She was in love. He was her first, but she knew it was a love that could never be. That was Marteen Roller, the only daughter of a pioneer cowman struggling to build a new and better life for his family on the prairies of Montana and Dakota Territories in the years before statehood. No father could ask for more from a daughter. She was beautiful, ambitious, competent, and devoted to him. And she was in love- with her cousin. Stands Tall Woman is the story of a young but resourceful woman who strikes out on her own to forget the man she loves and to build a future for herself away from family and home. Hundreds of miles from her father and brothers, she embarks upon a new life on the Big Open prairies of north central Montana Territory. Her story is the story of one who conquers despair by immersing herself in building her own ranch and, in the process, finds love. Gene Krenz is a friend of mine. We grew up together, and I could tell you some things that might make him blush. He was a mediocre athlete, a frequently distracted student, a reader of books, and an occasional high school dropout when spending time with his horses was more enticing than algebra. But, somewhere along the line, he learned how to write. Robert (Bobby) Skabo, Shabbona, Illinois