Pecos Crossing

by Elmer Kelton

Johnny Fristo and Speck Quitman, young, hard-working cowboys from Fort Concho, Texas, have worked six months--at $20 a month--on the Devil's River. Their boss, a hawk-faced cow trader named Larramore, reneges on the money he owes the boys and sneaks out of the cow camp and heads for San Angelo.Fristo is tall and thin, his mind a hundred miles away; Quitman is short, bandy-legged, and "bedazzled by the flash of cards and the slosh of whiskey." The two are as different as sun and moon but are inseparable—and now they have a find Larramore and extract the money he owes them.At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

Genres: Westerns, Action, Fiction

229 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1963

About the author

Elmer Kelton (1926-2009) was award-winning author of more than forty novels, including The Time It Never Rained, Other Men’s Horses, Texas Standoff and Hard Trail to Follow. He grew up on a ranch near Crane, Texas, and earned a journalism degree from the University of Texas. His first novel, Hot Iron, was published in 1956. Among his awards have been seven Spurs from Western Writers of America and four Western Heritage awards from the National Cowboy Hall of Fame. His novel The Good Old Boys was made into a television film starring Tommy Lee Jones. In addition to his novels, Kelton worked as an agricultural journalist for 42 years. He served in the infantry in World War II. He died in 2009.

http://us.macmillan.com/author/elmerk...

Reviews

[John of Canada · Rating 4 out of 5]

Where has Elmer Kenton been all this time? I enjoy westerns and this was a really good one. Kenton has written a jillion books and I want to read every one.

[Ed · Rating 4 out of 5]

Western. This 1963 novel by author Elmer Kelton is a classic western tale of seeking justice through tracking the malefactors - with a twist. The new bride of former Texas Ranger Milam Haggard is accidently killed in an altercation between shifty cow trader Larramore and cowboy partners Johnny Fristo and Speck Quitman. Larramore pulled the trigger but blames the two cowboys. Haggard takes his word for it and promises the boys that he'll track them down and kill them after he buries his wife. An epic trail of vengeance leads to a fitting conclusion. Haggard's encounter with Larramore is the one false note in this fine tale.

Johnny Fristo and Speck Quitman, young, hard-working cowboys from Fort Concho, Texas, have worked six months--at $20 a month--on the Devil’s River. Their boss, a hawk-faced cow trader named Larramore, reneges on the money he owes the boys and sneaks out of the cow camp and heads for San Angelo. Fristo is tall and thin, his mind a hundred miles away; Quitman is short, bandy-legged, and "bedazzled by the flash of cards and the slosh of whiskey." The two are as different as sun and moon but are inseparable—and now they have a mission: find Larramore and extract the money he owes them.

[Abram Cordell · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

“The wicked flee when none pursueth.”

This is a beautiful proverb - and also the title card to one of my favorite westerns, the 2010 remake of True Grit. I think you could say it is a theme of this stellar Elmer Kelton novel, which I highly recommend.

This short, snappy book is the anti-revenge story. Where we as humans love to see the Count of Monte Cristo check of his revenge list, or the latest action movie mow down all the villains that killed his wife/dog, I find it to be the worst kind of wish fulfillment. If we had that opportunity to get revenge on all the people who did us wrong, we would find it would be hollow and we’d feel worse. Most of the people who wrong us don’t even know what they’ve done. That’s probably why the media is popular, because you can get revenge vicariously, without the consequences.

But I find the stories like Les Miserables and Keltons present tale so uplifting. The main characters did make mistakes, and they saw the impact it had on the lives of those involved. Others try and get revenge and see how hollow this quest is. When those characters stop fleeing, they gain redemption.

Kelton is a great storyteller. I love his books, and while they may never be masterpieces I always look forward to the entertainment they provide and the settings they evoke.

[Mayda Shorney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this well-written story with an interesting plot, likable and life-like characters, and locations integral to the story. I do not remember reading a book by Elmer Kelton before, but he is definitely a part of my future reading list.

[Clara Roberts · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book in a subline way deals with an out of wedlock birth and the stigma it carried in the 19th century. There is plenty of action in this book to hold your attention.

[DocHolidavid · Rating 3 out of 5]

I good Ol'time western story. Not one of blazing guns, rather the regret of guns and mistakes.

It's a good read.

[Backoff51 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another interesting tale from Elmer Kelton.

Deserving of your time and attention.

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a good one.

[Michael Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read! Another banger by Elmer Kelton.

[J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to say that I have learned more about ranching, western horses and Texas history than ever before (or should I say afore) Elmer Kelton's books are certainly on the top of the list of all the books I have read so far this summer in my self introduction to American Western literature. In many ways he is the Stephen King of the genre with his complex character development and natural situations. This short story, Peco's Crossing in no exception.

The narrative in mainly concerned with Johnny Fristo a young cowboy just beginning to make his way into adulthood. His life long friend Speck Quitman, who is rash and not all too smart, carries a chip on his shoulder for a family secret that he believes makes him less than others. They take a job watching some cattle for a man named Larramore who reneges on their wages. When Johnny and Speck confront him by overcoming a stage to Angelo where he is a passenger an unfortunate event sets the two cowboys running for their lives.

An ex Texas Ranger Milam Haggard becomes the second main character as he begins the hunt for the two cowboys and his own brand of justice. Haggard is a very complex character, and whereas he could have been just the driving force that causes the cowboys to make their journey, Kelton takes great care in developing one of the most memorable characters in American Western literature.

[Jeff Tankersley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Johnny and Speck are young cowboys who just finished a six-month range job and are in town to receive their pay from the ranch boss Larramore but the swindling boss accuses them of theft and has them put in jail overnight before skipping town. They have an incident early in this tale while tracking down Larramore that in turn sets them on the run from a former Texas Ranger.

Verdict: An early Kelton pocket western, "Pecos Crossing" (1963) reads like a L'Amour-influenced character, justice and morality tale. A fun western.

EDIT: BEWARE: If you already have read a Kelton western called "Horsehead Crossing" you can skip "Pecos Crossing." They are the same book, published under different names and publishers at different times, but it is the same story in both. I found out the hard way...

Jeff's Rating: 3 / 5 (Good)
movie rating if made into a movie: PG

[Jeff · Rating 3 out of 5]

Also published as Horseheads Crossing (1963)

This is an Elmer Kelton western that once again rises above its genre. Two young cowboys confront a rancher who owes them six months pay; the man draws and accidentally shoots and kills the bride of a famous lawman, who vows that all concerned will die. This has a powerful ending that I didn’t see coming, and the usual strong, sympathetic Texan characters.

[Jeff Dickison · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very good western, just short of being a classic. Two young cowboys are cheated out of a winter's wages and go after the scoundrel that gyped them. When they confront him there is an accidental shooting of a lawman's new wife and he dogs their trail. Kelton is one our best western writers, if not the best. Highly recommended.