Father John O'Mallory, the "Indian priest" at the Wind River Reservation, got a phone call from his Episcopal colleague at the other side of the res. Father Nathan has received a message meant for Father John, which seems to indicate some old wars are heating up again. In 1874, Shoshone warriors massacred Arapaho in the Bates Battle. Now, 125 years later those left of the Arapaho have peacefully co-existed with the Shoshone at Wind River. But all that might come to an end, as Father John decodes the message and finds the bodies of slain Shoshone at the site of the Arapaho massacre.
In the meantime, Vicky Holden trying to devote her law practice to the big issues of her tribe, currently working on documents related to the reintroduction of the wolf. But she keeps being sucked back into representation of a young trouble-maker she's represented on DUI, assault, and burglary charges. But this time, he might go down for the murders.
And Father John and Vicky both have other problems. Father John's new assistant fears he'll never earn the same respect as the older priest. Vicky's new law partner worries that she'll contunue to represent the lowlife, draining all her energy away from the big projects. And just what is the relationship between Father John and Vicky?
Margaret Coel has given us another terrific mystery that keeps us guessing until the end, set among the peoples and places her readers have come to love. Highly recommended.