Gold fever ... It was everywhere in 1849. But when Deborah Stuart's parents headed west it was for the treasure of men's souls. The great adventure of the Gold Rush soon became a challenge to lift one foot in front of another for mile after weary mile. The countryside was hard and beautiful and strange. Friendships and family bonds were the only way to carry on. Finally in gold country, Deborah is faced with building a new life from the little that is left from the journey,mostly her bare hands and her great friends. The everyday challenges were spiced with the excitement of the building of a new society in raw California as it fought to become a state. Old grudges and new loves were there for her. She thought all she wanted was to return to Illinois, but when she had the chance, would she go?