Destiny’s Way

Destiny’s Way is a thoroughly engaging story of life in west Texas, specifically in the Big Bend area. This does not include the tourists that may flock there when the weather isn’t too hot. This is about some of the people that made it their home, accepting the hardships – and the beauty – of that area.

This is a novel, a work of fiction, but the author tells us that much of the terrain mentioned in the story (and there’s a lot of it) actually exists or used to exist. Further, many of the characters are based on people known by the author, who blended their traits into some formidable people on both sides of the law.

Ben English’s love and knowledge of the Big Bend are evident from the very beginning. I have never been to that specific part of Texas, yet I now have a better understanding of the type of people who established a homestead there, as well as some of the hardships they faced.

The Characters of Destiny’s Way

One thing I liked about this story was that, with only one exception, the characters were all what-you-see-is-what-you-get. Meaning, if a character was a good guy (or gal), then they were truly good. The same could be said of the bad folks; bad was bad. The exception to this rule was the main antagonist. On the outside, he seemed friendly and generous, but on the inside he was somewhat ruthless.

The two main protagonists, Kate and Solomon, are as different as night and day. They are neighbors in the wilderness, each stubbornly independent, yet each lacking something substantial in their lives. A good part of the story is dedicated to the unlikely bond these two characters form.

We all know the story can’t end there, and it doesn’t. The antagonist, with seemingly unlimited resources, wants something from each of them – something dear. The rest of the story is about how this spoiled, pot-bellied slime ball goes after what he desires.

The characters are really marvelous. They are all flawed, of course, yet some have traits that make them truly exceptional human beings. Thanks to the third-person narrator, we get to take a good look into their hearts and minds.

Technically Speaking

Ben H. English is an eighth-generation Texan who grew up in the Big Bend. At seventeen he joined the Marines, ultimately becoming a chief scout-sniper as well as a platoon sergeant. Later he worked counterintelligence and traveled to over thirty countries.

At Angelo State University he graduated Magna Cum Laude along with other honors. Afterwards Ben had a career in the Texas Highway Patrol, holding several instructor billets involving firearms, driving, and defensive tactics.

His intimate knowledge of what he writes about lends credence and authenticity to his work. Ben knows how it feels to get hit and hit back, or being thirsty, cold, wet, hungry, alone, or exhausted beyond imagination. Finally, he knows of not only being the hunter but also the hunted.

Ben and his wife have two sons who both graduated from Annapolis. He still likes nothing better than grabbing a pack and some canteens and heading out to where few others venture.

♦ Website ♦ Facebook ♦