ALSO BY SARA DONATI

  The Gilded Hour

  Where the Light Enters

  The Wilderness Novels

  Into the Wilderness

  Dawn on a Distant Shore

  Lake in the Clouds

  Fire Along the Sky

  Queen of Swords

  The Endless Forest

  BERKLEY

  An imprint of Penguin Random House LLC

  penguinrandomhouse.com

  Copyright © 2024 by Rosina Lippi-Green

  Readers Guide copyright © 2024 by Rosina Lippi-Green

  Penguin Random House supports copyright. Copyright fuels creativity, encourages diverse voices, promotes free speech, and creates a vibrant culture. Thank you for buying an authorized edition of this book and for complying with copyright laws by not reproducing, scanning, or distributing any part of it in any form without permission. You are supporting writers and allowing Penguin Random House to continue to publish books for every reader.

  BERKLEY and the BERKLEY & B colophon are registered trademarks of Penguin Random House LLC.

  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

  Names: Donati, Sara, 1956– author.

  Title: The sweet blue distance / Sara Donati.

  Description: New York: Berkley, 2024.

  Identifiers: LCCN 2023042084 (print) | LCCN 2023042085 (ebook) | ISBN 9781984805058 (hardcover) | ISBN 9781984805072 (ebook)

  Subjects: LCGFT: Western fiction. | Novels.

  Classification: LCC PS3554.O46923 S94 2024 (print) | LCC PS3554.O46923 (ebook) | DDC 813/.54—dc23/eng/20231011

  LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2023042084

  LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2023042085

  Cover design by Sarah Oberrender

  Cover image by Judy Kennemar / Arcangel

  Maps and interior image of cat by Rosina Lippi-Green

  Interior design adapted for ebook by Kelly Brennan

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  pid_prh_6.3_146677164_c0_r0

  Contents

  Cover

  Also by Sara Donati

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Dedication

  Epigraphs

  Characters

  Maps

  Part One: Correspondence

  Part Two: Travel Diary

  Part Three: Westward

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Part Four: Santa Fe

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Chapter 40

  Chapter 41

  Chapter 42

  Chapter 43

  Chapter 44

  Chapter 45

  Chapter 46

  Chapter 47

  Chapter 48

  Chapter 49

  Chapter 50

  Chapter 51

  Chapter 52

  Chapter 53

  Chapter 54

  Chapter 55

  Chapter 56

  Chapter 57

  Chapter 58

  Chapter 59

  Chapter 60

  Chapter 61

  Chapter 62

  Chapter 63

  Chapter 64

  Chapter 65

  Chapter 66

  Chapter 67

  Chapter 68

  Chapter 69

  Chapter 70

  Chapter 71

  Epilogue

  Author’s Note

  Acknowledgments

  Glossary

  Selected References

  Readers Guide

  Discussion Questions

  About the Author

  _146677164_

  For Penny

  Friends we are today

  And friends we’ll always be

  For I am wise to you

  And you sure see through me.

  There are things that happen and leave no discernible trace, are not spoken or written of, though it would be very wrong to say that subsequent events go on indifferently, all the same, as though such things had never been.

  —A. S. Byatt, Possession

  Man is a being of varied, manifold and inconstant nature. And woman, by God, is a match for him.

  —Dorothy Dunnett, The Disorderly Knights

  Characters

  Those familiar with the Wilderness series may realize that a few character names have changed. The online family tree should clarify things. You’ll find it at http://tinyurl.com/yvek2cmf.

  In Spain and the former colonies of Spain, including the southwest of what would one day be the United States, an individual’s last name was, and to some extent still is, a composite of two names. Example: José Luis Bilbao-Luna. In this case the individual has two first names; his composite surname starts with Bilbao (his father’s last name) and is followed by Luna (his mother’s). This person would be addressed as Señor Bilbao because the father’s surname is primary. The hyphen is included only to avoid misinterpretation of the first half of the surname as a middle name.

  If there is a name in parentheses after a man’s name, the two people are to be understood to be husband and wife. An asterisk indicates a historical character.

  Paradise, Hamilton County, New York, 1840s Through 1860s

  Lily Bonner Ballentyne, artist, widowed 1844.

  Hannah Bonner, also known as Walking Woman of the Kahnyen’kehàka Wolf Longhouse, physician. Wife of Ben Savard, horse breeder and agent.

  Daniel Bonner, teacher, hunter, trapper. Husband of Martha Kirby Bonner.

  Gabriel Bonner, hunter, trapper, fur trader. Husband of Annie of the Kahnyen’kehàka Wolf Longhouse.

  Blue-Jay of the Kahnyen’kehàka Turtle Longhouse, hunter, trapper, fur trader. Husband of Susanna Mayfair.

  Blue Ballentyne, eldest child of Lily Bonner and Simon Ballentyne. Wife of John Young, miller.

  Curiosity Bonner, physician. Youngest child of Nathaniel and Elizabeth Bonner. Wife of Henry Savard, physician, originally of New Orleans.

