Ralph Compton Western Books
After receiving his honorable discharge from the Army, Quinn Pendarrow meets an aspiring young artist and her father. He vows to protect them on this dangerous frontier, but he's also been called to help General Custer -- on his last stand.
An inexperienced cowpuncher with a solid work ethic, Dusty Hannah has earned the respect of his boss. Entrusted with $30,000 of the cattle rancher's gold, he must take the fortune across Texas's Red River by way of Indian territory, where the Apaches still reign. But the Apaches are the least of Dusty's concerns once word of the money reaches the ears of every desperado in the Southwest.
Willis Lander was the T-Bar ranch's best bronc buster until a stallion shattered his leg. Unable to work as a cowboy, Willis was forced to mind a line shack forty miles from the ranch, secluding himself in the Wyoming wilderness. But when the T-Bar is sold, Willis wonders whether the new owner will want to keep him on. Laurella Hendershot is a Texan rancher grateful for the opportunity to build a new life for herself. And she just may be Willis' last chance.
When two new ranch hands stir up trouble between ranch owners and friends Kent Tovey and Dar Pierce, resulting in a major feud, a courageous cowboy will stop at nothing to expose the truth and protect the Circle T and DP ranches from falling into the wrong hands. Original.
The Gunfighter series continues. Gunfighter Chance Tyree never looks for trouble. But in the Utah hills, he unknowingly rides into a war between small landowners and local rancher Quirt Latham. Now, with Latham determined to take him down, and a cold-blooded corrupt sheriff out for blood, Tyree's lightning-fast draw is the only chance of stopping a tyrant from taking over.
Owen and three of the Bar 40's toughest cowhands must escort a British cattle rancher on a cattle drive from Texas to Wyoming, a dangerous adventure that pits them against Luke Deal and his murderous gang, who are looking for revenge.
New in the bestselling gunfighter series Bounty Hunter Cas Everett's family was slaughtered by outlaws. He has followed their bloody trail to Deadwood-the most lawless town in the West-and will stop at nothing to see that justice is served.
Jeremiah Correy is leading his family in a wagon train to Oregon when his plans are waylaid by a group of bounty hunters led by Sam Madigan, who take a man from Correy's party-the quiet, unassuming Emmett Natham, who is actually a known fugitive. But Madigan also aims to nab the rest of the travelers and ransom them off. Now, Jeremiah must stop Madigan-and his greatest ally may be the mysterious and dangerous Emmett Natham, whose skills could save them all-or lead them to their deaths...
In this gritty Ralph Compton western, a cold-blooded killer uses his deadly skills for fiery vengeance. When it comes to killing, Lucius Stark is just about the meanest mongrel of a man who ever aimed a gun in West Texas. For him, taking lives means making a living, and if the price is right, he’ll do the job. But even hardest of men has a soft spot... When Stark grows too fond of a woman he is hired to kill in a range war, his client shows his displeasure by shooting him in the back. Stark is saved by the Butcher family—the very ranchers he was paid to eliminate. But when the Butchers end up slaughtered without mercy, Stark sets out to deliver his own brand of revenge...free of charge. More Than Eight Million Ralph Compton Books In Print!
In this Ralph Compton western, a man discovers that Bluff City is the place to find one’s fortune—or one’s grave... Bluff City is a prosperous silver-mining town-and a place of opportunity for those willing to exploit its hard-working citizens. Harve Barker is the wealthiest man in the territory, offering irresistible vices to anyone willing and able to afford them. Outlaw Jesse Stark has grown fond of the town's surrounding mining camps, leading a gang of desperadoes on a violent spree of robberies-and staying one step ahead of the law at all times. Between the megalomaniacal entrepreneur and the brutal bandit stands the enigmatic Clay Adams. And he has a score to settle with both of them. More Than Six Million Ralph Compton Books In Print!
Unable to read about his bloody exploits in the newspaper, serial killer Jeeter Frost finds a teacher to help him, while the townsfolk of Coffin Varnish, hoping to cash in on his infamy, put his victims on display, to which he strongly and violently objects.
