Jake Spoon
Encyclopedia
Jake Spoon is a fictional Texas Ranger appearing in two books of the Lonesome Dove series
.
, Pea Eye Parker
and Joshua Deets
are with their captain, Inish Scull, Jake is left behind to take care of his wife, Inez Scull. Inez subjects him to her usual treatment for local men while her husband is away, making him a sex slave. After cutting his hair, however, she suddenly finds him less attractive, and loses all interest in him. Sadly, her initial interest ruined any chances Jake has of a relationship with her maid, who had developed an interest in him.
He subsequently signs on, when Gus and Call return, to be part of their mission to find Inish Scull; who had set off with Famous Shoes
to find his captured horse, Hector; and bring him back to Austin at the behest of his wife and of Governor Elisha Pease. However, when their quest takes them to the small border town of Lonesome Dove, Gus and Woodrow decide to leave him, Pea Eye Parker
and Joshua Deets
behind and find Scull themselves.
Jake continues to serve with the Rangers for several more years. Soon after their return to Austin, Maggie Tilton
gives birth to Newt, her illegitimate son by Cpt. Woodrow F. Call
. His birth puts a severe strain on her relationship with Call, as he refuses to acknowledge the boy as his own. Though he treats the boy well, he does not act like a father to him. Jake ends up taking that role, going so far as to spend most of his nights in Maggie's room. This ends up straining his relationship with Woodrow, who begins to resent him for moving in with Maggie, despite his own unwillingness to take responsibility for her or Newt. This eventually becomes too much for Jake, who quits the Rangers and sets off on his own, shortly before the other Rangers are sent on one last mission to catch Buffalo Hump
.
Jake Spoon is played in the film by Ryan Merriman
.
, there is some argument that he could be the father of her son, Newt Dobbs, though Gus and Maggie both know Call is the boy's biological father.
During his travels, Jake makes a stop in Fort Smith, Arkansas. In a game of poker, he gets in a fight with another gambler, and grabs a 50 caliber buffalo rifle
. Unfortunately, he misfires, and the bullet pierces the wall and kills a man outside, who happens to be both the Mayor and dentist of the town. Most people in town agree it was an accident, all except the man's wife, who puts pressure on her brother-in-law July Johnson, also the town sheriff, to arrest Jake. Fortunately for Jake, July is hesitant, which gives him enough time to escape to Texas.
In San Antonio, Jake is reunited with Deets, who brings him home to Gus and Call. He tells them about traveling through Montana, which he calls a cattleman's paradise. Call decides he would enjoy the challenge of driving a herd of cattle up to Montana. Jake, despite having given him the idea, will not commit to being part of the drive. He quickly becomes romantically involved with the local whore, Lorena Wood
, and she expects him to take her to San Francisco, which he also won't commit too. Nonetheless, he and Lorena leave Lonesome Dove together. On the trail, he decides that he wants to travel through San Antonio to gamble before heading west. Lorena, having once served a pimp in San Antonio, refuses to go with him. He leaves her behind, and while he is gone, she is captured by Blue Duck
, until Gus rescues her. In San Antonio, Jake falls in with some cattle rustlers who persuade him to accompany them. Unfortunately, they commit several murders while riding, and Jake, reluctantly, is forced to take part as well.
Deets, who is out scouting a path for the cattle drive, comes along the gang's track, and immediately recognizes Jake's horse's track as well. Gus, Call, Deets and Pea Eye track them down and arrest them, and sentence them to death by hanging, including Jake. Though they don't hesitate to hang the three brothers from a nearby tree, none of them can bring themselves to send off Jake's horse. Seeing their reluctance, Jake spurs his own horse, which rides off, leaving him hanging. Gus and Woodrow bury Jake and the two younger brothers, but leave the eldest hanging, with a sign around his neck identifying him as a man-burner and horse thief.
Jake is played in the film by the late Robert Urich
.
