River of Lost Souls

A true story, but friend and family names are changed to allow literary freedom. In the early 1920's, on Colorado's spectacular western slope, World War I is ended and economic depression runs rampant, woman suffrage is law, labor fights management, and the Ku Klux Klan makes significant strides in Colorado's politics. Monroe Morgan, a miner, a railroader, and a moonshiner, meets gorgeous Bonnie Isgar, wife to Sam Isgar and mother of Harold. Love blooms between Monroe and Bonnie as the abusive Sam organizes the Klan to provide a political base for his attempt to gain the Governor's Mansion. Bonnie runs away with Monroe and takes Harold with her. Sam follows. The chase begins in Grand Junction and ends in Durango where Bonnie gives birth to Wade Morgan. The Klan burns Cascade Ranch, Monroe's family home. The Klan kills One-armed Charlie, Monroe's Navajo buddy. There is no turning back. The death struggle continues until Bonnie dies of strychnine poisoning and a broken neck. A destroyed Monroe confronts Sam deep in a coalmine, survives the police investigation with help from Charlie's ghost, and then tries to live again by raising Wade.