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Border Line
In the continuation of this thrilling Western series from the Spur Award-winning author of Strange Company, Ben Lacey and half-Cherokee brave Dhu Walker face a savage killer, who's determined to get the gold that Dhu and Ben carried with them into Indian territory.
- GenresWesterns
232 pages, Hardcover
First published February 1, 1993
10 people are currently reading
23 people want to read
About the author
Robert J. Conley
81 books36 followersRobert J. Conley was a Cherokee author and enrolled member of the Cherokee Nation, a federally recognized tribe of American Indians. In 2007, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Native Writers' Circle of the Americas.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
September 19, 2018
I find that few writers of traditional westerns that hit the bulls eye in almost every area: historical authenticity, characterization, plot, structure, pacing, writing. Even the best sometimes are wide of the mark in at least one area. To this accomplished list of writers who can routinely hit the target I should add Robert J. Conley. He has certainly done so in BORDER LINE.
The setting for BORDER LINE is a just a few years after the end of the Civil War. It is a time for reconciliation and new starts but also when memories and hard feelings are still very fresh. It can be difficult balancing act.
The characters are all plausible and three dimensional. Ben Lacey, one of the main characters, is a young man who left the farm to fight in the war and taken prisoner by the Confederates. After the war was over, he and some friends started a successful ranch in Texas. Ben, however, is still a little green in the ways of the world.
His partner and friend is Dhu Walker. He is a half-Cherokee Indian who is more knowledgeable and better educated than Ben. He is in many ways the most interesting character. Through him Conley shows much about the Cherokee culture in the Indian Territory during and after the war.
The plot has an interesting variation: While Ben and Dhu face a group of “bad men,” it is just a subplot. The main plot involves Ben, with Dhu’s help, returning to where he was raised to help save the farm and his sister, the only other family member who has survived the war.
It is these combinations of plots, subplots, emphasis on Dhu and Cherokee culture, and interplay between characters that add depth and interest to the story.
The pacing, as one might expect, is fast and forward moving.
The writing is also solid. There is this exchange, for example, about relations between Indians and white men:
“It’s pretty bad,” said Dhu. “It seems like each new treaty is worse than the last one.”
“Well, what can you do about it?” asked Ben.
“Nothing,” said Ballard. “The time is long past when we could go to war against the United States. All we can do now is just take it.”
Ben felt a little bit guilty. It was, after all, his government that was doing these things to the Cherokees. It occurred to him for the first time that perhaps Dhu had good reason for being so short with him at times, that Dhu Walker and any other Cherokee had good reason to hate the United States government and the white people that it represented. But Dhu was half white himself. Ben felt confused…
Later in the evening Ben found himself alone in the house with Dhu…
“What?” said Dhu.
“Do you hate me?”
Dhu laughed, and Ben felt his face flush.
“What kind of a fool question is that?” said Dhu. “Why would I hate you? You’re my partner. Would I have a man for a partner if I hated him? … I don’t hate anyone...”
Ben thought that he hadn’t heard Dhu talk so much in all the years they had been together, and when Dhu finally quit, Ben wasn’t quite sure what he had said. And he still felt guilty.
(This story was originally published in mass market paperback in 1993 by Pocket Books. It may now be out of print. I am posting this in case somebody makes it available again.)
The setting for BORDER LINE is a just a few years after the end of the Civil War. It is a time for reconciliation and new starts but also when memories and hard feelings are still very fresh. It can be difficult balancing act.
The characters are all plausible and three dimensional. Ben Lacey, one of the main characters, is a young man who left the farm to fight in the war and taken prisoner by the Confederates. After the war was over, he and some friends started a successful ranch in Texas. Ben, however, is still a little green in the ways of the world.
His partner and friend is Dhu Walker. He is a half-Cherokee Indian who is more knowledgeable and better educated than Ben. He is in many ways the most interesting character. Through him Conley shows much about the Cherokee culture in the Indian Territory during and after the war.
The plot has an interesting variation: While Ben and Dhu face a group of “bad men,” it is just a subplot. The main plot involves Ben, with Dhu’s help, returning to where he was raised to help save the farm and his sister, the only other family member who has survived the war.
It is these combinations of plots, subplots, emphasis on Dhu and Cherokee culture, and interplay between characters that add depth and interest to the story.
The pacing, as one might expect, is fast and forward moving.
The writing is also solid. There is this exchange, for example, about relations between Indians and white men:
“It’s pretty bad,” said Dhu. “It seems like each new treaty is worse than the last one.”
“Well, what can you do about it?” asked Ben.
“Nothing,” said Ballard. “The time is long past when we could go to war against the United States. All we can do now is just take it.”
Ben felt a little bit guilty. It was, after all, his government that was doing these things to the Cherokees. It occurred to him for the first time that perhaps Dhu had good reason for being so short with him at times, that Dhu Walker and any other Cherokee had good reason to hate the United States government and the white people that it represented. But Dhu was half white himself. Ben felt confused…
Later in the evening Ben found himself alone in the house with Dhu…
“What?” said Dhu.
“Do you hate me?”
Dhu laughed, and Ben felt his face flush.
“What kind of a fool question is that?” said Dhu. “Why would I hate you? You’re my partner. Would I have a man for a partner if I hated him? … I don’t hate anyone...”
Ben thought that he hadn’t heard Dhu talk so much in all the years they had been together, and when Dhu finally quit, Ben wasn’t quite sure what he had said. And he still felt guilty.
(This story was originally published in mass market paperback in 1993 by Pocket Books. It may now be out of print. I am posting this in case somebody makes it available again.)
July 31, 2021
I picked up this novel fully expecting a run-of-the-mill cheap Western and was thoroughly delighted to be proven wrong. The masterful weaving of multiple characters and storylines kept the narrative flowing, and I appreciated the incorporation of Cherokee culture and history. A gem of a read.
March 4, 2016
This book is published by Pioneering Press
November 7, 2016
Border Line
The best thing about this book was it ended. There was nothing interesting about it and was way too long.
The best thing about this book was it ended. There was nothing interesting about it and was way too long.
March 31, 2017
Very nice story. Had some excited parts, and funny parts. There wasn't much romance in it, but that's ok it was lengthy and well written.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews