Western Short Stories Collection

Lance Gordon's running out of room and time. Back in the Sierras he killed the man who murdered his father. Unfortunately that man turned out to be a Deputy Marshal, and now Lance has a price on his head. Like Alan Ladd as Shane, Lance wants only to live in peace, but he'll have to go through hell to get there. Running from the law and the cavalry, Lance heads for the one place no sheriff or soldier will go-into the territory ruled by The Baron of Coyote River. The Baron is the king of the cattle rustlers-as feared and hated as he is powerful. No one dares take him on . . . until now. Lance is sick of running, and taking on the Baron is his last chance for a second chance. Before the battle is over, Coyote River will run red with blood, as Lance has vowed to redeem himself . . . or die trying. Hubbard often reminisced about his rough and tumble childhood in Montana. "At the age of three-and-a-half I could ride quite well. . . . They never let me ride any blooded stock; they always insisted that I only ride range broncs and mustangs. It did not matter how often I was thrown when a mustang exploded under me, it was I who was always scolded and cautioned not to be mean to the horses." Memories such as this remind us that Hubbard himself inhabited the world of The Baron of Coyote River. Also includes the Western adventure, Reign of the Gila Monster, in which a stranger rides into the roughest, toughest town in the West-and sets out to show the town who's boss. "Take a hard ride into a lawless corner of the Arizona territory, as the audio version of The Baron of Coyote River brings a stampede of action to life.

Mart Kincaid, a tall, ruggedly good-looking young man in the Clint Eastwood mold, may be the fastest gun in the state, but it does him no good-because his gun and his life are not his own. They belong to Gar Malone, the King of Concha Basin, a ruthless rancher driven by his thirst for power, wealth, and conquest.Now Gar has set his sights on the Singing Canyon spread-the richest land in the basin-and he commands Kincaid to run its true owners off. If not, he threatens to reveal a dark secret that could ruin Kincaid's brother.But there's more to the Singing Canyon ranch than Kincaid bargained for. There's the Drake family-specifically the lovely young Sally Drake. The last thing Kincaid wants to do is drive her away. Meaning he's got to get out from under Gar's thumb, and put his trigger finger to work. It's time to settle up, once and for all, with the blackmailing Malone. Most of the Westerns published in the all-fiction magazines of the first half of the twentieth century were written by authors more familiar with the streets of New York than the cattle trails of Texas. Hubbard bucked the trend, and in the process changed the face of the Western adventure. He grew up in a time and a place where the Old West, though fading, still lived. His unique knowledge of the frontier, of its ways and its people, made him an authentic voice of this unique American experience.Also includes the Western adventure Blood on His Spurs, in which two men have to find a way to end their feud . . . or pay a high price in blood and money."Heart-racing plot charges at the speed of thrumming horses' hooves." -Library Journal

Forged in the hot sun and sand of the Arizona desert, Chinook Shannon is as tough as they come-as steely-eyed and tall in the saddle as Randolph Scott. But Chinook is far from home-in the north country of Montana-and facing a challenge as big as the territory itself. Following his grandfather's suspicious death, he's come to Montana to claim his inheritance-the family's cattle ranch. But the territory's crawling with bandits and bankers, and they all want a piece of Chinook's land. With foreclosure hanging over the ranch, Chinook's got exactly twenty-four hours to find out who killed his grandfather and become the Cattle King. He'll follow a trail of forgery, cattle rustling and murder to find the truth, knowing he has only one ally-his Colt Peacemaker. L. Ron Hubbard's detailed knowledge of ranch life and mining techniques-as well as the economics and legal issues surrounding mining and water rights-informs Cattle King for a Day. He wrote: 'I became thoroughly acclimated to Montana ranch life and the very rough and tough atmosphere. . . . It was also a mining area, and I used to pan in these streams for pocket money.' It's no wonder, then, that these stories are pure gold. Also includes the Western adventure Come and Get It, the story of an Easterner who comes to Wyoming to find out who killed his father-but discovers that the only way to get justice is to cook up a new identity for himself.

In the classic western movie The Searchers Jeffrey Hunter plays a young man with a mission in his heart and a chip on his shoulder. The character might well have been modeled on eighteen-year-old Lee Thompson, a trail-hand on a mission of his own-to save his dad, Diehard Thompson, the aging sheriff of Wolf River, Montana.Old Diehard's lost control of his town, and it seems every outcast and outlaw west of the Mississippi is on the prowl in Wolf River. Now Lee's come all the way from Texas to stand up for his father, a man who hasn't seen him since he was a boy and who doesn't know him from Adam. Lee's plan is a dangerous one–mix in with the desperadoes and risk death at their hand Under the Diehard Brand. But sometimes, the only way to restore the rule of law is to break it.Most of the Westerns published in the all-fiction magazines of the first half of the twentieth century were written by authors more familiar with the streets of New York than the cattle trails of Texas. Hubbard bucked the trend, and in the process changed the face of the Western adventure. He grew up in a time and a place where the Old West, though fading, still lived. His unique knowledge of the frontier, of its ways and its people, made him an authentic voice of this unique American experience.Also includes the Western adventures, Hoss Tamer, in which a circus horse trainer turned bronco buster has to figure a way to tame a gang of outlaws, and The Ghost Town Gun Ghost, the story of an old prospector who seems to have lost his wits; but is he crazy . . . or crazy like a fox?"Rife with action and adventure and laced with melodramatic undertones." -Library Journal

