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Pan Handle Smith Trilogy #2
The Trail Driver: A Western Story
From the best-selling novelist of the American West, comes a novel of romance, danger, and life along the trail.
After his first successful venture of moving 2,500 cattle along the infamous Chisholm Trail, Adam Brite couldn’t resist the allure of a second drive. To prepare for his greatest and most dangerous prospect yet, Brite begins purchasing cattle at every possible opportunity he gets and searching for an able crew to aid him in the arduous journey from San Antonio to Dodge City. He recruits a diverse cast of characters all left penniless after the Civil Trail boss and veteran driver Joe Shipman; Alabama Moze, the cook; Hal Bender, a friendly brute; The Uvalde quintet, a strapping group all under the age of twenty; and Pan Handle Smith, a striking Texas outlaw who never sleeps.
As they begin their journey north, Brite looks over the vast western landscape and his men attempting to herd the thousands of cattle from afar. In spite of the awe-inspiring scene, he grows fearful that Indians or inclement weather may make the excursion too dangerous with such a limited amount of drivers. As Brite begins to doubt the operation, a mysterious, young drifter named Reddie Bayne rides into their camp, and Brite offers him a job. Shortly afterwards, two unwanted guests arrive at the camp searching for the boy, and Brite quickly realizes that Bayne is not what he seems.
In this classic western tale by Zane Grey, raging rivers, powerful storms, stampedes, treachery, trail rustlers, and Comanche Indian raiders threaten the outfit and their stock along the trail. However, the greatest surprise lies right within the outfit, when an unlikely heroine appears—a young girl disguised as a cowboy.
After his first successful venture of moving 2,500 cattle along the infamous Chisholm Trail, Adam Brite couldn’t resist the allure of a second drive. To prepare for his greatest and most dangerous prospect yet, Brite begins purchasing cattle at every possible opportunity he gets and searching for an able crew to aid him in the arduous journey from San Antonio to Dodge City. He recruits a diverse cast of characters all left penniless after the Civil Trail boss and veteran driver Joe Shipman; Alabama Moze, the cook; Hal Bender, a friendly brute; The Uvalde quintet, a strapping group all under the age of twenty; and Pan Handle Smith, a striking Texas outlaw who never sleeps.
As they begin their journey north, Brite looks over the vast western landscape and his men attempting to herd the thousands of cattle from afar. In spite of the awe-inspiring scene, he grows fearful that Indians or inclement weather may make the excursion too dangerous with such a limited amount of drivers. As Brite begins to doubt the operation, a mysterious, young drifter named Reddie Bayne rides into their camp, and Brite offers him a job. Shortly afterwards, two unwanted guests arrive at the camp searching for the boy, and Brite quickly realizes that Bayne is not what he seems.
In this classic western tale by Zane Grey, raging rivers, powerful storms, stampedes, treachery, trail rustlers, and Comanche Indian raiders threaten the outfit and their stock along the trail. However, the greatest surprise lies right within the outfit, when an unlikely heroine appears—a young girl disguised as a cowboy.
310 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1931
137 people are currently reading
222 people want to read
About the author
Zane Grey
2,098 books591 followersPearl Zane Grey was an American author best known for his popular adventure novels and stories that presented an idealized image of the rugged Old West. As of June 2007, the Internet Movie Database credits Grey with 110 films, one TV episode, and a series, Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theater based loosely on his novels and short stories.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
January 13, 2020
Lol...wow...my first experience with a Zane Grey western. The constant cowboy thick drawl was a challenge from page one to end of book, but I couldn’t help but realize I was reading an author from another place and time. A very successful and famous author even of today. It reminded me of going to a Country that I’ve never been to before and experiencing it’s culture and diversity for the first time. Different. Not bad, just different, and now I’m intrigued. This particular story wasn’t exactly a barn burner for thrills and excitement, but it had it’s charming moments. Will probably continue the journey and seek other works from his collection. “The hell you say!” Yep, that was one of the sayings in the book when they were loose tongued. ☺️😉
January 5, 2022
Never a dull moment with Brite’s band of drivers! One thing that set this book apart from some of his others was the abundance of characters within the story. Not only that, but they were more than just present in the story, each attributing to the obstacle or problem at hand. Things started to ramp up towards the end, which I didn’t care much for, and the last few pages ended too fast. There needed to be a more gradual ending for me to feel at peace with the story that took place on the Chisholm Trail.
