Overview

Days of the River Rider is a powerful blend of historical fiction and classic western storytelling, set against the stark beauty of Texas’ Big Bend country in 1943.At the height of a foot-and-mouth cattle quarantine along the Rio Grande, John Bearman patrols the river as an isolated rider, armed only with books, a Victrola, and his duty to protect the borderlands. His solitary existence is interrupted when he meets Annie Tinsley, a rancher’s wife whose resilience and pain mirror the rugged land they both inhabit. What begins as an unlikely bond quickly unfolds into a story of smuggling, survival, and forbidden connection—where loyalty is tested, violence is close at hand, and the unforgiving desert reveals both its harshness and its grace. From Annie’s struggle with a traumatic birth to Bearman’s deadly clash with the ruthless Emilio Ornelos, the novel explores themes of isolation, resilience, love, loss, and redemption. Told through vivid journal entries that give voice to Bearman’s inner battles, Days of the River Rider offers readers a deeply character-driven western that balances gritty action with moments of profound tenderness. Ideal for fans of Yellowstone:1923 and 1883; for readers of historical fiction, westerns, and literary fiction, particularly those interested in the Southwest, World War II–era Texas, and Rio Grande border history.

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9780875659480

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Author Information

David Fleming is a fourth-generation Texan whose roots run deep in the San Marcos area. A graduate of Texas State University with degrees in Liberal Arts and Creative Writing (MFA), Fleming devoted more than three decades to teaching English and Creative Writing at Seguin High School. He also served as pastor of New Hope Baptist Church in San Marcos for twenty-five years. Fleming is the author of Summertime and Border Crossings, both published by TCU Press, and his writing reflects his lifelong connection to Texas culture, faith, and storytelling. An avid outdoorsman, he and his family have explored Big Bend National Park and floated the Lower Canyons of the Rio Grande for over forty years.

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