In this sharp-shooting Ralph Compton western, a man of honor becomes an outlaw. Solomon Brakefield tried to play by the rules—and lost. When the mine Sol worked for was robbed, he went after the robbers himself. After he brought the money back, he was given no more than a handshake and a few dollars. Seems like living life on the straight and narrow just doesn’t pay. So Sol seeks out Nester Quarles, known killer and train robber, to teach him the tricks of the outlaw’s trade. Quarles has plenty to teach, but there’s a price to be paid—and the currency is Sol’s soul. More Than Eight Million Ralph Compton Books In Print!
In this Ralph Compton western, riding the hard trail isn't easy... At the EJ Ranch in Wyoming, Lin Bryce has found good, honest work for himself and his temperamental brother, Chancy. A widow with two young children has a herd of cattle over two thousand acres that needs tending, and Lin believes it’s the best opportunity to put their tragic and violent past behind them and start anew. But the widow and her property are coveted by a cattle baron determined to take over every ranch in the territory. And as the Bryce brothers find themselves in the crosshairs of an encroaching range war, a trio of merciless bounty hunters arrives to collect the price on their heads… More Than Six Million Ralph Compton Books In Print!
Former big-city detective John McBride is an easygoing man -- until people rub him the wrong way. So he's less than pleased when he sees three hanged men outside the town of Rest and Be Thankful, and the local lawman warns him to behave if he doesn't want to end up swinging right beside them. Driven by the plight of the terrified citizenry McBride vows to take on the fast-gun marshal, an evil mayor and his cruel son, and a small army of hired gunmen.
The son of a prosperous Arizona rancher, Boone Scott is content to raise cattle for the rest of his days. Not his brother, Eppley. Dangerously dissatisfied, he plots to take over the family ranch. When Epp pays an assassin to kill him, Boone's lightning-quick hands leave a fistful of dead men behind. Unaware of his brother's treachery, Boone flees and faces danger from hired gunmen, rustlers, and wild Apaches. If he can survive, he just might come up against the deadliest peril of all: a showdown with his own flesh and blood.
As he transports six cold-blooded convicts across hard country, Deputy Marshal Logan Kane has to be prepared for anything. Evan with the hard cases caged in his prison wagon, Kane needs to watch his back and keep his Colt close at hand. There are rustlers, lynch mobs, and three brothers from a New Orleans gang to contend with, not to mention the convicts' cronies who are looking to bust them loose. Kane is on the lookout for danger every waking moment, and his sleep is haunted by demons from his past. Tokeep this ride from being his last, Kane has to deal with it all.
Bounty hunter John Tone is good at his job. Some would say ruthless. If there's killing to be done, he shows no mercy. In another time, far across the ocean, Tone lost the only person he's ever loved -- and he's been dead inside ever since. That's the hand fate dealt him, and he'll play it out. But then a powerful criminal from San Francisco's notorious Barbary Coast makes him an offer he can't refuse, and Tone has to draw out six of his client's worst enemies.
Rawhide Flat is full of hard men with hard-earned cash from working the Comstock Lode. So when the bank is robbed and two civilians cut down, a posse delivers its own justice, leaving only Judah Walsh alive. Walsh offers to tell where the gang hid the money in return for a horse, a hundred bucks, and a free ride out of the state, but they'd rather torture it out of him. Lucky for Walsh, protection arrives in a hail of bullets from Deputy U.S. Marshal Augustus Crane.
When bandits Gus McCord and Doyle Hill stumble upon a high-stakes kidnapping involving the youngest daughter of a wealthy shipping mogul, they agree to give the kidnappers a run for their money and save an innocent girl from danger. Original.
One man proves his worth in this Ralph Compton western... When the Apache surrounded the settlement of Alma, New Mexico, the "respectable" townsfolk began hanging those who weren't. Town drunk Eddie Oates was lucky to be banished from the town, left for the Apaches to kill. Oates never thought he was a survivor. But now, he's discovered a reason to go on—and he's about to unleash a raging fury upon those who would prey on the helpless, the hopeless, and those who others think aren't worth fighting for... More Than Six Million Ralph Compton Books In Print!
