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Trailing West
In "Trap of Gold," a man named Wetherton finally finds gold. The problem is that the vein is laced into an unstable piece of granite, and removing it could cause an avalanche. Tack Gentry has been away a year. When he returns to his uncle's ranch, he's told his uncle was killed in a gunfight and that he should "Keep Travelin, ' Rider." But Tack's uncle was a Quaker and didn't own a gun . . . In "Dutchman's Flat," a six-man posse goes after a squatter who murdered a man. But as the posse goes deep into the desert, they realize that this squatter knows the terrain a lot better than they do. Lance Kilkenny is known as the fastest gun in the West. In "Rider of Lost Creek," he's called on to help a man who once saved his life. How can he refuse?
275 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2008
864 people are currently reading
449 people want to read
About the author
Louis L'Amour
999 books3,440 followersLouis Dearborn L'Amour was an American novelist and short story writer. His books consisted primarily of Western novels, though he called his work "frontier stories". His most widely known Western fiction works include Last of the Breed, Hondo, Shalako, and the Sackett series. L'Amour also wrote historical fiction (The Walking Drum), science fiction (The Haunted Mesa), non-fiction (Frontier), and poetry and short-story collections. Many of his stories were made into films. His books remain popular and most have gone through multiple printings. At the time of his death, almost all of his 105 existing works (89 novels, 14 short-story collections, and two full-length works of nonfiction) were still in print, and he was "one of the world's most popular writers".
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
February 11, 2021
A great anthology of westerns old and new, the midpoint being Louis Lamour. Introduced me to a new writer that I really like. The old stories are great, as they should have been.
Recommended for the western fan.
Recommended for the western fan.
Read
November 7, 2025Collected here are six stories.
Trap of Gold
Wetherton has been three months out of town when he finds his first color in a crumbling upthrust granite wall with a vein of quartz that is literally laced with gold. The problem is that the rocks are unstable, and taking out the quartz might bring the whole thing tumbling down.
This was a suspenseful tale with the external struggle of man vs. nature to see if Wetherington could get out the gold before the wall came down on him. Also, an internal struggle of contentment vs. greed to see if Wetherington can take just enough without becoming mesmerized by the gold and losing his life. I felt like I was right there struggling with him.
Keep Travelin', Rider
Tack Gentry has been away for a year when he returns to the familiar buildings of his uncle John Gentry's G Bar ranch. Now the ranch has a new owner, who tells Tack to make tracks. But Tack has other plans.
A wild, fun-loving boy left on his first cattle drive and a mature, experienced man returns to find out a new, rough outfit has moved in, shoved good people off their land, and killed in the process including Tack's Quaker uncle. They don't know what they unleashed when they discounted him as just one and a simple cowpoke, at that. My kind of western story including a couple good surprise twists.
Dutchman's Flat
A six-man posse heads into the desert after a squatter named Lock who shot a man in the back. Once they catch him, there won't be any trial. But Lock knows the desert better than they do and can pick them off one by one.
Told from the point of view of the youngest rider in the posse and newest man in town who is a little more objective than the rest. Slowly as the chase carries on hours and hours beyond what they all expected and the trailing of this experienced man shows them not just Lock's skill, but his way of thinking along with evidence of his character, the posse grows uneasy about their assumptions regarding Johnny's death. Liked seeing a survival story wrapped up in a chase tail and clever how the central figure is revealed through indirect observations.
Big Medicine
Old Billy Dunbar has discovered the best gold-bearing gravel that he's found in a year, but now he is lying face down in a ravine, hiding from Apaches. He is going to need a good strategy to get out of this one alive.
Billy has a widowed daughter and grandchild getting ready to lose their ranch to the bank so he has to go to a very dangerous spot because its in Apache country and somehow mine enough gold from this hidden spot he knows and get back alive. Easier said than done once the Apache's pick up his trail, but Old Billy is clever about the noble Apache and has a few tricks up his sleeve. A combination of cunning, survival, and a fun-unforeseen bit of cleverness in this one-character piece.
Trail to Pie Town
Dusty Barron shot a man who had relatives in the area, and now it looks like he is going to be facing a clan war.
This one starts with Dusty on the run out in an alkali desert where he finds a stranded wagon and a tough story for the occupants. He sets aside his own troubles to take there's on and finds himself bucking a tough, bad outfit. Traditional lone cowhand against a gang of villains for the win.
McQueen of the Tumbling K
Ward McQueen, foreman for the Tumbling K Ranch, rides into town and is shot down by gunmen and left for dead. But they made a critical mistake because McQueen is not dead-and he is looking to get even.