  Greg Fisher, innkeeper. Husband of Martha Ballentyne Fisher.

  Becca LeBlanc, widow, innkeeper.

  Alois Bee, trading post proprietor.

  New York City, 1850s Through 1860s

  Lily Bonner Ballentyne (Aunt Quinlan) and her second husband, Harrison Quinlan, physician. Two of her children: Elizabeth Caroline Ballentyne, called Carrie, nurse and midwife; Nathan Ballentyne, student.

  Anna Savard, student, an orphaned niece.

  Sophie Savard, student, an orphaned niece. Originally of New Orleans.

  Amelie Savard, midwife. Daughter of Aunt Quinlan’s eldest half sister, Hannah.

  Luke Scott Bonner, Aunt Quinlan’s half brother, and his second wife, Rachel (Livingston) Wells.

  Dr. Michael Colby, physician. Husband of Aurelia Markham Colby.

  Margaret Quinlan Cooper, Aunt Quinlan’s stepdaughter.

  Henry and Jane Lee, groundskeeper and housekeeper for the Quinlans; in their own residence.

  From New York to the Missouri

  Eloise and Henrietta Conway, Marianne Worth, Candace Newton, ladies of good family.

  Magleby family, Mormon emigrants bound for Utah.

  Eli, Jules, and Mo Ibarra, brothers, sheep ranchers, New Mexico Territory.

  Evangeline Roberts Zavala, widow, property and store owner, Santa Fe.

  Captain Calvin Ashby (Constance), owner of the steamboat Annabelle.

  Georgia Hamblin, widow, formerly of Santa Fe.

  Herlinde Ratz, Gilbert Hotel housekeeper and cook, in Westport.

  Esteban and Teresa Romero, horse breeders, in Westport.

  Jose Romero and Maddalen Ibarra Romero, horse breeders, in Westport.

  The Santa Fe Trail

  Orwell and Joshua (Pate) Petit, brothers, Petit Overland Freight & Transport, based in Santa Fe. T
heir staff: Sol Taylor, Lionel Tock, Helmet, Liebling, Big Bull, Sam Wright, Bluey Brown.

  Hugh Preston, merchant, and Kanti Ewell Chatham, a widow, passengers.

  Titus Hardy, scout, guide, tracker.

  Miguel Santos, Navajo, hunter, tracker.

  Rainer (Rainey) Bang, German immigrant, trapper, tracker.

  Bent Bow, chief, Kiowa.

  New Mexico Territory / Territorial Government

  *William W. H. Davis, secretary and acting governor.

  David V. Whiting, postmaster.

  Wilbur M. Pelham (Georgia), surveyor general.

  Andrew Leroux (Helen), deputy surveyor.

  Jesus Maria (Chucho) Sena y Baca, sheriff (or alguacil).

  Thomas Bixby, attorney.

  Henry Maddox Ford, circuit judge.

  Eli Ibarra, surveyor, topographical engineer, cartographer, consultant.

  United States Army

  *Colonel Sterling Price, commander, Army of the West.

  *Brevet Lieutenant Colonel George A. McCall, major, 3rd Infantry, Department of New Mexico.

  Captain Jack Purdy, quartermaster, 3rd Infantry.

  Captain Moses Brooks, 3rd Infantry.

  *Lieutenant Amiel Weeks Whipple, U.S. Army Corps of Topographical Engineers (detached).

  Santa Fe

  Prominent Citizens / Property Owners

  Don Diego Ibarra (patrón) (Doña Altagracia), sheep ranchers, Hacienda Catalan.

  Don Pedro Zavala-Garza (patrón), sheep rancher, Hacienda Pontevedra.

  Iñigo Guevara (Violante), Guevara Horse Farm and Livery.

  Pío Ocampo-Cisneros (Carmen), burro breeders, trade, transport.

  Primo Guzman-Macias (Alma), owners, fonda.

  János Botka (Magda), president, First Territorial Bank.

  Porfirio Muñoz-Ramos (Lena), publisher and editor, Santa Fe Weekly Gazette.

  Evangeline Roberts Zavala, widow, proprietor, cacharrería.

  Francesco Segura-Maldinado, wealthy landowner.

  Clergy

  *Hiram W. Read (Alzina), Baptist missionary, Fort Marcy chaplain.

  *Jean-Baptiste Lamy (1814–1880). Born and ordained in France, Lamy went to the fledgling U.S. as a missionary. The pope appointed him bishop (and later, archbishop) in the New Mexico Territory. He arrived in Santa Fe in 1851 and served there for the rest of his life.

  Sisters of Loretto, Academy of Our Lady of Light.

  Francisco Cortez-Chavez, parish priest, Te Tsu Geh Pueblo.

  Marcel Jalbert, parish priest, Santa Fe.

  *Antonio José Martinez (1793–1867), parish priest, Taos.

  Medical

  Enzo Benenati, physician.

