Walk Into the Flame — Ronda Thompson

THE EMBER

Abandoned by her father, Rachel Brodie was adopted and raised by the Mescalero Indians. Silent Wind she was called; and the smoldering eyes of Swift Buck -- her handsome adoptive brother -- urged her to drop all pretense of being White, to walk into the flame of desire, to accept her destiny. Unable to let go of the past, Rachel fled.

& THE FLAME

When she returned, five years had passed. The U.S. government had been mistreating, herding and destroying the Mescaleros, and Rachel had come prepared to fight. She wasn't prepared to see Swift Buck again. She'd heard he'd been killed, but here he was -- his eyes filled with distrust. And he wasted no time in using her as a hostage against the Federal soldiers. Yet wasn't this abduction just what she'd yearned for? It was a chance to prove that no matter the color of her skin, she would always be one of the People. Now, if Swift Buck asked, she would not only walk into the fire, she would let it consume her.