In 1823, one long trail connected the backwater colony of Mexico with a booming America. Here, only the most daring, ambitious and lucky would survive - transporting goods at enormous risk and for bigger profit. One who made the trip was an orphan named Matt Collins. In Mexico, Matt came of age, made a fortune, chose a woman, and lived between two worlds...Matt was both an outsider - an enterprising Yanqui - and the face of the future. As the Santa Fe colony was buffeted by chaos in Mexico, and threatened by Manifest Destiny from Washington, Matt was forced to choose between his two nations. War was brewing in Texas, and President Polk himself needed someone to lead New Mexico into the union - without a single shot being fired...This epic novel captures the forces of history, politics, nature and religion that forged a unique corner of the new world. At the foothills of the Sangre de Christo Mountains, Jon Bauman leads us among aristocrats, scoundrels and adventurers - as a man makes a choice that will shape the future of two countries...