Who is Baldy Red from Mrs. Mike the Story of Katherine Mary Flannigan and what is their importance?

Baldy Red is the thief who cons people into purchasing horses or cows and then turns around and steals them back. Baldy Red appears jovial and kind to Katherine when he offers the nuns two seat on his cutter as the group travels to Peace River Crossing. Baldy is a source of interest for Katherine and she decides to get to know him better because of the inconsistency between his apparent personality and his criminal secrets.