Bone by Bone: A Novel [Hardcover]

Edgar and the women moved south. In March 1871 they crossed into Florida. They had traveled from North Carolina to Georgia and into Florida. They went to the Myers plantation which Aunt Tabitha inherited. His mother's plea for refuge had been granted.

Edgar was disliked by the overseer, Woodson Tolen. He was from the Flint River country in Georgia. Edgar went to work on another plantation because he made Woodson Tolen angry. Then Old Man Woodson Tolen went back to Georgia and tensions eased.

Edgar married Miss Charlie Collins when she turned fifteen. Ten months later she died. Their child's name was not registered in Lake City. He was referred to as Son Born. Charlie's parents took him to raise. Eight years later Edgar went to fetch him. Mr. and Mrs. Curry Collins called him Elton, but now Edgar called him Robert or Rob for short.

Edgar, accused of killings he did not commit, went with Rob and his second wife, Mandy, to the Oklahoma territory. In the territory Edgar ran into the Younger clan and Belle Starr. Belle Starr's son claimed he tried to bribe his way out of a scrape. Watson was put on trial for Starr's murder. He was released. The charge was not proved. The federal court held there was insufficient evidence to indict him.

Next Edgar leased a farm in Crawford County, Arkansas. By that time Rob was eleven and the other children, Carrie and Edward, toddlers. Also there was a new baby and the family was in debt. In jail for a month, Edgar had to plant later. They did not celebrate Christmas. They were in hibernation trying to ride out the famine.

Watson was arrested for horse theft and Mandy and the children moved with kind people to the Choctaw Nation. When he went out on the chain gang he managed to escape, but could not get word to Mandy and his family. He went off with Frank Reese and they parted near Memphis. Now he was known as Jack Watson. He rode over the Smokies into the Carolinas.

He sought his father Elijah Watson near Edgefield Court House. In 1878 Elijah Watson and William Coulter were indicted for murder. In October 1879 there was a finding of not guilty. Then he had a work gang job, prison guard. Next he, Elijah, became a grave digger.

Edgar realized he no longer cared whether he lived or died. He went to Florida and changed his name to E. Jack Watson. He visited his sister Minny and her husband Billy Collins. He learned that he was wanted in Arkansas. Watson traveled west and hired out as a gunslinger. He killed a man and almost fell into the hands of lynch mob.

From Arcadia, Florida he went south to Ten Thousand Islands. He started farming at Chatham Bend. His family joined him. They led a rough mosquito-ridden life. The Watson Place was famous because it was the only place between Fort Myers and Key West that was painted.

In 1898, a dry year, a huge alligator made its home in the Chatham River. Everyone but Rob moved to Fort Myers when Mandy was sick. The story continues in this fashion. Les Cox was one of the last varmints, bully boys, encountered by Edgar Watson. Finally Watson meets his merited end.

I honor the author's accomplishment. The book is strong and fine, although I preferred KILLING MR. WATSON.