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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Totally different genre than I usually read. Quick read, I enjoyed the two main characters.
Not for me. Sorry.
Slow moving, sad
The youthful main character is presented with character building and life changing decisions. The unsettled time period and setting in the early years of Texas were realistic and well presented. Descriptions of the environmental hardships endured by people living in this rugged part of Texas made me feel the bitter cold, fatigue and thirst. There was a lot of excitement ranging from saloon fights, Indian attacks and thievery.
Good depiction of late nineteenth century southwestern life
Definitely a book for men who like cowboy stories mixed in with a bit of surprising relationships. The main character, Bud, finds himself traveling with a young Mexican teen by the name of Marta. Bud finds Marta’s family murdered as he is traveling on his way to hopefully acquire a job on a new ranch. He takes Marta with him so that she will not suffer the same fate as her family, and the relationship between the two of them grows into something that surprises Bud. Interesting story line–just more for male readers than female, in my opinion.
it shows how hard it was to survive in the old West.
thought it was a great read couldn’t put it down AAAA
with a small edit it would have been a good read for teenagers.
A heartwarming story of a cowboy and an orphaned Mexican girl.
Best Western since Lonesome Dove.
Pulls you in fast… before you know it you’re watching the Texas border with the main character, and wondering why it takes him so long to catch on that she loves him, and he loves her.
What happens in Mexico….. Well worth reading.
I This is absolutely the best book I have read in a long long time. Hope to find
more books like this.
A page turner that keeps the reader engrossed. Better and more believable than most westerns.
Intense
This book was said to be more realistic and it was! I have read a lot of Westerns, this one put in a lot of details that are usually left out, ironically, for being too realistic.
I’m glad that there are sequels and can’t wait to get them. RM
This is a delightful story! The main character is a bit naive which makes the story a bit humorous. He is a gentleman with women but a fighter when needed to be one. Lots of GOOD action. The only thing I didn’t like about the book was some descriptive sex and swearing. I’m from the times when authors didn’t feel they needed to include things like that to tell a good story (I’m 83).
I loved it. Unique voice and character building. Great build up to the climax. Realistic. I would read others by this author.
From AZ
Loved this book
It may be a bit rougher than Lonesome Dove but still very readable. The author manages to make you care for the characters while at the same time thinking they made some pretty darn stupid mistakes.
I came to love them , just about all anyway.
So do yourself a favor and slip into the mind of the young cowboy as he grows older and don’t let his stereotypical use of language do you no nevermind.