Author: A.H. Holt

ISBN: 0803496001

The following review was contributed by: Paul Lappen: CLICK TO VIEW Paul Lappen's Reviews 

Several years ago, John Garrett left his father's Arizona cattle ranch, vowing
never to return. Now, a neighboring ranch owner, Tim Hostetter, has been
murdered, and Garrett cattle have taken over the ranch. An employee of another
neighboring ranch, owned by Russ Blaine, is found murdered, and some Blaine
cattle are missing. Garrett's father, Mason, has made no secret of his desire
for Blaine's land, but murder and cattle rustling bring things to a whole new
level.

On his way back home, a bully in an extremely poor town picks a fight with John.
He kills the bully, and is shot and injured in the getaway. He is found on
Blaine land, unconscious, by Andy Blaine, who brings him to an isolated cabin,
and nurses him back to health. John doesn't think to ask, and Andy takes a while
to tell him that "Andy" is short for "Andrea."

John and Russ have a long talk about recent events; John offers to ask around
town to see if he can find out what's going on. The general consensus is that
Mason Garrett will certainly push hard to get what he wants, but he is not
capable of murder and cattle rustling. However, Garrett's new foreman, Rafe
Willis, is certainly capable of such things. John sneaks on to his father's
ranch, and finds the bunkhouse full of the Old West equivalent of street punks.
Soon after, the long-expected attack is made against the Blaine ranch. Willis
aims to take over Blaine's land any way he can, including forcing Andrea into
marriage.

The author, a grandmother and graduate student in Florida, does a fine job from
start to finish. It fells like she has spent time on a ranch and knows her way
around the world of cowboys. This easy to read novel is not just for lovers of
westerns.