The Deserters — Luke Short

No critter is lower than a soldier who murders his own. But Jess Fairly has done just that, killing his buddies to grab a paymaster's gold. With it he bought himself a new identity and became mining honcho Ben Maule, owner of an entire Arizona town and an army of hired guns.

Lieutenant Pete Brisbin's mission was simple: bring the deserter to justice. But the only trail open to him was to brawl and shoot his way into the town of Banning and become Maule's most trusted man.

Originally published 1969.