Riding Freedom
In Riding Freedom, Charlotte Parkhurst, known as Charley, spends most of her life masquerading as a man. The orphanage raises Charley, and girls are rare. So, the staff prevents families from adopting Charley and puts her to work in the kitchen instead.
Her love is to be with the horses and the elderly man, Vern, who cares for them. Vern tells tales of escaping slavery and a dream begins to take root in Charlotte. After a family adopts Charlotte’s only other friend, Charlotte dreams of making her own desperate bid for freedom.
Her knack with horses soon enables the disguised Charley to pursue her dream of driving a stagecoach. She does it so well that she is offered the opportunity to earn a livelihood in the California gold fields.
Many trials arise, including the loss of sight in her left eye, but throughout, Charlotte remembers her friends, works hard and persistently, and fulfills her ambitions, culminating in her voting in a presidential election.