November 17, 2020
Today, driving from San Antonio to Dodge City takes about ten and a half hours to traverse highways requiring an approximate 660 mile journey. An energetic driver can, more or less, accomplish this journey in a day. In the time of the Chisolm and Western trail cattle drives during the 1860's and 1870's which Zane Grey describes in The Trail driver, the nine hundred mile trek required about three months of riding horseback in the dust and heat with no modern comforts. Not only did this odyssey take much longer than it does for us today, but it was only accomplished by the burdensome crossing of several rivers; and the withstanding of bandits, hostile American Indian tribes, miles of buffalo herds, and diverse and treacherous weather. All of these trials are detailed in Zane Grey's novel.
In many ways, I found the book to be somewhat lacking in comparison to some of his other novels in that it didn't seem he had, to me, shaped his characters in the way I was previously accustomed. However, in arriving at the end of the novel, I believe the lack of character definition was almost intentional as he described the slurry of humanity that occupied Dodge City. "Saddle horses lined the hitching-rails as far as Brite could see. Canvas-covered wagons, chuck-wagons, buckboards, vehicles of all Western types, stood outside the saddle horses. And up one side and down the other a procession ambled in the dust. On the wide sidewalk a throng of booted, belted, spurred men wended their way up or down. The saloons roared. Black-sombreroed, pale-faced, tight-lipped men stood beside the wide portals of the gaming-dens. Beautiful wrecks of womanhood, girls with havoc in their faces and the look of birds of prey in their eyes, waited in bare-armed splendor to be accosted. Laughter without mirth ran down the walk. The stores were full. Cowboys in twos and threes and sixes trooped by, young, lithe, keen of eye, bold of aspect, gay and reckless. Hundreds of cowboys passed Brite in that long block from the hotel to the intersecting street. And every boy gave him a pang. These were the toll of the trail and of Dodge. It might have been the march of empire, the tragedy of progress..."
Then I could see why he intentionally failed to distinctly shape each of the cattle drivers on the trail.
I guess it all came down to the survivors, the cowboys who eventually arrived at their highly anticipated destination, and, sadly, one didn't differ significantly from the other, which was a noteworthy observation of humanity as a whole, and the destination which we are all going. And maybe, it was a statement of the futility of it all. On the other hand, for the hopeful reader, it may be a message of the unending fortitude and determination of the American cowboy as a whole. Thank you Zane Grey for your insight on this amazing time in our history of western America.
In many ways, I found the book to be somewhat lacking in comparison to some of his other novels in that it didn't seem he had, to me, shaped his characters in the way I was previously accustomed. However, in arriving at the end of the novel, I believe the lack of character definition was almost intentional as he described the slurry of humanity that occupied Dodge City. "Saddle horses lined the hitching-rails as far as Brite could see. Canvas-covered wagons, chuck-wagons, buckboards, vehicles of all Western types, stood outside the saddle horses. And up one side and down the other a procession ambled in the dust. On the wide sidewalk a throng of booted, belted, spurred men wended their way up or down. The saloons roared. Black-sombreroed, pale-faced, tight-lipped men stood beside the wide portals of the gaming-dens. Beautiful wrecks of womanhood, girls with havoc in their faces and the look of birds of prey in their eyes, waited in bare-armed splendor to be accosted. Laughter without mirth ran down the walk. The stores were full. Cowboys in twos and threes and sixes trooped by, young, lithe, keen of eye, bold of aspect, gay and reckless. Hundreds of cowboys passed Brite in that long block from the hotel to the intersecting street. And every boy gave him a pang. These were the toll of the trail and of Dodge. It might have been the march of empire, the tragedy of progress..."
Then I could see why he intentionally failed to distinctly shape each of the cattle drivers on the trail.
I guess it all came down to the survivors, the cowboys who eventually arrived at their highly anticipated destination, and, sadly, one didn't differ significantly from the other, which was a noteworthy observation of humanity as a whole, and the destination which we are all going. And maybe, it was a statement of the futility of it all. On the other hand, for the hopeful reader, it may be a message of the unending fortitude and determination of the American cowboy as a whole. Thank you Zane Grey for your insight on this amazing time in our history of western America.
