The story opens up with a group of men in thier ranch keeping an eye on the peace as it is. There's Call and Gus, two leaders who grew up together rather quickly when they were selected to assist in the war, as they were cowboys. Gus loved to be in his rocker, a cold drink and enjoy the day. Call was a worker, and would not let slackers be around, besides Gus. This relationship was at peace for many years, as they ran the Hat Creek Outfit, renting out horses, help but not the blue pigs that Gus liked to watch.
The peaceful life became changed when an old member of the Hat Creek Outfit rides in and announces that he killed a man, and knows of undocumented land that could be claimed by the men. The Outfit jumps up and prepares for a long haul ahead, packing in food, clothing, and a few momentos from home. In preperation they also steal a few thousand steer from the Mexican border, but no one really minds since the Mexicans are busy running from another Outfit.
Within this tale there are a few other side stories. Lorie, the local whore convinces one of the Hat Creek Outfit to take her north planning to give up whoring forever. Along the journey she becomes a stronger woman and finds a place where she can finally call home.
July Johnson comes along and chases down Jake as he did murder his brother in the middle of the day, in the middle of the street and with witnesses around. July finds his way around the wild west and finds a better life for himself and for his young son whose mother is as wild as tumbleweed.
I chose this book because it reminded me of the untamed desert out in Arizona, and I wondered how the Wild West was before buildings replaced the mountians and homes replaced the plains. I wish I had a time capsule to see the world and enjoy the world before it became so small.
On a side note, I liked this picture as there are a few *ahem* loose women in the novel...
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