Another that pits a man up against a stacked deck of bad 'uns. Ward and his good ranch hands including savvy Kid Sartain stand between a greedy, slick man and his gang and don't realize it until its almost too late when everything happens fast and ruthless. Even his love interest seems to go against him buys into a bad guy's charms. I loved seeing Ward get knocked down hard and get up to fight alongside some others.
Narrated by the talented William Dufris, Trailing West was a fantastic collection of golden nugget stories. Not a dud in the batch. I am always in awe of just how Louis L'Amour can build a world, a character, and a story in a minimum of words.
Trap of Gold
Wetherton has been three months out of town when he finds his first color in a crumbling upthrust granite wall with a vein of quartz that is literally laced with gold. The problem is that the rocks are unstable, and taking out the quartz might bring the whole thing tumbling down.
This was a suspenseful tale with the external struggle of man vs. nature to see if Wetherington could get out the gold before the wall came down on him. Also, an internal struggle of contentment vs. greed to see if Wetherington can take just enough without becoming mesmerized by the gold and losing his life. I felt like I was right there struggling with him.
Keep Travelin', Rider
Tack Gentry has been away for a year when he returns to the familiar buildings of his uncle John Gentry's G Bar ranch. Now the ranch has a new owner, who tells Tack to make tracks. But Tack has other plans.
A wild, fun-loving boy left on his first cattle drive and a mature, experienced man returns to find out a new, rough outfit has moved in, shoved good people off their land, and killed in the process including Tack's Quaker uncle. They don't know what they unleashed when they discounted him as just one and a simple cowpoke, at that. My kind of western story including a couple good surprise twists.
Dutchman's Flat
A six-man posse heads into the desert after a squatter named Lock who shot a man in the back. Once they catch him, there won't be any trial. But Lock knows the desert better than they do and can pick them off one by one.
Told from the point of view of the youngest rider in the posse and newest man in town who is a little more objective than the rest. Slowly as the chase carries on hours and hours beyond what they all expected and the trailing of this experienced man shows them not just Lock's skill, but his way of thinking along with evidence of his character, the posse grows uneasy about their assumptions regarding Johnny's death. Liked seeing a survival story wrapped up in a chase tail and clever how the central figure is revealed through indirect observations.
Big Medicine
Old Billy Dunbar has discovered the best gold-bearing gravel that he's found in a year, but now he is lying face down in a ravine, hiding from Apaches. He is going to need a good strategy to get out of this one alive.
Billy has a widowed daughter and grandchild getting ready to lose their ranch to the bank so he has to go to a very dangerous spot because its in Apache country and somehow mine enough gold from this hidden spot he knows and get back alive. Easier said than done once the Apache's pick up his trail, but Old Billy is clever about the noble Apache and has a few tricks up his sleeve. A combination of cunning, survival, and a fun-unforeseen bit of cleverness in this one-character piece.
Trail to Pie Town
Dusty Barron shot a man who had relatives in the area, and now it looks like he is going to be facing a clan war.
This one starts with Dusty on the run out in an alkali desert where he finds a stranded wagon and a tough story for the occupants. He sets aside his own troubles to take there's on and finds himself bucking a tough, bad outfit. Traditional lone cowhand against a gang of villains for the win.
McQueen of the Tumbling K
Ward McQueen, foreman for the Tumbling K Ranch, rides into town and is shot down by gunmen and left for dead. But they made a critical mistake because McQueen is not dead-and he is looking to get even.
Another that pits a man up against a stacked deck of bad 'uns. Ward and his good ranch hands including savvy Kid Sartain stand between a greedy, slick man and his gang and don't realize it until its almost too late when everything happens fast and ruthless. Even his love interest seems to go against him buys into a bad guy's charms. I loved seeing Ward get knocked down hard and get up to fight alongside some others.
Narrated by the talented William Dufris, Trailing West was a fantastic collection of golden nugget stories. Not a dud in the batch. I am always in awe of just how Louis L'Amour can build a world, a character, and a story in a minimum of words.
August 15, 2025
Some good old time western yarns, with lantern jawed heroes, and damsels in distress.
I noticed that when “bad guys“ would get shot they would rise up on the tips of their toes in agony and clutch at their chests. It made me think that maybe L’Amour was copying what he had seen in films as a kid. I've read at least four of his books where the baddies do that.
He also has his later heroes set the precedent for John Wick and the Punisher insofar as far as taking hits, bullets, and cracks over the head with hard objects. They take a licking and keep on kicking.
