Brand of the Gun — Brian Garfield

Wade Cruze and his men were in Spanish Flat, waiting. As hardcase a crew as ever rode the Arizona range, they were loaded for bear. Because their herd was on its way to town also, but under another man’s brand and prodded by an equally gun-quick crew. Marshal Six knew he’d need every bit of his trigger talent and lawman cunning to keep that restless bunch from shooting the town to pieces before their real targets arrived. The dispute was between two ranchers and it might be that both had right on their side, because it seemed to Six that there was an unknown third party prodding things along. If Six didn’t move lightning fast at the exact right time, there was sure going to be a blood-red round up right in the center of Spanish Flat and maybe no town left by sunset.