# José Mertos — Shepherds of the Wild character guide

> José Mertos in Shepherds of the Wild by Edison Marshall.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** José, Mertos

**First appearance:** 0005-vi

## Snapshot

Landy Fargo's new right-hand man, a Mexican gunman who learned killing in the South and now enforces the cattlemen's will in Smoky Land.

## Who they are

José is the instrument of Fargo's range war, the man Alice suspects of shooting Dan and the reason no sheepman has survived long enough to challenge the cattlemen's grip. His reputation for violence precedes him, and his presence raises the stakes from intimidation to murder. He represents the cold, professional face of the campaign against the Crowsons, making Hugh's stand not just difficult but potentially fatal.

## Relationships

### [Landy Fargo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/shepherds_of_the_wild_se/characters/landy_fargo)

_friendship_

José Mertos and Landy Fargo are fellow shepherds and friends, often working together and supporting each other.

### [Manitou](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/shepherds_of_the_wild_se/characters/manitou)

_friendship_

José Mertos and the dog Manitou have a cooperative working relationship, with José relying on Manitou's skills.

### [Landy Fargo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/shepherds_of_the_wild_se/characters/landy_fargo)

_friendship_

José Mertos and Landy Fargo are fellow shepherds and friends, often working together and supporting each other.

### [Landy Fargo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/shepherds_of_the_wild_se/characters/landy_fargo)

_friendship_

José Mertos and Landy Fargo are fellow shepherds and friends, often working together and supporting each other.

## In the story

### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/shepherds_of_the_wild_se/chapters/xii)

Mentioned as Fargo's new right-hand man, suspected of killing Dan.

### [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/shepherds_of_the_wild_se/chapters/xiii)

Returns to Fargo after murdering Dan and his dog; struggles with afterimages of the killing.

### [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/shepherds_of_the_wild_se/chapters/xiv)

Assists Fargo by riding to Newt Hillguard's to buy a lamb for the dogs' training, then participates in the grim scene behind Fargo's house.

### [XXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/shepherds_of_the_wild_se/chapters/xxii)

The ruthless Mexican hired by Fargo for the cold-blooded task of setting the forest fire, showing no compunction about murder.

### [XXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/shepherds_of_the_wild_se/chapters/xxiii)

Dark-skinned rider who deliberately sets a series of forest fires across the canyons, acting on orders with a fiendish delight in the destruction.

### [XXVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/shepherds_of_the_wild_se/chapters/xxvi)

Following Fargo's orders, José ambushes Alice on the trail, shoots her horse, and ties her to a tree, taking grim pleasure in his work.

### [XXVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/shepherds_of_the_wild_se/chapters/xxvii)

Mentioned as having been riding while Fargo was busy.

### [XXVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/shepherds_of_the_wild_se/chapters/xxviii)

José holds Alice captive, taunts her, and is killed by Shep's attack before he can kiss her.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/shepherds_of_the_wild_se/characters/jose_mertos
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/shepherds_of_the_wild_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/shepherds_of_the_wild_se/characters