Mountain Blood: A Novel

At sunrise the Greenstream stage rolls out of a shabby tavern on the edge of Stenton, climbing a dust‑laden road toward the distant mountains. The town is still half asleep, its marble steps glistening with morning milk and the air thick with the smell of ammonia and coal smoke. As the carriage disappears over the plain, the heat of a June day turns the landscape into a shimmering tableau of stone and sky.

Inside, the stage carries a colorful mix of passengers: Gordon Makimmon, the seasoned driver with sun‑kissed skin and steady eyes; a stern, middle‑aged priest whose cold stare hints at hidden motives; a chatty girl with chestnut hair reliving school adventures; and a rugged young man listening with quiet attention. Among them is Lettice Holliday, the quiet daughter of the valley’s wealthiest family, whose reserved nature sets her apart from the more boisterous travelers. Their uneasy companionship hints at secrets and rivalries that will unfold as the journey climbs deeper into the isolated mountain valleys.