This is another installment in the long lineage of the Fowler family about Starr Fowler whose ""stagefaring"" hands put him on the overland run from Salt Lake, Denver, and other points west round about 1859. Two-thirds of this proceeds by slower stage-s than the earlier books and you might find yourself hitting the hay early--with lots of description about the men behind the horses and some of the authentic originals of the time: Ben Holladay who in 1961 put this line on ""greased wheels""; Slade, bullwhacker/killer of 26 men who was caught and condemned in one hour; Indians, more and less quiet. Starr's family on the road are the Westmorelands and there's his first love for Bernie who goes off (to marry the Indian whom Starr will kill only to learn he's his half-brother) and final one for Bucky, a tomboy who grows up into an equally spunky girl during the long months of her capture by the red men.... Early Americana, sentiment, grit and hominy and it's for sure you can't take this country out of the girl.