Dead Man’s Hand (Jake Paynter, 1)
The Civil War has ended, but Jake Painter and other hardened soldiers with no family ties stay in the U.S. Army. Some former soldiers become vicious outlaws. In October 1867, Jake’s superior officer commands him and his men to slaughter two hundred innocent Native Americans. When Jake refuses, the officer orders Jake shot dead. Jake evades a bullet to the head but kills his superior. Jake’s men allow him to escape. Seven months later, Jake is captured in Missouri and, under military escort, chained to a wagon train of mostly farmers. The wagons are headed west to the U.S. army fort nearest his crime, where a quick court martial and hanging await.
Jake has time and solitude to relive the mayhem of the Civil War and numb himself for what lies ahead. But other hard men, aware that the wagon train carries gold, intrude. They ride the same trail, pass the wagons and set an ambush far from any help. The wagon train passengers realize only Jake can prepare them to hold off the marauders. They free him and allow him to train them. The amateur fighting force has early success, but the odds grow worse over time. Several times Jake has a choice—ride away to freedom and leave the wagon train to fend for itself or stay and see it safely to the fort where he’ll hang.
Nix deftly pulls together interesting farmers, outlaws and other characters. His often-lyrical prose fits the wide-open landscapes, storms and floods. The preparations for battle by worried travelers, their wives and children, with only a handful of gunmen on their side, are compelling. The core question—whether Jake helping others will save him—builds to a can’t-put-down ending. Highly recommended.
