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Draw Straight: A Western Sextet
This collection of six exciting Western stories from early in Louis L’Amour’s career begins with “Fork Your Own Broncs,” in which Mac Marcy, who had saved for seven years to run his own small cattle ranch, sees his dream come true, only to have it threatened by Jingle Bob Kenyon.
In “Keep Travelin’, Rider,” Tack Gentry returns to Sunbonnet and his uncle’s G Bar Ranch only to find that his uncle, a Quaker, has been killed in a gunfight. A faction has moved in and run roughshod over the town and the ranches, including the G Bar.
In “McQueen of the Tumbling K,” ranch foreman Ward McQueen looks out for his boss, Ruth Kermitt. When Jim Yount shows up at the Tumbling K looking to buy cattle to stock worthless land he won in a poker game, McQueen can’t help but question his true intentions.
In “Four Card Draw,” Allen Ring wins the Red Rock Ranch in a poker game, but he soon finds that he has stepped into a hotbed of fear and danger; several years back, Sam Hazlitt was killed on the Red Rock, and his record book—which could discredit many of the ranchers—went missing.
In “Mistakes Can Kill You,” Johnny O’Day had accounted for six dead men by the time he turned seventeen. Close to death from pneumonia, he’s taken in by the Redlins. O’Day pays the family back by staying on and working, but now he must decide whether to leave or risk his life to save their biological son, Sam.
In “Showdown on the Tumbling T,” after two years in Mexico, Wat Bell runs into his cousin, whom he considers his best friend, only to learn he’s been blamed for the death of their uncle. Although his cousin offers to help, a series of events makes Bell suspect something much more sinister is going on.
In “Keep Travelin’, Rider,” Tack Gentry returns to Sunbonnet and his uncle’s G Bar Ranch only to find that his uncle, a Quaker, has been killed in a gunfight. A faction has moved in and run roughshod over the town and the ranches, including the G Bar.
In “McQueen of the Tumbling K,” ranch foreman Ward McQueen looks out for his boss, Ruth Kermitt. When Jim Yount shows up at the Tumbling K looking to buy cattle to stock worthless land he won in a poker game, McQueen can’t help but question his true intentions.
In “Four Card Draw,” Allen Ring wins the Red Rock Ranch in a poker game, but he soon finds that he has stepped into a hotbed of fear and danger; several years back, Sam Hazlitt was killed on the Red Rock, and his record book—which could discredit many of the ranchers—went missing.
In “Mistakes Can Kill You,” Johnny O’Day had accounted for six dead men by the time he turned seventeen. Close to death from pneumonia, he’s taken in by the Redlins. O’Day pays the family back by staying on and working, but now he must decide whether to leave or risk his life to save their biological son, Sam.
In “Showdown on the Tumbling T,” after two years in Mexico, Wat Bell runs into his cousin, whom he considers his best friend, only to learn he’s been blamed for the death of their uncle. Although his cousin offers to help, a series of events makes Bell suspect something much more sinister is going on.
134 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 7, 2020
227 people are currently reading
95 people want to read
About the author
Louis L'Amour
996 books3,477 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 - 21 of 21 reviews
September 15, 2024
Just good stories
What can you say about Louis l'Amour just he wrte a good story. When I read one of his storie it just feels like I back in the Old West. Now it may not be like the Old West really was, but the good guys win and that is all that counts. My only problem with a book like this one is sometimes there is a story or two that you have read in some other collections of stories. Still it is okay to reread them.
What can you say about Louis l'Amour just he wrte a good story. When I read one of his storie it just feels like I back in the Old West. Now it may not be like the Old West really was, but the good guys win and that is all that counts. My only problem with a book like this one is sometimes there is a story or two that you have read in some other collections of stories. Still it is okay to reread them.
February 26, 2022
I've long seen Louis L'Amour's books but never really took the time to pick one up and read it.
Finally, I did decide to read Draw Straight and I found it to be very good. I Especially liked that there were six different stories and they were not long and drawn out. Overall this was a very enjoyable read and I would recommend it to readers .
Finally, I did decide to read Draw Straight and I found it to be very good. I Especially liked that there were six different stories and they were not long and drawn out. Overall this was a very enjoyable read and I would recommend it to readers .
