A prequel to Johnston's previous The Cowboy
and The Texan, this simply written saga is set in 1843, when white settlers and Comanches battled bitterly for possession of Texas. Although born to a white father, Long Quiet embraces the ways of his Comanche mother and harbors hatred for the "White-eyes" who have pushed his people off the land. Then one day he spies Bay Stewart, daughter of a wealthy cotton planter, and instantly (and implausibly) falls in love with her. When she is abducted by Comanches, he spends three years seeking the red-haired beauty before he discovers her hidden among a tribe led by Many Horses, a warrior whose life Long Quiet conveniently saves. In return, Many Horses allows Long Quiet to marry Bay. Two of Long Quiet's most difficult challenges still remain, however. First, he must woo Bay, and then he must decide whether he should renounce his beloved heritage or live, ostracized, among the Comanches. Johnston's intricate family connections boggle the mind and her secondary characters lack dimension. Still, this is a brisk romance chock full of compelling conflicts and strong local color. (Dec. 3)
