American Old West

From shootouts on the Upper Frisco, to the Indian Wars and Outlaw hideouts William French experienced it all on his ranch in Western New Mexico. An immigrant from the old country—Ireland—Captain William French reached California in 1883. Nearly penniless he rested his fate and fortune on the flip of a coin; heads California, tails New Mexico. He landed on Alma New Mexico. Little did he know then what fate and fortune held in store for him. Recounting his time on the WS Ranch near Alma New Mexico, Recollections of Western Ranchman reads like a Dime-Store Western, and contains firsthand ...

Evan Henson, a Union battle-tested veteran of the Civil War, dismounted. He stood six-one and paused. “I am so sorry, Miss McLee. Your ma was one of the finest women the Good Lord ever put on this earth. You say it was Kreb who killed her, huh?” “Sure nuff,” Dory McLee confirmed. Evan exhaled deeply and turned around slowly shaking his head. “You know Alton Kreb. He has the most money of anyone in this territory and he ain’t about ready to go to the hoosegow on his own.” “That’s just too doggone bad,” Dory fired back. “He broke the law and now he’s gotta pay for it....

Ben Daniel is a driver for the Rocky Stagecoach Company. He has a zest for the frontier as well as transportation. After all he had been a rider for a short while with the widely known Pony Express outfit. Ben takes enormous pride in his stage duties and is incensed that another company driver, Merle Rusten, has crossed the line and become a criminal. Rusten has orchestrated a holdup on his stage. It led to the deaths of five people and the loss of sixty-thousand dollars. One of those killed is guard Jason Carey, father of Sarah Carey. And Sarah is Ben’s one and only true love. Ben will ...

Thomas Horn Jr. was an infamous figure in the 19th-century American Old West. Cowboy, soldier, government scout, translator, and gunman, Horn’s storied life has become an important part of western folklore. In 1902, he was convicted for murdering a 14-year-old boy after a run-in during a feud with a cattle rancher. The Life of Tom Horn is his life story in his own words, written from prison before he met his fate at the gallows the following year.

The Chronicles of Bannock County by Bo Carson is a captivating non-fiction book set in Bannock County, Idaho during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. If you’ve ever been enthralled by tales of pioneers and the wild west but struggled to find captivating historical accounts, then keep reading... Are you fascinated by gritty true stories from America's frontier past? Have you scoured countless books but couldn't find one that brings Idaho's past to life? Do you finally want to understand the real history behind Bannock County's pioneers and Native American tribes? If so, then this ...

The blanket of snow covers the state of Colorado as Hudson Owens stands in front of his mother’s fresh grave. It is supposed to be a simple affair after which Hudson would travel back to his home town and carry on with his life. As Hudson rides through a snow storm and into the town of Ashcroft, he notices a commotion at the sheriff’s office. It turns out that a stagecoach has just been robbed by a gang led by Johnny Daggers, a notorious outlaw of the state. One of the victims involved is a woman called Dolly Miller who had cared for Hudson’s mother before her recent death. Knowing ...

"No women need apply." These four discouraging words of admonition often greeted female physicians looking for jobs in the frontier-era West. Despite the dire need for medical help, it seemed most trappers, miners, and emigrants would rather suffer and die than be treated by a female doctor. Nevertheless dozens of highly trained women headed West, where they endured hardship and prejudice as they set broken limbs, performed operations, delivered generations of babies - and solidified a place for women in the medical field.

The Osage, Kansa, and Otoe were all tribes west of the Mississippi and dwelt directly in the path of the two friends determined to escape the bounty hunters from Philadelphia and to explore the uncharted wilderness of the West. But when they encounter former French Voyageurs turned slave traders who take Pawnee women captive, their purposes take a turn. But slave-traders are nothing compared to the Omaha and Ponca tribes that have the market cornered on all trade from the Missouri and North Platte Rivers.

In the tranquil town of Malachite, Ashton Hagen finds solace working in the general store, a stark contrast to the town’s dark underbelly of lawlessness and corruption. His father, the former sheriff, was slain by outlaws, leaving Ashton wary of following in his footsteps. Meanwhile, Jack Keller, once a respected rancher, descends into the vengeful Black Jack Keller. Fuelled by years of mistreatment by Malachite’s residents, he unleashes havoc upon the town, leaving destruction in his wake. Ashton’s uncle, the only family he has left, becomes another casualty of Keller’s rampage. ...

After an attempted theft of one of his ranch’s horses, Levi Clay finds himself with blood on his hands and renewed questions about his father’s mysterious death… As he searches for answers in the neighboring town of Masonville, he uncovers a world that’s been warped to serve a brutal gang of outlaws led by one man – Pete Ramsey. Murder. Raids. Corruption. Pete has done it all. But nobody dares to point out the injustices that they have suffered. Speaking up only puts their lives in danger, because… The sheriff and his deputies are on Ramsey’s payroll. As he probes deeper into ...