I noticed that when “bad guys“ would get shot they would rise up on the tips of their toes in agony and clutch at their chests. It made me think that maybe L’Amour was copying what he had seen in films as a kid. I've read at least four of his books where the baddies do that.
He also has his later heroes set the precedent for John Wick and the Punisher insofar as far as taking hits, bullets, and cracks over the head with hard objects. They take a licking and keep on kicking.
May 8, 2016
I read the first 3 stories in this book, but just the first couple chapters of the final, really long story. The first two were really good, but by the third I'd started to lose interest. If you like this author this is a good break from the longer works.
September 11, 2015
I love Louis L'Amour's short stories. They're run, easy to read, and relaxing. These are a few of some of his best.
April 12, 2015
I like Louis L'Amour westerns. He is a great storyteller.
April 21, 2021
This is my first exposure to Louis L'Amour. It is a solid collection of stories that embody the the strengths of classic Westerns.
In "Trap of Gold" a man named Wetherton finally finds gold. The problem is that the vein is laced into an unstable piece of granite and removing it could cause an avalanche. Tack Gentry has been away a year. When he returns to his uncle's ranch he's told his uncle was killed in a gunfight and that he should "Keep Travelin Rider." But Tack's uncle was a Quaker and didn't own a gun.
In "Dutchman's Flat" a six-man posse goes after a squatter who murdered a man. But as the posse goes deep into the desert they realize that this squatter knows the terrain a lot better than they do. Lance Kilkenny is known as the fastest gun in the West. In "Rider of Lost Creek" he's called on to help a man who once saved his life. How can he refuse?
In book form for the first time four of Louis 'Amour's finest Western stories. The texts have been restored to the manner in which they first appeared in their magazine publications.
In "Trap of Gold" a man named Wetherton finally finds gold. The problem is that the vein is laced into an unstable piece of granite and removing it could cause an avalanche. Tack Gentry has been away a year. When he returns to his uncle's ranch he's told his uncle was killed in a gunfight and that he should "Keep Travelin Rider." But Tack's uncle was a Quaker and didn't own a gun.
In "Dutchman's Flat" a six-man posse goes after a squatter who murdered a man. But as the posse goes deep into the desert they realize that this squatter knows the terrain a lot better than they do. Lance Kilkenny is known as the fastest gun in the West. In "Rider of Lost Creek" he's called on to help a man who once saved his life. How can he refuse?
In book form for the first time four of Louis 'Amour's finest Western stories. The texts have been restored to the manner in which they first appeared in their magazine publications.
January 17, 2022
Trap of Gold (prior review posted)
Keep Travelin', Rider – A likable tale of a young man returning home after being away a year, ignoring the proverb “you can’t go home again”.
Dutchman's Flat – A thoughtful tale of a man accused of murder, trying to convince the men hunting him of his innocence.
Big Medicine – Old prospector Billy Dunbar shares a fascinating tale about the time he was surrounded by Apaches.
Trail to Pie Town (prior review posted)
McQueen of the Tumbling K – A fine morals tale, enforcing the folly of “Left for Dead”.
Keep Travelin', Rider – A likable tale of a young man returning home after being away a year, ignoring the proverb “you can’t go home again”.
Dutchman's Flat – A thoughtful tale of a man accused of murder, trying to convince the men hunting him of his innocence.
Big Medicine – Old prospector Billy Dunbar shares a fascinating tale about the time he was surrounded by Apaches.
Trail to Pie Town (prior review posted)
McQueen of the Tumbling K – A fine morals tale, enforcing the folly of “Left for Dead”.
July 2, 2019
Trailin' West is a collection of short stories, though two are probably better classified as novellas. It was a mixed bag of a collection. Two of the stories did not even fit into what I think of as Westerns. The short by Louis L'Amour was very good. I was a bit disappointed by the Zane Gray short. So, I guess I can't complain about a free read, but I'm glad I didn't pay for it.
May 15, 2017
Okay for short stories.
I read for pleasure and relaxation, not to write reviews. I feel the star rating system should be sufficient for most readers and that reviews should be left to recognized critics.
I read for pleasure and relaxation, not to write reviews. I feel the star rating system should be sufficient for most readers and that reviews should be left to recognized critics.
June 13, 2018
Good reading
Don't do a lot of cowboys (stories) but I really enjoyed this bunch!!!!! The stories were well written and held my interest to the end. Always liked Louis L'Amour, but hadn't read these.
