Jessie, beautiful Jessica, who thought she had lost the man she loved, found him again. Now they moved westward, by wagon train, a grueling torturous trip that only the strong survived. They married on the trail, Jessie and her Joel, and he promised her the world. "When we get to California," he told her over and over, "I will build us a big house and you will have fine clothes and jewels, I swear it, Jessie." But all Jessie cared about was Joel and his love. His touch burned her flesh, into her very soul. As for Joel, true to his word he made many of the dreams come true. But there were other darker and more frightening things that threatened the happiness of hte Shands, things no one wanted to talk about... DAYS OF VALOR A rich, powerful tale of old California and the men and women who shaped its destiny.