Ardith Merritt, living in Boston, has a comfortable life as a children's book illustrator. However, her dying sister asks Ardith to take her 3 children to their father in Wyoming. Baird Northcross is in Wyoming Territory because he is such a disappointment to his esteemed family.
Running the family ranch, Sugar Creek, is Bairds last ditch effort at redemption. However, little in Bairds education or experience has prepared him for such a task. Baird has been a vagabond and adventurer, not an accountable ranch manager. Over the years, he has left his wife at home to bear and raise their kids alone.
Ardith and Baird have a shared past; her plan is to deposit the children with Baird and return to her life (and get away from Baird as quickly as possible). Baird is shocked by his wifes death and the thought of taking care of his children. Hes also shocked by the change in Ardith.
Baird begs Ardith to stay a while, giving him time to learn to cope with the children. She learns that he has to show a profit on the ranch or suffer the consequences (ostracization and further shame from the family). She reluctantly agrees to stay for a time.
Neither of these characters is very engaging at the outset. Of the two, Ardith seems more mature but she seems anxious and wound tight. Baird is just hopeless obnoxious, rootless, fairly unlikable.
Ive thought about this book for a couple of months before writing this because I wanted to consider the relationship between Ardith and Baird at length. Baird is almost an anti-hero he really needs the steadiness of Ardith. This is not something Im used to seeing in this genre.
Baird never will be a standalone kind of guy. I dont mean this unkindly; there are some people who need the support of a loving partner to reach their potential. With Ardith, Baird grows as a person. Together, they each reach a higher level than they might have as individuals.
Running the family ranch, Sugar Creek, is Bairds last ditch effort at redemption. However, little in Bairds education or experience has prepared him for such a task. Baird has been a vagabond and adventurer, not an accountable ranch manager. Over the years, he has left his wife at home to bear and raise their kids alone.
Ardith and Baird have a shared past; her plan is to deposit the children with Baird and return to her life (and get away from Baird as quickly as possible). Baird is shocked by his wifes death and the thought of taking care of his children. Hes also shocked by the change in Ardith.
Baird begs Ardith to stay a while, giving him time to learn to cope with the children. She learns that he has to show a profit on the ranch or suffer the consequences (ostracization and further shame from the family). She reluctantly agrees to stay for a time.
Neither of these characters is very engaging at the outset. Of the two, Ardith seems more mature but she seems anxious and wound tight. Baird is just hopeless obnoxious, rootless, fairly unlikable.
Ive thought about this book for a couple of months before writing this because I wanted to consider the relationship between Ardith and Baird at length. Baird is almost an anti-hero he really needs the steadiness of Ardith. This is not something Im used to seeing in this genre.
Baird never will be a standalone kind of guy. I dont mean this unkindly; there are some people who need the support of a loving partner to reach their potential. With Ardith, Baird grows as a person. Together, they each reach a higher level than they might have as individuals.
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