Cecile Palmer believed that all her dreams had come true when she met the handsome Walt Williams. He had bought a piece of land out on the prairie and was about to begin a new adventure in his life. The two had fallen in love instantly and were married right away. What Cecile did not realize was that the life Walt offered was not the pampered life she had lived with her wealthy parents. Instead, the land that Walt bought had only a run down shack and barn on it, and it needed a lot of tending to. She had never done more than a few light chores in her life. But she was with the man she loved, and decided it was best to just buckle-down and deal with it.

Walt needed to go and get their supplies for the winter and said he should be gone about a week. Cecile was a bit apprehensive about being alone, but knew someone had to stay and tend the animals. A week had gone by and Cecile was beginning to get worried when suddenly the door burst open and a Lakota Indian stepped inside and fell to the floor, injured. Once awake and recovering from his injury, he said his name was Lone Eagle. and he had gotten his injury while trying to help a white man with supplies who was being attacked by scavengers. The man seemed to fit Walt's description. Cecile was devastated not only because it seemed she had lost her husband, but she had realized in the days while Walt was gone that she was expecting a child.

As Lone Eagle recovered, he helped around the farm and grew to care for Cecile. Winter was coming and he would soon have to return to his tribe before the snows blocked his way. He also knew that Cecile would have to go with him as she could not survive alone. When the two discussed it, Cecile did not want to go, but knew that Lone Eagle was right and she would have to go with him. Sadly, she packed up her things and left. Once they reached his tribe, Cecile was accepted by some and hated by others. Now she not only had to learn a new language, she had to learn a whole new way of living and thinking about the world in which she lived.

Becoming happy with her new life with the tribe and with Lone Eagle as her husband and father to her new son, Cecile could not imagine living anywhere else, or with any other people. That is until the day a trader came to town wearing the belt buckle that Walt used to wear. She found out that Walt was still alive and in a town a few days away. Cecile realized that Walt and her parents did not know what happened to her, and she knew she must go back to honor the pledge she had made to Walt when she married him. Afraid that her family would think that her son was Lone Eagle's, she left him with the tribe and returned to Walt and her parents.

Once she found Walt, Cecile realized her love for Lone Eagle was so strong that she wasn't sure she could live the rest of her life in white society-a place she did not want to be

I had mixed feelings toward this book. I liked the story and the characters. I felt that they were for the most part believable and had some depth.
Also, I did like the way the intimate passion between Cecile and Lone Eagle was written. I could feel the depth of their need and the way they satisfied each other. It was not just physical. It meant something to both of them that was much deeper than lust for physical satisfaction. What bothered me was the tempo and the action toward the end of the book. I felt that this book moved very slowly. I understand that there was much to explain to the reader-especially about Lakota traditions. However, at times, when being showered with one tradition or task after another, it just seemed like too much information that slowed us down. For example, when the tribe's horses were stolen, we had to first go through the cleansing ceremony for the warriors and then the painting of themselves and their horses. Other than to show what a great leader Lone Eagle was, or worse yet, to just give Cecile one more thing to worry about, I did not see the need for this scene. From previous actions of Lone Eagle, it was clear that he was a wise man and a good leader.

Additionally, I did not think that Cecile's decision to go back to the white man's world was plausible. I do understand wanting to let one's parents and spouse know what has happened to them. But if this decision was just a way to show how much Cecile loved and needed Lone Eagle, I think that was shown earlier when their son was kidnapped and then found. There was no animosity shown from Lone Eagle toward Cecile even though she left the baby unattended and susceptible to being taken. Instead we saw how they supported one another during and after this traumatic time. There is also Walt's willingness to accompany Cecile back to the Lakota. It was made plain that his love was not that strong to overcome staying married to a woman who had been with another man, especially an Indian. I just did not believe that he would be willing to help Cecile get back to Lone Eagle.

In conclusion, I would not discourage someone from reading this if they are looking for a book to read during an afternoon at the beach. But for those looking for something that moves fast, I would not recommend it.
Reviewed By: Kathy Martin
(c) July 2004