The Red Rider

Catalog Description "The Red Rider; or, The White Queen of the Apaches" by James L. Bowen is a frontier adventure narrative set at a silver mining camp in southwestern New Mexico. The story follows Arthur Ashton, a young gentleman prospector who has distinguished himself during conflicts with Comanches. When wounded miner Dun Humphries returns to camp after being chased by a mysterious band of Apaches, he confirms the existence of a legendary white woman leading the raiders—young, beautiful, dressed entirely in red, and reportedly ruthless. Despite skepticism from other miners, Ashton becomes fascinated. A peaceful Pimo Indian offers to guide him to see the woman. That night, Ashton and the Pimo set out on horseback across the dark prairie toward the Apache encampment, Ashton heavily armed and suspicious of potential treachery.