In this Ralph Compton western, a lawman seeks both retribution and justice—but his time is running out.... Years ago, Marshal Asher Thrall shot mad-dog killer Ben Sharkey in the leg to save a fellow lawman. Since then, every crooked step has reminded Sharkey of the man who put a bullet in him. And he's just repaid the favor to the marshal in spades. When Ash comes to, he's all too eager to ride after his nemesis. But time is against him. Because while Sharkey shot three times, the doctor only removed two slugs. The third is still in Ash's chest—and with every breath, every heartbeat, it is moving closer to ending his life. Ash knows he's a walking dead man. But before he dies, he's going to make sure that Sharkeyis one step ahead of him. More Than Eight Million Ralph Compton Books In Print!
Lieutenant Steve Stryker has a chance to exact vengeance on Rake Pierce, the man who disfigured his face, when Pierce is found running guns to the Apaches.
When he is called back to action, former soldier Charlie Pike must escort Brigadier General Henry J. Dryden, the man who saved his life, to his native Texas where he wants to die in peace, but a powerful gang leader has other plans for Pike and Dryden.
In this western in Ralph Compton's USA Today bestselling series, a Civil War veteran learns the fight isn't over... Captain Jack Starr served the Confederate cause with honor for four years. The Texas town of Lost Dog Creek promised an opportunity for the war veteran to rebuild his life—and a woman to share it with. But not everyone is willing to roll out the welcome wagon for Jack. Hiram Sawyer has designs on every inch of cattle range in the surrounding territory and he isn’t about to let some ex-reb steal the heart of the widow whose ranch he covets. With men on both sides of the law willing to do his bidding, Sawyer begins a campaign to destroy Jack. But he’s just declared war on the wrong man… More Than Six Million Ralph Compton Books In Print!
In Ralph Compton's USA Today bestselling series, every man has a breaking point... Zeke Wolpert is sheriff of Keith County, Nebraska. He doesn’t keep the peace so much as turn a blind eye to the illegal activities of outlaws who pay him for the privilege. Most of his earnings are spent on liquor, and most of his days are spent hungover to the disgust of the county’s honest citizens—and to Zeke himself. Now the outlaws have set their sights on a Wells Fargo shipment that’s worth a fortune. It’s a chance for Zeke to get enough money to retire from this unsavory business once and for all. But it’s also an opportunity for him to honor the badge he wears by serving the right side of the law… More Than Six Million Ralph Compton Books In Print!
The Shadow of a Gun is a Western novel written by H. Clay Merritt. The story takes place in the late 1800s in the Wild West, where the main character, a young cowboy named Tom, finds himself caught up in a dangerous situation involving a notorious outlaw named Black Bart. Tom is falsely accused of being an accomplice to Black Bart's crimes and is forced to flee for his life.As Tom tries to clear his name, he encounters a cast of colorful characters, including a beautiful saloon girl, a tough lawman, and a group of ruthless bandits. Along the way, Tom learns the true meaning of courage and sacrifice as he fights to prove his innocence and bring Black Bart to justice.The novel is filled with thrilling action scenes, vivid descriptions of the Western landscape, and memorable characters. It is a classic tale of the Wild West that will appeal to fans of the genre and anyone who enjoys a good adventure story. With its fast-paced plot and engaging characters, The Shadow of a Gun is sure to keep readers on the edge of their seats until the very end.Aficionados of old North American hunting books regard The Shadow of a Gun (1904) as being among the rarest of the rare. Long out of print, only thirteen copies�������eleven of which are in public libraries�������are known. In addition to its scarcity, The Shadow of a Gun is doubtlessly the most comprehensive, firsthand account of that now illegal business generally known as �������market hunting,������� the taking of wildlife for commercial purposes. Merritt�������s account of his personal activities in shooting, preserving, transporting, and selling game is the most detailed known, despite much other scattered contemporary information, largely anecdotal, fragmentary, and secondhand. Merritt was highly regarded by fellow Kewanee townspeople as a pillar of success, a community supporter, a respected businessman, and beneficent parishioner of the local Baptist church. Market hunting had been very good to Merritt but fatal to his quarry. But let Merritt spin his fascinating and informative tale in his own words�������.--Henry M. Reeves.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.
