On the Frontier

Faith, belonging, and the courage to stay when leaving would be easier

Guest Post by Heidi Gray McGill

About the Author

If you had asked me before the 2020 lockdown where I would spend my days, I would not have said late-1800s Missouri. I certainly would not have guessed I would feel so at home among frontier families shaped by hard labor, deep convictions, and the daily work of holding one another together when life offers no simple answers.

And yet, here I am.

Somewhere between barns and kitchen tables, sickrooms and fence lines, I found a world that feels familiar in all the ways that matter. The frontier was a place where people worked until they finished the job, said what they meant, and trusted God whether or not the trail ahead was easy. Faith was not something you explained. It was something you lived, often quietly, often without applause.

I write Christian historical fiction because I believe the strongest faith stories are rarely tidy. They are not polished sermons. They are lived out in ordinary places by people who keep showing up, even when it costs them something. Stories have always been one of God’s favorite ways to remind me who He is and who we are becoming, usually one hard-earned step at a time.

About Keeper of My Heart

Jimmy Reeves heads west and completely out of his comfort zone.

A trained pharmacist from the East, he arrives in post–Civil War Missouri with intention, not certainty. He wants to learn from Robin Manning’s Arapaho knowledge, to understand healing that cannot be found in bottles or textbooks, and to figure out whether faith can be practiced instead of merely studied. Jimmy is thoughtful, reserved, and deeply uncomfortable with chaos, which makes the frontier a challenging classroom.

Cecelia Shankel has never questioned where she belongs.

She was raised strong, shaped by land that demands work and by people who rely on her steadiness. Cecelia does not become capable through crisis; she was formed that way from the start. Strength, to her, is not something to explain or defend. It is simply how the day gets finished.

When grief, responsibility, and an unexpected affection draw Jimmy and Cecelia together, neither is looking for romance. What they find instead is something quieter and more demanding. Trust built through presence. Love proven through action. And the slow realization that sometimes God’s calling is not about escape, but about choosing to stay.

Keeper of My Heart is a slow-burn Christian historical romance featuring an opposites-attract pairing, an emotionally wounded hero, a capable frontier heroine, found family, and the quiet tension that grows when two people learn to carry responsibility together.

The Heart of the Story

Jimmy’s journey is about learning to stand when everything in him wants order and certainty. Cecelia’s is about learning that strength does not mean standing alone. Together, they discover that God often works through ordinary people who simply refuse to walk away from what has been entrusted to them.

For readers who believe God still meets us in the middle of work, weariness, and unanswered questions, this story offers a reminder. You are not late. You are not alone. And faithfulness still matters.

A Final Word

If you enjoy stories where faith shows up in the ordinary work of living, I hope Keeper of My Heart feels like the end of a long day on the porch, when the noise settles, the light fades, and something steady asks you to stay a while longer and listen.

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The Sacrifice of Christ

And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2).

Have you ever thought of how great a sacrifice it was for Jesus to leave the splendor and perfection of heaven to come to earth as a babe and grow up surrounded by the sinfulness, problems, and hardships that abound here? He came, knowing that He would be reviled, persecuted, and ultimately nailed to a cross.

On that cross, the physical pain would have been excruciating, but there were other sacrifices as well. All at once, this perfect, sinless man took on the sins of everyone who had ever lived or would ever live. I can't even imagine what a dark, heavy burden that must have been. How painful that must have felt, yet it didn't stop there. In that moment, God turned away from Him.

He had never been without the Father, but suddenly, God the Father left Him. Talk about being abandoned and alone! And he endured that separation so that we would never have to. His abandonment purchased our acceptance and belonging. His suffering opened the way for our salvation. When we pause to consider the depth of His sacrifice, it should tell us how much we are loved and bring us to our knees to accept Christ as our Savior and live for Him.

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Westerns

Is the Western novel making a comeback? Some would say it never left, but there's no denying it lost mainstream popularity after the 1960s. Its golden age stretched from the 1930s to the mid-20th century, when Westerns dominated popular American fiction and helped cement the mythic image of the American frontier. Bestselling authors like Zane Grey and Louis L'Amour dominated the field, and then came radio programs, movies, and television shows.

Author Karen Witemeyer wrote in a blog post, "Have you noticed that the western is making a comeback? In commercials, at least." Although the commercials she's referring to are usually parodies, they still remind us of the many reasons we love Westerns in the first place. Fans don't just read these stories; they feel them. The genre taps into something deep and enduring. The wide-open spaces of the frontier and possible dangers stir the imagination. There are often clear moral stakes: good vs. evil, justice vs. lawlessness, and duty vs. survival. 

The hero is usually a rugged, honorable individual who isn't perfect but either learns his lessons or tries his best. There might be gunfights, standoffs, feuds, and survival challenges. This genre is built for drama, and it delivers. People know that the real West was messy and complicated, but the mythic West is irresistible anyway. With cowboys, outlaws, sheriffs, and frontier towns, we have a cultural dreamscape. Westerns explore loyalty, revenge, redemption, and love with a kind of emotional directness that many of the modern genres shy away from.

I can attest to the genre's appeal. My own Westerns remain extremely popular among readers. Pictured to the left are just a few of the ones I've published. They outsell all my other books, except perhaps the ones set in the Appalachian Mountains in the 1800s. But as my husband likes to point out, those stories read very much like Westerns, too. What do you think? Is the Western making a comeback? And if they are, how do you feel about it?

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Take Time for People

And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I shall do unto you? (Matthew 20:32).