May 14, 2024
This was one of my favorite Zane Grey’s so far! Loved the adventure, romance, and cowboys. The “pretend you don’t love him until he almost dies” trope is one of my favorites, haha, so this really came through for me. Plenty of gunfights and stampedes to go around!
Didn’t love that pretty much everyone died (spoiler). The main characters prevailed, but my goodness! I felt like crying every few pages. Plus the Texas accents that were phonetic were difficult to work through at times.
Didn’t love that pretty much everyone died (spoiler). The main characters prevailed, but my goodness! I felt like crying every few pages. Plus the Texas accents that were phonetic were difficult to work through at times.
June 23, 2025
Really outside of my usual genres, but was quite surprised by how much I enjoyed it. There were definitely some moments that read problematic, which didn't sit well, but it's a reminder of the time and place in which the novel was written.
June 5, 2024
I enjoyed this book more that most of his books.
November 14, 2022
Another good typical western read. I know they say this is a panhandle Smith trilogy but I do not remember Panhandle Smith at all in the first book.
February 19, 2019
Cheesy, and fraught with flashes of sexism and racism, this is classic Zane Grey, and still my greatest guilty pleasure as far as reading is concerned.
I love the way Grey writes about the geography of the land, and how connected his characters are to their natural environments. In this book, I appreciated the writing on buffalo hunters, and his description of the vast herds of Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas. This is a piece of history that is often underemphasized, as the decimation of North American buffalo populations was one of the most horrible and destructive settler policies of colonization and cultural genocide.
I love the way Grey writes about the geography of the land, and how connected his characters are to their natural environments. In this book, I appreciated the writing on buffalo hunters, and his description of the vast herds of Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas. This is a piece of history that is often underemphasized, as the decimation of North American buffalo populations was one of the most horrible and destructive settler policies of colonization and cultural genocide.
April 19, 2022
I'm participating in a reading challenge & one of the categories is "A book in a genre you have never read before" & while I think I read Lonesome Dove years ago, I'm considering this Zane Grey Western new to me.
It's easy to see why his books were so popular, the descriptions of the Chisolm Trail, cattle stampedes, storms & the majesty of nature were enthralling.
On the flip side, it's important to remember that he wrote this in 1931 so some of the language he uses when talking about Native Americans, Mexicans, Black people and women is super problematic by modern standards.
It's easy to see why his books were so popular, the descriptions of the Chisolm Trail, cattle stampedes, storms & the majesty of nature were enthralling.
On the flip side, it's important to remember that he wrote this in 1931 so some of the language he uses when talking about Native Americans, Mexicans, Black people and women is super problematic by modern standards.
June 21, 2024
While the romance aspect of the story is more than a bit corny, the actual trail driving, the Chisholm Trail and several thousand cattle and a few cowboys and obstacles with robbers and tribes and hundreds of thousand of bisons, stampedes and storm (incl. an electrical storm) are described in great detail and thus downright riveting. Another thing that I could have done without were the accents, the southern drawls, written out in every aspect, sometimes made it constant guessing what they were on about. It didn't add, at all - would have been better without leaning into that aspect.
July 22, 2018
I've read and enjoyed a number of Zane Grey novels, but this one is especially dated and problematic. Lots of encounters with "red devils" aka Native Americans who say things like "How." When the young heroine shoots an Indian, she says "I - I feel like a murderer." Well yeah, because you are one!
Three of the characters also suffer unnecessarily grim and pointless deaths a few pages before the end. Definitely not one I'll read again.
Three of the characters also suffer unnecessarily grim and pointless deaths a few pages before the end. Definitely not one I'll read again.
February 10, 2020
This is an interesting book for study, but I personally did not enjoy any second of it. I had to read this for a class project, and it felt like it took ages. The author's voice is not for me, the descriptions are pretty lacking, and the characters are the embodiment of sexism. This is a very good book for gender studies and history, but I rate based on enjoyment and quality in my opinion. I also do not personally like most westerns... so there's that.
June 24, 2019
A Great Read!
With out any doubt, this Zane Grey story is the best of all that I’ve read so far. Great character development; I felt at the conclusion of the book that I knew each person and cared about what happen to them.
The estimated time indicated to read this book was approximately 28 hours; for me it was time well spent.
