The Pretty Horses: Summary

The novel begins at the funeral of a young boy’s grandfather in the year 1949. The boy is introduced as sixteen-year-old John Grady Cole who lives in San Angelo, Texas. John Grady is not close with his father but he meets with him and his father gives him a special saddle. Also, John Grady tries to buy the family ranch from his mother but she refuses. (IM)-John Grady decides he does not have anymore use in Texas so he and his friend Rawlins plan to run away. The boys leave and ride south into Mexico. Along the way they meet a young boy who looks around thirteen but says that he is older. He also claims that his name is Jimmy Blevins. It is obvious that he lies a lot so Rawlins does not trust him and keeps telling John Grady that they should
After violence and shooting, John Grady starts back home with the captain and three horses. John Grady was shot and the captain’s shoulder is out of place. The captain keeps complaining and does not want to go any longer. They encounter a group of men who say they are “men of the country” and they take the captain with them. John Grady finally gets to Texas and the first thing he realizes is that his father is dead. He begins to cry. John Grady looks for the owner of Blevins’s horse in Texas. He goes to court and gains possession of the horse. He tells the judge every bit of his story and the judge does not think he is a bad person. John Grady begins to feel guilty about killing the man in prison. Later on, he hears a reverend named Jimmy Blevins on the radio, so he goes to his home to try to find out if they know Blevins. Jimmy Blevins and his wife say they are not the owners of the horse and do not know who Blevins is. (R)-John Grady finally goes back to his hometown and first goes to see Rawlins. (D)-Rawlins asks if John Grady is staying and he says no because this is not the country for him. He finds out that his grandmother died and he goes to her