Brothers of the Cross Timber
Some men are born brothers; others become brothers through experiences. Arty, Lance, and Gill share a bond that seems unbreakable until tested by their competition for the attention of Gwendolyn Peaudane—a woman of charm and beauty, but with secrets that will challenge their camaraderie. Their boyhood adventures soon turn into adult challenges as each tries to find his way.
The three boys forge their friendship in the Cross Timber, an ancient forest separating the vast plains of western Oklahoma from the wooded hills of the east. The thick woodland was described by Washington Irving as “The Cast Iron Forest” because it was so difficult to traverse. Indians native to the plains called it “The Emerald Wall.” The rugged country became an ideal place for bootleggers to hide and illegal speakeasies to operate
Set against the backdrop of the battle for the county seat of Pottawatomie County and the Great Railroad Strike of 1922, Brothers of the Cross Timber shows the challenges of migration from the farm to the city. As the “brothers” find their place in a changing and uncertain world, they learn trust is the enduring element to friendship.