 In 1957, the Western Writers of America gave her its highest award, the Spur Award, for her short story, "Lost Sister", a short story in "The Hanging Tree" collection, that deals with the reintegration into white settler society of Cynthia Ann Parker, who had been kidnapped by Comanche as a child.In 1959, she was made honorary member of the Blackfoot Tribe.In 1976, 'the Writers' again awarded her the Levi Strauss Golden Saddleman Award, for bringing dignity and honor to the history and legends of the West.