Other Men's Horses — Elmer Kelton

Texas Ranger Andy Pickard, newly married and unsure of himself and his choice of career, is given what appears to be a routine assignment: find and arrest a horse trader named Donley Bannister who is accused of murder. The difficulty begins after Andy locates Bannister's West Texas hideout and is shot by one of the trader's cohorts. In an ironic twist, Bannister saves the Ranger's life by taking him to a cow camp where his wound can be treated. Then Bannister disappears.

This routine assignment gets even more complicated after Andy heals well enough to ride, and follows the trader's young wife, Geneva, hoping she will lead him to her husband. Near Fort Concho, the Ranger's mission is interrupted when Bannister is shot and left for dead by an outlaw who takes Geneva hostage and brutally assaults her.

Even after Bannister is apprehended, danger lurks; one of the trader's enemies is determined to ambush the Ranger and his prisoner.

From the experience, Andy Pickard learns a valuable lesson: nothing stirs emotions in Texas as much as men stealing other men's horses.