Wicked Water

Basis for the film Hannah Lee: An American Primitive

MACKINLAY KANTOR

Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Andersonville

“Well,” Montgomery challenged him, “how many people have you killed?” The young man stopped laughing. His face turned into black stone. "Sixty-seven."

To Western cattle barons in 1899 the encroaching homesteaders were like cinders eyes. But they were legal. Even the rustlers among them seldom were brought to justice for lack of evidence. There seemed to be only one way to pry loose those on the land, and discourage others from settling: scare them off. To do just that some of the ranchers met in Pearl City in secret conclave. They agreed to hire the most notorious professional killer then known—Bus Crow. They figured that a small dose of Bus Crow would quickly clear the ranges, and keep them clear.

WICKED WATER is the story of the bloody descent of Bus Crow on the homesteaders of Pearl County. It is the story, too, of the woman who loved him in spite of herself, who bowed to justice in spite of her love. Against a background of driving action, MacKinlay Kantor probes the mysteries of a killer's mind, of the dark rebellion that made him cry: I'll always kill. I’ll shoot them down ... get a gun and keep killing and killing.

A NOVEL ABOUT A KILLER—BY THE AUTHOR OFMIDNIGHT LACE & GENTLE ANNIE