This was more of a sequel to the second book than the second was to the first. Reno's half brother, Thad Stevens, is briefly mentioned in this book, and the boy he picked up in book 3 is included in this story.

In this book Julie Wade was looking over her reflection. She was almost 17, but her mother had died 15 months earlier, and she had been isolated at the farm. Her father had died when she was 13, and her stepfather, Jake, wasn't very understanding. Since her mother's death his affections had gone beyond fatherly. As she went past him to leave for the ball, he kissed her. In Fort Smith, a new pavilion had been erected and a ball was held to celebrate. She met her friend, Lorene, who she was going to spend the night with. At the ball she also met Thad Stevens who's picture was in the family album. Stevens introduced Julie to his wife, Stacy, as his cousin. When Julie asked about the man with him in the picture, Stevens told her that it was Jim Reno, his half brother. Julie thought they looked nice in the picture. Stacy had talked to Lorene & found out about Julie's stepfather's intents. Thad didn't think he could get away with it. Two days after their return, Jake came to Julie's bedroom door after he had been drinking. He threatened to break it down if she didn't open it. When he proposed marriage while holding her arms and she told him to leave her alone. When she tried to pull away he said he liked women with spunk. After he left, she opened her mother's Bible to the verse underlined by her mother, "Get thee out of they country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will show thee." After Jake had left the next day she went to see Jackson & Leah, her father's former slaves whom he had given land. Leah asked Julie what was wrong. When Julie proposed running away, Leah asked how she would do it. Julie had some gold pieces her daddy had saved & her mother had given to her before she died. Julie was somewhat frightened to go alone, but Jackson & Leah wanted to go with her because they had heard that in California the color of a person's skin didn't matter so much. Julie convinced that she would marry him, but first she wanted to visit her friend Martha Dutton in Fayetteville to get her clothes together. When Jake put her on the stage, Julie said she'd be back next Friday & the driver took off. It took 2 days to get to Fayetteville, but Leah & Jackson were waiting when she arrived. Leah said she hoped Julie was prayed up, and Julie said she felt they'd need all the help they could get! ( )