Al Ward, a grizzled man in his sixties, lives on an isolated mining claim in the high desert of central Nevada and survives on canned soup, instant coffee, and memories of his ex-wife, friends and family he’s lost, and his life as a touring musician. Hampered by insomnia, bouts of anxiety, and a chronic lethargy, Al finds himself teetering on the edge of madness and running out of reasons to go on—until a horse arrives on his doorstep: nameless, blind, and utterly helpless. Is the animal real, or a phantom conjured from imagination? As Al contemplates the horse’s existence—and what, if anything, he can do—his thoughts are interspersed with snapshots of his life as a musician. He joins various bands—all who perform his songs once they discover his talent—playing casinos, truck stops, clubs, and bars. He falls in love and finds pockets of companionship and minor success along the way. Never close to stardom or financial success, he continues as a journeyman for decades until alcoholism a