PACIFIC OCEAN 1890Rescued by handsome clipper ship Captain Harlan Walker, Rachel Ruth Merritt and her grandfather are dismayed to find themselves heading south rather than north to Alaska. As much as Grandpa John encourages her to pray and cautions her to be patient, Rachel Ruth knows there is a mystery waiting for her in Alaska, and she doesn't like mysteries.Rachel Ruth is powerless to change the ship's course but is determined to head north as soon as possible and uncover the truth about her father. After all, she is a daughter of the American West and a Merritt. She can do this. SITKA ALASKA 1962Everybody had a story about Miss Ruth. All knew something. None knew everything. As far as the inhabitants of the Alexander Archipelago were aware, she had lived all of her ninety-some years in these islands. Still, there was no record of her in any of the state agencies: no birth certificate or driver's license, no employment records, no listing in the census. As far as the state of Alaska was concerned, Miss Ruth did not exist. She was a mystery, and Sam Mitchell, Junior editor of the Sitka Sentinel, did not like mysteries.He was determined to uncover the truth about Miss Ruth. After all, he was a son of Alaska and a Mitchell. He could do this.