Trail of Darkness

Ingrid Swanson is living at Fort Defiance, in the Arizona Territory, after her family was killed by Mexican bandits. The time is 1860. Chee Panther, a Navajo warrior is scouting this fort, newly built on Navajo land. He rescues lngrid from a brutal assault by a Ute Indian. Attracted to her golden haired beauty, he takes her to live with his clan in Canyon de Chelly. Fearful of becoming an Indian slave, Ingrid flees. Panther searches for and finds her severely injured by a flashflood. Although Panthers father, Headman Manuelito, is angry about the white woman being in the settlement again, he cannot fight his son’s feelings for his Yucca Flower, Ingrid’s new name. The gentleness and caring of this fierce warrior, the healing skills of his grandmother and two sisters, during her recovery, bonds Ingrid to a new family. Attraction blossoms into love, two cultures are united. Panther and Yucca Flower leave to live by themselves until a hunting injury to Panthers legs forces their return for help. Kit Carson is ordered to lead the army to “round up” the Navajo. This is the only way to stop their interference with the expansion and settling of the Southwest. Panther leads the fight against Carson and his “scorched earth” policy with his wife at his side. The odds are overwhelming. Carson invades Canyon de Chelly. The clan is captured, the settlement and crops burned. All are forced to join the mass of Navajo herded on the Long Walk to internment at Fort Sumner. lngrid is forced to rejoin the white world, but remains steadfast in her goal to find Panther. She connives to get to Fort Sumner where she searches among the several thousands of Navajo. His family is there, but Panther is not, Ingrid remains resolute that the love they shared will prevail. Somehow they will be reunited to live as Chee Panther and Yucca Flower.