Rowdy

Thrust to the mercy of the Mississippi river, thirteen-year-old Rowdy floats safely away as he watches the smoke rise from his burning farmhouse. His father, dead. His brother, dead. Both gunned down in front of him by a murderous gang of bandits.Now alone in the world, his perilous journey of survival begins, challenging and shaping him into the young man his father would want him to become. Pulled from the waters, he is given a chance by a lone river Captain and his mate. Working the trade routes between St. Louis and New Orleans, he learns to navigate safe passage. Rowdy has grown strong working the river but must use his wit as well as his strength to confront a bullying crewman and survive a surprise attack by river pirates.Facing life and death decisions, Rowdy's only option is to run. Survival is what Rowdy has come to know all too well. His escape across the plains towards Lincoln, New Mexico nearly claims his life. Through a stranger's help, Rowdy recovers but is faced with questions about his rescuer's motives.Blood, bullets, and tears bring Rowdy's world to a showdown. Fighting for what was right is his code, living life for others becomes his way, and staring danger in the face is what he must do if he can truly be Wild and Mean, Sharp and Keen.

In this momentous coming-of-age western, Rowdy must fight between his heart and what is lawful.When rustlers steal from a ranch on the outskirts of Lincoln, Rowdy is called to join the hunt and bring them in. But after a fight breaks out and one of the bandits ends up dead, a family member sets out for revenge.With love chasing Rowdy's heels, tragedy strikes when his new beloved is attacked in an act of revenge by the dead rustler's brother, and the town becomes tangled in turmoil.Rowdy, accompanied by new and old friends, sets out to track down those responsible for the attack and secretly hopes to find the attacker first so he can decide the lawful course of action…even though his heart craves revenge.As the manhunt rides on, each must do their part if they hope to catch a killer.

A culmination of lessons learned are put into action as Rowdy traverses family ties and unstoppable action in this transformative coming-of-age western.Cloaked in darkness and in the brunt of a treacherous storm, Rowdy rides in pursuit of a dangerous gambler caught cheating and robbing a game at the Waterin' Hole Saloon. But when he's overpowered by a gang of men claiming to be the law, he's forced to return to Lincoln without his prisoner.On the road home, Rowdy meets a family traveling with a wagon train of settlers who claim they recognize him and have unbelievable news. Rowdy's brother, thought to be dead all these years, is alive and in grave danger.Rocked by the news, Rowdy has but one decision-find his brother and do everything in his power to save him.Thrust into the beginning of an uprising that may just get him killed when he attempts to uncover his brother's whereabouts, Rowdy has everything to lose. But nothing will stop him from making his return.