Perilous Frontier: A Quartet of Crime in the Old West
- 449 pages
- 16 hours of reading
In "Double Deceit," a man named Dunbar arrives in Temple Basin to assist an old rancher recovering from a broken leg. The rancher's granddaughter narrates the unfolding events as a murder and a disappearance reveal Dunbar's true mission: to track down a killer and deliver justice. In "Scarecrows," Tommy Stallings learns of trouble befalling his aunt and uncle in Texas. Along with his cousin Rusty, they travel from the New Mexico Territory to confront cattle rustlers who terrorize local ranchers. His Aunt Martha describes the rustlers as "scarecrows," due to the canvas bags they wear to conceal their identities. Teaming up with Bill Slaughter, an agent for the Stock-Raisers Association, they investigate the wave of crime. "Cold the Bitter Heart" explores the complexities of familial relationships, particularly through Catherine Baxter, who may be masking her true self behind a facade of innocence. Jake Summers, the investigator, must navigate a web of suspects, questioning whether he truly knows the truth. Lastly, in "Wind in His Face," Scrap Elliot, a veteran Texas Ranger, is on a vital courier mission when he unexpectedly encounters an old flame in Waco. After her husband dies suddenly, she vanishes, prompting Scrap to embark on a quest to find her and clear his name of any wrongdoing.