Big Country, Vol. 2: Stories of Louis L'Amour

by Louis L'Amour, Mark Bramhall (Reader)

Louis L'Amour said that the West was no place for the frightened or the mean. It was a "big country needing big men and women to live in it." Here are three more of his fine short stories about the West. West of the Tularosa Ruth Kermitt, owner of the Tumbling K ranch, made a deal with old Tom McCracken, owner of the Firebox spread, to buy his ranch. That's why the Tumbling K's foreman, Ward McQueen, and some of the Tumbling K crew have come to take possession. But in a deserted bunkhouse on the Firebox, they find the body of Jimmy McCracken, son of the former owner, who was clearly killed in a gunfight. Then, Sheriff Bill Foster shows up with a posse. Riding with that posse is Neal Webb, who claims that he owns the Firebox and that he's got a transfer deed signed by Jimmy McCracken conveying that ownership. Webb seizes the opportunity to accuse Ward McQueen and his men of killing McCracken in order to claim possession of the Firebox. Despite his innocence, McQueen sees that he will have a tough time staying out of jail long enough to discover who the real killers are. Home in the Valley Steve Mehan had accomplished what many had believed to be impossible. He had taken cattle from the home range in Nevada to California in the dead of winter. Not only that, he had been successful in selling them. Now the money from the sale is on deposit with the Dake & Company bank in Sacramento. That $24,000 will save all five ranches in Paiute Valley that had supplied cattle for the drive. Mehan is feeling good about all of this when, to his shock, he reads in the newspaper that Dake & Company has failed. And there is one nasty hombre who is mighty happy to hear this. He sneeringly tells Mehan that those ranchers have lost out and since they can't pay their debt--and he will become the new owner. But Mehan isn't ready to give up. There is a bank branch in Portland, Oregon, and if Mehan can get to it and withdraw the money before the steamer boat heading for Portland arrives with the news of the bank failure, he wins. To do that, Mehan will have to start out immediately, hoping for stamina, luck, and a long relay of good horses to cover those hundreds of miles. West Is Where the Heart Is Jim London is on his way home. During the four years of the War between the States, he has not been home, seen his wife, Jane, or been able to send word of his whereabouts. For all she knew, he was dead. Fellows have told him she wouldn't have waited for him, but London believes differently. Then, just two hundred miles from home, London comes across a burned-out wagon train. Nine wagons had been hit by the Comanches, and they left only a ruin overturned wagons, dead livestock, ransacked belongings, and dead bodies strewn on the ground. Yet Jim discovers that not everyone is dead. He finds little Betty Jane, a five-year-old who had been able to hide successfully during the attack. The only thing to be done is for him to take her along with him. But during their journey, he discovers that the child knows something that no one else does.

Genres: Westerns, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Audiobook

3 pages, Audio CD

First published December 10, 2009

About the author

Louis 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".

Reviews

[Pop · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three very good short stories. I have really enjoyed Louis l’Amour’s characters and descriptions of the old west territories. He is an author worth every bit spending time with.

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another audio book from the library & candy read. Good readers, a handful of unmemorable short stories. I should probably also add them to the romance shelf. L'Amour loves to get the hero together with some female even if they've only shared a single conversation in the few hours they've known each other or possibly mooned at each other from afar. Kind of silly. Still, he describes the country well & there's always a lot of action. Missing a paragraph or two doesn't hurt much, so it's great listening while working.

[William · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good and solid prose in an English that can be understood by all. The fourth star goes to Mark Bramhall who's excellent narration took me inside the stories. As I constantly tell my relatives that are not Americans, stop listening to the current American culture to know how English should be spoken. Read and listen to works from the past. The poorly spoken language that was once found outside our schools and media has now become the norm. i.e. "uptalk" "endspeak" drive me up the wall and reinforce Curtis Mayfield's accurate observation of fifty years ago "educated fools from uneducated schools".

[Cherie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Western stories always make me cry.
The last one really got me.

[RJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

West of the Tularosa – Purchasing land in a new area can be dangerous. Ward McQueen, manager of the Firebox was overseeing the purchase of a ranch with controlling water that was wanted by Webb of the Rocking-W, a big local rancher. The Rocking-W employed several gunfighters. McQueen and the Tumbling-K Segundo, Kim Sartain were “fast hands” as well. All this spelled coming trouble; gun trouble. This is a pretty good who-done-it, strong characters with plenty of action.
Home in the Valley – Steve Mehan was on a mission; a dangerous mission. The ranches of his wife’s father and grandfather, along with three others, were about to be forfeited. Notes were due to a man named Hittson, cash was scarce and time was running out. Mehan devised a desperate plan to get the needed money. It worked and Mehan deposited the money in a Sacramento bank. Fate had other plans though. It was 99% sure that Mehan’s money was lost. Mehan was not one to give up, devising another seemingly impossible plan, banking on that one percent. This is an inspiring fast-paced story about determination and loyalty. I liked it.
West Is Where the Heart Is – Jim London survives a wagon train attack with just the shirt on his back. So does a five-year-old girl. I think the little girl brings Jim good luck as they are soon on their way. Jim doggedly headed for home and his wife, being away nearly five years due to the war and travel. People he met warned him that five years was a long time but Jim was confident and determined. The optimistic tale continues, as they journey through Indian and bandit territory to get home. It’s a fine short story of hope and love.

[Mayda · Rating 4 out of 5]

In “West of the Tularosa,” some shading dealing and at one least on murder puts the ownership of a ranch in jeopardy. In “Home in the Valley,” a bank failure will cause five ranchers to lose everything, unless one determined rancher can get to the bank branch to withdraw the money before the steamer ship gets there with the news. In “West is Where the Heart Is,” a man is gone four years in the Civil War when he only expected to be gone four months. On his way home, he discovers burned out a burned out wagon train and a lone survivor, a little girl. And he is fearful of what he will find when he eventually makes it home. These three short stories are very entertaining and they evoke the dangers and hardships of the Wild West quite well.

[Steve Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve been on Louis L’Amour reading kick lately, and this one broke away a bit from the formulaic writing of some of the other collections of his I’d taken on.

Only one of these used L’Amour’s overused plot device of having a slim hipped broad shouldered hero fistfight and gunfight his way to justice while battling a vicious land grabbing local power broker and his evil minions. But this story had the appeal of a murder mystery. Another was a tale of endurance, and the last a tale of survival and devotion.

ThIs was a pretty enjoyable collection. Not nearly as old-fashioned and corny as some of his earlier works…. which are still enjoyable, but badly dated.

[Richard Mann · Rating 4 out of 5]

These are familiar Louis L'Amour short stories/novelettes read by professionals. I had read or listened to all of them before, but enjoyed revisiting these stories of men and women of the old west. L'Amour's heroes always appeal to me because they are men of undoubted confidence and ability. I wish I could be so unfailingly competent and knowledgeable, always doing exactly the right thing in difficult circumstances. These stories are fun.

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Classic westerns.

[Erika · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The West was no place for frightened men."

[Malia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Part 2 audio of Louis L'Amours short stories

[Philip Rodriguez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellant listing pleasure for a long trip

[Christopher Lutz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three entertaining stories. The first story had a bit of an odd ending, loved the second tale of the race against the steamboat, and found the ending to the last story to be very touching

[Christy Peterson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This has three short stories. The first one is a revisit with Ward McQueen. It was better than the first one with that character. The other two were also typical Westerns. Good stuff.

[Joseph · Rating 5 out of 5]

Three great shorts.

[Cindy B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always a good experience when I start a L.L. book. Clean, mature, and intriguing. Narrator is excellent

[Truitti · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am into westerns right now. Loved this audio book from the Sacramento Public Library through the Libby app.

[John · Rating 1 out of 5]

Autobook Lightweight

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

good writing and great narration on the audio book. not a genre i usually like, and the stories were very predictable but still well written

[Marian Kaye · Rating 3 out of 5]

L'Amour is better than Zane Grey for a quick western genre. I enjoyed these 8 short stories splashing cowboy wisdom up and down my caretaker's spine.

[Ron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable stories written well and read well also. Listened to the Overdrive edition.

[Trey Mcgehee]

5th

[Dale · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entertaining as usual.

[Trevor Parker · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first story is great. The second two, ok. Definitely a fun and light read.

[Elaine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This had more short stories than the first, all enjoyable and all typical Louis L'Amour. Great to listen to as I go throughout my day.