Brazos Crossing — Owen G. Irons

Ian Gradishaw, a tall, quiet man with a fast gun, rode north from the Mexican border thinking he had earned his rest. Behind him were long years of fighting in Don Guerrera's guard -- and one last grueling battle against Chato Chavez in which all was lost. While he was away, his kid brothers were killed, the work of Ray Chatterton, an unstable ranch owner who wanted three things -- Ian's land, the Texas governorship, and the slip of a woman Ian was returning for, Mary Beth Casper.

But Ian wanted to leave Texas and bloodshed behind. With Mary Beth, he would cross the Brazos to the open lands of New Mexico, where people were sparse and cattle were plenty. It would be a hard life, a lonely one, but good.

Between Ian and his dream, though, are the people of Deer Fork. Corrupt, power-hungry men like Judge Victor Hubert Vincent and Rivers Gordon; the two-bit gunman they hire -- Sully Grammis; quick-drawing, cold-hearted men who would kill for gold -- U.S. Marshal Justice Wasserman and Chet Jurnegan.

Add to the scenario the Weier boys, who saved Ian's life and who, in turn, learned from him the skills of manhood, a grueling cattle drive scarred by storms and Apache attacks, and a sleek black stallion called Charger, and you have the ingredients for as fast paced a Western as you have ever seen.