John

John is a former indentured farmhand from Pith, Oregon, setting out in search of an escape from his past. He loves animals of all shapes and sizes, but especially cows. He has no surname to speak of - not that he speaks very much to begin with.

Description
John is tall and fair-skinned, with blond hair and blue eyes. His hair is long, and worn either in a ponytail at the base of his neck, or a bun. He may or may not have a farmer's tan, depending on the season. When John is first introduced, he is wearing denim overalls around his waist, over a worn T-shirt. More typically, John wears button-down shirts tucked into slacks or jeans, usually a light color, sometimes suspenders, and boots. Starting at the beginning of Book 2, John uses a cane, given to him by the sisters at the Convent of the Holy Mother.

History
John grew up in Pith, Oregon as an indenture on Chokecherry Cattle Ranch. Chokecherry was the most profitable piece of land in the area, as it happened to be situated over a natural spring in the Pith Valley. The owner, Mister Thomas Clifford, controlled the water supply to the surrounding farms. John was sold to Clifford as a young child, ostensibly in payment of a debt. He does not know his parentage or surname.

John grew up more or less alone, except for Clifford and the cows. Seasonal farmhands would come and go, never staying long enough to form a friendship, although John did have one neighbor he was friendly with: Lana, who lived down the road. The cows, and to a lesser extent, all animals, were John's friends. TW CSA, abuse: John was physically and sexually abused by Clifford. The knowledge that Clifford would soon be purchasing the indenture of another young boy spurred John into the choice to kill Clifford and leave Chokecherry behind.

Cody Allison
John meets Cody in the northwest corner of Nevada. John is travelling south, while Cody is riding a motorbike north: and rides the motorbike straight into John. The reason is soon apparent: Cody has recently been parted from two of his fingers, and is too ill to travel alone. John takes it upon himself to find Cody a doctor, despite the revelation that Cody is being chased by a gang called the Dead-Eyes. They become travelling companions as Cody recovers, and eventually more than friends.

Neta
John briefly befriends Neta and her wife Josie at Convent of the Holy Mother. Neta enlists him for some help in the convent garden, and John marvels at her relationship with her wife.