Wayne D Overholser

Black Mike Sam Cassidy comes home to find himself in a series of tense confrontations. His father expects Sam to work for him at the local bank, and Sheriff Ben Faraday, for whom Sam worked the previous summer as deputy, is suffering from a terminal disease and wants Sam to become a deputy again. "Black Mike" Nickels wants to expand his use of public land and bring in more sheep, backed by guns. The Cattlemen's Association has vowed to stop Black...

Wayne D. Overholser, winner of three Spur Awards from the Western Writers of America, weaves a magic spell in this story with his consistent skill in presenting vibrant characters and his uncommon sensitivity to the depths of human personality.

"In two Western stories, 'The Courage Builder' and 'Valley of the 99', small time ranchers that the wealthy are trying to force them off their land. Violence erupts when they allow others to use that fear to manipulate them"--Provided by publisher.

It was while Neal Clark was in the gunsmith's shop that the Shelly gang attempted to hold up the bank. Neal rushed out of the shop with his rifle, took aim, and fired, repeatedly, killing Buck Shelly and his son Luke Shelly. He may also have wounded Ed Shelly, a teenage boy, who was holding the horses. Ed Shelly made good his escape, but was believed to be mortally wounded. That's what Neal thought until he received a letter from Ed Shelly, declaring...

"In three western stories, a man must use his wits to overcome what appears to be impossible situations"--publisher.

Old Mike Varney is a callous, bad-tempered ranch owner of the Pitchfork Ranch, located near the Nevada Mesa during the second half of the 19th century. Bill Varney, his 23-year-old son, is often mistreated by his father; he is thinking about leaving the ranch and starting over somewhere else. His sister, Vida, and his girlfriend, Marian Tracy, try to keep him from leaving. Several of the local citizens and ranchers, tired of Mike Varney's ruthless...

Central Oregon-the last frontier. Transportation is still by stagecoach and freight wagon. There is a movement afoot for a people's railroad, paid for by the state, to bring the benefits of rails to the area, to make it easier to ship livestock and produce, and to encourage settlement. For years, the competing railroad barons, James J. Hill and Edward H. Harriman, have done nothing toward building a line in central Oregon, but now, under the impetus...

Eighteen-year-old Lane Garth embarks on a quest for revenge after an attack on his family's ranch by Jake Rawlings and his gang leaves Lane's father dead.