Tennessee's Partner is the title and the name of the main character in a short story written by Bret Harte. Tennessee's Partner is a type of partner that will stand faithfully by his friend. When trouble comes Tennessee's way, Tennessee's Partner is not the first to run and hide. Throughout the story, he shows that no matter what Tennessee does to him or anybody he can back turn his back. From the beginning of their friendship with the incident with Tennessee's partner's wife to the trial to the hanging and burial, Tennessee can always depend on his partner.
             In the beginning of the friendship, Tennessee's partner is betrayed by Tennessee who pursues his wife. Most men are not all understanding when it comes to their women, but Tennessee is one out of a million. "When Tennessee on day returned from Marysville, ...Tennessee's Partner was the first to shake his hand"(192). Throughout the entire story, Tennessee's Partner never holds a grudge against Tennessee. At times there is a feeling that Tennessee's Partner cares only about Tennessee well being. Upon Tennessee return, Tennessee's Partner is not only the first to greet him but also the first to "greet him with affection" (192).
             The next test of their friendship is the trial in which Tennessee is being tired. Tennessee robes a man, opens gunfire on a saloon, and then tries to rob another man who soon became his capture and the judge of his trial. Even though Tennessee does his partner wrong in the beginning, during the trial his devoted partner stops by and tries to save his friend. The Partner says," Here Tennessee wants money, wants it bad, and doesn't like to ask it of his old partner"(194). Tennessee's Partner is willing to bribe the court knowing that doing so he is risking his own freedom. Tennessee's Partner goes on and says, "Here are seventeen hundred dollars in coarse gold and a watch" (194). After making such a gesture "two men sprang to their feet several heads gro...