# Cottonwoods explained — Riders of the Purple Sage

> Chapter companion for Riders of the Purple Sage by Zane Grey.

## What happens

Jane Withersteen offers hospitality to Lassiter, a mysterious rider who saved her friend Venters from Tull's men. Lassiter reveals he seeks the grave of Milly Erne, Jane's beloved friend. Despite the tension with the Mormon community, Jane defies convention by inviting both Lassiter and the outcast Venters to supper. The chapter explores Jane's beauty, her conflicted loyalty to her church, and the growing threat from Tull and Bishop Dyer.

## Themes in this chapter

### Religious Conflict and Persecution

The chapter depicts the struggle between Jane's loyalty to her Mormon faith and her compassion for Lassiter and Venters, who are persecuted by church leaders like Tull.

### Individual vs. Community

Jane defies community norms by hosting Lassiter, a known 'Mormon-killer,' and Venters, an outcast, risking her standing in the village.

### Love and Sacrifice

Jane's love for her friend Milly Erne and her willingness to risk offending her church to honor Lassiter's request show sacrificial love.

## Character check-ins

### Jane Withersteen

Hosts Lassiter and Venters, defies Mormon elders by breaking bread with Lassiter, and agrees to show him Milly Erne's grave.

### Lassiter

Arrives at Cottonwoods seeking Milly Erne's grave; refuses to sleep indoors; reveals his horse was blinded by Mormons.

### Venters

Recovers his guns from Jane, expresses bitterness toward Tull and the Church, and prepares to leave Cottonwoods.

### Tull

Mentioned as the Elder who threatened Venters and is in love with Jane; his actions drive the conflict.

### Bishop Dyer

Referred to as the invisible hand behind the persecution; Jane defends him but Venters warns of his power.

### Milly Erne

Deceased friend of Jane; her grave is the object of Lassiter's search; buried in a secret location on Jane's property.

## Key lines

> Will you take me there? … You’ll be offendin’ Mormons worse than by breakin’ bread with me.

Lassiter asks Jane to show him Milly Erne's grave, acknowledging that doing so would anger the Mormon community even more than dining with him.

_Highlights the risk Jane takes by helping Lassiter._

> I know people—relatives—who have long wanted to know where she’s buried, that’s all.

Lassiter claims he is acting on behalf of Milly Erne's relatives who seek her burial site.

_Reveals Lassiter's connection to Milly Erne's past._

> You’ll be offendin’ Mormons worse than by breakin’ bread with me.

Lassiter warns Jane that showing him the grave would provoke more outrage than her act of sharing a meal with him.

_Emphasizes the taboo of revealing secret Mormon burial grounds._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/riders_of_the_purple_sage_se/chapters/ii-cottonwoods
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/riders_of_the_purple_sage_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/riders_of_the_purple_sage_se/chapters