Content Warning: This section refers to death by suicide.

The first character the reader meets, Rocky Rhodes is complex and at times divisive. He’s caring, supportive, and loving to his family members, willing to go out of his way to demonstrate his love and commitment. This is evident in the extremes he goes to in order to convince Lou to marry him and move west, such as building an elaborate bell tower and a state-of-the-art kitchen. He remains dedicated to her throughout her life and fiercely loyal to her memory after she dies. Likewise, he deeply loves his young children and provides thorough care and support for them after Lou’s death.

Externally, Rocky is a gruff, no-nonsense man who displays traits of traditional masculinity: He’s unafraid of physical labor and works hard to reach his goals. He painstakingly carves out a successful life for himself and his family, though the terrain in the American west is unforgiving. He insists on loyalty from others in his life, especially his children. Ironically, he becomes estranged from his son, just as he did from his own father, Punch, during his life. Indeed, he recognized the way he disappointed and defied his father by failing to take up the family business, but he was brazen and unapologetic about this decision, committed to pursuing his own dreams even at the cost of his relationship with his father.