The Brackettville Horses is set in the Hill country of Texas at the end of the 19th century. Lillian loses her job at a millenary and is forced to find other means of support. A shy suitor and widower, Andrew has noticed her in the local church and finally gets brave enough to approach her for friendship...and eventually marriage. He had three children by his first wife, Little Bird, whose father is Wild Crow, and gave them Cherokee names. The death of their baby, Robin, caused Little Bird to waste away and join the small grave beside the child. Andrew's farm is near a camp of Mexican charcoal burners, and the home of Roalia's family. Lillian doesn't want to go home to her Papa and admit failure as an adult on her own, so she encourages Andrew, only to find after their marriage that Cherokee children and life in the wild is challenging in ways she could not have imagined.