The Eagle's Heart

"The Eagle's Heart" by Hamlin Garland follows a hot-headed protagonist, Harold Excel. A tumultuous relationship with his father, a single friend, and no woman to give his affection already make him downtrodden, but he finds himself in more trouble after being released from prison for stabbing a man. Though his only desire is to be a cowboy, it seems like that dream will always elude him, until he decides to take matters into his own hands and head west.