A Civil War soldier returns home to discover his ranch has been stolen, the girl he loves has been convinced by her domineering mother to marry another man, his beloved grandfather is dead and, later, friends will be killed and he will be branded an outlaw.

When Jeff Havens tries to talk to the man who allegedly bought his ranch, he's beaten by gunmen in the employ of the rancher and has to flee for his life. As he continues to seek proof the property was taken illegally, he's blamed for the murder of a Mexican goat-herder and must seek refuge in the mountains with a Mexican friend of his grandfather who had schooled him in wilderness skills.

After lengthy efforts to capture them, they evade the posse and bounty hunters and the Mexican encourages him to shelter in an adjoining county. When he returns, revenge is his goal.

C.M. Curtis writes a western like you remember them from the past -- straightforward, with plenty of action and evil bad guys, and he even gets the girl in the end.

If you've been hankered for a western like those written by Zane Grey and Louis L'Amour, this isn't a bad choice.

[ visit C.M. Curtis online ]