Ryder: He is 40ish and has the look of someone who spends his days outside. At the time of the beginning of this story Ryder is a wanderer. He makes his living as a handyman, doing odd jobs wherever he can find the work. He grew used to this lifestyle and developed an aversion to commitment. Ryder meets Kate when he does some work for her father, Big Mike. Kate seems to fit his temperament better than anyone he has met before. Ryder is growing to love Kate.
Kate: Kate is a few years younger than Ryder. She is a single parent and works with her father, Big Mike, at their small construction company as his assistant and partner. She spends about half her time at the company office, and half at whatever job site the company has at the time. The job provides her with flexibility so she can attend to various errands.
Kate was immediately attracted to Ryder and grew to love Ryder in a fairly short period of time. She knows he feels much the same way, but is hesitant to commit. She won’t rush him. She was attracted to his independence, similar to her father, Big Mike. He turned out to be kind and not concerned that she had a son.
Viejo, the old man: He is very old and somewhat sickly. He has an enormous ego presence and a strong will. He crossed the border from Mexico to the US as a young man. Although he does not live in the town of Puebla, he lives near enough to be a counselor to his people. Puebla has counted on him to help them navigate a path through tough times. During the time of this story he perceives a disaster happening to his people, and knows he may not be alive to guide them through it. Viejo sees Ryder as a tool, someone who can be compelled to help the local community when called upon.
Joe: He is of Mexican descent, in his middle 20’s. He is the grandson of Viejo. His parents died in an automobile accident when he was very young. He was raised by his grandparents. The old man did his best to instill into Joe a sense of responsibility of self and to the community. Joe has a wild streak that gets him into trouble.
Maria and Jesus: Maria is in her mid 20’s, an immigrant who traveled to the community with her parents. Jesus, her son is approximately 6 months old.
The Temptress: Cruel and attractive, she is all about controlling men in order to get what she wants in life. Men are only a means to an end. The end being her comfort and security. She will lie to, and try to manipulate, any man who chances across her path.
Big Mike: Kate’s father and Little Mike’s grandfather. Big Mike is very protective of his daughter and her son. He is a widower, his wife dying of a past illness. He is happy that Kate and Ryder found each other, but does not altogether trust Ryder. He sees a lot of himself in Ryder and knows the road is a strong lure to a man who gets too much domestication thrust upon him. He is very proud of his daughter for raising Little Mike and keeping her independence.
Little Mike: A young boy eight years of age. He never knew his father. Big Mike, his grandfather, has more or less filled that role. Little Mike likes Ryder because he knows his Mom likes him. Little Mike has not tried to spend much time with Ryder thinking that he may not be around long. He is just beginning to think Ryder could be good for him as well as his Mom.
Puebla and the immigrant community: Puebla is a village of approximately 300 people. These people (referred by Viejo as “his people”) are (mostly) of Mexican origin immigrants who have settled in a remote valley away from other populated areas. It is a small community beside a river. Subsistence farming is the main way of life. Because of the location’s remoteness there is not much work other than local farming or working at the larger farms and ranches of New Hope. Those children born to the people of Puebla tend to move away to look for more work and a better life.
New Hope: A larger community of approximately 1000 people. Most of the economy is agriculture, farming, ranching, and the support services. New Hope is an older town of mostly traditional European decent. Although all of the original peoples of New Hope were immigrants themselves, demographic changes in the country over the past 75 years have contributed to suspicions and occasional conflicts with those newer residents. Although New Hope and Puebla are interdependent communities economically, life in rural America can be difficult and it is easy to blame others for chronic problems.
Political Climate: The political climate in the country is one of fear due to the ever present threat of terrorist attacks in the world and the negative image some hold of immigrants.