A gambler and a detective are caught in a land war, and the stakes are life or death in this action-packaged Ralph Compton western. The streets of Green Meadow, Oklahoma, are flowing red with blood. At the scene of every grisly murder is a threatening message: Get out! A mysterious villain known as the Fat Man wants the black gold hidden beneath the town, and he’s willing to wipe out every man, woman, and child to get it. Only two men serve up any protection for the endangered citizens: seedy gambler Chauncey Drake and scrappy Pinkerton agent Reuben Withers. Against all odds, these underdogs will fight the Fat Man tooth and nail—and feed him a steady diet of fiery-hot lead and ice-cold revenge.... More Than Eight Million Ralph Compton Books In Print!
Newspaper reporter Lester T. Booker sets out to interview legendary lawman, ex-gunfighter Ransom March. But the dime novel hero turns out to be little more than an old ex-lawman of questionable moral fiber who doled out death to unsuspecting-- and sometimes unarmed-- enemies. One criminal who escaped Rance's brand of justice is the man known as the Gravedigger-- a man who earned his moniker for buryng his victims alive. Rance comes out of retirement so he can put that murdering desperado six feet under once and for all. For Booker, it's the story of a lifetime-- and an education in learning just how the West was really won--Jacket.
Rancher Cage Clayton was hired to track down a man who years ago had left a trail of destruction in his wake. Though he doesn't know who his target is or what he looks like, Clayton does know that he's is in Bighorn Point. Finding him shouldn't be too hard. Clayton, hadn't even arrived in Bighorn Point yet when he learned that Nook Kelly was the law there. Nook had a well-earned reputation as a gunslinger. This added a complication to Clayton's plan, since Nook Kelly was not a man he'd want to aggravate. Clayton knew that in a gun battle between them, he'd end up the loser. Now there are two targets: the one Cage Clayton is looking for -- and the one on his back.
A broken man finds a reason to fight in this riveting Ralph Compton western. Requiem, formerly known as Apache Creek, is a town that has seen better days. After a plague of cholera swept through the streets, the only folks left behind are ghosts, including Marshall Sam Pace. Even though he’s still living and breathing, three years of solitude have turned Sam into a phantom—a lonely man who’s more than a little touched in the head. But when a woman on the run stumbles into Requiem, Sam suddenly finds a purpose in life. As Jess Leslie’s murderous pursuers track her to the town, the former lawman must protect her and make use of gunslinger skills long out of practice....
Brian Middleton left his father's ranch long ago to make his own way. But now, he's returned to claim the land his late father left him -- and learns the hard way that if you want to keep something in the wild West, you have to fight for it. With local lowlifes and shady con-men after the Dancing M ranch, Middleton has no choice but to make a stand....
Forced by President Chester A. Arthur to infiltrate Hatfield J. Warful's gang by posing as an outlaw on the run, Deputy U.S. Marshal Matt Battles finds himself being targeted by both lawmen and outlaws as he tries to complete his mission and avert a second Civil War. (westerns).
