Law of the Desert

No onetells tales of the frontier better than Louis L’Amour, who portrays the humanside of westward expansion—the good and the bad—before the days of law andorder. Collected here are seven stories penned by America’s favorite Westernauthor. The Black Rock Coffin Makers Two menin the isolated town of Tucker want the XY ranch: Jim Walker and the ruthlessWing Cary—and one of them wants it badly enough to kill for it. It is a tale of suspense and danger, withchases, posses, shootouts, and double-crosses—all for possession of the XYranch. Grub Line Rider KimSartain is an easygoing, peace-loving drifter. But when cattleman Jim Targchallenges Sartain’s right to ride across an unclaimed stretch of meadow,Sartain retaliates by deciding to homestead there. Soon, more is at risk thanland and pride, when Targ decides to teach Sartain a permanent—anddeadly—lesson. Desert Death Song Nat Bodine had a choice:to die by hanging or take his chances in the desert. But when a good womanbelieves in a man, he finds the will to survive. One Last GunNotch MorganClyde was driven off his small ranch by a hired gunman. He worked odd jobs butsoon found himself being hired to use his gun. Now, he’s working for a land hogin Red Basin who wants him to drive off a young homesteader and his wife. Thescenario is too familiar, and Clyde finds that he must make a decision. Ride, You Tonto Raiders Matt Sabreis a young gunfighter who shoots a man who forced him to draw. To his surprise,the man on his deathbed gives him $5,000 and begs him to take the money to hiswife, who is alone defending the family ranch. Guilt, regret, and wanting to dothe right thing lead Matt Sabre to make that ride. War Party A boy onthe brink of manhood, a resourceful frontier woman who has beauty as well asfortitude, and a strong male character come together in this powerful,romantic, and strangely compelling vision of the American West. Law of the Desert Born Shad Marone is a lonegunman on the run from the law. He shot a man in a fair fight; but the sheriffis his bitter enemy, and Shad knows he’ll never get a fair trial. He is beingtracked by a man named Lopez, and after three days in the desert it looks likethey’ll both die of thirst—unless, of course, some miracle happens.