Their children (only those who appear in this novel):

Zeke Pershing, age 36

Hannah Bramwell, age 36, Zeke’s wife

Joel Pershing, age 34

Esther Pershing Abercrombie, age 32

Daniel Abercrombie, age 35, Esther’s husband

Their children:

Cordelia, age 15

Sammy, age 14

Others (rarely seen in this novel): Abigail, Franklin, Harriet,

George, Thomas, Daniel, Esther, Abraham

Jonah Pershing, age 16, raised from birth by Esther and Daniel

Militia Members on the Owyhee Expedition:

(only those who appear in this novel are named; the names are real, but their personalities are fictionalized)

Lieutenant Colonel Charles S. Drew

Captain William Kelly

Sergeant James Moore

Sergeant Garrett Crockett

Sergeant A. M. Beaty

Sergeant Geisy

Corporal Abner Biddle

Surgeon G. W. Greer

And 39 enlisted soldiers of Company C of the First Oregon

Cavalry Militia

Civilians hired by the militia:

8 Quartermaster’s employees, including guide, blacksmith,

teamsters, 2 Indian scouts, and 23 mule packers

Oregon in 1864. Map by Johnson & Ward

Chapter 1: Playing Hooky

Will McDougall glanced over his shoulder, then tapped his heels against Shanty’s sides to spur the gelding along the road. He should be in school, but his friend Jonah Pershing had invited him to help on his family’s farm outside Oregon City. The two boys had been friends since before Will could remember, and Will was set on going. Though he hadn’t told his parents he was playing hooky.

At sixteen, Will didn’t see the point of attending school—he knew as much as his teachers, and he could learn what he needed from the newspapers. The Oregon City and Portland papers were full of stories about the War of Rebellion between Union and Secessionists. Violence had engulfed the nation since Fort Sumter, and it continued as of now, March 1864, almost three years later. Not only was there war in the East, but Indian attacks were frequent in Oregon. All of this was more important than classes at the academy.

As Will rode up the hillside out of Oregon City, he looked back to be sure Pa hadn’t seen him leave. No one followed—he’d escaped unseen. He patted Shanty’s shoulder. “Come on, boy,” he said. “Let’s have some fun.”

He and Shanty trotted east along a dirt road, passing through fields and forests as town turned to farmland. The morning air was clear, but a stiff wind blew, and Will hunkered down in his jacket, glad he’d remembered his gloves.

Mount Hood, visible on the horizon ahead of them, was snowcapped. But the high peak was white year-round, so he couldn’t tell if new snow had fallen in the mountains overnight. He shivered and urged Shanty to move a little faster.

Thirty minutes after leaving home, Will and his horse arrived at the farm where Jonah Pershing lived. Like Will, Jonah was sixteen. Jonah lived with his sister and her husband, Esther and Daniel Abercrombie. He was Esther’s youngest brother, and when their mother died, Esther took on raising Jonah.

Will dismounted, tied Shanty to the paddock railing, then went to find Jonah. He poked his head in the barn and saw his friend. “I’ve come to help,” Will said. “What are we planting today?”

“Beans, I think.” Jonah called over his shoulder to Sammy, Esther’s and Daniel’s oldest son. “Did Daniel say we was workin’ on beans today?”

“Yeah,” Sammy said. “In the south field.”