A Lantern in Her Hand

The classic story of Abbie and Will Deal—pioneers who left everything behind for a new life on America’s frontier.



Abbie Mackenzie dreamed of becoming a fine lady like her aristocratic grandmother, devoting herself to music and art. But at eighteen Abbie found a different dream, turning away from the promise of a comfortable life as a doctor’s wife to marry handsome, quiet Will Deal. Together, they eagerly accepted the challenge of homesteading in Nebraska territory, where the prairies stretched as far as the eye could see, and only the strongest survived for long.



For over 90 years, reader have cherished Abbie’s story—an inspiring story of struggle against unexpected perils, of love, of the land she helped nurture, and the family she raised.