Hit Leather and Ride
Peter Dawson presents another in a long line of hard hitting, fast action westerns which he was known for. This one published in 1949 contains all of the elements associated with the tradtional western--flashing guns, double dealings, long running feuds, even bad blood among so-called friends. When Fred Vance returns to Lodgepole after an eight year absence, it is only to wind up some long neglected affairs, but when a man is killed on that first night back he is accused of the murder and he must flee to the hills for his life. The Senator, Jim Kirby, a rancher turned politician has been at odds with the Vance family for years intends to secure the Vance ranch, from Milt Hurd, Fred's stepfather, who is as weak as water and just as unstable. The character list goes on with the usual suspects including Lola Demmler, Tom Demmler's sister, whose qualities as a human are not as sterling as they appear at first glance. This edition also has one of the famous Dell maps on the back locating for the reader all of the main locations the story happens. All in all an excellent book.
