Yakimali's Gift

Its 1775 in Mexico New Spain and 15-year-old Fernanda Marquina of Spanish and Pima Indian ancestry cant seem to live up to her mothers expectations or fit into the limited female roles of her culture. To escape Fernanda grabs any opportunity to ride the horses she loves. At a greater cost than she could ever have imagined her dream of adventure in faraway lands is realized. With her family Fernanda joins Juan Bautista de Anzas historic colonization expedition to California. On the arduous four-month journey Fernanda makes friends with Feliciana the young widow Fernanda can entrust with her deepest thoughts; Gloria who becomes the sister Fernanda always wished for; and Glorias seductive brother Miguel gentle one moment angry the next and like Fernanda a mestizo--half Indian and half Spanish. As Fernanda penetrates Miguels layers of hidden feelings shes torn between him and Nicolas the handsome Spanish soldier hoping to win her heart. But propelling Fernanda along the journey is her search for Mamas Pima Indian past a past Mama refused to talk about a past with secrets that Fernanda is determined to learn. The truths she discovers will change the way she sees her ancestry her family and herself.