Dare the Long Ride, by Don Hopkins, is a moving fictional tale of the Old West that centers on three disparate characters: a young orphan, a veteran cowhand, and an ex-Army scout. An amiable mule accompanies the trio on their adventure-filled travels westward to Deadwood, South Dakota. Along the way, an additional cast of unusual characters, as well as historical personalities ranging from Calamity Jane to Wild Bill Hickok add true color to this thoughtful new take on the literary Western. Dare the Long Ride affords readers a deep understanding of history and at the same time frankly depicts the inherent lawlessness and brutality of the era.