Longhorns and Outlaws — Linda Aksomitis

Twelve-year-old Lucas Vogel would rather be in school and safe at
home than work as a cowboy. He has no choice but to go along with his older brother, punching cows in the Big Muddy Badlands, and trying to find the cousin that turns out to be an outlaw!

Due to the tragic death of his parents, twelve-year-old Lucas Vogel finds himself on a cattle drive from Montana to Saskatchewan's Big Muddy badlands at the turn of the century. He's recently lost his Dutch immigrant parents in a devastating hurricane in Texas and has taken the train to Montana with his older brother Gil, a cowboy. Forced to leave their home, they need to make a living, and being cowboys will do that.

Learning to be a cowboy is more challenging, and rewarding, than Lucas could have imagined. He's lucky enough to get a wonderful horse to ride - Moon, an Appaloosa horse trained by the Nez Perce people, whose skills and instincts help him learn how to handle cattle. The other cowboys help him, and in time Lucas grows to understand the ways of cowboys; their strength, courage and illingness to help and support each other.

On the trip, Lucas has two interests. The first is to try and find the boys' cousin Henry, who they believe may be able to give Lucas a home so he can go back to school. The second is his fascination with "wanted" posters of notorious outlaws. He reads about the famous Pinkerton detectives and wonders if he himself might be able to spot and help capture an outlaw.

He succeeds beyond his dreams. He proves himself a competent and resourceful cowboy and helps recover his outfit's horses after they're stolen in the Big Muddy.They do find Cousin Henry and Lucas does help catch an outlaw, the fabled Dutch Henry. Only problem is that, yes, they're the same guy. By the end of the story, Lucas still loves books, but he's found out that there are many ways to learn about the world.