Lucky Red

In 1877, 16-year-old redheaded Bridget Shaughnessy arrives in Dodge City, Kansas, orphaned and penniless. She is taken in by the madam at the Buffalo Queen, the only woman-owned brothel in town. Bridget takes to the trade with alacrity, thankful for regular meals and a place to sleep. The local sheriff becomes one of Bridget’s regulars, providing protection to the establishment and even proffering a marriage proposal. Then, a connection to Sallie, a former brothel employee, awakens Bridget’s sexuality, prompting her to realize how deeply attracted she is to women. Bridget is heartbroken when a violent incident forces Sallie to leave town, but she is soon captivated by Spartan Lee, a woman bounty hunter who takes the town—Bridget included—by storm. Narrator Elena Rey provides an animated performance of Cravens’s debut, a spectacular and refreshing take on the classic Western. Rey reads with a charming drawl that captures Bridget’s irrepressible spirit. She convincingly depicts Cravens’s other unforgettable women characters, determined to maintain their independence and carve out lives for themselves.