Clear River - Mary Derriman

This new book, unlike 'Letter for A Spy' my Regency novel, is set in nineteenth century America. Katherine Rivers sets out with her family on the pioneer trail from Independence Missouri to California in 1850. Her parents die in a Cholera outbreak but Kathie stays on with her aunt and uncle instead of returning east as many do. Kathie helps a Sioux brave after an Indian raid on the wagons which were isolated from main party. She is taken to the Indian camp but is treated well. When the Indians go to trade at Fort Laramie she leaves the Indians and is reunited with her uncle's family and meets a dashing soldier Danny Wheeler. She survives many adventures involving both Danny and Little Hawk the Indian brave. Danny considers Kathie his girl, but she is undecided. Will she follow her head or her heart?