With out any doubt, this Zane Grey story is the best of all that I’ve read so far. Great character development; I felt at the conclusion of the book that I knew each person and cared about what happen to them.
The estimated time indicated to read this book was approximately 28 hours; for me it was time well spent.
September 25, 2018
Rip Roarin good fun
This is the first Zane Greg book I have ever read. I was very favorably impressed and looked forward to each chapter. The slang took a bit of getting used to, but after a while I was not even conscious of it. I will read more of his work.
This is the first Zane Greg book I have ever read. I was very favorably impressed and looked forward to each chapter. The slang took a bit of getting used to, but after a while I was not even conscious of it. I will read more of his work.
October 2, 2018
How It Was in the West
The author described the situations and the characters vividly. You had to decide on everybody whether you liked them or not. Some were lovable, some were not. A plot typical of the times.
The author described the situations and the characters vividly. You had to decide on everybody whether you liked them or not. Some were lovable, some were not. A plot typical of the times.
February 13, 2024
Slightly unexpected (and good) ending, somewhat surprised by the premise as had assumptions about how classic westerns might treat female characters. Again a lot to learn here about that life and times. Finally rad in 2023.
May 18, 2018
Excellent story! Great descriptions.
Great action and characters.
Great action and characters.
September 4, 2018
The Trail Driver
This story was a good read that has all the features of the old west,and then some. The author created a good look at what could happen on a trail drive.
This story was a good read that has all the features of the old west,and then some. The author created a good look at what could happen on a trail drive.
September 27, 2018
Many unknown and unnamed heroes
Hard lives taken as a matter of course. Men and women who never knew that they would be the raw material of legand.
Hard lives taken as a matter of course. Men and women who never knew that they would be the raw material of legand.
October 11, 2018
To be a cpwboy.
I have never read such a detailed story of a cattle drive. I felt as if I was there and could see the action. Very good, enjoyed ot.
I have never read such a detailed story of a cattle drive. I felt as if I was there and could see the action. Very good, enjoyed ot.
March 29, 2019
Once you get used to the language of the old West this story is very good. Plus fairly happy endings are a plus. Pretty brutal times back then.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 12, 2020
I like keeping a western tale in the queue. Zane Grey never disappoints.
February 16, 2020
Enjoyed this so much. Great Cowboys! Great Texas history.
September 3, 2020
Classic Zane Grey. Great story.
November 15, 2020
I liked this reading this western - nostalgic, read. Amusing the description of the chivalrous cowboys in tough situation. Don't take too seriously.
July 29, 2023
After having read Lonesome Dove a year or so ago, this seems but a pale shadow.
July 4, 2024
I like this book. It gave me a good idea of how hard it was to be on a cattle drive.
I like Zane Grey's stories. I would recommend his stories to everyone.
I like Zane Grey's stories. I would recommend his stories to everyone.
January 1, 2021
MP3 Audible Audiobook
March 24, 2015
The Trail Driver was one of the first books I read as a kid, and I loved it. In Texas Joe and Pan Handle we see the first pairing of what is now a popular theme, the good guy (Texas Joe) and his outlaw friend/the killer Angel. Zane Grey knew the men who populated his stories, some of them very old or descendents of the men who tamed the West.
Reddie Baine and Anne while hearing Joe speak of no good ideas coming from a pretty girl's head come up with the idea that keeps him and Pan from killing each other. Zane Grey takes sterotypes and blows them away. And Zane Grey loved his characters. He's sees the beauty in his young heros and heroines, their passions and sorrows.
When Trail Driver ended I was left wanting more. I wanted to know Pan's fate whether or not he stayed in touch with Joe and Reddie. and that is the mark of a great writer.
I've read it over and over....last month being maybe the 100th time I've read it since 1962
Reddie Baine and Anne while hearing Joe speak of no good ideas coming from a pretty girl's head come up with the idea that keeps him and Pan from killing each other. Zane Grey takes sterotypes and blows them away. And Zane Grey loved his characters. He's sees the beauty in his young heros and heroines, their passions and sorrows.
When Trail Driver ended I was left wanting more. I wanted to know Pan's fate whether or not he stayed in touch with Joe and Reddie. and that is the mark of a great writer.
I've read it over and over....last month being maybe the 100th time I've read it since 1962
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews