Cattle Kate

Cattle Kate is the only woman ever lynched as a cattlerustler. History called it "e;range-land justice"e; when she was strung up inWyoming Territory on July 20, 1889, tarring her as a dirty thief and a filthywhore. But history was wrong. It was all a lie. Her real name was Ella Watson.She wasn't a rustler. She wasn't a whore. And she'd never been called CattleKate until she was dead and they needed an excuse. She was really a twenty-nine-year-oldimmigrant homesteader, lynched along with her husband by her rich and powerfulcattle-baron neighbors, who wanted her land and its precious water rights. Somepeople knew the truth from the start. Their voices were drowned out by theall-powerful Wyoming Stock Growers Association. And those who dared speak out-includingthe eyewitnesses to the hangings-either disappeared or mysteriously died. Therewas no one left to testify against the vigilantes when the case eventually cameto trial. Her six killers walked away scot-free. But the legend was strongerthan the truth. For over a century, newspapers, magazines, books, and movies spreadher ugly legacy. Now, on the 125th anniversary of her murder, the real Ellacomes alive in Cattle Kate to tellher heartbreaking story. Jana Bommersbach's debut novel bares a legend centralto the western experience.