River of Souls - Blum Ivon B.

Lyrically written, dramatically told, and historically based, this is the epic saga of Pedro Cortez, an 1840s Taos boy, who struggles to manhood during the bloody Pueblo revolt where he confronts betrayal, his father's murder, and cruel Black Hess who saber-cuts Pedro's mother and escapes. Pedro sets out in pursuit, partnered by majestic mountain man, Long John Hatcher, and daring trapper, Louy Simonds. They out-yarn the devil and teach Pedro the true measure of friendship. In California they find gold and mystery; lynchings and scurvy in one of the first placer mines before the rush that changes history forever; and meet Black Hess in fiery revenge. On the way back home, Pedro rescues an abandoned Becky Goddard from scalping knives amid the rumble of wagons and gun-thunder along the Santa Fe Trail. He also discovers a black man, Dibble, and fights the evil of Missouri slave catchers. Pedro and Becky, Hatcher and Louy, Black Hess and a host of Indians, freighters, whores and hellions propel this exciting first novel down a madly churning river of souls.