Monday, April 15, 2019

The Return of Kid Cooper by Brad Smith


“I can see you’re busy,” Nate said.
“What do you intend to do with that cow?”
“Taking her back to the herd, if it’s any of your business.”
“It’s not,” Nate said.
“Where’s the herd?” The boy switched hands on the lariat, the better to jab a thumb vaguely to the north. “Back that way a piece. You happy now?”
”I was happy before,” Nate told him.

Nate “Kid” Cooper is no longer a Kid. He’s released from prison after a long stretch and enters a world quite different from the one he left behind. 

Along the way he rights old wrongs, reconnects with some old friends, and fails to connect with a few others.

Cooper is a delightful character to spend time with and the narrative sings when we are in his presence. Admittedly it is less compelling when he is not on stage, but that is not often.
Winner of a Spur Award, I look forward to more in the genre from this author.

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