Apache Wells

by Robert J. Steelman

It's 1876. Three brothers head west to California to find their fortune, but end up settling in the Arizona badlands instead. There's courageous Big Saul, as huge and solid as the boulders he used to build his earthen home... there's his middle brother Dave, who is fast with a gun and with women, including Saul's wife Eda, who runs off with him...and there's teenage Joey, perhaps too honest and too innocent for the brutal country he's trying to tame before it beats him down.

"It has excitement and really moves right along." St. Albans Daily Messenger

Unknown Binding

First published January 1, 1974

About the author

Books were originally published under Robert Steelman, new editions are being published as Robert J. Steelman

Reviews

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

I could not find the correct edition to match the cover of my copy, but this one was first published in 1959. Apache Wells is as quality western novel and I thoroughly enjoyed it. My copy had a number of irritating typographical errors, but the story was really well-written and the characters seemed very true to the frontier spirit.

The story centers around three brothers. The older one convinces a group of people to travel to California and they hire an old mountain man to be their guide. When they get to a place called Chirichua Wells, they camp for the night and trouble ensues when the older brother catches the middle brother in a compromising situation with his wife. He chases the middle brother off, and during the night he sneaks back, takes some of the family money and the wife. This takes the heart out of the older brother, leaving the youngest brother (the actual hero of the story) in the middle of the conflict between the two. The older brother lets the small wagon train leave without him and immediately begins building a house and declares his intention to settle the area.

There are a number of skirmishes with the Apaches, but as several years go by, the Natives decide that they will leave the two brothers alone. This is accomplished through and incredibly courageous act on the part of the older brother. A very interesting scheme -- this scene was one of the best in the book.

Eventually the confllict between the brothers is set up when the middle brother goes to work for a gang in Tuscon, who eventually decide they want the land. Steelman handles this conflict with a deft hand, expanding further on the character of those involved. By this time, the land around the wells has attracted more settlers and the conflict intensifies. No spoiler here- young Joe is right in the middle of this conflict as he seeks to save both of his brothers.

There are no expert gunfighters in this novel. There are the usual toughs and ruffians and the characters all seem to come straight out of the west. Steelman gets the weapons right and the Apache culture right and that counts for a lot.

This is sort of a small-scale epic western and I'll be looking for more by this author.

[Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book. It was the first I read from Steelman and it sent me running for more. I didn't think most of his others that I read quite lived up to this one.