When Dusty Rose and his girlfriend, Cassie Martin, decide to take a month-long horseback riding vacation to Arizona, they anticipate leisurely rides in sunny bright weather. They drive Dusty’s living-quarter horse trailer, leaving Enumclaw, Washington in October, thankful to be leaving Northwest’s fall drizzle to bask in Arizona sunshine.
They stay at various campgrounds along the way. At one of the campsites, they meet a fellow camper who drives what appears to be a furniture truck. He speaks with a Spanish accent and mentions he lives in Mexico, but is in the United States on business. He casts leering eyes at Cassie, and Dusty and Cassie are immediately suspicious of the fellow and make every attempt to avoid him.
One morning, Dusty wakes to find Cassie already up and out of the trailer. He figures she is feeding their horses. But when he finds the horses without her, he becomes alarmed. With a sinking heart, he sees that the furniture truck is also gone.
Goin’ South is a suspenseful read that delves into the horrific business of human trafficking. Author Susie Drougas has done her research on this topic and tells a good story. Drougas is also an accomplished backcountry trail rider which adds authenticity to her stories.
Goin’ South is Book 5 of the Dusty Rose series.