Lewis B Patten

After the Civil War, increasing numbers of white settlers struggled with the Indians for land on the plains - a situation tailor-made for Major Samuel Burkhalter's dreams of personal glory. But Lt. Martin Keefe saw the Major's ambition ruin his father's career, and now it is threatening his own. And Joe Moya's wife and children were killed in a massacre by the Major's troop. Hungry for revenge, Moya arranges an ambush at Rialto Creek.

Fifteen-year-old Frank Halliday's life is placed in jeopardy by a well-meant provision in his father's will which states that his long-time foreman, who has helped raise Frank, will inherit the ranch if Frank should die before he reaches the age of 21.

Alex Longmire earned his reputation for being fast with a gun at a very early age. Though he never hired out his talent for pay, his reputation served to isolate him from everyone. Most knew not to cross Alex, but Rod Zellman ignored the warnings. When an attack by Rod Zellman against Alex Longmire predictably ends with Zellman's death, Alex and his friend Bud Purvis are pursued by Zellman's father and his hired guns for over 700 miles. And when the...

Unware that the vicious killer, Apache Kid, has escaped from jail, Frank Healy returns to his ranch one night, only to find his ranch hands murdered and his lovely wife, Nora, gone!