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Desperate Warrior: Days of War, Days of Peace
Risking all for love and redemption, a reformed killer battles to free his family from the shackles of slavery.In the untamed pages of history, the saga of Pedes-klinje—known to the Mexicans as the relentless Chato—blazes a trail through the blood-soaked annals of the Apache wars. From 1877, his name was etched in the fiery heart of battle—a figure brimming with ferocity, hunger for power, and a disdain for peace with the white invaders.
As the trusted lieutenant of the infamous Chircauhua chief Geronimo, Chato's days are painted in the hues of raid and revolt until personal tragedy strikes in 1883 when his wife and children are taken into slavery in Mexico. Betting on General George Crook’s influence to retrieve his kin, Chato strikes a deal to aid the U.S. Army in maintaining peace on the Fort Apache Reservation. But when Geronimo denounces him as a traitor and departs, all hope for Chato’s family flees with him. Forsaken by his former brothers-in-arms, Chato vows to hunt down the renegades himself, becoming a beacon of the Chiricahua peace faction clinging to reservation life in the process.
Desperate Warrior is an epic journey of resilience, honor, and the relentless pursuit of justice. Steeped in the rich tapestry of Apache history, Will Rogers Medallion-winning author W. Michael Farmer weaves a riveting portrait of one of the most enigmatic figures in American history, capturing the essence of a warrior's heart and the indomitable spirit of his people.
As the trusted lieutenant of the infamous Chircauhua chief Geronimo, Chato's days are painted in the hues of raid and revolt until personal tragedy strikes in 1883 when his wife and children are taken into slavery in Mexico. Betting on General George Crook’s influence to retrieve his kin, Chato strikes a deal to aid the U.S. Army in maintaining peace on the Fort Apache Reservation. But when Geronimo denounces him as a traitor and departs, all hope for Chato’s family flees with him. Forsaken by his former brothers-in-arms, Chato vows to hunt down the renegades himself, becoming a beacon of the Chiricahua peace faction clinging to reservation life in the process.
Desperate Warrior is an epic journey of resilience, honor, and the relentless pursuit of justice. Steeped in the rich tapestry of Apache history, Will Rogers Medallion-winning author W. Michael Farmer weaves a riveting portrait of one of the most enigmatic figures in American history, capturing the essence of a warrior's heart and the indomitable spirit of his people.
268 pages, Paperback
Published June 4, 2024
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About the author
W. Michael Farmer
40 books80 followersI live and write in Smithfield, Isle of Wight County, Virginia. Living for nearly fifteen years in Las Cruces, New Mexico, I was immersed in the region's rich history, living in its culture, exploring its deserts, mountains, and ranges and learning much of the rich story life of the southwest. I'm a physicist by training, and I have a couple of books on remote sensing through the atmosphere (the Atmospheric Filter)that were published nearly fifteen years ago and are still in use today. I began writing fiction in 2002 in an attempt to get at the truth behind one of the great mysteries of the southwest - the Fountain murders - I learned while living in Las Cruces. The result was my first novel, Hombrecito's War, which won a Western Writers of America Silver Spur Award for Best First Novel in 2006 and was a New Mexico Book Award Finalist for Historical Fiction in 2007. The sequel, Hombrecito's Search, was released in July 2007, and is based on the remarkable fact that Sierra Madre Apaches still raided across the United States border as late as 1930. Treble Heart Press published my third novel, Conspiracy: The Trial of Oliver Lee and James Gililland, in 2009, which, while a novel, covered in historic detail the trial of the men accused of murdering the Fountains. Tiger Tiger Burning Bright: The Betrayals of Pancho Villa, my fourth novel, also from Treble Heart, depicts the fall into near insanity by Pancho Villa and his raid on Columbus, New Mexico, in 1916. Tiger, Tiger completes The Vanished Trilogy. I have also published short stories in two anthologies, won awards for essays at the Christopher Newport University Writers' Conference, and published an essay on Pat Garrett in Roundup magazine.
