Light of the Western Stars

After arriving in Hell Hole USA, Madeline is accosted by a filthy, drunken cowboy, Mean Gene Stewart. She was revolted, she was frightened, she was appalled, but at the same time, it was a universe away from the phony sociophiles in New York, and that is the spark Madeline was looking for, although she didn't realize it at the time. (Goodreads)