Where Empire of the Summer Moon does shine is when it goes where most Texas Frontier history books do not. One of these being the sad fate of Rachel Plummer and the fact that for most Texans, even as early as 1838, other Texans were as much of a threat than were Indians.
Rachel Plummer (née Parker) was a Cousin to Cynthia Anne Parker and was seventeen and pregnant when she and her two year old son were likewise captured in 1836 at Parker’s Fort. Thanks to the Herculean efforts of her father Rachel was ransomed 21 months later. Only to die in part from the effects of exposure while giving birth outdoors in inclement weather while hiding from other Texans looking to kill her father.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rachel_PlummerThe other place where Summer Moon shines is following the later careers of Quanah Parker and failed “bullet proof medicine” medicine man Isa-Tai (“Coyote Droppings”) as rivals for elected office within the tribe. Isa-Tai coming across like a character only a Larry McMurphy would invent 🙂