Lonesome Dove series
The Lonesome Dove series refers to a series of four western novels written by Larry McMurtry and the four television mini-series based upon them.-Novels:# Lonesome Dove # Streets of Laredo # Dead Man's Walk...
.
Comanche Moon
Jake's first chronological appearance in the books is in Comanche Moon, which was actually the last book published. Though Jake is a member of the Rangers as the book begins, he is not on the mission that begins the book. While his friends Augustus "Gus" McCrae, Woodrow F. CallWoodrow F. Call
Woodrow F. Call is a fictional, Scottish-born Texas Ranger who appears in all four books of Larry McMurtry's Lonesome Dove series. Much of the books revolve around his relationship with his Ranger partner Augustus McCrae...
, Pea Eye Parker
Pea Eye Parker
Pea Eye Parker is a fictional Texas Ranger appearing in three books in Larry McMurtry's Lonesome Dove series.-Comanche Moon:Pea Eye is played by Troy Baker in the film version of Comanche Moon. In this volume, he, Gus McCrae, Woodrow F...
and Joshua Deets
Joshua Deets
Joshua Deets is a fictional Texas Ranger appearing in two novels in the Lonesome Dove series by Larry McMurtry. In the films, he is played by Keith Robinson and Danny Glover.- Comanche Moon :...
are with their captain, Inish Scull, Jake is left behind to take care of his wife, Inez Scull. Inez subjects him to her usual treatment for local men while her husband is away, making him a sex slave. After cutting his hair, however, she suddenly finds him less attractive, and loses all interest in him. Sadly, her initial interest ruined any chances Jake has of a relationship with her maid, who had developed an interest in him.
He subsequently signs on, when Gus and Call return, to be part of their mission to find Inish Scull; who had set off with Famous Shoes
Famous Shoes
Famous Shoes is a fictional Kickapoo tracker who appears in two books in the Lonesome Dove series.-Comanche Moon:Famous Shoes makes his second appearance in the series, though his first chronologically, in this book. In the film, he is played by David Midthunder...
to find his captured horse, Hector; and bring him back to Austin at the behest of his wife and of Governor Elisha Pease. However, when their quest takes them to the small border town of Lonesome Dove, Gus and Woodrow decide to leave him, Pea Eye Parker
Pea Eye Parker
Pea Eye Parker is a fictional Texas Ranger appearing in three books in Larry McMurtry's Lonesome Dove series.-Comanche Moon:Pea Eye is played by Troy Baker in the film version of Comanche Moon. In this volume, he, Gus McCrae, Woodrow F...
and Joshua Deets
Joshua Deets
Joshua Deets is a fictional Texas Ranger appearing in two novels in the Lonesome Dove series by Larry McMurtry. In the films, he is played by Keith Robinson and Danny Glover.- Comanche Moon :...
behind and find Scull themselves.
Jake continues to serve with the Rangers for several more years. Soon after their return to Austin, Maggie Tilton
Maggie Tilton
Maggie Tilton is a fictional character appearing in two books in the Lonesome Dove series. She is a prostitute and the lover of Captain Woodrow F...
gives birth to Newt, her illegitimate son by Cpt. Woodrow F. Call
Woodrow F. Call
Woodrow F. Call is a fictional, Scottish-born Texas Ranger who appears in all four books of Larry McMurtry's Lonesome Dove series. Much of the books revolve around his relationship with his Ranger partner Augustus McCrae...
. His birth puts a severe strain on her relationship with Call, as he refuses to acknowledge the boy as his own. Though he treats the boy well, he does not act like a father to him. Jake ends up taking that role, going so far as to spend most of his nights in Maggie's room. This ends up straining his relationship with Woodrow, who begins to resent him for moving in with Maggie, despite his own unwillingness to take responsibility for her or Newt. This eventually becomes too much for Jake, who quits the Rangers and sets off on his own, shortly before the other Rangers are sent on one last mission to catch Buffalo Hump
Buffalo Hump (Lonesome Dove series)
Buffalo Hump is a Comanche Indian who appears in two books in the Lonesome Dove series. His son, Blue Duck is also a major character.The character Buffalo Hump was likely inspired by the historic Comanche war chief of that name.-Dead Man's Walk:...
