Debra L. Hall

Winds Across the Prairie Debra L. Hall

It is the summer of 1868 andnothing is more important to Iris Stratton than her love of the prairie, nothing except Andrew Burgess. The previous summer, Andrewtraveled from Boston to thespanning plains of Nebraska, packing dreams of becoming a rancher. His stay was brief however, leaving Iris towonder if she would ever see him again. Then news came from back east. John and Andrew are pushing a massive herd of horses toward the swellinggrasslands. Unbridled excitement fillsthe windy summer days. Iris secretly remains devoted toAndrew, despite the marriage arrangement her father unwittingly sealed at thetime of her birth. One day, while preparing for her'coming of age' party, Iris discovers a letter in the attic; a letter writtenby her long deceased mother. Perplexingquestions begin to unfold. When her primaunt is unwilling to provide the answers, Iris turns to her convalescing fatherwhose only utterance is, . . . Ivy on the wall. The winds that have blown acrossthe prairie have carried away more than the scent of wildflowers. They have whisked away a startling secretthat Iris is determined to reveal.