Wild Salvation
Black cowboys made up a significant part of the westward movement of the late 1800s, and their histories have gradually emerged, and even more gradually have gained interest. In this frame, Wild Salvation paints in the backstory of a Black man simply named Johnson, on the run from an accusation that could cost his life.
In his favor, Johnson is strong and healthy, and every new settlement needs more working men, especially those who’ll take orders from others. Stable work looks safe enough—until Johnson becomes part of a law-enforcement posse and finds himself both under fire and exposed. At the same time, Margret, a white woman looking for her own experience of the West, confuses him deeply, until in his irritation he reminds her that she’s free to go home. Which is the opposite of his own life. Moreover, he’s got an angry Pinkerton agent on his tail.
Although this is a debut novel, Stifsim’s background in American history and natural resources, along with his published short stories, provide a solid foundation for this desperate tale of one escape after another. Expecting shoot-outs in this genre? Johnson and the men on his track, not to mention the women who seize his loyalty, provide plenty of them. The litter of dead bodies may put off some readers, although Western fans can be more accustomed to this.
Follow the plot for its insights into the West. The romance involved doesn’t quite mature and has awkward twists, and the book is longer than its plot really sustains. But the saddle time and cattle drives, as well as the majesty and dangers of the challenging landscape, are spot on, and the effort to examine the Black Western experience is timely and worth pursuing.
