Nicodemus: a Heart's Journey

Ruth May James is a fifteen year old girl whose mother, a former slave, chose to stay on the master's farm after emancipation. When Momma dies, Ruth is left alone. Her former master pays the five dollar train fare to send her from Lexington, Kentucky to Nicodemus, Kansas in 1878 to begin a new life. It is here that she must discover how to build relationships, live this new life, and trust in the legacy of faith her mother has left her. Starting in 1877, former slaves could pay five dollars each to ride a train that would take them from Central Kentucky to Nicodemus, Kansas. It is the only town in the United States totally built by emancipated slaves and still occupied by some of their descendants. Although little is known about Nicodemus, historically it is an important piece of Americana. Today it is a national historic landmark, full of untold memories, secrets, and stories. Nicodemus, A Heart's Journey is a fictional account of one person's story and what life might have been like for her.