Finalist for the Spur Award: The author of The Overmountain Men and The Border Men concludes his epic adventure of Tennessee's early history. The United States of America has just been born from the fires of revolution. But in the wilds of Tennessee in the Southwest Territory, a fire still burns-especially in the heart of fifteen-year-old Owen Killefer. For Owen witnessed the massacre of his family by Tom Turndale-a depraved marauder who deserted the British during the war to live with the Chickamauga and plague the frontier settlements. And worse, Turndale took Owen's sister captive as his prize. Now, amidst the growing unrest and hostilities between the new Americans pushing ever westward and the native Indians who have trusted too many broken treaties, Owen must find a way to save his sister and avenge his family.