"A beautiful, moving novel, cut from the American heartwood." --Ursula K. Le Guin

"Clear-eyed, breathtaking . . . . Filled with heart and insight." -- Gail Tsukiyama, author of The Samurai's Garden

Through the wide eyes and lofty dreams of two people trying to make their mark on the world, bestselling author Molly Gloss weaves a remarkable story of humans and horses, hope and heartbreak, told by one of the most winning narrators ever to walk off the page.

In 1938, nineteen-year-old ranch hand Bud Frazer leaves behind the family ranch at Echol Creek and heads to Hollywood for a different kind of horseback riding: he wants to be a stunt rider in the movies. On the bus ride south, Bud meets Lily Shaw, a young woman who dreams of being a screenwriter. Lily Shaw is bold and outspoken, more confident than her small frame and bookish looks seem to allow. The two strike up an unlikely kinship that carries them through their tumultuous days in Hollywood and the rest of their lives beyond.

In this moving follow-up to The Hearts of Horses, beloved author Molly Gloss has crafted a remarkable tale of hope and heartbreak, told by one of the most winning narrators ever to walk off the page.