Jesus never rushed past people. Scripture shows Him repeatedly pausing His journey, His plans, and even His rest to meet the needs of those around Him. He made time for people, and He gave them His full attention. If we desire to walk as He walked, we must cultivate that same willingness to slow down and see the people God places in our path. A hurried life rarely leaves room for compassion.

One of the best ways to live this out is by intentionally setting aside time with God each day, just as Jesus did. He often withdrew to quiet places to pray, refocus, and realign His heart with the Father’s will. When we begin our day with God by Bible study and prayer, we become more sensitive to His leading and more aware of the opportunities He places before us. This spiritual margin strengthens us to love well and serve well.

We can also build a practical margin into our schedules. If a trip normally takes thirty minutes, plan for forty-five. If a meeting begins at noon, arrive early enough to greet others, listen to them, and be present. These small adjustments create space for divine appointments—moments God uses for us to encourage, comfort, or help someone. And when we’re with people, let’s be fully with them. Undivided attention is a powerful gift in a distracted world, and it reflects the heart of Christ, who always made time for people. Let us take the time to love the way He did.

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On the Road to Jericho

I currently have 92 books listed on Amazon, including three Christian nonfiction. On the Road to Jericho was the first of these. From the Top of the Mountain to the Bottom of the Sea came next, telling of Elijah and Jonah and the lessons we can draw from them. My most recent nonfiction release is Satan's Wiles, and I have another planned for 2027 that will focus on all of the 40 days or 40 years mentioned in the Bible.

On the Road to Jericho centers on the final journey Jesus made from Galilee, traveling south through the Jordan Valley, passing through Jericho, and pressing on to Jerusalem. The climb from Jericho would be rugged, steep, and traditionally wrought with danger. As He ascends toward the Holy City, He will be welcomed amid palm branches and cheers, yet the celebration will quickly give way to betrayal. He will be arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane, stand trials, and suffer crucifixion at Golgotha. 

Knowing that the end of His time on earth is drawing near, Jesus’ teachings are especially deep and rich. He wanted His followers to be ready for the tests and trials to come because they would need understanding to carry on His work and proclaim the gospel message across the world. This is a good book to read around the Easter season. Not only does it chronicle Jesus' last days, but it teaches some of His most poignant, meaningful lessons. So come along on the journey, discover what Jesus wanted His followers to understand, and let your heart be touched in a special way.

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A Street Called Straight

And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth (Acts 9:11).

The Lord is speaking to Ananias, but there's a rich layer of symbolism here. Saul had been a fiercely zealous Jew, convinced he was serving God by persecuting Christians, whom he saw as dangerous heretics. But in reality, he'd been walking a crooked path and departing from God's will. Now, after being confronted by Christ on the Road to Damascus, Saul is finally guided onto the straight path where he needed to be and where God could use him.

Scripture repeatedly calls us to choose the straight way. Jesus spoke not only about the straight path but also the strait or narrow one:

Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it (Matthew 7: 13-14).

Here are some more verses to consider:

I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight (Isaiah 45:2a).

They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them. I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters in a straight way, wherein they shall not stumble . . . (Jeremiah 31:9).

And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed (Hebrews 12:13).

Therefore, we are called to choose the straight, narrow path that leads to God, even though few are willing to walk it. Instead, the world and Satan beckon us to take the wide, winding, well-traveled road that leads to eventual destruction. The wide one may look more inviting, but you won't have Jesus to accompany you on it like you will on the narrow one, and it doesn't lead to heaven. Choose wisely.

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A Bit of the Irish 

I thought, with St. Patrick's Day tomorrow, this would be a good time to highlight a few of my books that feature Irish characters. Since I'm 35% Irish myself (or should I say "meself"?), it's no surprise that a touch of Ireland finds its way into my writing. While several American characters have Irish roots, only one of my protagonists actually hails from Ireland: Sean Murphy from With Summer's Songs. Part of the novel takes place aboard a cruise ship, and Sean serves as one of the officers.

In Going the Extra Mile, Meghan Scott's family emigrated from Ireland and settled in the Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina. Some family members even held onto their Irish accents. Meghan now lives on a mountain in Ashe County with her uncle, until he turns up dead. When a pastor arrives at her door after nearly freezing to death, he becomes an unexpected ally in unraveling the mystery behind her uncle's murder.

Annette's Assignment is also another mystery with an Irish connection. Annette Hunt's sharp mind leads her cousin to recruit her for a contest designed to gather the most intelligent people in Chicago, an unconventional strategy to help him solve the case. One of the other contestants is an Irishman, Flynn O'Leary, who brings his own charm and intrigue to the mix.

And then there's Ryan O'Grady, the hero of Ingrid's Intention. Ryan is also an Irish newspaper reporter who occasionally covers the women's rights movement, and that's where they meet. Although he isn't a supporter of the movement, he's far more open-minded than many of the other men. Ingrid agrees to help him tell the story accurately, and their partnership grows. Since March is also Women's History Month, this novel fits the season in more ways than one.

In Mistaken Bride, Cullen Green shares the story of how the town of Redbud, Arizona, got its name. “An Irishman with a head of red hair founded this town,” Cullen began his story. “In fact, most people called him ‘Red,’ although his real name was Fion Walsh. In honor of the town’s fifth anniversary, he had a tree-planting ceremony and planted this redbud. The town has pampered it ever since.”

These are just some of my books where the Irish make an appearance in one form or another. I love writing about Irish characters. When I traveled to Ireland, I was struck by their indomitable spirit, their ability to laugh at themselves, and their warm, friendly personalities — qualities that are a joy to bring into my stories. Check them out and have a wonderful Saint Patrick's Day.

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