Rusty, the main character of Genesis, is only nineteen years old and eager for adventure. Almost everything about riding herd is new to him; as he learns the rules and nuances of his job, the reader gets a view of the life of Canadian cowboys in 1906. They have two kinds of horses: big ones that can endure terrible cold and smaller ponies that can maneuver around cattle easily but are not as sturdy as the large horses. There are different breeds of cattle on the range, and each kind must be kept separate from the others. Calves and yearlings are not as capable of enduring winter's hardships as older cattle, and they must be herded to the main ranch for care during the winter. As he gradually picks up on the details of cowboy life, Rusty finds a place for himself among the nine other cowboys he must...