Riders of the Purple Sage

“That year, 1871, had marked a change which had been gradually coming in the lives of the peace-loving Mormons of the border. Glaze—Stone Bridge—Sterling, villages to the north, had risen against the invasion of Gentile settlers and the forays of rustlers. There had been opposition to the one and fighting with the other. And now Cottonwoods had begun to wake and bestir itself and grown hard.”

Jane reflects on the time period and how unrest between both non-Mormon people and cattle rustlers has been growing in the area, both conflicts that will play a part in the plot of the novel. Jane’s reflections give the reader an understanding of the setting that will be important to understanding the motivations of the men who will attempt to dominate Jane and force her into obedience.

“But I’m sick of seeing this fellow Venters hang around you. I’m going to put a stop to it. You’ve so much love to throw away on these beggars of Gentiles that I’ve an idea you might love Venters.”

Tull shows his motive for seeking out Jane and Venters in his expressed fear that Jane is in love with Venters. This leads to the revelation that Tull wants Jane to marry him instead, but it also shows the attitude of the Mormon leaders against the non-Mormon people that have come to settle in Cottonwood. This also shows Jane’s defiance against the Mormon leaders in that she chooses to spend time with and help the non-Mormon people despite the Mormon dislike of the outsiders.

“‘I’ll take it here—if I must,’ said Venters. ‘But by God!—Tull you’d better kill me outright. That’ll be a dear whipping for you and your praying Mormons. You’ll make me another Lassiter!’”

Venters’s mention of Lassiter introduces the character as someone who wouldn’t allow such behavior as this punishment for Venters’s relationship with Jane to take place. While Venters doesn’t reveal Lassiter’s full reputation, he suggests that Lassiter is a danger to the Mormon men. This will be built upon when Lassiter himself appears.