In the years leading up to the great Civil War, a young English woman named Erema and her father find themselves lost in the harsh Californian desert, having abandoned the safety of their wagon train. As they search for a landmark that promises a shortcut across the mountains to the home of an old friend, Eremas father, George Castlewood, sacrifices his remaining water and rations for her survival, ultimately succumbing just a stones throw from safety. Rescued by the kind-hearted Sampson “Uncle Sam” Gundry, their long-awaited family friend, Erema spends time at his sawmill. However, their peace is disrupted when a bounty hunter named Mr. Goad arrives, offering a staggering $10,000 for proof of Lord Castlewood’s death and custody of his daughter. Fifteen years prior, Lord Castlewood had been wrongfully accused of patricide, escaping from prison and living in the shadows ever since. Driven by her belief in her fathers innocence and a fierce determination to vindicate his name, Erema returns to England to unravel the hidden truths of her family’s past and the mysterious circumstances surrounding her grandfather’s murder. Narrated by Erema herself, this captivating tale weaves together elements of mystery and the poignant journey of a young woman’s growth and resilience against the backdrop of Victorian England and the Civil War. (Summary by Linda Dodge)
