Ray Hogan built a prolific career as a writer of Westerns, with his narratives often exploring themes of justice and the moral compass in the American West. His writing is recognized for its directness and authentic portrayal of life in rugged settings. Hogan focused on strong characters and their internal struggles, offering readers compelling and often thought-provoking stories.
In "Ryker," Jake Ryker reluctantly works at his brother Tom's ranch when Tom becomes paralyzed; and in "Law Comes to Lawless," John Glyde accepts the position of sheriff in the town of Lawless only to find himself pitted against Cole Westcott and his gunmen.
"A drifter who had learned the hard way that it's easier to run away than to stand and fight feels compelled to help a young woman and her brother who are being harassed by a greedy, murderous rancher who aims to have their ranch"--
He said his name was John Rutledge, and it had all started out as a simple favor -- the return of a body to the ranch where the dead man had once been employed. But the circumstances of the killing -- a cold-blooded gun-down -- and the ominous parting words of the dead man's buddy made Rutledge wonder if there were going to be more serious consequences to his good deed than he had bargained for.
"Cowhand Luther Pike always dreamed of being a lawman. His first assignment is to escort the infamous Nellie Dupray, a beautiful but shady woman convicted as a rustler, to the Capital City jail. His journey is lined with dangers that even the most hardened lawman would have trouble handling"--
Two western stories: 'Texas Flat' is the scene of an ill-fated cattle drive attempt to help small ranchers break the control of a large cattle rancher. 'Rinneger' finds Cole trying to fulfill his brother's dying wish to return the money Harvey stole from a bank while others try to stop him and keep the money for themselves.
Prolific author and Old West historian Ray Hogan has created a gripping tale of feuds and blood bonds in the dangerous, untamed territory of nineteenth-century New Mexico.
WESTERNS. Ray Hogan remains one of the masters of Western fiction. His stories are especially notable for their compelling characters united with a narrative style that is as intensely interesting as it is emotionally involving.Between Life and DeathRecently released from prison, Dade Lockett was serving time as an accessory to robbery. His partner in crime, Pete Dillard, was not captured. In fact, Dillard abandoned Lockett during the chase, taking all the money with him. While on his way to confront Dillard and settle the score, Lockett witnesses a raid on a ranch defended by a young woman, her younger brother, and an old man. The last thing Lockett wants is to be distracted from his purpose, but his fundamental sense of decency compels him to act. With the element of surprise on his side, he joins in the fray
Originally published: Thorndike, Maine: Center Point Large Print, 2016.
Five stories of the Old West. In Debt of honor, an old lawman is brought out of retirement to save a town. In Mountain man, a Spanish nobelwoman enlists a trapper to escort her to a convent, and the title story is on the life of a frontiersman.
Special U.S. Marshal John Rye, better known as the "Doomsday Marshal," was very good at what he did. His name was both feared and respected wherever he traveled. But for every decent citizen who would aid Rye in his task of bringing a killer to justice, there seemed to be an outlaw who would welcome the chance to shoot him in the back.