Many Fires

Elizabeth Wheaton has escaped the destruction of the South by moving west with her family at sixteen, leaving behind a very young dead husband.She has spent several years as a captive of the Indians and was taken as a fourth wife by the Cheyanne chief, Sleeps With Eagle. Buffalo Woman, the first wife, although jealous of Elizabeth valued her healing abilities, used especially on the children. Major James Ryerson had heard of her healing abilities and needed her to heal his troops. Elizabeth spotted the problems right off, the men were unkempy, unclean, and generally neglected by the Army. Being left in the care of Sergeant Dixon left Elizabeth wary and uneasy, for the men were Negros.Ryerson was famous for leading the Ryerson Raiders and had an unstable temper. One no man cared to face. Elizabeth was forced off her prairie hovel in Vegatarian, Nebraska to care for the Colored troup and ended up having to care for Ryerson also, thereby finding a way to deal with the man.She learned of his marriage to Helen and the lose of his son, Jamie and generally what made this man tick.Her continued help was needed at the Fort as the doctor refused general care to Ryerson's men. And they were preparing for war with Elizabeth's beloved Cheyenne.The exchanges are humorous, delightful and insightful and surprising. Learn of Elizabeth's marriage to the War Chief and Ryerson's jealousy of Sleeps With Eagle. Of James gentleness of spirit at times and of his desire for "Many Fires". Their love affair, developing after marriage, covered many miles and constant compromise and surrender. [P.S. I think I would have slapt James also for his attitude] What does a woman have if she loses her husband if not her children.HIGHLY RECOMMENDED - thoroughly enjoyable and will grip your interest till the end.

Major James Ryerson's brutal attacks on the South had destroyed Elizabeth Wheaton's life...and nearly robbed her of her spirit. His name was forever etched in her mind-even after she fled the South to seek peace from the war she despised. Out West Elizabeth was taken captive by the Cheyenne, but the rugged tribe grew to respect the radiant beauty who became their healer and lived among them as a friend. They called her Many Fires. Elizabeth vowed to forget her painful past-until Major Ryerson arrived at her stark home on the prairie. Ryerson's troops faced an inevitable conflict with the Cheyenne, but his men desperately needed the medical attention only Elizabeth could provide. To safeguard Elizabeth's honor, the pair agreed to pose at husband and wife-and soon discovered a lasting bond in their hatred of war. Together, they fought to mend the heartache of their broken past-while surrendering to the many fires of longing that burned in their souls... from the back of the book