With Hoops of Steel

** "With Hoops of Steel" by Florence Finch Kelly is a story set in the American Southwest during the early 1900s, and it explores the tough lives and disagreements of cattlemen. The tale centers on Thomson Tuttle, whose life takes a turn when he meets some shady people on a trip. The story begins with Tuttle traveling through a creepy, dim area where he discovers a campfire without people leading to him being held at gunpoint. Although first scary, the person holding him up turns out to be welcoming, and the story then touches on themes of friendship, the challenges of justice, and having honor in the cattle business. The novel is an introduction to what Tuttle thinks are the obligations of loyalty and hints at a bigger conflict to come. This creates the scene for not just where things happen, but also the difficult choices and relationships that will become the central themes. **