El Paso, but turned South when confronted with weather and a gang of outlaws. The young man and young woman tried to see that each child was placed in a good home. This is an excellent read for the genre.....DEHS
KC. has penned a Texas western action adventure titled, "Texas Orphan Train" which begins with a young cowboy agreeing to drive a wagon for a man who worked with orphanages and seeing that they could have a good home. They started in North Texas and worked their was towards El Paso, but turned South when confronted with weather and a gang of outlaws. The young man and young woman tried to see that each child was placed in a good home. This is an excellent read for the genre.....DEHS
February 11, 2023
Kent Conwell has a very intuitive understanding of children and so penned a thrilling and heart-moving saga of traveling with orphaned children of all personalities on the treacherous prairies of Texas. The many exciting subplots and realistic details in this novel kept me interested. I'd recommend it for anyone who loves ... or detests the little tykes. Cheers from a retired school teacher to KC for his work! PKB
August 8, 2023
Will and Mandy
This is a very cute tale of a hard scrabble wagon driver and the tough a nails girl that drives the second wagon on this journey. They are taking a city man with several young orphans to their new adoptive families. They encounter every trouble imaginable on their trip to deliver the youngsters. You will have some good laughs too along your reading trip.
This is a very cute tale of a hard scrabble wagon driver and the tough a nails girl that drives the second wagon on this journey. They are taking a city man with several young orphans to their new adoptive families. They encounter every trouble imaginable on their trip to deliver the youngsters. You will have some good laughs too along your reading trip.
September 20, 2022
Rd orphan train
What a great story, if all of the orphans could end up with two who cared about them. I like happy endings and that certainly was a happy ending. The children would certainly have fun and learn alot
What a great story, if all of the orphans could end up with two who cared about them. I like happy endings and that certainly was a happy ending. The children would certainly have fun and learn alot
November 6, 2022
Great story
I have read many of the orphan books. I didn't even know prior that they were really based on history. I love that people were able to take children from the streets to a home giving them a much better life than they would have had otherwise.
I have read many of the orphan books. I didn't even know prior that they were really based on history. I love that people were able to take children from the streets to a home giving them a much better life than they would have had otherwise.
September 25, 2018
Orphan Train
I enjoyed this book so much I couldn't put it down. The only complaint I would have is that I would like an epilogue.
I enjoyed this book so much I couldn't put it down. The only complaint I would have is that I would like an epilogue.
November 12, 2018
A great, fun read
March 27, 2022
Excellent
Very interesting and entertaining good book. It was also funny in many parts. I will look for more books by this Author
Very interesting and entertaining good book. It was also funny in many parts. I will look for more books by this Author
August 11, 2022
great western adventure story
Author tells a great story and it isn’t bloody and gory but has good characters and lots of intrigue and adventure. Keep up the good work
Author tells a great story and it isn’t bloody and gory but has good characters and lots of intrigue and adventure. Keep up the good work
August 16, 2022
Light read. Squeaky clean. Happy ending. G rated. Might have been a 5 if he had throw in an epilogue.
September 14, 2022
Good Yarn
I’ve read this author’s work before and knew I was going to like it. Logical progression to an expected end but with interesting twists.
I’ve read this author’s work before and knew I was going to like it. Logical progression to an expected end but with interesting twists.
February 16, 2025
Texan Orphan Train
This was a very good story. A long trip through Texas a wagon full of boys and girls are delivered to various couples that wanted orphans.
This was a very good story. A long trip through Texas a wagon full of boys and girls are delivered to various couples that wanted orphans.
June 29, 2022
Very good
What a story and keeps you reading. Well it did me. Kinda wished of Continued but guess not. Great tome
What a story and keeps you reading. Well it did me. Kinda wished of Continued but guess not. Great tome
March 4, 2017
Wonderful, 4.75 stars!!!!!!!
I really enjoyed the depth of character development., adult and child alike. Wonderful theme of good verses evil. Throw in a reluctant romance and you have a wonderfully weaved story.
I really enjoyed the depth of character development., adult and child alike. Wonderful theme of good verses evil. Throw in a reluctant romance and you have a wonderfully weaved story.
December 7, 2012
Delightful story of young couple thrown together as they wend their way across Texas placing orphan children from the East Coast with families scattered across the open spaces of Texas.
A gentle mixture of humor and cluelessness as the young cowboy, hired to drive the wagon, finds himself dealing with kids and a Mexican woman who knows her horses.
A gentle mixture of humor and cluelessness as the young cowboy, hired to drive the wagon, finds himself dealing with kids and a Mexican woman who knows her horses.
September 28, 2016
Good book.
I love reading books about Texas cowboys. Enjoyed it very much. I will be reading more books from this author.
I love reading books about Texas cowboys. Enjoyed it very much. I will be reading more books from this author.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews