Julia Du Val

Julia Du Val's older brother, Edward, a Federal Agent to the Cherokee, and Captain Pierce Mason Butler, a handsome soldier from South Carolina, introduce her to the strange beauty of the vast prairie, and she thrills at the exotic sights of the Indian villages. Nevertheless, the rigors of everyday life and the expectations of her brothers that she maintain the decorum of a proper lady constantly disturb her equanimity. Julia seeks the help of a Cherokee girl, Walela, with her everyday chores. The two young women form a subtle bond, while Edward finds himself enchanted with the Indian girl. While Edward struggles with his powerful feelings for Walela, whose life is so different from his own, Julia must come to terms with her feelings for a military man and the hard life he offers her. Within this one family, one sees the difficult choices the U. S. government had to make with regard to Native Americans.