CHANGING WAYS Eli had always led the life of an outlaw. Cutting corners and breaking the law, he knows how to get away with pretty much anything—until he’s caught red handed attempting to rob a wagon set out as a trap. Imprisoned and alone, Eli is unsure whether the members of his gang have made it out alive, or if the men behind the disguised wagon are after his life. But he is sure about Lyssa—the beauty who selflessly takes care of him in prison. As Eli struggles to reform his law breaking ways, he is forced to come into terms with the man he has become and who he wants to be…
TUCKER'S RECKONING Winner of the 2013 Spur Award for Best Western Short Novel by the Western Writers of America! WITNESS TO AN EXECUTIONEver since he lost his wife and daughter, Samuel Tucker has wandered, drunk and bereft of a reason to go on. Now, far from his native Texas in Oregon's Rogue River region, Tucker secretly watches as two men gun down a third. After they leave, he takes the dead man's pistol and makes it to the next town. There, he learns the identity of the murdered man: Payton Farraday, a well-liked local rancher--and the second Farraday shot to death within the last two years. He also becomes a suspect in the shooting. But Emma Farraday, the victim's niece, believes in his innocence--and the two must reveal the machinations of some wealthy and powerful men to prove it. If they don't, Emma could lose the ranch and Tucker could lose his life--just when he's found a new reason to live...
At fifty, cattle driver Sam Sawyer thinks he can finally dust off and retire, maybe open an eating house. But after a pack of Apache ambushes him and leaves him to die in Gila River country, he barely makes it to a remote ranch.
In this Ralph Compton western, the road to hell is a short ride.... Before hearing the call of the Lord, Paul had seen more than his share of sin—mostly his own. But since he came to minister to the small town of Pueblito Verde, most of what he sees are tamer transgressions. Knowing his own past, Paul believes the occasional mistake doesn’t make someone truly evil. But some men are more evil than others. When the brutal Jack Kerrigan and his band of ruffians hit town, Paul’s new life starts to go bad. Then things go from bad to worse when ruthless bounty hunter Dave Sprole arrives with money and murder on his mind. Now, the town is caught in the crossfire between two cold-blooded killers—and Paul knows that it’s time for him to stand up for what he believes in.... More Than Six Million Ralph Compton Books In Print!
Two bad men are looking to score some good money in this riveting Ralph Compton western. Outlaw Wes Cavanaugh knows that crime doesn’t always pay—at least not much. That’s why he and his partner, Mose, are willing to buy information from Jimmy Stock on a job that’s guaranteed to pay off big. Jimmy’s made a career of selling tips to bandits, but the job he sells Wes—a payroll train about to leave Omaha—requires more than information. It requires a straight shooter who can hit targets from a long distance away…and in the outlaw business, even a straight shooter can’t be trusted.
Retaliating against a blackmailer who would expose his personal secrets, Charlie Chilton is forced into the service of the town's marshal and left for dead on the side of a snowy mountain by a ragtag band of drunkards who Charlie resolves to bring to justice. (westerns).
Two lifelong friends team up for revenge in this gripping Ralph Compton western. Their bond started with a schoolyard tussle. Now the need for vengeance is what binds Luke Croft and Red Connover together. When Luke taught himself how to fire a Colt, he never imagined he’d turn into a gunman. But when his stepfather’s dodgy business dealings turn his life upside down, Luke asks Red to help him destroy the man who murdered his kin. The road to vengeance is long and hard, and the two friends, who are barely out of boyhood, will need all the help they can get if they want to catch a cold-blooded killer.
OLD FRIENDS Chip Chippendale met Ransom Barnes after the War Between the States, when the two cowboys drove a herd up from Texas together. But when Chip first laid eyes on Wyoming, he knew he was home, and the two friends split off on different trails. NEW ENEMIES Each man went on to own his own ranch, but when Ransom's home is attacked and burned by a marauding band of Cheyenne warriors, he is faced with ruin--and makes matters worse by gunning down the Cheyenne leader's son. A target of the most vicious renegade on the high plains, Ransom turns to his old friend Chip. And Chip never forgets his friends--even if it means making a few enemies
A rancher fights to save the woman he loves in this action-packed Ralph Compton western. Rancher Ty Farraday’s hunt for stray cattle takes a turn for the worse when he discovers a shallow grave and the body of wealthy Alton Winstead, the owner of the Double Cross Ranch. Ty’s first frantic thoughts are of Winstead’s widow, Sue-Ellen, who picked Alton over him. Unfortunately, she chose poorly. Alton masterminded a crime and left his helpers to swing for it. Hungry for revenge, the murderous hard cases have overrun the Double Cross and are holding Sue-Ellen prisoner. They believe she’s harboring some very important information. Ty boldly rescues her from the ranch—only to find their troubles are only beginning....
