It's a Long Way from Montana to Boston

About the Book

This is a lesbian, western novel. It is set in the Roundup area of central Montana in the early 2000’s on the Delorian family ranch. Cassandra (Sand), and her mother, Mary, operate the ranch alone, as Mary divorced Sand’s father ten years before for infidelity. Sand clashes with Cord McReynold, a neighbor’s son, in a bar. Infuriated he lures her into an isolated area and threatens to rape her. With the help of her dog, Dopey, and a fencing tool to his crotch she escapes him. After losing a lawsuit against her, he plagues her with various sabotages on the ranch through several months. Two wealthy Massachusetts women move to the area and through Sand’s helping them, they become friends. Their love deepens Sand’s yearning for a partner of her own. The two women try to match-make, inviting friends from Boston at Thanksgiving. A long-distance relationship with Heather seems out of the question to Sand, though she is enchanted with her. A temporary under-sheriff and Sand are attracted to each other but both women are too set in their careers to work things out. Sand and Heather correspond and phone through winter and spring, but the barrier of 2400 miles between them is daunting. Concerns over money, security, and the small town’s gossips make a relationship seem impossible.

About the Author

Aspen McLea is the author’s pen name. She has written four other books and sold several magazine articles under her given name. Aspen is a native Montanan, and has remained in the state all of her life. She lives in southwestern Montana on a small ranch where she used to raise sheep, cattle, and poultry. She wrote cowgirl poetry and performed in gatherings throughout the state for a dozen years. Her experiences building fence, doing carpentry, stacking hay, helping with branding and roundup on a friend's ranch, pulling lambs and calves, and feeding livestock in bitter winter weather make this book more real. That being a homosexual is no longer a felony in Montana, she has dared publish this book.