Young, Skinny Wiry Fellows:
Orphans Preferred.
Set in 1861, in the Nevada Great Basin, XP follows the orphan James Donovan as he rides for the legendary Pony Express. Galloping for twenty-four hours straight, he carries whisper-thin mail, crossing a desolate land - dangerous, yet terrifyingly beautiful. Two clashing worlds battle for his identity - the Paiute Indians who helped raise him, and the Mormons who tried to capture his soul.
In a story as vast as the great American West, James encounters men and women of such strong character they survive on desire alone - unforgettable characters, some enchanting, some evil, all courageous. He discovers a love so deep it transcends the imagination. A sorrow so true even nature pauses to mourn. On his journey he meets a twenty-something Mark Twain, experiences the threat of a civil war, all while witnessing a diminishing way of living harmoniously with the land.
With a vivid, sensuous style, as sparse as the land itself, Alison Bailey brings to life a time of saddle sores, Indian lore, heartache and glory. Here is the myth, a time in adolescent America when any outrageous dream was possible. An epic tale of an honorable story that is long overdue.