If there is anyone who could write nerve-wracking scenes (in a good way), it is Elizabeth Lane. This story has enough subplots to keep the story humming along at a great pace.
Very pregnant Charity Bennett is traveling along with her minister-husband and a small band of missionaries (and their wives). When Silas, Charity's husband, shoots one of the young braves riding along side the train, things get ugly fast. In minutes, everyone is dead except Charity (who was told to hide). The angry braves burn the wagons and still Charity stays hidden. By the time the Indians leave, the wagon in which she is hiding is burning, Charity's dress is charred and creating severe burns. Still she hides until the Indians are gone. Then she jumps from the inferno, falls to the ground and faints.
Soon, an Arapaho Indian arrives and finds Charity. Because the Arapaho life path includes giving to others, Black Sun has no choice but help the wounded white woman. However, he hates white people because his white father beat his Indian mother unmercifully until he died.
Black Sun has been on a quest for his grandfather. I cannot find a way to describe it in a few words but Black Sun's deep understanding of the Arapaho psyche and his fears of the white man's interference in Indian life are integral to this tale. Readers can emerge from this book with a deeper understanding of the Arapaho and how Indians think, in general.
Very pregnant Charity Bennett is traveling along with her minister-husband and a small band of missionaries (and their wives). When Silas, Charity's husband, shoots one of the young braves riding along side the train, things get ugly fast. In minutes, everyone is dead except Charity (who was told to hide). The angry braves burn the wagons and still Charity stays hidden. By the time the Indians leave, the wagon in which she is hiding is burning, Charity's dress is charred and creating severe burns. Still she hides until the Indians are gone. Then she jumps from the inferno, falls to the ground and faints.
Soon, an Arapaho Indian arrives and finds Charity. Because the Arapaho life path includes giving to others, Black Sun has no choice but help the wounded white woman. However, he hates white people because his white father beat his Indian mother unmercifully until he died.
Black Sun has been on a quest for his grandfather. I cannot find a way to describe it in a few words but Black Sun's deep understanding of the Arapaho psyche and his fears of the white man's interference in Indian life are integral to this tale. Readers can emerge from this book with a deeper understanding of the Arapaho and how Indians think, in general.
