Colonel Utah Blaine, held captive by the Army of the Revolution, broke out of jail and headed north from Mexico with nothing but the clothes on his back. Then he found new trouble struggling at the end of a noose–and stepped in just in time to save the life of a Texas rancher. The would-be executioners were the rancher’s own men, looking to steal his land.
Now Utah has a unique proposition: Have the wealthy Texan play dead, introduce himself as the spread’s new foreman, and take care of the outlaws one by one. The wage to fight another man’s war? A hundred a month plus expenses. The cost of falling in love while he earns that wage? It wasn’t exactly part of the original agreement, but Utah will soon find out–unless the bad guys get to him first.
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Michael J. Blaine, Gunfighter This book was originally published by Ace books back in 1954 under the name Jim Mayo, when Louis was bridging the pulp western magazines of the day, while later moving into his long running contract with Bantam Books. The setting of the book is central Arizona in the Verde River Valley, pretty much between Blood Basin and the Mazatzal Mountains.For the time of its writing, Utah Blaine is a very good book both in style and content. In general the book tells the story of Joe Neal’s…
Captures range-war violence and high-desert beauty. A great L’Amour title, originally published in 1954 under the name Jim Mayo. As he did so often, L’Amour takes a stock dime-western situation, the range war, and weaves his story telling magic! The title character, a legendary town tamer, is very well fleshed out as he attempts to keep a pack of land-grabbing jackals from dividing up two of the largest, richest cattle ranches in Arizona. First they murder the owners…then the gang comes gunning for Blaine! Solid plot, great dialogue and…