Red Dirt Heart

Red Dirt Heart (2014) N.R. Walker (Red Dirt Heart)

For the first time since Charlie’s father died, Sutton Station is going to have an agronomy exchange for a month during round-up. Charlie is hoping whoever they get will be competent and helpful.

He doesn’t expect to fall in love.

One of the things I enjoyed about this story was the landscape, and how important the landscape was to everything Charlie was trying to do.

He crouched down and scooped up a handful of the dirt at his feet. “It’s the reddest soil I’ve seen.”

“It’s like sand,” I told him. “Poor filtration, no nutrition.”

…

“Absolutely incredible,” he said again, quieter this time, almost in wonder. He went on to talk about the soil types and geological bases of his parents’ farm back in Texas. I’d forgotten that he was a student, or rather, had been a student. He’d technically finished studying— but still, I was reminded by the way he described the alkaline clays and sandy loams of his hometown that not only was he here to learn, but he also loved what he did.

I enjoyed the passion both men had for the work they loved.

What didn’t work for me, right now, was the angst and self-loathing Charlie had.

I scrubbed my hands with soap and told the man in the mirror the same words his father had said.

“No fucking fairy will run this station. It takes a man’s man to survive out here.”

I’m not saying it didn’t work for the story–it did. But it was more angst than I was up for right now.

Publisher: BlueHeart Press
Rating: 7.5/10

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