# Shorty — The Virginian character guide > Shorty in The Virginian by Owen Wister. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** the excellent Shorty, Poor Shorty, the docile Shorty, the ruffled Shorty, poor stupid Shorty, So Shorty, poor Shorty **First appearance:** 0005-iii-steve-treats ## Snapshot A docile, unlucky cowboy with yellow hair through a hole in his hat, whose poker losses and desperate need for a good pony lead him into Trampas's orbit. ## Who they are Shorty is the boy who carries Balaam's overdue letter to the Virginian and gets nothing for it but a little pay already lost at poker in Drybone, where his money went into Trampas's pocket. He has one valuable possession left, his horse Pedro, and Balaam eyes it across Butte Creek while Shorty sits in the shade. Turned off the roundup for sleeping on night-herd, poor and docile, he is the kind of man the range uses up, and the kind Trampas finds useful. ## Relationships ### [The Virginian](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/characters/the_virginian) _friendship_ Shorty is a naive but good-hearted cowboy who looks up to the Virginian, though their bond is strained by Shorty's weakness. ### [Balaam](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/characters/balaam) _psychological_ Balaam manipulates and exploits Shorty's weakness, leading Shorty into trouble and moral compromise. ### [Trampas](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/characters/trampas) _rivalry_ Shorty and Trampas are often at odds, with Trampas bullying Shorty and leading him astray. ### [The Virginian](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/characters/the_virginian) _friendship_ Shorty is a naive but good-hearted cowboy who looks up to the Virginian, though their bond is strained by Shorty's weakness. ### [Balaam](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/characters/balaam) _psychological_ Balaam manipulates and exploits Shorty's weakness, leading Shorty into trouble and moral compromise. ### [Trampas](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/characters/trampas) _rivalry_ Shorty and Trampas are often at odds, with Trampas bullying Shorty and leading him astray. ### [Balaam](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/characters/balaam) _psychological_ Balaam manipulates and exploits Shorty's weakness, leading Shorty into trouble and moral compromise. ### [Trampas](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/characters/trampas) _rivalry_ Shorty and Trampas are often at odds, with Trampas bullying Shorty and leading him astray. ### [The Virginian](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/characters/the_virginian) _friendship_ Shorty is a naive but good-hearted cowboy who looks up to the Virginian, though their bond is strained by Shorty's weakness. ## In the story ### [XI: “You’re Going to Love Me Before We Get Through”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/chapters/xi-you-re-going-to-love-me-before-we-get-through) Not directly mentioned in the excerpts, but present in the broader context of the chapter as a member of the community. ### [XIV: Between the Acts](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/chapters/xiv-between-the-acts) Lost-looking traveler who misses the train and is hired by the Virginian. ### [XV: The Game and the Nation—Act Second](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/chapters/xv-the-game-and-the-nation-act-second) Docile crew member; targeted by Trampas but remains loyal after instruction. ### [XVI: The Game and the Nation—Last Act](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/chapters/xvi-the-game-and-the-nation-last-act) Helps Scipio with the fire and cooking. ### [XVII: Scipio Moralizes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/chapters/xvii-scipio-moralizes) Makes a pregnant comment about the Virginian 'studying his revenge,' showing his own interpretation of the ongoing tension. ### [Various Points](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/chapters/xxiii-various-points) Naive cowboy; influenced by Trampas to seek higher wages; kind to animals but leaves the ranch with Trampas. ### [Progress of the Lost Dog](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/chapters/xxv-progress-of-the-lost-dog) Delivers the letter, defends his horse Pedro against Balaam's lowball offer, and shows deep affection for the animal. ### [Balaam and Pedro](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/chapters/xxvi-balaam-and-pedro) Shorty is mentioned as having spoken of a trapper who started for Sunk Creek, providing context for the trail they follow. ### [A Stable on the Flat](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/chapters/xxx-a-stable-on-the-flat) Mentioned in whispers during the posse's council, possibly connected to the gang of thieves. ### [The Cottonwoods](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/chapters/xxxi-the-cottonwoods) Mentioned as having made a mistake that cost him his life; Steve stood by him. ### [The Spinster Loses Some Sleep](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/chapters/xxxiii-the-spinster-loses-some-sleep) Mentioned as another of the hanged men, part of the rumored execution. ### [To Fit Her Finger](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/chapters/xxxiv-to-fit-her-finger) Mentioned in the narrator's memory as one who has passed away, buried by the Virginian. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/characters/shorty - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/characters