He's handsome. He's charming. He's a total gentleman . . . and he's totally outgunned and outnumbered. He's Michael Patrick Obañon-a role that has Antonio Banderas written all over it. Obañon's lost his inheritance-a 100,000-acre New Mexico spread-and he could lose his life if he's not careful. A ruthless band of renegades have seized his land, and he's determined to get it back.. Obañon's got one secret weapon: his fierce intelligence. He can't outshoot the outlaws, so he'll have to find a way to outwit them. . . .Part Irish, part Mexican, Michael Patrick Obañon is as American as they come-crafty, confident, and cool under fire. It may be one man against the world, but before he's done the world will know how the West will be won. In the 1930s a radio program, Writers and Readers, hosted by Bob de Haven, delivered news of the hottest authors of the day-interviewing the writers behind the stories. Here's how he promoted an upcoming broadcast with L. Ron Hubbard: "He has placed in print a million and a half words. He is a quantity producer, well paid and in constant demand. He has outlined some valuable information on his lead novelette . . . Six-Gun Caballero." It is an introduction to Hubbard that is as pertinent now as it was then.

A perfect role for a young Robert Redford, saddle tramp Petey McGuire doesn't have much to live for. The trail in front of him stretches out long and hot, and there's no end in sight. He's been beaten down, beaten up, and kicked around so long, he'd run away from his own shadow if he could. But there's one fight he can't run from-the fight against hunger. Petey needs a job quick, before he drops dead in the dust. But the only way to get one is to act cool and talk tough-in other words, become the exact opposite of Petey McGuire. Putting on a performance worthy of a Shakespearean actor, he succeeds all too well-landing in the saddle with the Arizona Rangers. Talking tough is one thing, but backing it up is another. Because Petey's about to discover exactly what it takes-and how much he has to risk-to face the meanest outlaw, win the prettiest girl, and become The Toughest Ranger. Born and raised in the twilight of the Old West-from Nebraska plain to the mountains of Montana-L. Ron Hubbard grew up in the company of real cowboys and rugged frontiersmen, even becoming a blood brother to a Blackfoot medicine man. His firsthand knowledge allowed him to instill a grit and authenticity into his stories that made him one of the leading writers of Westerns, publishing a total of 34 of them by the 1950s.Also includes the Western adventures, Silent Pards, in which an old prospector takes on a couple of wicked enemies with the help of some surprising friends, and The Ranch That No One Would Buy, the story of a young stranger who's about to pull off a killer of a deception.

In the Arizona territory, every mountain hides a fortune-and every man fends for himself. Tim Beckdolt is as American as the frontier itself, as rangy and self-reliant as a young Jimmy Stewart. But after spending eight treacherous months digging $175,000 in gold out of Desperation Peak-all he has left is desperation. Two sadistic strangers have taken his gold, and now they want to take his life. He's on the run-the target of a Devil's Manhunt. In a time and a place where the only law is the law of survival, Beckdolt will have to live by his wits…or die by the bullet. In 1932, Hubbard led a mining crew on a six-month West Indies Mineralogical Expedition in Puerto Rico-the first complete survey of the island since it had become an American territory. It was an experience that informs this title with remarkable realism. Also includes two additional Western tales: Johnny, the Town Tamer, the story of a local swindler who meets his match, and Stranger in Town, in which a drifter confronts a corrupt sheriff…and his own dark past.

Some men look to keep the peace. Others look to make trouble. But sometimes even the most law-abiding of men are compelled to cross the line….Easy Bill Gates is just such a man-as quick with a smile and as slow to anger as Gary Cooper in High Noon. He's a model of restraint…until he's forced to strap on a holster and kill the outlaw who murdered his brother. But more than his honor is at stake. A ruthless land baron is out to grab Bill's ranch and he's hired a gang of gunslingers to get Bill out of the way. Between the rancher who wants to take his land, and the young guns who want to take his life, Easy Bill will have to make some hard choices-and fast draws-to avoid becoming just another notch in the Gunman's Tally. Hailing from the western states of Nebraska, Oklahoma and Montana, Hubbard grew up surrounded by grizzled frontiersmen and leather-tough cowboys, counting a Native American medicine man as one of his closest friends. When he chose to write stories of the Old West, Hubbard didn't have to go far to do his research, drawing on his own memories of a youth steeped in the life and legends of the American frontier. Also includes the Western adventure, Ruin at Rio Piedras, the story of a young cowboy kicked off a ranch for falling in love with the owner's daughter…only to devise a whip-smart plan to win the day-and the girl.

