The Rainbow Trail (Navajo)

The Rainbow Trail  is the sequel to Zane Grey's most famous novel, Riders of the Purple Sage.  Set on the Navajo Reservation, the primary storyline revolves around John Shefford, an ex-minister who had been defrocked for teaching an unacceptibly compassionate interpretation of the Bible.  He comes West where he becomes involved in rescuing a beautiful young woman.  She was known only as the Sego Lily and had been forced into an abusive polygamist relationship.  Some believe this is Grey's greatest novel. The entire novel is available online if you:

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Perhaps even more poignant that Sego Lily's tragic tale and rescue, is the story of the Navajo Chief, Nas Ta Bega, and his much younger sister, Glen Naspa. The girl becomes infatuated with a missionary named Willets whose intentions are less than honorable.  Her story and the obvious pain it causes her family echo even today to anyone who has dealt with a relative gone astray. 

In several novels, Zane Grey repeats the theme of white men taking advantage of native girls.  He was especially critical of missionaries because of his disdain for organized religion. Grey often portrayed native women as weak and gullible while Indian leaders were generally strong and in touch with a wonderful native spirituality.  As with most stereotypes, Navajo men and women do not always fit into this mold.  However, abuses like those protrayed by the author were not infrequent on the frontier.