Paulette Jiles mastery of poetic description is unmatched. Because she knows Texas well, from the northern panhandle to San Antonio, the reader can see, smell, and feel its terrain. Even though her writing style excels in this novel, I thought Jiles characterization of Capt. Kidd and Johanna.was spot-on. Both impacted me as real characters not only facing challenges on their journey but also how a bond slowly developed that would last a lifetime. GREAT writing, Paulette.