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Traveling through Arizona territory, Will stops at a small farm and asks a woman if she has a few days of work he could do. Cora does need some help around her place. Since her late husband's passing, she has been running low on firewood, and the barn roof requires some attention. As the days go by and Will continues working, Cora feels he is someone she can trust. The two begin to have feelings for each other. However, Will is hiding a secret and is afraid that when it catches up with him, it may put Cora in danger. Will faces a murder charge in a neighboring town and decides it is time to return, tell his story, and claim his innocence. Shortly after Will disappears, Cora is informed about his location from a newspaper article covering the trial. She decides she must find Will and learn the truth about the whole affair. However, she'll have to avoid a murderous outlaw on the road and the unseen dangers that await her in Wickenburg.
Mitchell's novel is best characterized as a Western romance. It is populated with lawmen and scoundrels, drunks, whores, and honest farmers. The central story is the seemingly ill-fated romance between Will and Cora. These two will also confront a murderous Apache outlaw, bandits, miners, kidnappers, and crooked lawmen. Many parts of the book seem to be influenced by the works of Larry McMurtry, specifically Lonesome Dove, with hints of The Last Picture Show. Both Mitchell and McMurtry explore small-town life and how the locals interact with each other, and each includes a young man who is young and naïve, possibly a bit mentally challenged, whom others feel needs some life experience. In this manner. Mitchell's book reflects parts of The Last Picture Show. However, Mitchell's work feels even more akin to Lonesome Dove. Not only are both Westerns, but each features romances that feel difficult, with the reality of love being harsher and harder to hold onto than the initial dream of love. Both authors tend to portray their heroes as rather stoic, plain, and practical, like the well-worn boots Will wears. To their credit, each author allows their female characters to be strong and independent, often seeing life with greater clarity than the men they influence.
Mitchell's writing is minimally embellished and straightforward, much like his characters. This style works well here as it keeps the novel on pace and thematically matches the book's tone. The main characters are well-drawn and engaging. The book is as much a drama as an action novel, but Mitchell mostly controls the tension and threat of violence throughout to hold attention. Some of the antagonists, including the two unnamed robbers, come across as a bit underdeveloped. The book has several loose ends that are too easily tied up in the conclusion, which may leave some wanting a stronger ending. Still, readers of Westerns who don't feel the need for constant gunfights and those who enjoy historical romances should find this book holds their interest and keeps them turning pages.