When Billy applies to the Pony Express, he doesn't expect superintendent Mr. Slade to hire him as a farm hand for some remote relay station called Mud Springs. Amos, the station manager, is none too pleased either. Instead of a strong, full-grown farmhand, he's sent a twelve-year-old boy.
When he arrives at Mud Springs station, Billy realizes he's in for a challenge. Situated miles from anywhere, surrounded by vast stretches of bleak, dangerous land, the station is nothing more than a stable and a cramped soddy managed by a grumpy man named Amos who can't seem to keep his hired help.
Right from the start, tempers flare as Amos and Billy clash. While Amos is determined to prove that Billy is too young for the job, Billy sets out to show that he can do the job as well as any man and, hopefully, prove to Mr. Slade he has what it takes to be a Pony Express rider.
But life in such an isolated land is full of dangers. Amos and Billy soon discover they have bigger enemies than each other and need to join forces to save the station, the valuable horses, and even their own lives.
Orphans Preferred is the remarkable and fast-moving story of a twelve-year-old boy who learns the meaning of bravery and perseverance and discovers true friendship in the most unlikely place.
Payol, Faythe: - Born to American missionaries in Zaire, Faythe's family fled from the rebels to France where she was raised. She obtained her Baccalaureate at the American School of Paris, attended Philadelphia College of the Bible for two years, then transferred to Huntington College in Indiana graduating with a Bachelor's degree, majoring in Art.As a professional awarded-artist, Faythe has spent many years painting and selling her Art work in the heart of Paris where she is a member of the Peintres du Marais.She teaches English, Visual Arts, and coordinates art shows for the students at the American School of Paris.Loving mother and caring grandmother, Faythe and her husband Francis currently live in France where they enjoy spending time discovering the wonders of the countryside in Britany.You can visit her Art gallery at www.faythe.fr
Srch, Renee: - Born to an American father and a British mother, Renée Srch grew up in France where she obtained her French Baccalaureate. She attended IBME in Switzerland, graduating with a degree in Missions and Theology. She is a wife, a mother to three boys, and a critter mom to two rescue dogs, and fourteen rescue cats. Renée has led and taught writing workshops through the Ozarks Chapter of American Christian Writers as well as the Springfield Writer's Guild in Springfield, Mo. She is a certified copy editor and mentors young writers. Renée has published thirteen books to date. She writes across genres and for all age groups. Her author brand is Wholesome Books for the Whole Family. Besides her own books, she has contributed to four Chicken Soup for the Soul books, two anthologies, and published numerous magazine articles. She has received numerous awards, among which was an award from Writer's Digest for her personal essay, Treasures from the Sea, and Global Library Award and Book Cover Award for Miracle Moments; Helping the Rescued Become the Rescuers. Her children's book, It's Dark in the Ark, was listed as a number one bestseller on Amazon.