  Maduhenía (Madu), Little-Foot, midwife, Te Tsu Geh Pueblo.

  Samuel Markham (Indira Ewell), physician and surgeon.

  John Edmonds, assistant to Dr. Markham.

  Emilio Garcia-Lopez, apothecary.

  Heinrich Hartmann, dentist.

  Other Residents

  Abram Goldblum (Chava), importer-exporter.

  Adelina Gray Wolf, midwife, Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo.

  Bonita Ruiz, prostitute, Casino Taquito.

  Buzz Kelly, barber.

  Carlos Guzman, Markham household help.

  Chema Tejeda-Villalobos (Angela), barber.

  Consuela and Lupe Cabrera-Cano, sisters, Leroux household help.

  David Goldblum (Miriam), corn broker.

  Diego Llabrés-Cisneros, undertaker.

  Gustavo Aguilar-Álvarez (Inez), grocer.

  Jean Paul Gillette, tailor. Husband of Roxanne Gillette, seamstress.

  José Luis Bilbao, rancher.

  Josefa Gray Wolf, Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo, Markham household help.

  Levi Goldblum (Reizl), owner, Goldblum Bros. General Store.

  Lucía Arrabal-Lopez, owner, Casino Arrabal and Four Aces Saloon.

  Magdalena Luna-Ocampo, Carson household help.

  Manuela Gray Wolf, Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo, Markham household help.

  Mimi Torres, widow.

  Nachín Justo-Maldonado (Leona), proprietors, Casino Taquito.

  Pete Terney, barkeep, Pepperharrow Saloon.

  Rick Carson (Tess), owner, hardware store.

  Rocío Ramirez-Herrera aka Red Rosa or Rosita, owner, Cantina La Faena; and her father, Hugo, a widower.

  Talli Ernesto Claw-Foot (Tewa name Póyo-taa), cacique, Te Tsu Geh Oweenge Pueblo.

  Theo Agnew, barkeep, Four Aces Saloon.

  Tom Samson, cibolero.

  Yatzil Morales-Zapato, prostitute, Casino Taquito.

  THE SANTA FE TRAIL

  CA 1850

  1. Fort Marcy Military Reservation

  2. Old Fort Marcy

  3. Palace of the Governors

  4. Post Office

  5. Courthouse

  6. Jail

  7. Fonda

  8. Baptist church and academy

  9. Bank

  10. Leroux residence

  11. Guevara Horse Farm and Livery

  12. Markham residence

  13. Dispensary

  14. Catholic church with schools and convent

  15. Bishop Lamy

  16. Santa Fe Weekly Gazette

  17. Zavala residence

  18. Pharmacy

  19. Barbershop

  20. Bakery

  21. Fancy dry goods

  22. General store

  23. Goldblum residences

  24. Livestock, corn, and grain exchange

  25. Grocer

  26. Hardware

  27. Surveyor

  28. Ibarra residence

  29. Cantina La Faena

  30. Millhouse

  31. Petit Overland Freight & Transport

  32. Tannery

  33. Blacksmith

  34. Wheelwright

  35. Saloons

  36. Brothels

  PART ONE

  Correspondence

  Markham to Colby

  Samuel Markham, M.D.

  Physician and Surgeon

  Calle del Convento Viejo de la Parroquia Principal

  Santa Fe, New Mexico Territory

  November 18, 1856

  Michael V. Colby, M.D.

  143 East 17th-Street

  New York City

  Dear Michael,

  Many thanks for your letter dated 22nd September, and congratulations to you and Aurelia on the arrival of a healthy grandson. As our Lulu is so young, I can only hope I’ll live long enough to be a grandfather, and so I count myself fortunate to have Matthew Markham Colby as a grandnephew.

  Not sure if I should congratulate you on the directorship at the New Amsterdam. Of course you deserve it, but why would you want it? If you’re tired of practicing medicine, maybe you should give it up and move to your place on Sag Harbor. Or better still, come out west. If Santa Fe doesn’t suit, you could try your luck in the Sierra Nevada gold fields.

  Our news: Indira is expecting again and due, if my calculations are correct, in July. She’s more frightened than she is pleased, given three losses since. You have seen such anxiety—even hysteria—in your own patients, I know. Given all that and with the sincere hope I do not intrude too far, I must ask for your help.

  Indira insists she must have a midwife, a woman of good family trained in Richmond, Philadelphia, or New York. She has a strong preference for an American midwife, but an English woman with excellent references would be acceptable to her. This person must be born in either the United States or England. I expect Scotland would pass muster, but Ireland would not.

  I think I mentioned to you in my last letter that my assistant John Edmonds has been admitted to the medical school at Bellevue. When we first took him in, I said that if he did well and showed promise, I would underwrite his education, and that time has come. His maturity and intelligence indicate to me that he will do very well in medical school. With his departure imminent, I have to hire a nurse, and from that follows my decision to hire one person who is both nurse and midwife, and to get her here as soon as possible.