Saga of the Mountain Sage

A classic tale of danger and possibility in the American frontier, The Morning River is the thrilling first book in Saga of the Mountain Sage series by New York Times bestselling author W. Michael Gear.It's the year 1825 in the untamed vastness of the American frontier. Richard Hamilton, a Harvard philosophy student, arrives in St. Louis on business. Stripped of his possessions and left bruised, he seeks refuge on the Maria, a sturdy keelboat destined for the Upper Yellowstone River, helmed by a seasoned fur trader. Thus begins Richard's voyage into the heart of the wild, a journey that will challenge him beyond his wildest dreams.Simultaneously, a Pawnee warrior named Packrat ensnares Heals Like a Willow, a spirited Shoshone medicine woman. But spiritual slaves possess an uncanny resilience, a will to resist. And in the raw, unforgiving wilderness, the hunter and the hunted lock in a desperate struggle for survival.As the Maria penetrates further into the untouched territory, the lives of Richard and Willow converge. Both are seekers-of knowledge and of spirit-yet divided by time and destiny. When their paths intersect, an improbable love emerges, spawning consequences both palpable and hidden."Gear creates believable fiction that transcends and transforms." -Kirkus ReviewsEmbark on a captivating journey into the heart of Native American heritage, the wild western frontier, and compelling historical fiction. Step into the world of The Morning River today. It's more than a book-it's an adventure waiting to unfold. Will you heed its call?

Immersed in the harsh realities of historical American frontiers, young pioneer Richard Hamilton is tossed, bound and dirt-covered, onto the deck of Dave Green's vessel, the Maria. Staring down the barrel of Green's pistol, he soon realizes his worth as a mere philosopher holds little value in this gritty world.In the wild, Heals Like A Willow, a captive of Packrat Indian, dreams of the White Mist Dog. She's caught in a tactical battle with the Pawnee as she is carried eastward, an unwitting pawn in Packrat's desperate quest to find his estranged father.Meanwhile, Richard, struggling with his harsh circumstances, begins to unearth an inner strength he never knew he possessed. Yet his resolution to escape Maria and return to Boston never wavers. This determination culminates in a dramatic encounter with Willow and Packrat. On board the Maria, as they painstakingly ascend the Missouri, both Willow and Richard embark on a journey of self-discovery.But this voyage through the historical American frontier is fraught with peril. Scheming boatmen, anxious Native American chiefs, and unruly passions all threaten to derail their journey. As they navigate these hazards, Willow will make a pivotal decision that alters both her and Richard's destiny forever.Don't miss this riveting tale of survival, determination, and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity. Immerse yourself in a world where the historical American frontier comes to life with its challenges, triumphs, and heartbreaks.Don't wait! Step aboard the Maria and experience this captivating journey. Order your copy today!

The epic begun in The Morning River and White Mist Dog continues in Saga of the Mountain Sage Book Three, A Panther's Scream.Having made the decision to leave Richard and the whites, Willow packs, only to discover that all of the expedition's horses, including her own, have been stolen-a fact the scarred hunter, Travis Hartman can't abide! For Richard, the pursuit of the thieves and recovery of the animals will leave him forever changed.Meanwhile, the Arikara make their move on Maria, ending in a bloody battle where Willow crosses a line she never anticipated. Reunited with a wounded Richard, she struggles to save his life. But some bridges cannot be crossed. Heartbroken, she leaves in the desperate hopes of returning to her people. Only to face her biggest challenge yet when a Blackfeet raiding party crosses her path, for they have a captive too dear to her heart to let die.As the Maria struggles to ascend the Yellowstone, Dave Green will meet the end of all his dreams. And Richard will face the wilderness alone, and battle for his very life.

Coyote Summer is the final volume in New York Times, Western Writers Hall of Fame, and Spur Award winning author, W. Michael Gear's epic Saga of the Mountain Sage quartet. Set against the backdrop of the majestic Rocky Mountains and amidst a rich tapestry of Indian cultures-Sioux, Mandan, Crow, Shoshoni-Coyote Summer tells an unforgettable tale of love and reconciliation.Lost in the blowing snow and deep-cold of a Wyoming winter, young Richard Hamilton stumbles south along the foothills of the Big Horn Mountains. Desperate, fighting a battle with starvation and frostbite, Richard drifts closer and closer to disaster, until the day he takes a fall and breaks his rifle. Now, it's but a matter of time.Meanwhile, Willow fights off endless suitors, as she winters with the high mountain Dukurika. And through it all are the growing whispers of witchcraft, which culminate when her Power leads her to Richard's half-frozen body. Saving him will condemn her and leave her adrift and shunned by all people.When White trappers arrive in Richard and Willow's camp with news about a wilderness rendezvous their lives will change forever. And with it comes a decision and a chance for Richard to return to Boston. There he faces a final confrontation with his father, Laura Templeton, and his every dream come true. But then, all choices come at a terrible cost; Coyote plays all people for fools, and Richard must bet everything on one last desperate gamble."… it doesn't lack for excitement… Gear succeeds in creating something more than a mere historical novel." ―Roundup Magazine