In this gripping Ralph Compton western, a man rides for vengeance and into danger.... Thad Taylor is no one’s idea of a fine man. Usually drunk and shiftless, he’s disapproved of by most, especially his father. But when his father doesn’t return from a trip across the Kansas plains, Thad is the only one who can search for him. And he’s far from ready for the ordeal. Because his father is already dead. He has fallen victim to the bloody Benders—a family of demented killers who lure travelers into their cabin way station only to rob and brutally murder them. Now, for his father’s memory, Thad must hunt the Benders down and deliver them either to the law—or to the grave.
Frontier life is hard enough without having kids to worry about ― especially for a widower like Paul Meakes. Still, he's resolved to stay in the small Colorado town his son and daughter call home. So when his daughter is hit by a seemingly poisoned arrow during an Indian raid, Paul is determined to track them down and bring them to justice. But Paul soon discovers that the dangers of the West are far greater and more varied than he ever imagined.
Two men are on the hunt for justice—no matter what it takes—in this gripping Ralph Compton western. Jarrett Pekoe cares about two things: his ranch and his family. So when rustlers kill his kin and burn his land to the ground, Jarrett won’t rest until the men responsible have their necks caught in the hangman’s rope. He’s willing to cooperate with the law if it’s on his side—and willing to work outside it if it’s not. Lem Beauchamp is a stranger with a mysterious ax to grind when it comes to the bandits who razed Jarrett’s ranch. Despite Jarrett’s suspicion of Lem, he isn’t about to refuse the help of an experienced gunman—even if Lem plans to hand out more punishment than the law dictates. And when the hunt for justice turns deadly, Lem and Jarrett may be the only ones willing to risk everything to defeat the lethal criminals before more innocent lives are lost....
A marshal and a teenage bounty hunter team up to dole out justice in this classic tale of the Old West. If things are quiet in the little town of Sweetwater, Marshal Fred Hitch sees no reason to make waves. But when Tyree Johnson shows up, Fred’s relaxed nature is put to the test. At fifteen years old, Tyree is a tough-as-nails bounty hunter with no patience for anyone calling him “boy.” He’s come to apprehend a killer who escaped from Cheyenne and has been hiding in plain sight in Sweetwater. To save face and his town’s good name, Fred must ride with Tyree and his prisoner all the way to Cheyenne. The unlikely pair has a rough trail ahead of them, and as tough as Tyree is, he has some lessons to learn about the evil men do—and how to survive it. More Than Eight Million Ralph Compton Books in Print
A gambler runs out of luck in this rousing Ralph Compton western. Mississippi charmer Abner Mason is a professional gambler and a regular on the Delta Jack, a luxurious riverboat. But things haven’t exactly been going Mason’s way. After a disastrous loss at the tables, he owes an impossible debt to the most powerful man on the ship: mysterious, ruthless Cam Greeley. And Greeley’s willing to do whatever it takes to get his fortune back—even threaten Mason’s life. Now Mason has a single night to raise all the funds to pay off his debt by completing whatever ominous jobs Greeley has waiting for him. He just has to make it through alive....
The only thing a man can trust is his gun in this gripping Ralph Compton western.... Big for his age, young and impressionable drifter Charlie Chilton is taken in by the gruff leader of a gang of small-time crooks. While Grady Haskell sees something of himself in kindly, wayward Charlie, the ruffian pushes all feelings aside for a potentially big score. When Haskell’s bold daylight bank job in prosperous Bakersfield turns bloody, Charlie attempts to thwart the heist—and ends up the only gang member caught alive. Sentenced to swing, Charlie makes a daring escape, determined to track down Haskell and prove his innocence. But with a mysterious marshal and a party of angry townsmen hot on his heels, Charlie must track the killer thieves through a vicious winter storm in the High Sierras—before the seething posse gets the chance to hang him high. More Than Eight Million Ralph Compton Books In Print!
