In 1865 at the height of travel on the Bozeman Trail into the goldfields of Montana, the Nez Perce guide, Five Wounds, finds himself responsible for the newly orphaned, two-spirited being, Rose Baker. He can feel his heart drawn ever closer to her despite the dangers such a union would bring. Fearing she has possessed him, he agrees to let his family take him for a cleansing sweat to rid him of her bad-spirit. Will Five Wounds be able to sweat Rose's essence out of his blood? Will his family save him from her evil spirit? Or does Rose and her new protector have other plans for Five Wounds?