Ralph Compton: Showdown at Two-Bit Creek

Buck Fletcher #1

by Joseph A. West, Ralph Compton

A USA Today Bestselling Series Buck Fletcher headed for Montana's Two-Bit Creek in order to pay his respects at the grave of his parents. But what awaits him there may land him six feet under as well. Drawn into a range war that's brewing in the territory, Buck finds himself threatened by one side, courted by the other. The feuding ranchers don't realize that Buck's guns aren't for sale - but if anyone gives him trouble, he'll start shooting lead for free.

Genres: Westerns

399 pages, Hardcover

First published June 3, 2003

About the author

Joe West was born and raised in the seaside town of Saltcoats in Scotland. At 19 he became a police officer, but soon turned his love of writing into a career as a journalist, working for the Daily Mirror in London among others. In 1972 West was recruited as a reporter for the National Enquirer, and began working in the United States. Traveling the world in search of stories, West almost froze to death on an Alaska mountain, and a spider bite nearly killed him in the Amazon rainforest. 'I swelled up like a balloon and turned a real pretty violet color,' he recalls.

Now a full-time novelist, West and his wife Emily reside in sunny Lake Worth, Florida, where he enjoys tamer pursuits like canoeing the alligator-infested swamps of the Everglades. His daughter Alexandria attends a local college where she studies forensic technology. She will have absolutely nothing to do with canoes and alligators.

West researches the settings of his novels by exploring the terrain in person, usually with little more than a sleeping bag and a can of coffee.

Recently he and Emily celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary at the Lodge in Cloudcroft, New Mexico, a gift from the students at Rio Rancho High School who use West's first novel as a textbook. They then spent a month in the mountains and deserts of New Mexico, often pitching their tent where the air is thin at 9,000 feet above the flat.

Reviews

[F · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am currently reading a William W. Johnstone western. If comparing the two, I enjoyed this Joseph A. West book much more. I like the inclusion of history in this Ralph Compton western. Pinkerton Detective Agency was new to me. I found the western society's social status interesting -- bullwhackers were the bottom rung. Mule skinners were more respected. The author's usage of metaphors added to the appeal: "coffee strong enough to float a Colt pistol and black as sin" and "patient as a cat on a window-sill". I did question the mention of telephone exchanges "out west" a few times. The novel is 1876 and the telephone's patent was in 1876. Any western novel reader will probably enjoy this book.

[Al · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story follows Buck Fletcher, an infamous and lethal shootist who returns to his childhood roots in the Black Hills to pay respects at his parents' graves near Two-Bit Creek. His peaceful, reflective journey takes a sharp turn when he discovers an unconscious, bleeding woman hidden in the woods.

Fletcher quickly realizes he is a casualty of a brutal, brewing range war threatening the entire territory. As a powerful outsider with a deadly reputation, Buck is immediately caught in the middle of the escalating conflict. One side tries to court his services, while the rival faction attempts to threaten him into submission. However, both sides make a critical mistake: they assume Buck’s guns are for hire. Fiercely independent and guided by his own moral code, Buck refuses to sell out, making it clear that if anyone brings trouble to his doorstep, he will start shooting for free.

At its core, the novel explores classic Western themes:

* The Price of Home: Returning home forces Buck to confront the fact that his sanctuary has transformed into a lawless battlefield.
* Independence vs. Corruption: The feuding ranchers represent greed and the corruptive nature of territorial power, contrasted sharply by Buck’s unyielding independence.
* Justice on the Frontier: In a land devoid of institutional law, justice relies entirely on individual morality and the speed of a man's draw.

Showdown at Two-Bit Creek delivers everything a Western enthusiast looks for: grit, high-stakes tension, and a strong, unshakeable protagonist. The pacing remains brisk as the factions clash, building up to an explosive and deeply satisfying traditional Western climax. Buck Fletcher stands out as an excellent embodiment of the classic "lone gunman" archetype. For readers who enjoy vivid frontier imagery, complex territory rivalries, and raw action, this addition to the Ralph Compton universe is a thoroughly enjoyable, action-packed standout.

[Linzee G · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am never disappointed by a Ralph Compton western. This story was so delicately done. As always I loved unraveling the connections, but I especially loved the addition of mystery in this story. There are so many layers that are easily understood as they unfold, which I appreciate. I also loved how genuine emotions were written in this book. Ending the book with the honestly of Buck’s uncertainty about love and his apprehension to forming connections and establishing roots was a beautiful ode to our explorations as humans. I also really loved how he explored the changing times of the west and where the cowboy fits in, or doesn’t in the modernization of life. Although I didn’t find the characters to be as lovable as other Ralph Compton books, the characters were so diverse. Each “bad guy” wasn’t the same and each “good guy” had questionable wavering morals at times. Ralph Compton does not fall short in capturing the internal battles of being human and how our morals and values are pushed and tested in life.

[Josh Hitch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this well told western by the great Joseph West. Like he does in his fantastic Gunsmoke novels, he sprinkles in historical figures and events to give his stories more authenticity. In this novel, Buck Fletcher is a gun for hire on both sides of the law. Though he wants to put that life behind him, he is not given much of a choice when he ends up in the middle of a range war and a wounded woman that he saves. It's a fight he doesn't want but he is a hard man to kill and he plans to win.

Highly recommended, West is always a fun read

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent story with just enough twists to keep it interesting and unique. Good start to a series.

[JayP · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pretty average and predictable.

[John A. Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've enjoyed this author quite a bit in the past. I think I've read his entire trail drive series. this is the first of his other books I've read. It did not disappoint.

[Wendell Head · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ralph Compton just can't seem to escape his formula for a western. Same old hardened gunfighter who stumbles into a range war and goes up against the cocky gunfighter that the bad guy has hired. There's even the same beautiful young woman who has to be rescued but in the end shows her spunk as she stands by her man. I'd like to say he showed some creativity with one character getting amnesia, but who am I kidding? Seriously? Amnesia? Was the Young & Restless on when he pounded this one out? Come on Ralph! Do you even care about telling a good story any more? Or is it just about changing the names in the formula and collecting another pay cheque?

[Randy Grossman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the first Ralph Compton Western I read....very comparable to L'Amour, maybe just a little more violent descriptively then the latter. Also thought the main character was able to survive some pretty drastic events, when other succumbed to similar happenings. Regardless, overall a page turner.

[Tammy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I gave this book 3 stars. It’s been a while since I read a western, and this one was a solid, typical entry in the genre: a villain, a good guy, shady behavior, backstabbing, and of course, a gunfight. It was short, entertaining, and just the kind of western you need sometimes to break the routine.