River of Gold: A Novel

In this sequel to When Eagles Call , Hawaiian Kimo Kanui is working out the terms of his Hudson’s Bay contract in 1858 as the Fraser Gold rush begins. As the Fraser gold dries up, the Cariboo Gold Rush takes over and Kimo decides to head north to try and get his share of the wealth. With his wife recently dead and his contract coming to an end, Kimo is torn between returning to Hawaii with his daughter, and staying in the Pacific Northwest. Either way, he wants to own land, and he needs gold to buy it. Joining up with his Hawaiian friend Moku and a black man, Ezekiel, Kimo travels north in search of gold. Along the way a native woman, Morning Bird, joins the group after Kimo saves her from slavery, and her presence causes more emotional upheaval for Kimo. Once in the Cariboo the group faces harsh challenges: cruel winter and wild geography, fights with miners and attack by natives, disputes with neighbours, and arson. Kimo must decide if his future lies under the warmth and security of the Hawaiian sun, or in being part of the new society now taking root in the colony.