The Heart in Winter BY Kevin Barry

In "Riding Out," set against the backdrop of Butte, Montana, in October 1891, the narrative unfolds amidst the harsh realities of a city fueled by copper mines and teeming with vice. Tom Rourke, a young poet and balladmaker, finds himself entangled in a life of excess—struggling with addiction and aimlessness amid the tumultuous immigrant Irish community.

Everything changes when Polly Gillespie arrives in town as the bride of Anthony Harrington, a devout mine captain. Despite their disparate lives, Tom and Polly ignite a passionate and forbidden love affair. Their decision to flee westward on a stolen horse sets the stage for an exhilarating journey through the untamed landscapes of Montana and Idaho.

For a brief moment, their escape becomes an idyllic haven of wild romance, defying societal conventions and embracing the freedom of the open frontier. However, their bliss is short-lived as a relentless posse of deranged Cornish gunmen, driven by their own motivations, pursues them with deadly intent.

As Tom and Polly race against time and distance, navigating through rugged terrain and evading their pursuers, their love is tested in ways they never anticipated. Each step westward brings them closer to an uncertain future, where danger lurks around every bend and the consequences of their impulsive flight threaten to unravel everything they hold dear.

"Riding Out" is a gripping tale of love, recklessness, and survival against the backdrop of a tumultuous era in the American West. It explores themes of freedom, identity, and the price of pursuing passion in a world fraught with danger and uncertainty. Jennifer Clement's masterful storytelling paints a vivid portrait of characters caught between desire and danger, racing towards a fate that will forever alter their lives.