Sue Cauhape

Paradise Ridge Sue Cauhape First edition

A young Nevada buckaroo rejuvenates the vigor and good fortune of those around him, showing the true magic of the Seventh Son. But is his power supernatural or the accidental gifts of an observant young man? _ _ Like peeling away the layers of an onion, this 21st-Century western saga draws upon the vaquero, Basque and Shoshone traditions to add texture to a story of betrayal and regeneration. An ensemble of quirky characters reveals how personal mythologies can guide or mislead us, delivering the tragedy, comedy and ironic twists that come when we misinterpret a person's true identity. _ _ Everyone around Leandro Arriaga sees him differently, but who is he really: the mythic Seventh Son of his father's imaginings or the spawn of a prostitute bent on destroying the House of Arriaga? _ _ When a fall from a horse forces Leandro into the care of his estranged sisters, he heals ancient wounds inflicted by his birth. An unexpected inheritance presents the opportunity to help his siblings develop their ambitions. In doing so, Leandro establishes a new trust in his family. _ _ Though he gives so freely to others, his own life spirals downward in a series of events that challenges his faith. The most humiliating incident of all, however, helps him understand his young and fragile Shoshone wife, Lucy. In the end, he comes full circle, reclaiming his wife and son and his own paradise on the beautiful Nevada range. With the majesty of the American West and wild horses as a backdrop, Paradise Ridge traces the serpentine course Leandro and Lucy must travel to return to grace and walk in beauty.