SOLVED. YA/ Tween Christian Mystery. Cowgirl story with hidden identity. Read late 1990’s early 2000.

[Amy]

I read this book as a tween myself. Here is what I remember. Book had a brown western style cover with a picture of a ?cowgirl and/or horse on it. (Maybe face hidden by a hat). I think maybe the title had something to do with cowboy’s. Was from a Christian book store.
Storyline - a bit foggy, but starts with a girl on a bus travelling somewhere. Maybe away from something to a ?job? Where she wants to keep her initial identity a secret. Maybe under a name like Sam that could be ambiguous on an application. I feel like she went to work as a cowboy somewhere. Could also have included a mystery about a phantom horse.
Thanks for your help if something rings a bell!

[Amy]

I found it! Yay. I think writing out all I could remember brought back some details, but it definitely is not good news for my memory! 🫣
The book I was thinking of is Phantom Outlaw at Wolf Creek, by Sigmund Brouwer, I’m pretty sure of it. I will Change to Solved.

[Rainbowheart]

Do you think it was part of a series? There are several Christian horse series for teen/tween girls.

Maybe check Lauraine Snelling and Dandi Daley Mackall to see if any of theirs look familiar.

Was the girl in your story high school age?

[Rainbowheart]

Oh good, glad you found it!

Phantom Outlaw at Wolf Creek for the link.