January 18, 2025
This is a collection of short stories by Louis L'Amour. I read most (perhaps all, I am not sure) of these
stories before. It is just a different publisher. I am a big fan of Louis L'Amour's books but I don't enjoy his short stories nearly as much. A couple of these stories were pretty good and some were weakly done.
stories before. It is just a different publisher. I am a big fan of Louis L'Amour's books but I don't enjoy his short stories nearly as much. A couple of these stories were pretty good and some were weakly done.
July 9, 2021
The first story or two was pretty good, the one or two after that weren’t and I stopped reading before finishing. Frankly, I guess I’m not a fan of Louis L’amour. Two many characters were rapidly introduced. It felt like I was at an in-laws’ family reunion trying to figure out who was who.
July 4, 2023
Always a good Western Story
Louie L'Amour was one of the best western writers ever. He could grab your attention within three sentences and hold it for the rest of the story or an entire book. You will never go wrong reading one of his stories.
Louie L'Amour was one of the best western writers ever. He could grab your attention within three sentences and hold it for the rest of the story or an entire book. You will never go wrong reading one of his stories.
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May 12, 2024Outstanding stories
Nothing to dislike. I have read many many oh Labour's novels and have never been disappointed. His details of a the trails and mountains are just incredible. In do not rememberbreading any of them that weren't Outstanding.
Nothing to dislike. I have read many many oh Labour's novels and have never been disappointed. His details of a the trails and mountains are just incredible. In do not rememberbreading any of them that weren't Outstanding.
May 21, 2024
Draw Straight? Darn tootin’!
More strong Western adventures from Mr. L’Amour here. This book is fairly short, but what’s there is great, especially the novella-length story that closes the book.
More strong Western adventures from Mr. L’Amour here. This book is fairly short, but what’s there is great, especially the novella-length story that closes the book.
March 25, 2020
Haven't read any westerns in a long time but enjoy a good one. This was perfect with its six little short stories.
March 30, 2020
Typical l'amour. Typical Americana. Simple stories of the old west told in his own unique style. You either love them or think they're beyond corny. Me I love them despite them being corny.
April 6, 2020
Easy fun reading
Have read ( I thought) all of his books happy to have found this one. Will be keeping an eye out for anymore that I might have missed, been reading for 45+ years.
Have read ( I thought) all of his books happy to have found this one. Will be keeping an eye out for anymore that I might have missed, been reading for 45+ years.
April 10, 2020
More pandemic escapism. Short stories from the Western master, Louis L'Amour.
April 18, 2020
Awesome writer
This author can make you read till you finish the book. I have read every book he wrote and he was the best
This author can make you read till you finish the book. I have read every book he wrote and he was the best
April 25, 2020
A straight shooting, honest and hard working cowboy is close
To losing his rightful inheritance to a close relative who has turned crooked and does his best to have him killed.
To losing his rightful inheritance to a close relative who has turned crooked and does his best to have him killed.
May 22, 2020
A L’amour clasic
In his usual style, he keeps you guessing. It’s about the west and the culture of the time as much as it’s about the story.
In his usual style, he keeps you guessing. It’s about the west and the culture of the time as much as it’s about the story.
May 26, 2020
Great stories
Full of action, romance, values, and history. I don't usually read short stories, but these were really good. Definitely recommend!
Full of action, romance, values, and history. I don't usually read short stories, but these were really good. Definitely recommend!
August 6, 2020
Louis Lamour is the king of western shorts. I've been playing a lot of RDR2 so why not add some westerns to my reading. The Gentry story was my favorite.
June 30, 2023
This was a wonderful book. I enjoyed it so much. It is a book of western short stories. It is clean. It does have violence in it.
August 6, 2023
Great mix
A brilliant selection of stories, Louis L'Amour never disappoints.
Would like to see more stories starting Kim Sartain. Great stories.
A brilliant selection of stories, Louis L'Amour never disappoints.
Would like to see more stories starting Kim Sartain. Great stories.
May 27, 2024
What an Author
I would loved to have met him. Great read if you love Westerns. Highly recommend this book for a quick great read
I would loved to have met him. Great read if you love Westerns. Highly recommend this book for a quick great read
June 27, 2025
Two of the stories were repeats from other books of L'Amour's I've read in short story form. So, it lost a star for that.
September 7, 2025
I love a good western and L’Amour is the best. These are short novelettes and they’re fun to read.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews