Description:

It’s 1861 in New Mexico Territory, and the Civil War is about to have a startling impact on Matty Summerhayes. Matty is struggling to develop a horse ranch to make enough money to return to the East. A stranger dies in her barn...with a map of her land in his pocket. Then war is declared, and Texans invade her valley for the Confederacy. Rumors begin to fly about a lost gold mine and soon someone is trying to run her off her ranch. Then her closest friend Winona — a one-time slave who is now nearing childbirth — is about to be stoned for practicing voodoo, and only Matty’s creative quick thinking can save her. But when Matty’s greatest secret is exposed, she must find a killer or lose her ranch. ### About the Author Penny Rudolph has worked as a bartender, truck driver, chili picker, science writer, and medical writer. She’s taught high school and college English, creative writing, and journalism.