The Plains Beyond

L.D. Clark combines Indian mysticism, cattle ranching, Indian raids and an African slave traveling across the staked plains with only a spear and a knife to rescue his wife from Indian captivity to create a gripping tale of adventure in his Civil War era western, The Plains Beyond. In a style reminiscent of Larry McMurtry, Clark gives an honest depiction of life on the Texas frontier during the Civil War era, life among the Indians of the staked plains and the complex relationships between white men, slaves and Indians. Cord Hathaway and his wife travel from Texas to New Orleans on business and happens upon a slave auction. Appalled by what he sees, he buys a man named Moran to rescue him. Having bought the man, he is obligated to buy the man's wife as well. The dynamic of their relationship evolves from master and slave to dear friends as the two couples work together to carve a ranch from the wildnerness. When Indians attack the ranch, Moran's wife is taken captive and disappears into the vastness of the Staked Plains. The balance of the novel depicts Moran's search for his wife, his life among the Indians and the melding of African and Amerindian spirituality that save's Moran's life and eventually leads to the rescue of his wife. All in all a good read and strongly recommended.

WHAT a book!! What a story! What a writer!!! I just finished "Plains..." What a page turner. I snatched minutes whenever I could to keep going and kept making my guesses - but with the twists and turns my sweaty palm speculation often were wrong. I don't read novels very often because there is so much nonfiction to read that interests me. But this all seems to real and I've learned so much. Thanks very much.