The Rain Tree

by Will Cook

The Rain Tree is a haunting and unforgettable story of frontier adversity, human character, and the spiritual fortitude it takes to survive. Jim Martin and his family live in an arid plains region where drought is a way of life. Attempting to overcome the drought, Jim has tried every means of rainmaking, from flying kites to shooting off gunpowder, much to the ridicule of his neighbors. Then Jim hears about an old-timer who is able to conjure water. He seeks him out and learns that the old-timer believes the source of his water is a mysterious tree that he planted years ago. In his desperation, Jim bargains for a shoot of the tree—a bargain that may ruin them all.

216 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 1, 2014

About the author

William Everett Cook was born in Richmond, Indiana in 1922 and died in 1964. He began writing for publication in 1952 for Popular Library. During his short life Cook was a soldier, commercial aviator, deep-sea diver, logger, peace officer, and writer of western and adventure novels and stories. His hobbies included sports car racing, sailing, judo, and barbershop singing. His pseudonyms include Wayne Everett, James Keene, Frank Peace, and William Richards.

William Everett Cook was a writer of western and adventure novels and stories. Collection consists of correspondence (273 letters), manuscripts for his novels, short stories, and one novella, and an extensive collection of western pulp fiction containing short stories by Cook.

Reviews

[Dianna Shimizu · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don't think I've ever read a book before where you start off really liking the main character, but despising him by the end of the book.