Review: Old West Fun...
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 08 24, 2011
The three men who write the Rancho Diablo books are steadily building a fine series. Mel Odom adds this fourth title to the set(the first as well).Sam Blaylock, his family, and the men who work for him, as much family as employees, had steadily been building Rancho Diablo into something precious. The sulfur smell that gave it it's name had been dealt with, the saw mill built and making money, and the beginnings of a cattle ranch were in place. It had not been done without making enemies.Mike Tucker, a very young man, was one of the hands and he was still learning the ranching business. What he was good at were the guns at his waist, Sam's wife, Jenny, was always uneasy around Tucker. The cold eyes, the distance, and the fear of her children trying to emulate him, kept her worried at his presence.Things come to a head when Sam and the boys were away to buy a bull. Circumstances force Jennie and Tucker into a partnership for rescue and she learns things about the young man in the process, things even Sam doesn't know.What I like about the RANCHO DIABLO books is their brevity and easy style. I breezed through this one this morning while eating breakfast and drinking coffee. Oh, must forget to mwention Keith Birdsong's excellent cover art.I'm ready for more.