Beyond the Shining Mountains — Doris Shannon

Laurie Woodbyne, son of an English aristocrat, has married for money. At first Esmeralda seems a most passionate wife. But soon everything changes and she suddenly refuses to share his bed. Laurie is at a loss to understand this - until he discovers his wife's past and her incredible secret. He decides to leave for America, and the untamed frontier where he hopes to build a new world for himself.

Here, in constant touch with violent strangers and sudden death, he meets Rowan. Half-Indian, half-white, Rowan is beautiful and all woman. With her dark eyes and gleaming hair, she captures Laurie's heart. For a while, they live joyously, illicitly, as man and wife.

But fate has something else in store for them both....