Three-Legged Horse

by Russ Hall

"Heading into the Wild West seems an adventure to fifteen-year-old Justin Bodean, until the bullets and arrows begin to fly. Life or death often hangs by a ragged thread, as he soon comes to realize, and he must find if he has the grit to survive and the courage to think of others. The lure of a treasure of Civil War gold drives him, and he has a map. But he's not alone in wanting the hidden stash. Others--some who seem to be friends and some who are clearly not--want the same thing. Out here, where fortunes can be grabbed by the strongest and quickest, he has a lot to learn. And he's going to have to learn fast if he wants to be sixteen"--Dust jacket flap.

Genres: Westerns

201 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 15, 2015

About the author

Russ Hall is author of more than thirty-five books and coauthor of numerous other books. He has been an editor for major publishing companies, ranging from Harper & Row (now HarperCollins), Simon & Schuster, to Pearson. In 2011, he was awarded the Sage Award, by The Barbara Burnett Smith Mentoring Authors Foundation—a Texas award for the mentoring author who demonstrates an outstanding spirit of service in mentoring, sharing and leading others in the mystery writing community. He lives in Lago Vista, on the north shore of Lake Travis near Austin, where he hikes, fishes, and tends a herd of deer that visit daily to peep in the office window and help with the writing.

Reviews

[Mary Ann Stankovsky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story

Haven't read a western in a long time. It's good to be reminded of how tough it was to make it.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

This coming of age and responsibility tale has many qualities of well loved classic western novels.
One of the main characters is, in fact, a best selling author of dime Western stories, although before now, Francis had never ventured into the wild west.

The story begins with a vicious stage coach robbery, resulting in the loss of Justin's father and anything of value the coach was carrying. This was supposed to be a fresh start for the Bodeans. Now 15 year old Justin finds himself alone, penniless and without a plan.

Full of cowboys, secretive and not loyal or true blue, Texas Rangers who are dedicated while ambitious, a hearty, headstrong female homesteader, prepared to do whatever it takes, and Indians who are more clever and cunning than anyone gives them credit for. Not to mention two power and money hungry families trying to take over the entire territory, and destroy each other.

Written with wry humor in exciting and gritty language, this dangerous adventure includes a treasure hunt, characters who are not what they seem, even potential romance. Who will survive?
A wonderful suspense filled tale for readers new to the Western genre as well as fans of the noir.

I did receive a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Bob Ruedemann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read I could not put it down till I finished it