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Chapter 1

The breeze is whispering in the bush,

And the dews fall from the tree

All sighing on, and will not hush

Some pleasant tales of thee

—JOHN CLARE

1881—The Arizona Territory

The sun was just rising behind the distantfro upward into the sky as the loco rails

Stephanie Helton sat at theof the train, gazing at the beauty of the landscape outside Red buttes towered above the soft, gray-green sagebrush on the valley floor, and the endless sky was the only roof in sight

Stephanie was a photographer for the Santa Fe Railroad and had traveled by rail many times, but never before had she felt such an anxiousness to arrive at her destination She had developed a passionate interest in Indian culture after her stepbrother had spoken of his childhood friend so often

“Adam?” she said She turned her eyes from theto look at her stepbrother, who sat across the aisle from her in their private car “How can you remember Runner so vividly? You were only five when you last saw him Surely your recollections are not as accurate as you make them to be”

Adaar from between his lips and smiled over at Stephanie “I remember quite well all about my friend, who is now sometimes called the White Indian,” he said His smile faded into a frown “Trevor was his real name He was my best friend e lived at Fort Defiance Our friendship became even closer ere taken captive by the Navaho I’m sure ould still be loyal friends had his ed”