"Spanning the 20th century, the story of Roses takes place in a small East Texas town against the backdrop of the powerful timber and cotton industries, industries controlled by the scions of the town's founding families"--Provided by publisher.

In Bitter Trail, Kelton tells the story of a tough teamster named Frio Wheeler whose wagons haul cotton from Texas to Mexico. Sounds like a peaceable enterprise. The problem is that the Civil War is raging throughout the South and Wheeler's cotton is to be sold for gold, gold used to buy guns and ammunition for the Confederate army. And, added to his balky mules, the broiling heat, and killing drought of the Mexican dessert, Wheeler has even more...

Cotton, the Silver Fleece, could be the answer to Zora and Bles' prayers for overcoming poverty. While attending school in rural Alabama, they lovingly nurture their crop. But the white aristocracy is determined to control the price of cotton and monopolize the market. Can these two lovers prevail despite the daunting obstacles before them?