Elmer Kelton's The Familiar Stranger

In "The Journey of Hewey Calloway," Hewey finds himself in Durango, Colorado, after a year-long detour intended for a straightforward delivery of young horses. While seeking shelter from a storm, he encounters a sick young man suffering from smallpox, and after catching the disease himself, Hewey discovers a tangled web of mystery involving a Pinkerton detective in pursuit of a bank robber. As he continues his travels, Hewey must navigate his growing concerns about the detective and uncover the truth to protect both himself and the young man who cared for him.