The Texas-Mexico border, the winter of 1886—The Great Die Up. A raw rift separates Mexicans and Anglos. A loner cowpoke and a mute Mexican girl fight man and nature to reunite.
Out of work cowpoke Bud Eugen comes across Marta, a mute sixteen-year old Mexican girl whose family has been killed by Indians. Bud reluctantly takes her along, even though he’s never had to accommodate another person in … another person in his simple life. He’s unable to find anyone willing to take her. In spite of his prejudices, Bud grows to like the spunky girl (and her excellent cooking).
Eventually, they both find work on a border ranch. Here, the relationship between the girl and the young cowboy hesitantly grows. But banditos raid the ranch, kidnapping the rancher’s daughters and Marta. Bud, with twelve other men, pursue the banditos into the most desolate reaches of Mexico. Ambushes and battles with banditos, Rurales, and traitors are constant, and the brutal weather is as much a threat as the man-made perils. Life and death choices are made at every turn as one side gains the advantage, then the other.
The rancher’s daughters are rescued, and the exhausted party turns back. But Bud presses on alone, against insurmountable odds – determined to fulfill an unspoken promise to Marta.
Western Fictioneers Peacemaker Award for Best Western Novel 2014 Western Fictioneers Peacemaker Award Finalist for Best First Western Novel 2014 Western Writers of America Spur Award Finalist for Best Traditional Western Novel for 2013
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This is a western novel in the vein of Louis la’more only more colorful language throughout. Enjoyed it anyway.
Couldn’t put it down action all through the story ,
on a par with William W Johnstone
Gritty
Enjoyed this very much; highly recommend it to those who like the western frontier.
I ABSOLUTELY LOVED THIS BOOK AND WILL READ MORE OF THIS AUTHORS BOOKS.
I wanted an entertaining read, and that I got from The Hardest Ride. However, it did get old…everything and anything got in the way of success and some of the things did not make sense *mini-spoiler alert*(cowboys should know that storms and arroyos spell flash floods).
Hard to read, weirdly inconsistent language choices
A new take on relationships of all types.
The theme of sacrificing your life for someone else was well developed. There was a lot of action but at times it was too much detail about all the battles that I finally skimmed over the pages that detailed each encounter, since I was losing interest. But I did want to read it to the end because I wanted to see how it turned out.
it was ok
Very different writing technique by the author. Dialogue was realistic for the era & location.
I loved the language and misuse of words. It made it more real.
I have read a lot about this area but the pictures painted were excellent. I felt like I was there.
Original and very well written.
Enjoyed this book very much. Well worth the time and it was free!!!
I really liked the story and got caught up in it too much a night or two. It dragged, or I should say, the chase went on a little too long. Loved the setting and the western adventure.
didn’t know what would happen next.
Excellent writing of the time period and the realness of life .. plot okay, description of trail life brought meaning and depth to the story.
Historical Western Well Researched
I liked the book and had to put it down a few times but was eager to read more. The main character was well developed and more revealed about his past life as the book went on. The other characters less so, there were many of them and it was hard to keep then straight at times. The action and killing was aptly described. The life of people on the trail and sleeping out side in bad weather was well done.This was a tale of mane who was slowly falling in love and did not know what it was. There was reference to sex but no descriptions of it. I enjoyed this book and would give its about an 8 out of 10.
Predictable and sort of corny.