This book was impossible to put down. It is an absorbing novel set in (apparently) early 1900s Oregon. It is well researched as to the history and conditions prevailing in a country always hard to live in. And it is a rollicking good story.

it's about an indian girl named Ruhama. Her dad kills a man by an accident and they are running away from the whole incident. Indian woman named Sedaya is included amongst them and so is their close friend Askwani. They ended up in a ship and they travelled with strangers. During this voyage Sedaya and Warne's eyes are met and Ruhama disapproves of it. Later on they have a baby together and Sedaya dies of a fever. Warne also dies, but this time because of a stab with the knife from someone obviously related to the man that Warne killed. Askwani and Ruhama has to raise the baby and they also go out and look for the right territory.