The Flower in the Mountains

A small party of The People head to Santa Fe to trade with the Spanish. While there Red Feather, son of Woodchuck, is accused by a newly arrived party of French of stealing. During this confrontation Red Feather is shot. Badly wounded he manages to steal a horse and escape. Woodchuck and his companions set out to find Red Feather under shadows of fear. Is Red Feather dead? Will the French be hunting Red Feather for horse theft? Why are the French here? Are they really here to try to capture Woodchuck who's really a French deserter? This book continues, and ties up, a number of unfinished threads from previous stories. Don Coldsmith keeps the reader guessing as to the true nature of the French's mission and the book builds to an exciting chase through the desert. But it is only when The People are very near to home that Coldsmith reveals why the French are here. A revelation that leads to tragedy and hints at a vast change for the coming generations of The People in how they will live their lives. Another hit in this excellent series, although I would suggest that a newcomer to these books would have their enjoyment of this entry greatly enhanced by reading the earlier numbers first.