This warped-time western novel takes place in the latter half of the 19th century and is the origin novel of Marshal Rider Jones.

It begins when he's a toddler (with how he got his odd name) and progresses through a time when he's roughly 21 years old. For various reasons, Rider becomes a lawman at a young age and lives a life of adventure and cunning.

He has mentors, fights Comanches and outlaws, but eventually he's ready to step out of his small town in Nevada and see and do more. Come along on the journey.