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| A Bantam Book, Copyright 1961, Printing 1975 |
It’s the end of the Civil War and REECE SCARBROUGH arrives back in Texas to find his father is dead, their homestead in ruins and their land deed claimed by a COLONEL CUSHING. Cushing wears a confederate uniform and acts like he’s still a colonel. I was never really certain whether Cushing had been a real colonel or just put the uniform on to pretend he had been. At any rate, by sheer audacity and willpower in the form of some hardcase gunmen, he ends up being the biggest ranch owner in the Texas Panhandle and “the law”.
He’s even the “banker” and no one gets a loan to start a ranch except through the Colonel. And of course, Scarbrough needs a loan to finance a trail drive in order to save his ranch.
When Scarbrough visits a local woman to find out what happened to his father, the Colonel surrounds him and his new buddy DIRTY BILL with dozens of armed men. They shoot the house to pieces and are preparing to blow it up, when the army intervenes. The army’s Captain has no patience for the Colonel and forces a temporary truce. That doesn’t end things, of course. Not by a long shot.
Through the woman’s help, Scarbrough manages to find financial backing from a retired Mexican general and he attempts to put together his cattle drive. After he’s rounded up his cattle, the Colonel attempts a sabotage. There’s a desperate and dangerous fight amongst restless cattle and a lit dynamite fuse, and the sabotage fails.
After a long, arduous trail drive, Scarbrough’s ragtag group of cowboys make it to Abilene to sell their cattle only to be outwitted by Colonel Cushing. Through a dirty deal and a murder, he’s gotten ownership of the cattle! Naturally, Scarbrough and his cowboys do find a way to beat the Colonel. And the way Scarbrough’s cowboys band together and get the job done is touching.
Despite the gunplay and killings, this is a funny story. Most of the levity comes from the cowpoke named Dirty Bill. He’s sure a character. Full of tall tales and always insisting he’s not sticking around another day. He’s perpetually “leaving tomorrow” because he doesn’t want to end up on the wrong end of the stick when the Colonel comes after Scarbrough.
"I'll help you this once," said Dirty. I must be crazy working for nothing for an idiot but I am so sorry for you, I'll just go along. You need to be pampered else you'll likely do something crazy and get yourself hurt."
Not to mention that Dirty Bill’s not high on the Colonel’s friend list himself. Dirty Bill started out on Colonel Cushing’s payroll, challenging Scarbrough to a fight just for the sport of it. Scarbrough beat him and managed to get a pistol in Colonel Cushing’s back. Blaming Dirty Bill for the incident, Cushing fires him. And of course, Dirty Bill feels it’s a pretty good idea to leave the country as soon as possible. However, Scarborough takes a liking to Dirty Bill so he hires him. And Dirty Bill, despite his many protests, takes a liking to Scarbrough.
There’s really no love interest in this story despite the help Scarbrough receives from the woman. In addition to bringing the retired Mexican general and Scarbrough together, she also rode out to warn him of the attempted sabotage. Although there’s a suggestion of possible romance, nothing ever develops.
The rapport between Dirty Bill and Scarbrough is the real entertainment. Scarbrough’s following comment about Dirty Bill is typical of the sparring between the two: “Your maw? I never thought you were borned of woman. More likely a shaggy old buffalo whelped you.”
I was a bit disappointed that the retired Mexican general didn't play a larger role in the story. He was shaping up to be an interesting player in the shenanigans. And the romance I was expecting to bud, didn't really even start to spark. Overall though, the book is a fun read. And Dirty Bill being my favorite character.
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| Back Cover |
Cigarettes lit up 7
Cigars lit up 3
Gunplay 3
Fightfights 3
Sabotage 1
Dirty Dealings 1
FAVORITE LINES:
“If your boys don’t take off their guns in three seconds, you’re going to require a new head.”
“It isn’t every day a man can twist the tiger’s tail while somebody else steals its teeth.”
“I don’t look for trouble, it comes with the country.”
“The runts in Texas are as tough as the prime in Kansas.”
“He’s the most ornery, tomfool maverick.”
“Doesn’t cost much here to kill a man.” (speaking of Abilene KS)
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