Hell & Back: An Ohio History Classic (Raising Cain Book 6)
About
The Kentucky Derby is a 1.25-mile race over smooth terrain and is said to be the most exciting two minutes in sports. Imagine racing two hundred miles over wilderness trails from Marietta to Chillicothe and back. It’s what made the Statehood Challenge of 1802 the most heralded event in Early American history. Young Billy Cain had to do it against men twice his age.
The Statehood Challenge is a precursor to Ohio’s bid to become the seventeenth state in the Union. It offers a purse of $1,000 to the winner and attracts riders from every corner of the young nation and its western territories.
Nobody wants to win the race more than wealthy Clayton Maxwell. But he is jostled and thrown from the back of Blackjack before the race can start. Charged to take his place, young Billy Cain climbs into the saddle with no hopes of winning.
It’s a long race, though, and the favored Blackjack gobbles up mile after mile. As Billy and Blackjack gain ground on the leaders, cutthroat competitors, savage weather, and saboteurs stand in his way.
Instead of winning, all Billy wants to do is survive.