Gunlock

by Wayne D. Overholser

Joe Pardee was hardheaded, trigger-quick, and the closest thing to a father Will Beeson ever had. When Joe was gunned down defending the Box P Ranch against land-hungry settlers, Will stepped in and tried to fill Joe's shoes. But Will hadn't bargained with the women in Joe's life. Sarah, Joe's widow, had lost the use of her legs in a riding accident, but she was ready to take back control of her life, starting with making Will the new foreman of the Box P. But with his dying breath, Joe had asked Will to take care of Kathy Morgan, the woman Joe had turned to after Sarah's accident. And Will hadn't reckoned on the greenhorns who rode into his valley looking to set up fenes and put down roots. Pardee had given his life fighting for open range. Now Will had to use his head to make peace -- or he could follow in Joe's footsteps, pick up his guns, and risk going down in a deadly hail of lead.

Genres: Westerns

270 pages, Library Binding

First published July 1, 1992

About the author

Wayne D. Overholser (born September 4, 1906 in Pomeroy, Washington; died August 27, 1996 in Boulder, Colorado) was an American Western writer.

Overholser won the 1953 First Spur Award for best novel for Lawman using the pseudonym Lee Leighton. In 1955 he won the 1954 (second) Spur Award for The Violent Land. He also used the pseudonyms John S. Daniels, Dan J. Stevens and Joseph Wayne.

Reviews

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

just ok, nothing special

[David Welch · Rating 5 out of 5]

A solidly done western, blended with a coming-of-age story. The tale revolves around a ranch run by a strongman who dies early on, leaving his wife and young cow-puncher (the main character) to try and hold things together. Things get complicated quickly, with quasi-utopian homesteaders moving in, another ranch hand becoming increasingly dangerous and deadly, and secrets of the ranch bubbling to the surface. A lot of character drama, decent amounts of action. A fun read all around.

[Larry Holshu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well written. Good to the end. If you like a good western then this one is for you.