Long Ride Home

by Louis L'Amour

RIDE ALONG INTO DANGER
 
Traveling under an alias, the last thing gunman Clip Haynes wanted was attention. But Basin City needed a town-taming marshal, and a cold-blooded murderer was hiding behind Haynes’s real name. Now Haynes was coming out of hiding to protect his honor, save a town, and catch a killer—even if it cost him his life.
 
Lou Morgan was as tough as they came. But it wasn’t just the money or the challenge that motivated him to take on a suicide job involving a buried Spanish treasure and two greedy killers. It was love for a beautiful señorita who had left him for dead years ago.
 
It’s not easy being the new schoolma’am in town . . . especially when you’re a man. But Van Brady isn’t quite the tenderfoot he seems, and before he’s through he’ll teach a few hard cases a lesson they’ll never forget.
 
From the rough-and-tumble streets of San Francisco to the dry desert plains of Texas, from a roughshod gambler willing to wager his own life on a single bet to a killer with a heart, here are stirring tales of the Old West as only Louis L’Amour can write them, tales of men and women risking their lives, fighting their wars, and standing tall on the American frontier.

The Cactus Kid pays a debt --
Bad place to die --
That triggernometry tenderfoot --
The town no guns could tame --
Shandy takes the hook --
No man's man --
Ride or start shootin' --
Long ride home

Genres: Westerns, Fiction, Short Stories, Adventure, Action, Historical Fiction, Collections

165 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published October 1, 1989

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

[Jesse · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5.

A fun, slight bit of Western entertainment. Probably not much staying power, but fast-paced and enjoyably cheesy.

[Tony Petry · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a series of short stories written by Western Legend Louis L'Amour. I liked several of the stories in here, but found a few to be a bore to me and sort drug out but I was able to finish it, and will read more books written by Mr. L'Amour.

[Charles · Rating 3 out of 5]

A collection of L'Amour's short stories. I think a lot of these are early ones and they aren't his best. Still, they're worth reading.

[Connie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A caveat: I do not read Westerns normally but did so this time at the insistence of a male friend who apparently was impressed by the show of might showcased in seven stories encased in this book. True the young virile heroes at the peak of their strength were brave, courageous, quick-thinking and intelligent as well to outsmart their enemies in revenge for killing their horse -thieving relatives. The last chapter, however, (my favorite) tells the story of a cowboy who wants to fight no more and, in fact, is seeking to escape the trail of the many who are in pursuit of him yet stops along his way "out of town" to aid a downed Tarahumaran Indian. Tensleep Mooney determines this Indian has a very serious leg wound from which he will die if left unattended. He rises to the occasion and with the young girl prepares a wash to cleanse the wound and then a paste out of the leaves of a Creosote bush which are boiled at the direction of the girl. Then bandaging is applied in a way any Wound Clinic technician of this date would be proud. Tensleep makes a tourniquet out of his white shirt though one wonders how sterile that could really be amongst the dust of the trail but not without regret: "When the wound was thoroughly bathed, the girl moved forward with the paste and signified that it should be bound on the wound..with a tinge of regret, he ripped open his last white shirt-the only one he had owned in three years-and bound the wound carefully." He then lifts the "wounded" to atop his horse and carries him to his campground led by the young girl- a detour from his destination but with consequences for him.

An interesting turn of events concludes this story and justifies the apt and fitting title. This L'Amour ( I have read others) gets redeemed by the last chapter- without it I am not sure I could given it two stars.

[Cash Muir · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the book “Long Ride Home”, by Louis L’amour, nothing is as it seems. In Basin City, the sheriff doesn't like attention in his little town. But when there is a murder in his name, he'll take a risk. He comes out of his hiding and tries to protect his honor. It could cost him his life though. Morgan didn't get on the case for the money, gold, or even the challenge or two bad guys. He got on it for the girl that left him years ago. The book was valuable to me because, it reminded me of my grandfather. He was always a cowboy, and he kind of acted like some of the characters. It's almost like I was with him again. I also read the book in his voice, which also helped support that. I liked the book a lot because there was a lot of action, like when the murder got pinned on him and he had to go into hiding because the people that did it were looking for him. They wanted to kill him so he couldn't protest against it. He was always on the lookout. In conclusion, the theme of the book, in my opinion, is you have to be brave. When he stepped out of hiding to get the bad guys, that took courage. He was putting his life on the line for that.

