Chasing Laughter in the Wilderness

The story takes place in the western wilderness at the end of the nineteenth century. Colin McKinney sets off on an adventure with a bag of counterfeit gold coins, and unexpectedly meets Talia, a quirky bounty hunter, and Joey, a con man who’s always putting on a show. As they wander from town to town, they face pursuit by Green-Hat Jack, the political schemes of Harry Bex, and the explosive gossip at the Rosaline Inn. Along the way, they encounter shootouts, scams, and ridiculous misunderstandings, all while keeping up a steady stream of wisecracks. Through a series of mix-ups, power struggles, and chases, Colin and his companions gradually grow, as life and dreams “cook up” a side-splitting tale beneath the blazing sun of the wilderness. The story follows several plotlines at once, offering a look at the warmth and cruelty of human nature, as well as the absurd humor of the western wilderness, from the perspective of ordinary people. In the final storm, the fates of all the characters converge, bringing the story to a satisfying close.