Yale Forestall, a cowhand on one of the last big ranches in Montezuma County, Colorado, has a unique way with words, and the ability to craft incredible morsels of wisdom. Despite his gifted mind, Yale has been diagnosed with expressive/receptive language disorder, and the State is trying to impose its  guardianship over him, and put him in a nursing home while he’s still in his 30’s.

An intense court case ensues, and the story of Yale’s difficult past emerges as his therapist, Miles Holland, works to untangle Yale’s complex mind. Miles, a refugee lawyer escaping his demons from a big city back east, somewhat accidentally becomes Yale’s lawyer too, against the advice from professionals and friends around him. He fights to help Yale keep his personal freedom.

Yale Forestall seems endowed with an uncommon wisdom, yet the State deems him unfit to care for himself as a free man. Miles believes he’s the only one who can hear through the layers of confusion sown by Yale’s language disorder to tap a hidden meaning not understood by the world. Is Yale a mystic or mere trickster? Has Miles deluded himself into believing Yale possesses a wisdom he doesn’t really have? The events ensuing from the guardianship case leave a permanent mark on Yale, Miles and everyone whom the case involves.

© 2022 by Michael C. Just

Mike’s novel, The Dirt: The Journey of a Mystic Cowboy, is available in softcover or eBook formats through Amazon.

You can purchase the book through this website. Or go straight to amazon at https://www.amazon.com/s?k=the+dirt+journey+of+a+mystic+cowboy&crid=1S40Q4BXSUWJ6&sprefix=the+dirt%3A+journey+of+a+m%2Caps%2C180&ref=nb_sb_ss_i_1_23

Mike’s other titles, including The Crippy, The Mind Altar, and Canyon Calls, are available through this website or through Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B002

Four of his short stories have recently been published online:

Lies, Ltd. has been published by The Mystery Tribune @ Lies, Ltd.: Literary Short Fiction by Michael C. Just (mysterytribune.com)

The Obligate Carnivore has been published by the Scarlet Leaf Review @ Category: MICHAEL JUST – SCARLET LEAF REVIEW

I See You, Too has been published by the 96th of October @ I See You, Too – 96th of October

Offload, a short story about a man who can heal any disease, is now live and can be read at The Worlds Within at Offload – The Worlds Within