The Talking Leaves is the story of a family who is captured by the Apaches.

The mother is killed, the father, Steve, and daughter, Rita, are separated, with Steve being sold to the Lipan tribe, and Rita being brought up by the Apaches. Years later, Rita and her Apache friend find some magazines among the ruins of a wagon train.

These are "The Talking Leaves." While adult Apaches are familiar with printed material, Rita begins remembering how to read English, which leads to her realization that she is not an Indian.

As unlikely as it seems, will Steve and Rita be reunited? Stoddard weaves in gold mines, claim jumpers, outlaws, and the U.S. Calvary.

William Osborn Stoddard (Cortland County, 1835-1925) was an American author, inventor, and assistant secretary to Abraham Lincoln during his first term.