Small tear on book jacket cover Bantam Books, 1985 book club edition, 275 pages This colorful, romantic novel brings to life the raw beauty and powerful spirit of the Montana Territory in 1865, where white men conquer the untamed wilderness... and Indians struggle to keep their dying heritage alive. Panther Burn, a lean, virile and proud Cheyenne, grieves for his once proud people. For they have embraced the Christian culture in an effort to maintain peace. Now broken in spirit, they will not listen to his words of free-dom. Yet there is one who is not afraid of his fiery independence-the beautiful daughter of a medicine woman, Rebecca Blue Thrush. Trained in the art of magical, sacred Indian rites, she, too, yearns for the way of life she remembers from her childhood. Drawn to Panther Burn by his haunting melodies and ancient tales of the tribe's courage, she rides with him into the mountains one glorious night. Their desires merge with the wind and stars and their bodies and souls become one. But their happiness together arouses the jealousy of Rebecca's suitor, James Broken Knife.