Annick Smith is a writer and filmmaker who lives in Montana's Blackfoot River Valley. Her books include a memoir, Homestead, a collection of essays, In This We are Native, and several anthologies, including The Last Best Place, a Montana Anthology, co-edited by William Kittredge. Her film credits include the feature films HEARTLAND and A RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT, as well as a documentary about poet Richard Hugo, KICKING THE LOOSE GRAVEL HOME. She is currently completing a combination travel, dog book, and memoir, Crossing the Plains with Bruno, from which these excerpts are taken.