SOLVED. 15 year old runs away from home with the town's rebel [s]

[Shirlene]

I guess it could be considered a western love story. The 15 year old girl's mother dies and leaves her and her father with a bunch of other children. She has to take care of them and work on their farm. She ends up falling in love with a boy that lives with his 2 older brothers and they are known for being rebels. The girl's father finds out and threatens them, so they run away together. I believe that the book is called "Ellie" but I cannot remember the author's name and I can't find the book anywhere.

[Lindsey]

How long ago did you read this? Here are two that sound like they might fit your description:

1.) Ellie Pride by Annie Groves
"A stirring tale charting the life of Ellie Pride, a beautiful Preston girl who, when her mother dies, must forge her own way in the world. Warned by her mother on her deathbed to forsake love and passion for stability and social status, Ellie must spurn the advances of handsome Gideon Walker, despite her deep attraction to him. With her father struggling to cope with two children, Ellie is exiled to live with her aunt and uncle in Hoylake. Her mother's dream is that this will give her the chance to escape her background forever. Ellie attempts to get on with her life - but Gideon is never far from her thoughts. Even once she is trapped in a loveless marriage, their paths are destined to cross again and again with far-reaching and devastating consequences."

2.) A Promise for Ellie by Lauraine Snelling
"Return to Blessing, North Dakota, with the story of Andrew Bjorklund and Ellie Wold. After graduating in May of 1900, the two make plans to marry once the harvest is over and their new house is finished. They spend the summer working hard, and the Lord seems to shine on and in them in a special way. Everyone rejoices in their happiness. Everyone except for Toby Valders, who is determined to get even for all the drubbings he has taken from Andrew through the years. Andrew, however, has promised Ellie there will be no more fistfights. But when their new barn burns--and many of their possessions and dreams with it--Andrew throws his vows of nonviolence aside, reaping bitter consequences. Why is the life he has so looked forward to now unraveling so quickly?"

Good luck!

[CLM]

Or possibly not Ellie but Lily by Cindy Bonner:
A good girl falls so in love with a bad boy that she forsakes everything to ride with him - outlaw and fugitive that he is. Lily DeLony, fifteen, tells her very one-sided version of what happened on Christmas Eve night 1883 in the town of McDade, Texas when a vigilante group made up of ordinary citizens struck against a gang of outlaws. One of the outlaw gang was the love of Lily's young life...

[Shirlene]

CLM wrote: "Or possibly not Ellie but Lily by Cindy Bonner:
A good girl falls so in love with a bad boy that she forsakes everything to ride with him - outlaw and fugitive that he is. Lily DeLo..."

That is it! It is Lily. Thanks!