Uncharted. Untamed. Unforgiving. This is the epic story of the American frontier--and the trailblazing fur trappers who lived it, conquered it, and often died for it. Bestselling authors William W. and J.A. Johnstone take readers on an unforgettable journey into the wild, where nature is cruel, fear is the enemy--and only the strong survive...Jake Ransom was just eighteen years old when he answered an ad in a St. Louis newspaper that would change his life forever. The American Fur Company needed one-hundred enterprising men to travel up the Missouri River--the longest in North America--all the way to its source. They would hunt and trap furs for one, two, or three years. Along the way, they would face unimaginable hardships: grueling weather, wild animals, hunger, exhaustion, and hostile attacks by the Blackfeet and Arikara. Jake Ransom was one of the brave men chosen for the job--and one of the few to survive...Five years later. Jake is a seasoned trapper and hunter, a master of his trade. The year is 1833, and the American Fur Company is sending him to the now-famous Rendezvous at Green River. For Jake, it may be his last job for the company. After facing death countless times, he is ready to strike out on his own. But when he encounters a fellow trapper under attack by Indians, his life takes an unexpected turn. A new friendship is forged in blood. And a dangerous new journey begins...