Fay Risner has brought Stringbean Hooper to life again with the second story in the Stringbean Hooper series about his adventures in the West. Looking forward to a journey across country to San Jose, California, Stringbean and his wife, Theo, have no idea just how much trouble they can get into. Mishaps, upset Indians, a flood, a mad bear, and more happen to the Hoopers. Through it all, Stringbean meets the challenges with his usual sense of humor, but he notices as the journey drags out that Theo is getting crankier by the minute. He sure hopes she lightens up by the time they get to her brother's wedding in San Jose. It didn't help to have warning advice freely handed out to Theo, known as Small Feet, by Indian shaman Matilda Vinci about being careful around Stringbean, Sioux name Walking Dead, so he doesn't get her killed.