A Western adventure about an aging cowboy and his nephew who transport horses while protecting rescued Chinese girls from ruthless pursuers.
Story Structure — 4 Plot Phases
The Perilous Journey
Prentice and Tom begin their horse drive from Oregon to Wyoming, facing the challenges of the frontier.
Key Events
Horse Drive Begins — Prentice and Tom begin driving horses to Wyoming Characters: Prentice Ritter, Tom HarteLocation: Oregon
Rescue Chinese Girls — Rescue five Chinese girls from slave trader Characters: Prentice Ritter, Tom Harte, Sun Foy, Ging Wa, Ye Fung, Ghee Moon, Lung HayLocation: Frontier
Join Forces — Lung Hay joins the group to help with the girls Characters: Prentice Ritter, Tom Harte, Lung HayLocation: Frontier
Rescue and Pursuit
The rescue of Chinese girls complicates their journey as they become targets for ruthless killers.
Key Events
Join Forces — Lung Hay joins the group to help with the girls Characters: Prentice Ritter, Tom Harte, Lung HayLocation: Frontier
Gang Pursuit Begins — Killers sent by Big Rump Kate begin pursuit Characters: Prentice Ritter, Tom Harte, Big Ears, Big Rump KateLocation: Frontier
Nola Arrives — Nola Johns joins the group Characters: Prentice Ritter, Tom Harte, Nola JohnsLocation: Frontier Town
First Attack — Gang attacks the group Characters: Prentice Ritter, Tom Harte, Big Ears, Sun Foy, Ging Wa, Ye Fung, Ghee MoonLocation: Mountain Pass
Girls Learn Skills — Girls learn survival skills Characters: Tom Harte, Sun Foy, Ging Wa, Ye Fung, Ghee Moon, Lung HayLocation: Campsite
Confrontation and Survival
The group faces multiple attacks from the pursuing gang while protecting the Chinese girls.
Key Events
Girls Learn Skills — Girls learn survival skills Characters: Tom Harte, Sun Foy, Ging Wa, Ye Fung, Ghee Moon, Lung HayLocation: Campsite
Second Attack — Major confrontation with the gang Characters: Prentice Ritter, Tom Harte, Big Ears, Nola Johns, Sun Foy, Ging WaLocation: River Crossing
Gang Defeated — Prentice and Tom defeat the pursuing gang Characters: Prentice Ritter, Tom Harte, Big Ears, Nola Johns, Sun Foy, Ging Wa, Ye FungLocation: Frontier
Redemption and Arrival
After defeating their pursuers, the group successfully completes their journey and finds safety for everyone.
Key Events
Gang Defeated — Prentice and Tom defeat the pursuing gang Characters: Prentice Ritter, Tom Harte, Big Ears, Nola Johns, Sun Foy, Ging Wa, Ye FungLocation: Frontier
Arrive in Wyoming — Successfully deliver horses to British Army Characters: Prentice Ritter, Tom Harte, Nola Johns, Sun Foy, Ging Wa, Ye Fung, Ghee MoonLocation: Wyoming
Girls Find Safety — Chinese girls find safety and new beginnings Characters: Prentice Ritter, Tom Harte, Nola Johns, Sun Foy, Ging Wa, Ye Fung, Ghee Moon, Lung HayLocation: Wyoming
Story Breakdown
The Horse Drive — Transporting 500 horses from Oregon to Wyoming
Prentice and Tom — Uncle and nephew partners
British Army Deal — Selling horses to the military
The Rescue — Saving Chinese girls from slavery
The Girls — Five rescued Chinese women
Lung Hay — Helper who joins the group
The Pursuit — Escaping from hired killers
Big Ears — Leader of the pursuing gang
Big Rump Kate — Whorehouse madam who sent the killers
The Romance — Developing relationships during the journey
Prentice and Nola — Growing attraction
Tom and Nola — Rival for Nola's affection
The Resolution — Completing the journey and finding safety
Deliver Horses — Successful delivery to British Army
Girls' Future — Finding safety and new beginnings
The story is about an aging cowboy and his nephew who transport 500 horses from Oregon to Wyoming to sell them to the British Army. Along the way, their simple horse drive is complicated when they rescue five Chinese girls from a slave trader, saving them from a life of prostitution and indentured servitude. Compelled to do the right thing, they take the girls with them as they continue their perilous trek across the frontier, followed by a vicious gang of killers sent by the whorehouse madam who originally paid for the girls.
Broken Trail weaves together two historical events: the British buying horses in the American West in the late 19th century and Chinese women being transported from the West Coast to the interior to serve as prostitutes.
