How would you describe Deputy Jake Dablo?
He is truly a man’s man. He looks and acts like a cowboy from the west. He is weather-beaten, smart, tough and has his own way of looking at the law. Like Zeb, he has his own unique view of how and when to enforce the law. Being older and more experienced than Zeb, his decision making process varies from Zeb’s. Although, ultimately, they unite in a common purpose, serving the good people of Graham County.
What is his background?
Jake grew up in Graham County. He lived there most of his life. He is ex-military, having done a two-year stint in the United States Army. He graduated from Safford High. He never went to college. He learned the old school style of law enforcement from those who served before him. His family has been in law enforcement for over 100 years. He is the former Sheriff of Graham County. He served multiple terms as sheriff before tragedy struck his life and he “lost it” for seven years.
Care to add to that?
The murder of someone near and dear to Jake took a terrible toll on him. Not only did he lose someone very close to him, but he became a drunk because of his failure to solve the murder. His actions cost him his wife of many decades, his job and for seven years, his future. His compassion comes from having suffered greatly. He understands all too well the darkness that can overtake a man’s soul.
Is he redeemed?
In NATIVE BLOOD the story of the entire circumstance is told. Is he redeemed? I hate to give away a major plot point, but yes, he eventually sees the light of day through clearer eyes. His redemption, if indeed he has complete resolution of the demons that overtook him, well, that is for the reader to decide.
How does Jake know Zeb?
They have a long-standing relationship that goes back to Zeb’s childhood. This will be explored in book 10 of the Zeb Hanks Series. It is a relationship that also involves medicine man, Jimmy Song Bird. In many ways Jake mentored Zeb, even though Zeb is truly his own man. The relationships between the families of Jake Dablo and Zeb Hanks are lengthy in time and woven together in the history of Graham County.
Did Zeb work for Jake when Jake was sheriff?
Yes. In fact, you might say that Jake taught Zeb the tools of the sheriff trade, among many other things.
Such as?
Jake Dablo and Apache medicine man Jimmy Song Bird are also life-long friends. Part of their friendship is based on the heavens, astronomy to be precise. Both men share a fascination with the stars and the stories they tell. They teach valuable lessons to Zeb based on the heavens. In a long established relationship such as the one with these three men, what is taught outright and what is observed in everyday life leads to deeply rooted complexities. These men may not always agree on how to handle things but they always have each other’s backs.
When and where did Jake learn about astronomy?
His grandfather taught him. In turn his grandfather was taught by his father and so on going back a long time. The Diablo family has a multi-generational love of the stars.
You almost make it sound like Jake and Song Bird are surrogate fathers to Zeb.
In many ways they are exactly that. Zeb has great admiration for both men. He feels towards them how he would feel toward a strong father figure, which he did not have. Interestingly Jake’s family and Zeb’s family have a very long string of lawmen in their respective families. Both families have had been directly related to lawmen before Arizona became a state in 1912. There is true Graham County, Arizona blood running through their collective veins. Both families have been keepers of the law in that area since lawmen arrived on the scene and even likely before.
I take it both Jake and Zeb have many friends and many enemies.
Fortunately for both of them their friends outnumber their enemies. But indeed, the bad guys don’t easily forget who keeps them in line. Grudges in the old west and in the new west run long and deep. Sometimes bad blood can span multiple generations.
Did Jake have children when he was married?
Yes. He had one daughter, Jenny. Jenny and Zeb shared a very special bond that is part and parcel to the denouement of NATIVE BLOOD.
Care to share what that special bond is?
It is so integral to Zeb’s character and his relationship to Jake that you will have to read NATIVE BLOOD to find out the answer to that. I will say this, Zeb and Jenny Dablo were close, but moved apart and became much less close for specific reasons. Jenny ends up having significant life issues that Zeb can’t be a part of.
Tell me about Jake’s habits and a little more about his life.
Jake, like I said earlier, is a western cowboy at heart. His skin is leathered from the sun, smoking and time. He is a loner at heart as evidenced by the fact that he lives in a trailer out in the desert. He is as tough as nails, but inside can be a real softy. His faith has been shattered and he understands what it is to lose all hope. Yet, he has a deep well of faith and belief in right and wrong. He can easily spot a fool and knows that it is foolish to be cocksure of anything. He is an expert shot with both a handgun and a long gun. He rides a horse with the best of them.
How would you sum up Jake in one sentence?
He is a real honest to goodness cowboy.