.
Jake Spoon is played in the film by Ryan Merriman
Ryan Merriman
Ryan Earl Merriman is an American actor. He began his acting career as a child actor during the mid-1990s and has appeared in several feature films and television shows.-Background:...
.
Lonesome Dove
Lonesome Dove, the first book in the series, is also Jake's first appearance, though his second chronologically. Several years have passed since Comanche Moon. Jake himself has left Lonesome Dove behind, and has spent much of his time spending money, riding horses, and socializing with his companeros. Due to his being a regular customer of Maggie TiltonMaggie Tilton
Maggie Tilton is a fictional character appearing in two books in the Lonesome Dove series. She is a prostitute and the lover of Captain Woodrow F...
, there is some argument that he could be the father of her son, Newt Dobbs, though Gus and Maggie both know Call is the boy's biological father.
During his travels, Jake makes a stop in Fort Smith, Arkansas. In a game of poker, he gets in a fight with another gambler, and grabs a 50 caliber buffalo rifle
Buffalo rifle
Buffalo rifle generally refers to large-calibre, generally single-shot black powder cartridge firearms which were used to hunt the American Bison to near-extinction in the late-19th Century. Three types of rifles in particular were used by professional buffalo hunters, namely the Springfield...
. Unfortunately, he misfires, and the bullet pierces the wall and kills a man outside, who happens to be both the Mayor and dentist of the town. Most people in town agree it was an accident, all except the man's wife, who puts pressure on her brother-in-law July Johnson, also the town sheriff, to arrest Jake. Fortunately for Jake, July is hesitant, which gives him enough time to escape to Texas.
In San Antonio, Jake is reunited with Deets, who brings him home to Gus and Call. He tells them about traveling through Montana, which he calls a cattleman's paradise. Call decides he would enjoy the challenge of driving a herd of cattle up to Montana. Jake, despite having given him the idea, will not commit to being part of the drive. He quickly becomes romantically involved with the local whore, Lorena Wood
Lorena Wood Parker
Lorena Wood Parker is a fictional character who appears in two of the novels and films in the Lonesome Dove series-Lonesome Dove:She first appears in Lonesome Dove, the first book published, but the third chronologically....
, and she expects him to take her to San Francisco, which he also won't commit too. Nonetheless, he and Lorena leave Lonesome Dove together. On the trail, he decides that he wants to travel through San Antonio to gamble before heading west. Lorena, having once served a pimp in San Antonio, refuses to go with him. He leaves her behind, and while he is gone, she is captured by Blue Duck
Blue Duck (Lonesome Dove series)
Blue Duck is a fictional character, a biracial Indian appearing in two books in the Lonesome Dove series. He is the son of Buffalo Hump and a kidnapped Mexican woman. The fictionalized character of Blue Duck was partially based on the life and death of the Kiowa war chief Satanta...
, until Gus rescues her. In San Antonio, Jake falls in with some cattle rustlers who persuade him to accompany them. Unfortunately, they commit several murders while riding, and Jake, reluctantly, is forced to take part as well.
Deets, who is out scouting a path for the cattle drive, comes along the gang's track, and immediately recognizes Jake's horse's track as well. Gus, Call, Deets and Pea Eye track them down and arrest them, and sentence them to death by hanging, including Jake. Though they don't hesitate to hang the three brothers from a nearby tree, none of them can bring themselves to send off Jake's horse. Seeing their reluctance, Jake spurs his own horse, which rides off, leaving him hanging. Gus and Woodrow bury Jake and the two younger brothers, but leave the eldest hanging, with a sign around his neck identifying him as a man-burner and horse thief.
Jake is played in the film by the late Robert Urich
Robert Urich
Robert Urich was an American actor. He played the starring roles in the television series Vega$ and Spenser: For Hire...
.