Amid the Maples

Paul was born in '37 the son of Maple City's first illegit­i­mate child. Because of his father's illegitimacy the elitists in his hometown shun him. Although brilliant his childhood was miserable and worsens when alcoholism claims his father. A second father image teaches Paul to box and run distance. Sports earn him respectability and the enduring friendship of a black athlete John. He finds love. Paul has found happiness but his family's history haunts him.He attacks a pedophile for molesting his sister. After his crime is dis­covered he is forced into the military at seventeen. In the military he learns his bio­logi­cal grand­father owns a cattle ranch in Montana. After four years Paul is discharged. Unable to re­turn to Maple City he finds his grand­father. After inheriting the ranch and a fortune he marries. Now Paul can return to Maple City and avenge his family's persecutors.