When it comes to boiling up a pot of coffee or stirring up a pot of stew, Old Laramie's about as good a man as you're going to find. But other than cooking three squares a day for the cowpunchers over at the Lazy G ranch, Laramie's not good for much. He's about as heroic as Walter Brennan on a bender. But Laramie's luck-and life-are about to take an amazing turn. Quite by accident, he somehow manages to save a family of Mexicans from bandits, and as a token of their gratitude they give him The Magic Quirt-a horsewhip that he's told will turn him into a new man. The transformation is indeed magical. Suddenly Laramie is performing feats of ingenuity and courage that would make even the Lone Ranger proud. But magic is a funny thing-and as Laramie's about to discover, sometimes it's all an illusion. L. Ron Hubbard wrote of his childhood: "The weather of Montana is, of course, brutal. The country is immense and swallows up men rather easily, hence they have to live bigger than life to survive. There were still Indians around living in forlorn and isolated tepees. Notable among them was Old Tom, a full-fledged Blackfoot medicine man." Hubbard and Old Tom became blood brothers, and the medicine man shared with him the kind of lore that make stories like The Magic Quirt as compelling as they are. Also includes the Western adventures, Vengeance Is Mine!, the story of a young man who sets out to avenge his father's death only to commit an act beyond redemption, and Stacked Bullets, in which a game of chance is fixed, a whole town is cheated, and nothing but a stack of bullets can make things right.

They call him Suicide, Smoke or simply Sudden Death. His name is Kit Gordon, and from the banks of the Mississippi to the shores of the Pacific, he is King of the Gunmen. As tall and lean and tough as a young John Wayne, Kit's about to discover that sometimes it takes more than a quick draw and a sure aim to stand up like a man. Falsely accused of murder and one step ahead of a lynch mob, Kit escapes to the next county over-and a whole new identity. He changes his name and his whole outlook, teaming up with a lawman out to bring the rule of law to this untamed corner of Arizona. But the two men are soon drawn into the middle of a bloody feud between cattle ranchers and sheepherders. Before it's over, the battle will lead Kit to a moment of truth . . . or a lifetime of lies. He'll have to take a stand and reveal that he's a wanted man-or turn tail and run for his life, never looking back. Born and raised in the twilight of the Old West-from Nebraska plain to the mountains of Montana-L. Ron Hubbard grew up in the company of real cowboys and rugged frontiersmen, even becoming a blood brother to a Blackfoot medicine man. His firsthand knowledge allowed him to instill a grit and authenticity into his stories that made him one of the leading writers of Westerns, publishing a total of 34 of them by the 1950s.Also includes the western adventure The No-Gun Gunhawk, the story of a legendary gunslinger's son who swears never to take up a gun-until he is forced to break his vow when it becomes a matter of life and death.

As a young man Monte Calhoun was as wild as they come, thinking the measure of a man was how hard he could drink and how straight he can shoot. But several years of schooling back East have changed him. Now, as steadfast and principled as a young Jimmy Stewart, Monte has become The No-Gun Man. The East Coast has civilized him, and he's bringing some of that civilization home to Superstition, Arizona . . . even if it means refusing to avenge the murder of his own father. Monte's come back for one reason-to rescue his younger brother from this lawless land and take him back East. But out here in a land of frauds and outlaws and ambushes, a man's principles have a way of folding under pressure-especially in the face of gunfire. And Monte's no different. It's only a question of how far he'll be pushed before he starts pushing back . . . with a vengeance. Hailing from the western states of Nebraska, Oklahoma and Montana, Hubbard grew up surrounded by grizzled frontiersmen and leather-tough cowboys, counting a Native American medicine man as one of his closest friends. When he chose to write stories of the Old West, Hubbard didn't have to go far to do his research, drawing on his own memories of a youth steeped in the life and legends of the American frontier. Also includes the Western adventure, Man for Breakfast, in which the victim of a robbery will leave no stone unturned and no outlaw alive in his search for justice-even as he faces bullets, a hanging rope, and a startling revelation.

Every man walks with a shadow . . . but what happens when he acquires a second one? Just ask Brazos-a dead ringer for Jack Palance who's a cold-blooded killer for hire with blood on his hands and a posse on his tail. Desperate for cash, Brazos accepts $200 to gun down a local man named Brant. He'll earn every penny . . . but in the end there'll be the devil to pay. Because to put a bullet in Brant means putting one in his partner as well-an eerie stranger schooled in the black art of witchcraft. This is one killing that brings with it a deadly curse-and a second shadow. As Brazos is about to discover, the Wild West doesn't get any wilder than when a man is damned to live-and die-in the Shadows from Boot Hill.