 After Oliver's death, Garnet nearly dies, but is rescued by John Ives and Florinda and taken to Florinda's Los Angeles saloon where she lives among new friends, including the magnificent Russian friend of John Ives.Her son is born amid the drama of California's joining the United States and the reality that Charles Hale wants to take her son from her.By the end of the story gold has been discovered on Sutter's Mill and John and Garnet fall in love and are married.