This story by Duncan Ross is based around the maturing of a young eastern man as he is thrown into the jaws of western violence. Washington “Wash” Buchanan is heading for Wyoming and the ranch of his grandfather. When he arrives he find out that his grandfather has been murdered and nothing is being done about solving it. Wash has brought with him a great thoroughbred horse that he wants to breed with wild mustang mares and develop a new kind of horse with the strength of both breeds and the size of the thoroughbred.
Seeing the ranch he is both disappointed and awed. The rundown condition hits him immediately and the beauty swirls around as he rides the ranch. Their are two young women who are attracted to a single well educated young easterner. The evil neighbors the Whelper brothers confront the tenderfoot in the beginning of the story and this conflict continues to the end of the book. Wash eventually takes up a gun and fights for his land and the dream that it holds for him.
A helpmate appears with a similar problem with the Whelper brothers and both men vow to make them atone to their wrong ways. The struggles to achieve this goal leads the reader on a winding path. Many different things are uncovered and the tale moves where the author wants it to go.
This western story is a good read. This new author for me, presents some strikingly unique events. Nothing is ever new in a western but the way they are presented and told are the keys to an author holding his readers. I recommend this book to fellow western readers who enjoy a good story.
