At the EJ Ranch in Wyoming, Lin Bryce has found good honest work for himself and his temperamental brother, Chancy. A widow with two young children has a herd of cattle that needs tending, and Lin believes it's Chancy's and his best opportunity to put their tragic past behind them and start anew. But the widow and her property are coveted by a cattle baron determined to take over every spread in the territory. And as the Bryce brothers find themselves in the crosshairs of a looming range war, a trio of merciless bounty hunters arrive to collect the prices on their heads.

There is much to recommend this book for, not least the wonderful storytelling style of David Robbins: the cliff-hanger scene endings that keep you reading, particularly after he's separated Lin and Chancy. Of course there's moments of humour, mostly in the form of the spoken word, and there's the action scenes superbly described in all their savage brutality. And there are the strong women who aren't all there for love interest.

For me the most interesting storyline was that of Lin's personal battle to not wear his gun, to try not to have to use it, although deep down he - and the reader - know he will have to eventually, this struggle contrasting well with Chancy's belief in his ability with a gun and willingness to use it.

All the threads of the plot come to a satisfying end so there's nothing more to say other than to recommend this book to all western fans.

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