On a quiet winter night in historic Coupeville in the heart of Whidbey Island, Washington, after the stores are empty and shuttered, close your eyes and you can hear the water lapping against the shore under the pier. You may also hear the remnants of old conversations that float between buildings from those who were here first, from those who left their hearts and their spirits behind. The natives and first settlers of Whidbey Island: we should know them if we walk here too. Isaac Ebey arrives in 1850, a farmer at heart and lawyer by trade, looking for prosperity and a healthy new home for his family. He appreciates his Skagit neighbors, especially Snetlum, a leader of the oldest village on Penn's Cove. Life seems harmonious until he must navigate the challenges of his farm with territorial demands, his wife's failing health, conflicts with the governor and the aggressive actions of northern tribes. - from back cover