A group of nuns hire Caleb to guide them to a remote area in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains where they plan to build a school to serve the settlers and Indians. Reluctant at first because it’s an area with which he’s unfamiliar, Caleb finally agrees and talks his wife, Flora, into coming along. Caleb and Flora, along with Snuffy, the brown bear who considers himself part of the family, set out on a weeklong journey. Along the way, they encounter a gang of drifters, but beat them off. When they finally arrive at their destination, they find that the local settlers are at odds with the Cheyenne tribe in the area, with the nuns caught in the middle. Caleb can’t leave until he’s sure the nuns will be safe. His figure out how to ensure that.
I've been writing since my teens. In addition to writing for several newspapers and magazines in the US, Europe, Asia, and Africa, I've written two books on leadership and a number of fiction works. I'm also a published poet, photographer, and artist. I write in several genres, reflecting my broad reading tastes. I spent 20 years in the army, retiring in 1982 and becoming a diplomat. I've worked in about 10 countries and traveled to about 30 more, mining each for material to write about.
It amazes me that the nuns thought they could build all of their buildings by themselves, but it was more amazing that everyone pitched in and helped, and these nuns were able to accomplish a lot. I’m glad the story was built upon the fact that white children and Indian children could go to school together and learn and not be enemies.