[Isabel Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Long Ride Home by Louis L'Amour is the first Western book I have ever read. I was kind of afraid to read it, but it was not that bad. This particular book was divided into various little stories, so it was more of a Western Story Collection. My favorite tale was "The Town No Guns Could Tame." Like most western stories, I suppose, it involved a show-down between some men; but it also added the mystery of figuring out who committed a murder so I liked that aspect. I wouldn't say that I will be up for reading another Western anytime soon, but if I were I would definitely be up for trying another Louis L'Amour book. For anyone wanting to ease or jump into the Western genre, I would say L'Amour is a great option. Long Ride Home in particular makes it simple to ease in because of the short story collection breaking up the length of the book.

[Oleta Blaylock · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another collection of short stories. All are about the Old West. They are all interesting and enjoyable. The list of the short stories is: The Cactus Kid Pays a Debt; Bad place to Die; That Triggerometry Tenderfoot; The Town No Gun Could Tame; Shandy Takes to the Hook; No Man's Man; Ride or Start Shootin'; Long Ride Home

[Jennifer Putney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought a collection of short Western stories would be fitting for a trip to Texas. :) I loved these. Very well-written, classic Westerns. I will definitely be checking for Louis L'Amour books the next time I go to the library.

My favorite short story in the collection was "Ride or Start Shootin'."

[Christina Ruvoldt · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was the 1st Western book that I have read. It wasn't to bad. While I probably won't be pursuing more of the genre this book made a good 1st impression for me. I liked the short story format as well.

[Carissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first Louis L’amour book. I decided to give him a try and was not disappointed. This is a series of short stories. His sense of characters and place is amazing. If you enjoy the old westerns, you’ll like this book.

[Jay Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a limited collection of short stories that I have not read anywhere else. It is only 160 pages or thereabouts, so not intensive. This is all Western stories and typical Louis L'Amour. A good beach book.

[Chris Ramsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first foray in the world of Louis L'amour and I was enthralled. It explains my attraction to western films, and while this was a collection of various short stories, they were all enjoyable and am sure I will seek out some of L'Amour's other works to read as well.

[Eric Benjamin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great collection of short western tales. Some could be fleshed out into novels. Louis L’Amour is one of the great American story tellers. My favorite of the short stories is probably the titular Long Ride Home.

[Allen Perry · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the short story collections. It forces the author to come up with an altered format. Not the usual.

[Peter Charleston · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy reading collection of short western stories.

[Chris Riley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another good read.

[Frank · Rating 3 out of 5]

I normally do not care for 'short stories'. These, however, were not too bad.

[Myra Wray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again I have found a good book in this story. I found it hard to put it down until the end.

[Sue-b-doo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable action-filled short Western stories....great for a quick read!

[Tyler Cole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Several entertaining short stories.

[Terry Yaceyko · Rating 5 out of 5]

A new favorite

[Jayson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great western short stories

[William · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Michelle D Kercheval · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not really my genre, but reading it with Mr. Chuck. He does love westerns. 🤠🐴

[Arlene Alleman]

Never read

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read just for funsies. I'm not a huge western fan, but I liked these short stories that were quick and full of wild-west outlaw adventures.

[Tamara Barringer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This collection is a good representation of his writing.

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is first Western book that I have ever read and I was pleasantly surprised. There is action, adventure, shootouts, and if course the Wild West, all wrapped up into several short stories.

[Benjamin Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was going to start out this review by saying that Louis L'Amour is one of my guilty pleasures. But then I thought, "What do I have to feel guilty about?" That's certainly a phrase that needs to be eradicated from the English language. I say to yonder readers, "Be proud of what you read! Smite those uppity, judgmental types who look down their nose upon you and rejoice in your freedom to choose to read that which makes you happy!"

OK...too much caffeine.

This is the 78th volume that I've read by Louis L'Amour. Yes, I've been reading them for more than 30 years now but I still have a fair number to go. I do tend to be a completest and when I like a particular author I keep reading their stuff. In L'Amour's case, it's always been a pleasure to keep on readin'.

This volume is a collection of eight of his earlier short stories, including the titular story, "Long Ride Home". There is also a story involving one of his on-going characters, the "Cactus Kid". While there a couple of really good ones in here, overall, I don't think this collection quite lives up to some of his other short story collections. Still, I find them to be good escapist entertainment of the western genre.

[Tim Murphy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love Louis L’Amour—the Louis L’Amour who finally hit his stride and learned to tell a great story with only on real pattern and in only two or three different settings.

The Louis L’Amour of Long Ride Home was not that author. These stories read as though someone pulled out all the short story manuscripts he couldn’t sell when he was younger then packaged up into another title for the prolific author. The story titles tip his hand: “The Cactus Kid Pays a Debt”, “That Triggernometry Tenderfoot” (really?). The read like their monikers.

Only the final story, from which the book takes its title, reads like the Louis L’Amour many of us love. Skip this one and pick up one of the trusty old standbys.