Synopsis of The Legacy of Prairie Winds by Glenda K Clare Genre: Historical Fiction Word Count: Drifts of snow blanketed the lifeless ground as the sun set behind the colorful, cold Sandhills’ horizon. In the quiet of the Nebraska sky, Berta relaxed her tense muscles. Berta remembered sitting on the porch listening to her mother explain how she and her sisters formed the branches of the same tree and would always be part of each other. Helena spoke of tough times when her daughters would need to bend in the wind together and support each other, promising they would blossom in the end. Berta vowed to be a formidable cottonwood tree, battle scars and all. Chapters One-Three: Focuses on a young immigrant as he travels over the ocean describing the why many Germans immigrated and the conditions of the ships. Challenged by the lonely life on the prairie, Johann learns to live on the prairies of Nebraska. He learns to dig a well, build a sod house, and withstand nature's disasters. Romance and love fill Johann’s life when he courts the determined Helena. They build a home and begin raising five independent children including the head-strong, Berta. Chapters Four-Eight: John and Helena teach the family lessons about life. Through country schooling, corn husking bees, and living on the prairie, the Gehring children rely on each other like the branches of a lone cottonwood tree. Each finds love and their role in the world while facing the prejudices of WWI against German immigrants, tornadoes, and physical work. Chapters Nine - Fourteen: However, they too are tested by the Stock Market Crash, the Dust Bowl, the Depression, an outbreak of Spanish Flu, the prejudices of war, and personal tragedies becoming strong Americans who strive to make a difference in their world. Chapter Fifteen-Twenty: The family faces the pains of life. Helena is stricken with breast cancer. The children, especially Berta, gather around and send their mother off with love and compassion. Depression overcomes John, weakens him with dementia, and succumbs to the Spanish Flu. Berta bears the load for the family raising two younger siblings while living through the Stock Market Crash, the Great Depression, and the intolerance of women's rights in rural Nebraska. She also faces the pain of an angry brother who takes his money and flees. ‘Everybody else’s life continued as usual except for mine.’ Anger got the best of her; she yelled to the sky, “Isn’t it what a good daughter does?” Chapters Twenty-one-Thirty-one: The last chapters focus on Berta beginning a new life with love, marriage, and of course the Dust Bowl. The prodigal son returns with a surprise guest and the family faces sending their sons to WWII. After the first moon landing, Berta faces one last tragedy with death of her beloved husband. The last chapter ties Berta's death and the saga of the John Gehring family.