The reader is specifically warned against using any of the plant or herbal medications mentioned herein. They are included only to give the authentic flavor of the times. Readers are implored to seek the advice of a doctor before undertaking any experiments in their use. Chapter 1 April, 1889, Oklahoma Indian Nation Blair clutched her hands tightly together and burrowed them within the folds of her skirt. Her mouth was dry, and the hard knot that had been in her stomach since she'd left the train had inched its way upward until it was now firmly lodged in the column of her throat, constricting each ragged breath. Her heart hammered wildly against her breast. She stole a quick glance at the young man sitting beside her on the wagon seat, then focused her attention on the passing landscape that had burst into life after a harsh winter. Strangely, the budding limbs of gnarled blackjack oaks and colorful array of new grass and wildflowers did not look nearly as inviting as she thought it would.
