Resolution (Parker novel)
| Author | Robert B. Parker |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Series | Everett Hitch Trilogy |
| Genre | Western |
| Publisher | Putnam Adult |
Publication date | June 3, 2008 |
| Media type | Hardcover |
| Pages | 292 |
| ISBN | ISBN 039915504X Parameter error in {{ISBNT}}: invalid character |
| Preceded by | Appaloosa |
| Followed by | Brimstone |
Resolution is a 2008 Western novel by Robert B. Parker. It is a sequel to the 2006 novel, Appaloosa. It will be followed in 2009 by Brimstone.
Story overview
After Everett Hitch fled Appaloosa after shooting and killing Randall Bragg, he wandered around the West, travelling from town to town until stumbling upon Resolution. Upon meeting the owner of the largest tavern, Amos Wolfson, Hitch is hired as a lookout, the old west equivalent of a bouncer. With his trusty 8-gauge, Hitch keeps the peace in the bar and becomes the go-to man for any injustices in the lawless town.
It turns out that Wolfson, in addition to owning the Blackfoot tavern, owns most of the town, including the bank, the dry goods store and a hotel, including the whores who work there. Eventually Hitch's friend from Appaloosa, Virgil Cole, joins Hitch in Resolution. Cole avoids employment by Wolfson for a time, but helps Hitch in his peace-keeping duties. Eventually Hitch is asked to help evict some local ranchers when they can't pay back loans to Wolfson. Hitch and Cole are uneasy with these tasks, but initially back Wolfson.
The nearby copper mine owner, Eamon O'Malley, seeing that his mine is nearing its end, tries to buy Wolfson's properties from him, but Wolfson refuses. In response, O'Malley raises a small army in preperation to take the town by force. Wolfson also raises a smaller rabble of shooters, and they launch a successful pre-emptive strike on O'Malley's men, killing him in the process and most of his band of shooters. As a result, Wolfson gains ownership of O'Malley's bar and hires its two lookouts, a pair of shooters with stellar reputations: Frank Rose and Cato Tillson. Cole is also hired at this point, and the four become friends.
Eventually Rose, Tillson, Hitch and Cole become the de facto lawmen for the town, with people coming to them to resolve differences. They also force Wolfson to put up a beaten woman, the wife of one of the ranchers he's trying to outst. Wolfson realizes he can't control the four lookouts anymore and hires another band of 20 shooters to help him drive out ranchers who owe him money.
Soon after the new band arrives, Wolfson ends the employment of Rose, Tillson, Hitch and Cole. He pays them their remaining wages and bonuses, hoping that they'll leave Resolution without incident since three of them are incredible gunman of wide repute. The four decide they can't in good conscience let Wolfson drive the nearby ranchers off their land: they all owe him money they can't repay on his terms. They warn Wolfson that they won't let him drive them off, and tells them to leave.
The four join with the resistance, led by a local lumber mill owner, Stark, who hates Wolfson. Stark has taken in most of the ranchers and farmer who Wolfson has driven off. Heading up security, the four kill a few of Wolfson's men, knowing that an all-out battle between the two forces is looming.
Saying he wants to avoid a shootout, Wolfson sends word that he wants to arrange a meeting between himself and Cole. Cole agrees, with the other three looking on, but out of shooting range. Wolfson appears at the agreed-upon location, with the two leaders of Wolfson's band looking on. As Wolfson and Cole begin to talk, one of the henchmen draws, intending to shoot Cole. Cole is faster, however, shooting both the henchmen and Wolfson. The novel ends with the ranchers reclaiming their land and organizing a proper town. They elect Stark as their mayor and hire Rose and Tillson as their lawmen. Cole and Hitch head off to Texas, perhaps to search for Cole's estranged wife, Allie.
External links
- Resolution page at Parker's official site.