When a gunman attacks Hattie Walker's coach on her journey to an exciting art career in Denver, she is left stranded in the wilderness, only to be picked up by the local Arapaho tribe--a fate that just might be worse, if stories prove true. Lt. Jack Hennessy is called in from Fort Reno to rescue the tribe from the woman they offered refuge, and he is shocked to discover it is none other than the girl from back home that he'd never gotten over--not that she'd ever noticed him. In a burst of inspiration, he decides to play the hero and convinces the tribe to perform a ceremony to hand her over to him, little realizing that the ceremony they are all too happy to perform is a wedding . . .Just as expected, I enjoyed the author's trademark humor and romance, but I found the setting and historical background of the story to be just as compelling.
Having studied the old military forts and Indian relations in Minnesota, I was excited to discover the tribal focus in this book. I was curious about how the author would treat the Indian schools; there was a lot that was wrong with them. A lot. But Jack Hennessy has a point in the story--better to go willingly to a school nearby than to be forced to one across the country where one may never see one's family again, where one will lose all connection to one's home, language, and traditions. The government did that, permanently separating many children from their homes by both distance and culture. I respect the fictional main character for building a relationship with the people with whom he was working, for not just expecting them to learn to be like him, but for studying their language and endeavoring to know them better--a mutual trade of ideas. His is an attitude that was frequently lacking amongst the American military and Indian agents. And I like that the portrayal of the cutting of Tom Broken Arrow's hair was treated with dignity and significance; not as just a common haircut, but as something sorrowful, something brave, something life-altering. It might just be the best scene in the book.
Hattie definitely starts out rather self-centered, but not unpleasant--I liked her throughout the entire book, which I cannot say for all heroines who start out ignorant and spoiled. But I really like how she grows and changes throughout the story, learning to recognize the beauty and significance in moments and emotions, not just pretty scenery. I especially loved her tribute to the school children. Even with how much I was cringing at the beginning (knowing how Jack's plan to impress the girl could only end in disaster), I really loved how the story unfolded.
Fort Reno
1. Holding the Fort
1.5: "Bound and Determined" (from the Hearts Entwined novella collection)
2. The Lieutenant's Bargain
3. The Major's Daughter
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