Content Warning: This book contains depictions of sexism and graphic descriptions of war.

In October of 1837, Magdalena (Nena) wakes in the middle of the night to meet Néstor outside. They are both 13 and have known each other for five years. They are going to search for silver to secure their future together.

Néstor had been away for a week, during which Anglos had arrived at Nena’s family’s rancho, Los Ojuelos, to ask if they knew of any land or cattle for sale. Nena’s father Don Feliciano politely says no, but Nena can tell he feels anxious. She says seeing the white men was like seeing El Cuco, a mythological child-eating monster, in person.

She overhears the men of the ranch discussing when to marry off Nena and her older brother Félix to build alliances. When she and Néstor were younger no one paid attention to their attachment to each other, but in recent years her mother has forbidden her from being alone with Néstor to protect her honor.

Néstor’s family fled from the rancho they used to work on when his papá’s boss had been shot by Anglos wanting to steal his cattle and land. Néstor has felt like a burden to his uncle ever since they fled.