From the swamps of Ohio to the sequoias of California, one familys roots run deepand dark.

In 1838, James and Sadie Goodenough plant apple trees to tame the Ohio frontierbut their marriage, like the land, is harsh and unforgiving. He clings to sweet apples and memories of home; she drowns her bitterness in hard cider.

Fifteen years later, their son Robert roams Gold Rush California, chasing escape among towering redwoods and rare seeds. But when ghosts from the past resurface, he must choose between a life of running or finally planting roots of his own.

Lyrical, gripping, and rich with historical detail, At the Edge of the Orchard is a story of legacy, survival, and the price of belonging.