Maverick Trail — B.A. Collier

Luke Johnson and his partner, Clay Peters, expected some routine trouble from cattle rustlers or Indians -- or both -- as they drove their herd to Abilene. But what they got was much worse. Somebody kept trying to shoot Luke, while Clay was hauled off to jail on a trumped-up murder charge.

Though Luke finally caught and questioned Rafe Tyrell, his would-be killer, he was a long way from unraveling the sinister plot that had been hatched against him and his partner. Because not even Rafe knew all the answers.

Who was behind the whole thing? Who was really out to get their hides and why? Was it Tyrell's boss, Jake Colter of the Double T Ranch, who'd lost a two thousand dollar bet to them? Was it Theophilus Scott, father of the beautiful Colette, who'd once been engaged to Luke and was now about to marry Clay? But what would Mr. Scott gain by destroying the two young men?

And when Luke did manage to learn the full, awesome truth, would he be able to prove any of it to a disbelieving Clay and to the sheriff?