The Hostile Land Author:Wayne C. Lee The Tree Ranch was threatening to buy out as many neighboring homesteaders as it could, until it controlled the whole range. The shirt-tail ranchers who had no access to water would be unable to hold out; and once they were gone, it would be only a matter of time before those few on the creek would have to give up their holdings, too. So, sinc... more »e in order for any of them to survive they all had to band together, they decided to form an organization under the leadership of Web Blaine. Web had't worn a gun in four years, but he strapped one on now. At the same time, he prayed he would not have to use it. For the owner of Tree, the man whose home he had fled four years back and the one with whom he was most likely to have a showdown, was his father, Eli Blaine.« less