# Judkins — Riders of the Purple Sage character guide

> Judkins in Riders of the Purple Sage by Zane Grey.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** the reserved Judkins, Jud

**First appearance:** 0001-ii-cottonwoods

## Snapshot

A reserved, loyal rider who speaks hard truths to Jane Withersteen and rides her racers through dust and danger without complaint.

## Who they are

Judkins is one of Jane's few remaining riders, a lean, sunburnt man who carries her messages and watches her herds when the churchmen have called the others away. He dares to tell her plainly that her own riders have been ordered in, and his crude hint that she has taken the bit between her teeth gives her a glimpse of how others see her. His loyalty and blunt honesty make him a steady counterweight to the coils tightening around Jane's ranch.

## Relationships

### [Jane Withersteen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/riders_of_the_purple_sage_se/characters/jane_withersteen)

_professional_

Judkins is a loyal rider and employee on Jane Withersteen's ranch, carrying out her orders with dedication.

### [Lassiter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/riders_of_the_purple_sage_se/characters/lassiter)

_friendship_

Judkins and Lassiter share mutual respect and camaraderie, often working together to protect Jane and her interests.

### [Jane Withersteen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/riders_of_the_purple_sage_se/characters/jane_withersteen)

_professional_

Judkins is a loyal rider and employee on Jane Withersteen's ranch, carrying out her orders with dedication.

### [Lassiter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/riders_of_the_purple_sage_se/characters/lassiter)

_friendship_

Judkins and Lassiter share mutual respect and camaraderie, often working together to protect Jane and her interests.

### [Jane Withersteen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/riders_of_the_purple_sage_se/characters/jane_withersteen)

_professional_

Judkins is a loyal rider and employee on Jane Withersteen's ranch, carrying out her orders with dedication.

### [Lassiter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/riders_of_the_purple_sage_se/characters/lassiter)

_friendship_

Judkins and Lassiter share mutual respect and camaraderie, often working together to protect Jane and her interests.

## In the story

### [IV: Deception Pass](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/riders_of_the_purple_sage_se/chapters/iv-deception-pass)

Arrives wounded after escaping rustlers who stole the red herd; reports that riders are missing.

### [The Mill-Wheel of Steers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/riders_of_the_purple_sage_se/chapters/vi-the-mill-wheel-of-steers)

Returns wounded and reports the rustling of the red herd; hints that Jane's riders have been called in by church authorities.

### [XII: The Invisible Hand](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/riders_of_the_purple_sage_se/chapters/xii-the-invisible-hand)

Returns from the sage to report that the white herd is safe but that mysterious signals and spies have resumed; he is wary and sleeps in the open to avoid detection.

### [Lassiter's Way](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/riders_of_the_purple_sage_se/chapters/xx-lassiter-s-way)

Witnesses the killing of Dyer and reports the events to Jane, describing Dyer's death and the danger of Tull's return.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/riders_of_the_purple_sage_se/characters/judkins
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/riders_of_the_purple_sage_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/riders_of_the_purple_sage_se/characters