Children of the desert

Set against the stark, sun‑baked expanse of the Rio Grande borderlands, the story opens with the modest wedding of Harboro and Sylvia in a tiny Episcopal church at Eagle Pass. Their ceremony becomes the talk of the town, a rare splash of celebration in a place where entertainment is scarce and the desert stretches endlessly beyond the doorway. Harboro, a seasoned railroad engineer with a mysterious past of prospecting and mining, carries a quiet authority, while Sylvia, known to all as “Little,” brings her own quiet resilience to the union.

Through vivid description of the arid landscape and the close‑knit community, the narrative introduces a world where work on the rail lines and the shifting loyalties of border towns shape everyday lives. As Harboro’s reputation grows—thanks to a chance encounter with a railway magnate—the couple stands on the cusp of new opportunities, hinting at adventures that will test both their ambitions and their bond.