As David examines the events of the summer of 1948 from an adult perspective, readers can hear his voice of reason woven into the injustices which he encountered as a boy. Marie’s boyfriend, Ronnie Tall Bear, was a phenomenal high school athlete, excelling at baseball, basketball, and track. Yet Ronnie was never recruited by a single college for his talents. As a child, David simply understood that “college was not for Indians.” As an adult, he sees with sad irony the racial prejudice at work in Ronnie’s subsequent service to the Army after high school: “Good enough for the Army but not for college.”

Wesley, David’s father and the town sheriff, is swayed by racial prejudice in ways that influence his work. David understands that Wesley was in many cases a kind man who likely believed himself free of prejudice. But at home Wesley referred to Native Americans as being ignorant and lazy and forbade his son to wear moccasins so that he wouldn’t end up flat-footed and lazy “like the Indians.” Even after Wesley was convinced of his Frank’s crimes against Marie and other Native American women, he was initially willing to let the cases go as long as Frank “cut it out.” It was only after Marie was murdered—with two witnesses placing Frank at the scene of the crime—that Wesley was forced to take action against Frank.

David’s grandfather, Julian, has his own share of deeply racist biases. He is aware of Frank’s behavior with Native American women, but his main concern is not whether the women have consented to Frank’s advances. Instead, he worries that Frank will produce a child with one of these women. His hope in Frank’s marriage to Gloria is that it will “keep him off the reservation.” He tells David’s father that he knows that Frank has “always been partial to red meat” and that this behavior started when Frank was no older than David.

In Bentrock, Montana, in 1948, Native Americans are allowed fewer liberties than their White neighbors. Their voices are muted; although many women have experienced abuse at the hands of Frank, their town doctor, only a couple are willing to speak up, because they understand the prejudiced social structure they exilivest in. Their own sheriff’s initial comments regarding Marie’s accusations show that he doesn’t value their experience or struggles. Indeed, Wesley scoffs at Marie’s reluctance to see a doctor. He never asks Marie herself why she resists the idea. The humanity and dignity of Native Americans is dismissed by the predominately White townspeople of Bentrock, and there are few who are willing to seek justice on the behalf of those who have been victimized.

Wesley Hayden didn’t become the town’s sheriff because he had sought the title. Instead, it was passed to him after his own father, Julian, decided to retire from the position. Wesley has a law degree, and his wife feels that his talents would be better served pursuing that career. Instead, Wesley feels indebted to Julian’s legacy, and Julian calls this debt into question when trouble arises with Frank. Julian makes it clear that his loyalty in this case lies with the family, not with truth or justice. He questions Wesley outright: “Is that why I gave you that goddamn badge? So you could arrest your own brother?” When Wesley maintains that Frank must be punished for his crimes, Julian orders him to stop the investigation before he takes control of it himself. To Julian, honor is protecting one’s family, no matter...