Augustus McCrae—known as Gus—is a former Texas Ranger who owns half of the Hat Creek Cattle Company. His partner is Woodrow, who goes by Call. Their operation lies just outside the small town of Lonesome Dove, Texas. When the novel begins, Gus is watching two pigs eat a rattlesnake as he drinks heavily.

Call returns from work with a man named Pea Eye. Call is short but seems tall to everyone. Pea Eye is tall, awkward, and slow in thought. Call is mad because a mare they call the “Hell Bitch” bit him (10). She is the finest horse Call has ever seen, and he is determined to tame her.

A teenager named Newt arrives shortly after. Newt looks up to the men, and he wishes Call would let him carry a gun. He wants to raid the border with them when they take horses from Mexico. As they eat, Gus teases everyone, but he focuses most of his attention on Call, taking great delight in harassing him about the horse bite.

After dinner, Call walks along the river, scouting out of habit, even though he knows there are no enemies nearby. He recalls fighting the Comanches with Gus when they were working to settle the frontier.