On an autumn day in 1890, eighteen-year-old Alice Butler and her sister Nora step out the massive doors of the Union Depot in Denver and into their new life, far from their home in Ireland. Call it what you may—coincidence, chance, or tragic fate—the same train has deposited two other young Irish immigrants at the foot of the Rockies that day: Thomas Quinn, a skilled carpenter with a heart for labor rights and brotherhood, and Emmett Kelly, a butcher with relentless self-interest at his core. In the following years, the lives of these four will intersect, leading to loves, conflicts, and unexpected alliances. A devastating dispute will shatter their world, testing their resolve to move forward.

We are at their sides as they navigate personal challenges amidst sweeping social and economic changes, and we witness the indomitable spirit and resilience of immigrants daring to dream. Watching every setback turn into a step forward, every heartache reveal a stronger bond, we learn for ourselves the essence of ambition, the price of progress, and the infinite capacity for hope.

"Tierney’s historical tale is well-researched and engaging. The clear writing, good pacing, and extensive character and plot development make this an enlightening and enduring read." — Kate Robinson, U.S. Review of Books