Historical fiction, framed with as much accurate detail as possible about the events driving the story, is my passion. I've learned that, as Oakley Hall once said, "The pursuit of truth, not facts, is the business of fiction." I believe Oakley Hall was exactly right, but I've also found that fiction built around the facts provides powerful insights into the life and times of historical characters and events as they actually were. I hope you enjoy my work and I look forward to hearing from you.
Historical fiction, framed with as much accurate detail as possible about the events driving the story, is my passion. I've learned that, as Oakley Hall once said, "The pursuit of truth, not facts, is the business of fiction." I believe Oakley Hall was exactly right, but I've also found that fiction built around the facts provides powerful insights into the life and times of historical characters and events as they actually were. I hope you enjoy my work and I look forward to hearing from you.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
June 6, 2024
Award-winning W.Michael Farmer's newest book, “Desperate Warrior: Days of War, Days of Peace Chato's Chiricahua Apache Legacy Volume One," offers readers an exceptional view into an epic saga in Apache history. The story is narrated by Apache warrior Chato. Farmer's meticulous and well-researched historical fiction brings to light a time period often overlooked and misunderstood. Pedes-Klinje(1854-1934) was known to the Mexicans as Chato, meaning “flat-nosed.” He was a subchief of the Chiricahua Apaches and often Geronimo's sequndo (second in command) for many raids and battles in southern Arizona and northern Mexico in the 1870s. His thirst for power and contempt for White Eyes (Blue Coats) was all-consuming.
At the beginning of the book, the author wisely incorporates a list of Apache words and phrases, names of historical characters pertinent to the story, specialized names, and Chiricahua Apache bands for ease of reading. A brief overview/synopsis of the story was a helpful background addition. While based on actual historical events, “Desperate Warrior” is a work of fiction, making it more impressive as the author effectively captures the “heart and soul” of a warrior who was betrayed by White Eyes, Geronimo, and his fellow Indian groups.
Chato and Geronimo were taken under guard to San Carlos Reservation in 1877. Geronimo left the reservation in 1878 but he and the great war chief, Juh were talked into returning in 1880. During this time, many promises were made to Apache bands but were not kept. Life on the San Carlos Reservation lacked necessary supplies, rampant mosquito born diseases prevailed, and corrupt politics provided crooked agents who stole supplies from sick and starving Indians. In 1881, Geronimo led a breakout from the reservation and was followed by Chato, then his Segundo, and over 300 Chokonen Chiricahua Apaches. From a stronghold of Juh in Mexico’s Sierra Madre Mountains the Apaches made war and raided on both sides of the border. While in Mexico in January, 1883, Chato’s wife and two of his children were taken prisoner and sold into slavery by Tarahumara Indians serving as Mexican paramilitary. Chato desperately wanted to get them back but had no idea where they were taken or who had them. In May of 1883 General George Crook led 50 cavalry troopers and nearly 200 Apache scouts into Mexico. In a near bloodless coup, Crook convinced the Apache leaders to surrender and return to San Carlos. When Chato surrendered to Crook, Crook promised him he would get the army to work with the Mexican government and get his family back. Clinging to the notion that peaceful co-existence with White Eyes might improve the Apache’s situation, his he vowed to aid the US Army in maintaining peace on the reservation. When he returned to the reservation from Mexico in 1884 Chato became a First Sergeant of Scouts (the highest rank an Indian could hold), for Lieutenant Britton Davis who was in charge of the Chiricahuas at Fort Apache. Chato and Geronimo became enemies at Fort Apache when Chato warned Geronimo not to botch any deal to get his family back by leading a breakout from the reservation. A hard-eyed killer, Geronimo loved his People and his family but hated disloyalty. He called Chato a traitor and just before breaking out in 1885, told his brothers Fun and Tisnah to kill him, which they were unable to do. When Geronimo denounced him as a traitor, hope began to fade for Chato to retrieve his family. With a relentless pursuit of justice, Chato becomes one of the primary scout leaders and leads the hunt for Geronimo’s renegades who broke out of Fort Apache in 1885.
