Abel is the eldest son of Latrelle and Lionel Putnam. He works for his father at the livery stable and smithy that bears their name. Before that, Abel had served in the Union army and saw combat action, though primarily against Apache. This was before he lost his left forearm in an incident that the man has yet to speak to anyone about. The official letter from his discharge only says that he was “injured in service to his County.” It’s clear that he saw more than Indians out in the desert, the way he carries on at night sometimes. His mother and father try to be patient with him, thinking he’ll talk about it when he’s ready.

Most times, Abel’s a very friendly young man—his demeanor hides an underlying terror and sadness that his family can’t seem to penetrate.