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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I haven’t read a western in a long time. There certainly was lots of action and lots of death.
Juvenile. Couldn’t get into it, decided not to bother after two tries
Amazing story with a twist. Enjoy.
ENJOYED THIS BOOK – A GOOD READ!
I love a good western . This has all the right ingredients for a great story. A cowpuncher that don’t really know what he wants and a young Indian gal in need of saving. The two make a great team. Saddle up and ride.
I really enjoyed the depiction of the life and challenges of Texas cowhands in the Texas Territory of “olden days.” Their language and way of seeing life was delightful! Though it was a serious story, I found myself laughing a lot at the narrator’s telling of it. I would definitely recommend this book!
I loved this book and have recommended it to all of my friends. It pulls you in and wraps around you until long after the end. I immediately read both sequels.
You are drawn into the characters. The male lead in the story keeps discovering things about himself. The female lead can’t talk, but still manages to communicate and is strong.
A great read by a gifted and informed writer. Heavy on violence, sweet on romance and excellent education on period guns!
I could not put this one down. This is a fast action book. It moves quickly. Stayed up at night to finish this knuckle biting story.
Really made history come alive.
A great read that is exciting and action packed. Romantic in a great love story within all the action packed. Sad at times, you can believe this happened in this time and era.
Being from Texas, I was quite familiar with the Ranger history and Mexican border wars. This was a very good story with realistic and engaging characters. It was accurate to the times and the struggles were well represented.
Wow, what a terrific Western! I haven’t read anything like this since Lonesome Dove. Great story!
Great read. Riveting!
Somewhat predicable, but good dialog.
Gritty, true-to-life. Keeps you waiting for more.
Great western novel. It wasn’t easy to put down until I finished. The characters were exactly how I picture the rugged individuals who settled South Texas.
Gritty and real, likely the best westerns are, I really enjoyed this story excellently told through first person limited.
i really enjoyed this book. It was honest and I liked the character who was telling the tale. He was believable.