This book unites the past and the present, with human hopes and dilemmas unfolding on compelling natural backdrops. Set in the youthful versions of Canada and Australia, the land and its indigenous peoples powerfully affect English explorers. And while conflicts do occur, with insight and feeling true communication also occurred in these times. In our times, a more mature relationship between Europeans and indigenous peoples is on the rise. It is this writer's hope to contribute to this growth process.As a footnote here, one of the four stories is a romance set in the Canadian west, close to our times.