Don't do a lot of cowboys (stories) but I really enjoyed this bunch!!!!! The stories were well written and held my interest to the end. Always liked Louis L'Amour, but hadn't read these.
August 27, 2018
Coyer Summer Bash
I picked this because I needed western romance for a challenge . Some of the great masters of western fiction are in this book and I enjoyed 3 of the stories in here a lot. The romance is subtle yet present and the action is really good
I picked this because I needed western romance for a challenge . Some of the great masters of western fiction are in this book and I enjoyed 3 of the stories in here a lot. The romance is subtle yet present and the action is really good
May 21, 2020
There are four good stories in this book. All of which I have read before in other collections. The last one, "Trail to Crazy Man" is a novella. I enjoyed the stories, but as I stated, I have read all of them before. The first story, "Trap of Gold", I read in two other locations.
September 21, 2020
Classic western tails. Thank you Audible for the free version of this story. It was like taking a step back in time, both for the stories and the writing style which you could tell wasn't written anytime during the past few decades, which to me is what a good western ought to feel like.
January 20, 2018
Sample shorts
About the time you get the feel of the story it has ended. Wish they were full length versions for sure.
About the time you get the feel of the story it has ended. Wish they were full length versions for sure.
July 6, 2018
A few in read previously
All but one of the authors I have read previously. Enjoyed the shorts I hadn't seen before reading here in this collection
All but one of the authors I have read previously. Enjoyed the shorts I hadn't seen before reading here in this collection
August 15, 2018
Short compendium
If you are looking for a quick read then you cant go wrong with these authors!
Nothing beats a good western.
If you are looking for a quick read then you cant go wrong with these authors!
Nothing beats a good western.
September 24, 2018
Good t reading
Good writer,the best western writer ever to put a pen too paper. I will read every one of his books if i can find them.
Good writer,the best western writer ever to put a pen too paper. I will read every one of his books if i can find them.
February 18, 2019
Too few stories, too many samples(partial stories). Not good.
May 10, 2019
Great stories!
IF you like westerns as much as I do, you'll enjoy all the taies in this set! Just set back and enjoy.
IF you like westerns as much as I do, you'll enjoy all the taies in this set! Just set back and enjoy.
November 5, 2020
Great
Good read would like to know what happened with the ranch and ra what happened to Barlowf very interesting well recommend to other readets
Good read would like to know what happened with the ranch and ra what happened to Barlowf very interesting well recommend to other readets
March 14, 2022
Look, you’re not picking this up because you want novelty or originality. You want cowboys, gunfights, and maybe a little racism or sexism.
April 12, 2023
Hyggelige noveller om det vilde vesten. Det er - naturligvis - historier om cowboys, indianere, farmere og guldgravere.
March 18, 2025
Several short stories of uneven quality.
February 16, 2015
Another annual posthumous collection of author L'Amour's short fiction. In this case the novella and 3 short stories have all been previously collected between 1975 and 1991.
Short Stories - Trap of Gold (1951) included in War Party (1975); Keep Travelin', Rider (1948) as Jim Mayo included in Dutchman's Flat (1986); Dutchman's Flat (1948) included in Dutchman's Flat (1986); and the novella The Trail to Crazy Man (1948) as Jim Mayo included in The Trail to Crazy Man (1991) later expanded to the novel Crossfire Trail (1953)
Short Stories - Trap of Gold (1951) included in War Party (1975); Keep Travelin', Rider (1948) as Jim Mayo included in Dutchman's Flat (1986); Dutchman's Flat (1948) included in Dutchman's Flat (1986); and the novella The Trail to Crazy Man (1948) as Jim Mayo included in The Trail to Crazy Man (1991) later expanded to the novel Crossfire Trail (1953)
June 16, 2016
I like Westerns but I'm not a fan of short stories. The brevity of these stories left little or no room for character development. Thus, the stories didn't hang together well. Plus the language while not vulgar, was in my opinion. Hard to follow. Thus the low rating.
June 17, 2016
I liked this collection of short stories. The westerns include tales from authors such as Zane Grey and Louis L'Amour. For those of you who like a good mix of westerns written in many styles, this book's for you. I got mine at Amazon for free.
December 11, 2011
Excellent stories.
October 14, 2016
Some Decent Shore Westerns
Told by some of the best story tellers that have lived. Short reading time for each story. Don't expect a lot.
Told by some of the best story tellers that have lived. Short reading time for each story. Don't expect a lot.
Read
October 18, 2016Good book to get your feet wet with the cowboy genre. Would read any of these authors more broadly.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews