This reminds me of my never-found cowboy movie I watched on TV fifteen years ago (and probably not new then). All I ever remembered was that the main character was a sad cowboy and it wasn't El Dorado - I told some friends about this and they pointed out that that description could cover just about every cowboy movie out there. Your book description is a lot more specific, so I hope you end up finding it sometime!

I used to teach; I'm thinking about a different career. Unfortunately effects of health circumstances may limit the portability of what skills I have.

I am not really into Sherlock Holmes in any form, but I have indeed read that story via someone else's rec! It is excellent, and the type of gen I am always looking for.