Farmer's extensive knowledge of the time period and Apache history is evident in his descriptive writing. He vividly captures the essence of battle scenes, raids, everyday Indian life, the emotional turmoil of the Apache warriors, and the heart of a desperate warrior, Chato. Farmer's book is an impressive piece of writing and, from a historical perspective, a wonderful resource on Apache history and culture.
At the beginning of the book, the author wisely incorporates a list of Apache words and phrases, names of historical characters pertinent to the story, specialized names, and Chiricahua Apache bands for ease of reading. A brief overview/synopsis of the story was a helpful background addition. While based on actual historical events, “Desperate Warrior” is a work of fiction, making it more impressive as the author effectively captures the “heart and soul” of a warrior who was betrayed by White Eyes, Geronimo, and his fellow Indian groups.
Chato and Geronimo were taken under guard to San Carlos Reservation in 1877. Geronimo left the reservation in 1878 but he and the great war chief, Juh were talked into returning in 1880. During this time, many promises were made to Apache bands but were not kept. Life on the San Carlos Reservation lacked necessary supplies, rampant mosquito born diseases prevailed, and corrupt politics provided crooked agents who stole supplies from sick and starving Indians. In 1881, Geronimo led a breakout from the reservation and was followed by Chato, then his Segundo, and over 300 Chokonen Chiricahua Apaches. From a stronghold of Juh in Mexico’s Sierra Madre Mountains the Apaches made war and raided on both sides of the border. While in Mexico in January, 1883, Chato’s wife and two of his children were taken prisoner and sold into slavery by Tarahumara Indians serving as Mexican paramilitary. Chato desperately wanted to get them back but had no idea where they were taken or who had them. In May of 1883 General George Crook led 50 cavalry troopers and nearly 200 Apache scouts into Mexico. In a near bloodless coup, Crook convinced the Apache leaders to surrender and return to San Carlos. When Chato surrendered to Crook, Crook promised him he would get the army to work with the Mexican government and get his family back. Clinging to the notion that peaceful co-existence with White Eyes might improve the Apache’s situation, his he vowed to aid the US Army in maintaining peace on the reservation. When he returned to the reservation from Mexico in 1884 Chato became a First Sergeant of Scouts (the highest rank an Indian could hold), for Lieutenant Britton Davis who was in charge of the Chiricahuas at Fort Apache. Chato and Geronimo became enemies at Fort Apache when Chato warned Geronimo not to botch any deal to get his family back by leading a breakout from the reservation. A hard-eyed killer, Geronimo loved his People and his family but hated disloyalty. He called Chato a traitor and just before breaking out in 1885, told his brothers Fun and Tisnah to kill him, which they were unable to do. When Geronimo denounced him as a traitor, hope began to fade for Chato to retrieve his family. With a relentless pursuit of justice, Chato becomes one of the primary scout leaders and leads the hunt for Geronimo’s renegades who broke out of Fort Apache in 1885.
Farmer's extensive knowledge of the time period and Apache history is evident in his descriptive writing. He vividly captures the essence of battle scenes, raids, everyday Indian life, the emotional turmoil of the Apache warriors, and the heart of a desperate warrior, Chato. Farmer's book is an impressive piece of writing and, from a historical perspective, a wonderful resource on Apache history and culture.
June 24, 2025
W. Michael Farmer tells the highly engaging story of the Chiricahua Apache leader Chato. Farmer blends fact and fiction into this historical fiction book, and his storytelling skills are at the top of the western writing genre. Chato’s story is one of the most compelling in the Native American history of the Southwest.
February 14, 2024
Absolutely amazing, to follow Geronimo and Chato and how they fought the Mexican’s and blue coats and each other. You won’t put this book down. Another great job by Michael Farmer! It’s almost like living during the Apache war days.
Pete Rolfzen
Pete Rolfzen
February 13, 2024
This story is OMG it bought me to tears the author now has my heart with there writing and I can't wait for more
March 9, 2024
Sit back and relax and enjoy the story told by Chato, Chief and feared warrior of Chokonen Apache band and his warriors as they lead raids across Southern New Mexico and Arizona.
Tina
Tina
March 27, 2024
Read about this fantastic book at Nevy's Bookshelf
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews