Fire in the Valley

First the slaughter of helpless animals, then the slaughter of men -- step by step the range war built toward its bloody climax. The older settlers -- Carl Burnine, the Pilchers, the McAllisters -- were determined to defend their huge land claims, no matter what the law might say, and the newcomers, led by Brent Lavington, meant to take a share, no matter who might die.

Whitlock was caught in the middle. He had friends in one camp and family in the other, and was suspected by both -- threatened, beaten, shot at. Maybe he would have been smart to clear out, like his older brothers had done. But he had his own spread to defend, and he had taken a vow: "Somebody will have to kill me before I give up one inch of Deer Valley!" More than one range warrior was ready to accommodate him -- but Whitlock made it hard...