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The first question most people have asked is about the title of this book. Why change from having one book cover one year to two books covering one year? The answer is that while Ralph was writing this book he came up with a way that he was comfortable with for Johnny to retire as a Marshal/Bounty Hunter. Ralph wanted him to retire instead of getting killed, just in case Ralph decided to bring him out of retirement at some time in the future. Time wise, Ralph needed the last story to end in the last half of 1884 for reasons that will become apparent when one reads Johnny Ringo – Bounty Hunter: 1884 Part II. However, Ralph had enough storylines left that he knew it would take this book and three books after this one to fit all of them in. By having each book cover roughly six months, Ralph was able to accomplish both purposes.
In 1883 Part I, 1883 Part II and 1884 Part I several clues are given as to why he will retire and what he will do in his retirement. As you read those books, look for those clues.
Beginning with this book, Johnny becomes a special U. S. Marshal. As a special U. S. Marshal he would not be limited to one geographical area, but instead allowed to cover unsolveable crimes in Colorado, Kansas, Texas and Indian Territory. This still allows him to collect bounties, but it also allows him to follow in the footsteps of his father, which Ralph thought was something that was important for him to do to grow as a person.
Ralph's major reason for making him a U. S. Marshal was that when he looked at many of the storylines/subplots he had for Johnny most of them would work better if he were an official lawman, not just a bounty hunter, and he needed a superior who was sending him after these criminals. Since a good relationship had already been established with Marshal Steve Morgan, it made sense to have Steve be his superior.
Storylines/Subplots:
1 – Trouble in Durango - Chapters 1-7
2 – Taking care of family - Chapters 8-9
3 – Comanche Jim – Chapters 10-16
4 – Actress kidnapped - Chapters 17-22
5 – Night Stalker - Chapters 23-27
6 – Family and Friends – Chapter 28
7 – Amnesia – Chapters 29-32
Total Words = 52,466
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