Lady of the Law (A Maud Overstreet Novel, 2)

"A peaceful Sunday morning shatters when Dry Creek, Californias schoolhouse burns to the ground, the first of many fires. Citizens rally around Sheriff Maud Overstreet, a recently elected 30-something spinster, to help extinguish the flames. Women in the 1870s have little control over their lives and the women of Dry Creek look to Maud as an example of womens progress. Maud soon appoints a woman as fire chief. Then several women choose to run their own businesses, much to the consternation of the male town councilors. While searching for the arsonist, witnessing a shooting which left a man dead, questioning the new concept of insurance and assuming the salesman was the arsonist, Maud also takes on the role of campaign manager for two of her friends, both running for Mayor. Toss in a wild romance, a rowdy town dance, establishing a school for Chinese girls and mysterious threatening notes left on her door and desk, Maud Overstreet faces each challenge with determination. She is, after all, a Lady of the Law"--