Where Fires Burn

I admit that I was confused at the start of this story because I thought it was going to be a western romance but the main character is only 12 at the start of this book. The story does progress without drastic time jumps in order to get to the romance. It is very slow burn, there's a lot of trauma and back story that needs to be addressed by the main duo and I appreciate the author taking her time and not doing a skip from 12 to 20 so we can see them heal and grow. I also appreciate how the author makes us understand that this time period wasn't black and white. Both main characters have to accept that their cultures aren't perfect and that humans will do terrible things to each other. That cliff hanger ending though. I need the second book like right now!