A historical fiction book set in Garrison City, a small cattle town in the American West during the late 19th century. In "Son of an Outlaw," the story unfolds in the rugged heart of the American West, where the past casts long shadows over the present. Isabella Beaumont, a fierce and compassionate woman, raises the infant son of the notorious outlaw Black Henry Grady after she witnesses his dramatic demise. As the years go by, Isabella strives to shield Oliver from the grip of his father's criminal legacy, but as he nears his twenty-fifth birthday, the chains of history tighten, forcing ...

Bass Reeves was a man who forged his own destiny and wrote his own life story as he went along. Born into slavery, Reeves rose above all challenges to become one of the most legendary lawmen of the American West. As a deputy US marshal, he held himself to a personal code of conduct that went beyond the badge he wore. For Bass, the line between right and wrong was clear, and he never hesitated to enforce the law—even when it meant pursuing his own friends or family. Justice wasn’t just his duty; it was his calling.

Andy Adams (1859-1935) was born to pioneer parents in Indiana, worked in Texas for a decade driving cattle, and settled in Colorado Springs, where he penned his cowboy narratives. The Log of a Cowboy chronicles a five-month drive of three thousand head of cattle from Brownsville, Texas, to the Blackfoot Indian Reservation in Montana. This classical work of fiction provides fascinating insights of everyday life on the Great Western Cattle Trail with a team of 12 cowhands, a cook, a horse wrangler and a foreman.

Caleb McCallister does not have a normal childhood. His mother rejected him, and his father is an alcoholic. Despite everything, Caleb sticks to his morals and becomes a respected citizen of his hometown. Everyone loves him because of his determination to uphold the law and protect the innocent. Due to his unyielding sense of justice, Sheriff Craig Dalton believes Caleb is the only person that possesses the right set of skills to go after a notorious outlaw by the name of Silas “Blackheart” Kane. The outlaw has been wreaking havoc in Colorado for a while. Somebody needs to stop him. ...

Two deputies determined to win her heart and the jewel theft that takes the town by storm... School teacher Katherine might never understand the hankering for fortune so many men in Silver City seemed to possess, but when the horse races begin, greed is taken to a whole new level. When the prize rubies suddenly go missing, nothing is left off the table as men and beast alike are thrown into the race. When Katherine witnesses something she was never meant to see, she begins working with stubborn Deputy Chalice and his handsome new deputy-in-training, Landry Allred, to dissolve trouble at the...

A literary fiction novel set in the American Rockies during the early 20th century. In the rugged heart of the Rockies, where the spirit of independence meets the weight of family legacy, “Strong Roots” tells the poignant story of Clay Forrest, a gentle giant wrestling with his identity and self-worth. With the demanding presence of his uncle Tony looming over him, Clay's journey of self-discovery is as treacherous as the mountains themselves, offering readers a powerful exploration of love, loyalty, and the quest for acceptance. The novel opens with George and Aaron Macpherson, ...

Prepare to embark on a thrilling journey shrouded in mystery, where danger is in the shadows beneath the scorching sun and secrets lie hidden amidst the shifting sands. With its richly descriptive narrative and heart-pounding suspense, this unforgettable tale will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last page. In the arid and treacherous setting of the American Southwest, "Secret Mirage" paints a vivid portrait of a time long past. Set against the backdrop of the late 19th century, our story unfolds in a remote desert town, where trust is a rare commodity. As the blistering ...

Billy the Kid once said that he killed 22 men - one for each year that he lived. While it’s more likely that he only killed eight or nine, this young outlaw was clearly deadly. But his brief and brutal life reveals how his tragic existence led him into a life of crime. After growing up in poverty as an Irish immigrant in New York City and losing his father at a young age, Billy the Kid had to endure losing his mother when he was only 15.

Amy Taylor and Colt Harman were riding Walter, the appaloosa, as fast as the critter could carry them. They had one destination – the Taylor Way Station. “Are you sure we have to go this fast, Colt?” a still somewhat distressed Amy asked the Wells Fargo guard. “I’ve learned one thing about outlaws over the years,” Colt answered back with his speech a bit halted by riding on Walter. “You can never tell what outlaws will do. Most of them are yellow bellied cowards. But a few of them are crazy enough to do anything.” “You really think they'd come after us now?” “Pardon me...

No lawman has ever been tested under fire as Sheriff Clay Granger. The lawman must respond to a large murderous Vortman family intent on leaving behind a trail of blood and fear in 1874 Empire, Texas. The Vortmans, led by evil patriarch Asa Vortman, don't mind burning, shooting, bludgeoning or blowing up anyone who gets in their way. To complicate matters, the insidious gang are holed up a most well protected pieces of real estate on the frontier, Ridge Country. Nobody can lay a hand on them in the barren, rugged rock terrain. Or can they? That's Clay’s mission as he fights against the ...