Hard Trail To Follow: A Story of the Texas Rangers

Texas Rangers #7

by Elmer Kelton

Hard Trail to Follow is the seventh novel in Elmer Kelton's acclaimed "Texas Ranger" series from Elmer KeltonFormer Texas Ranger Andy Pickard, called "Badger Boy" when he lived with Comanches as a child, is following the plow on West Texas land until he learns that his friend, Sheriff Tom Blessing, has been killed during a jailbreak. The escaped bank robbers are led by a man calling himself Cordell. Andy gets reinstated as a Ranger so he can catch Cordell and get justice for Tom Blessing.Cordell is something of an enigma to Andy, especially since the pursuit slowly reveals that he is very likely not the killer of Tom Blessing. Even so, Cordell and his cohorts must be brought to Ranger justice first and the whodunit sorted out later.At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

Genres: Westerns, Fiction, Historical Fiction

289 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 8, 2008

About the author

Elmer Kelton (1926-2009) was award-winning author of more than forty novels, including The Time It Never Rained, Other Men’s Horses, Texas Standoff and Hard Trail to Follow. He grew up on a ranch near Crane, Texas, and earned a journalism degree from the University of Texas. His first novel, Hot Iron, was published in 1956. Among his awards have been seven Spurs from Western Writers of America and four Western Heritage awards from the National Cowboy Hall of Fame. His novel The Good Old Boys was made into a television film starring Tommy Lee Jones. In addition to his novels, Kelton worked as an agricultural journalist for 42 years. He served in the infantry in World War II. He died in 2009.

http://us.macmillan.com/author/elmerk...

Reviews

[Troy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It had just enough suspense to keep me reading until the end. The characters became better developed as the book went on. The antagonist was a likable character and was almost a protagonist throughout the story. Bravo Elmer.

[Whitney Buckley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elmer Kelton was recommended by one of my followers. I have to say this book did not disappoint. I read it in one sitting. It was full of action and gunfire but the story was split between the outlaw being followed and the Ranger after him. The outlaw in his fifties realized he had wasted his life away for none too glorious lifestyle on the wrong side of the law but he hadn't been able to get out from under the shadow of his old deeds to live a new lawful life with a family. By the end of the book, you don't want him to get caught even though he should. He did rob a bank after all.
The Ranger after him wants revenge for the death of his former Ranger friend and the towns' sheriff. He is annoyed and confused by the people along the outlaw's trail that paint a different picture of his friend's murderer.
For afternoon read, I would recommend, especially if you grew up watching John Wayne specials.

[Lola · Rating 2 out of 5]

Andy Pickard is engaged to Bethel but can't tolerate her brother, Farley. He doesn't like farming either. When Andy's friend, Sheriff Blessing is killed while outlaws break their partner out of the sheriff's jail, Andy is reinstated as a Texas Ranger and sets out to find the outlaws. Andy believes that the man named Cordell is the outlaw that killed the sheriff. Unfortunately, Farley is riding along with Andy in the pursuit.
I'm not a reader of Westerns but I read this one only because it was the only book I had at the time. It was an okay story. Those who like to read Westerns will like this book even more than I did. It's one of a series.

[Patrick Hayes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fantastic read. It's a sequel to the Spur Award Winning Badger Boy, but one doesn't need to have read that to enjoy this.

Sheriff Tom Blessing has been killed and former Texas Ranger Andy Pickard, Badger Boy, returns to the rangers to find the killer. This simple premise takes some terrific turns when the killer is not exactly what he seems. The characters encountered, both pure of heart and born nasty, are wonderful. The ending has a neat twist.

I loved every page of this book. I am always impressed with Kelton's writing.

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two outlaws spring a bank robber and kill the Sheriff. Rangers take up the chase.

Great story telling as always with fascinating characters and a murdered popular lawman drives the chase as a Texas Ranger takes the trail. Tracking is never easy, but coupled with a description and the telegraph, soon few places are safe for a man on the run. Plenty of twists and turns with a great surprise ending. Well worth the time.

[Clara Roberts · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kelton allows the reader to use their imagination. He say the character cussed without using the actual words, the man raped a woman without describing the act and an Indian scalped a person without giving a gross description of the act. His books are not R rated. Anyone can read them and be both entertained and informed.

[James Mullenix · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding

I am yet again out of words with how wonderful this series is. I am not a huge reader by far but I cannot put these books down. I will collect all of them that I can get my hands on!

[Jeff Schaible · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fairly typical Texas Ranger-hunts-an-outlaw western. It was fine.

It’s possible I’d have enjoyed this more if I knew it was part of a series. It certainly worked as a standalone, but maybe had I read the previous installments, this would be elevated.

Rating: Three stars.

[Jason Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

[Whizilliam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Damn good western. The last third of the book is very good.

[Dennis O'Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

As usual a very good read. Good story and I always enjoy Kelton's books

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed ever page of this book

[Matt Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is by far the best of the series, so far. The outlaw character is really well-written and the characters develop really well. If Goodreads allowed half-stars this would be a 4.5.

[Riley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Redemption and change are hard to follow and accept on the trail of a thief but they can be found.

[Phil Lyon · Rating 5 out of 5]

The only bad part of this book, it ended. Kelton deserves each award he received.

[Timothy Roark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this one!!!

Well written!!! Kept my attention and interest the whole time!!! I enjoy reading books with well developed characters. I recommend this whole series.

[Paulette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just love this series!

[Ramon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Most of my books reviews will have this disclaimer. Most of the books in my library are audiobooks. I prefer audiobooks especially on long trips. I feel that if the book is that bad at least my time was not a complete waste. With that said I loved the book. The book was simple and easy to follow, but still had many twists and unexpected turns. The book opens as an outlaw and two other men had already robbed a bank. Luther Cordell is caught and is in the towns small jail. The town Sheriff is loved by all;awaits the Texas Rangers to transport the prisoner to be tried in court. Luther's partners breaks Cordell out of prison and shoots the Sheriff. The younger partner is shot by Andy(who is an x-Texas Ranger) and the the other partner gets away and is thought to escape to Mexico. Cordell is torn between getting help for his young partner or trying to retrieve the $10,000 hidden away from the Bank robbery. Hence starts an adventure where Cordell meets up with many strangers who find Cordell a good man who has made some bad choices. Andy the x ranger reenters the Texas Rangers in order to catch the killer of one of his good friends. Both men had good traits yet on different sides of the Law. I sometimes wasn't sure who I was cheering for.

[Megargee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Deftly plotted and fast moving, the 7th novel in Elmer Kelton's Texas Ranger series introduces a new character, escaped bank robber Luther Cordell, who is being tracked by Ranger turned farmer turned Ranger Andy ("Badger Boy") Pickard. Although he is on the wrong side of the law, Cordell is a sympathetic character who is kind to horses, won't rob old men, and tries to keep rookie outlaws from making the bad choices he has made. Nevertheless, Andy must see justice done and hold Luther accountable for his crimes.

[J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well..shoot...I'm just moving these Westerns along like cattle on the trail. This one is one of the better ones, very little on the romance and heavy on the adventure. Two men, one a Ranger and born to be the hero, the other a bank robber, born to be bad...or are they. An interesting character study on what makes a man take a certain path...

Some very interesting characters along the way. Part of a much larger collection of Ranger tails, the author makes it possible to enjoy the novel without reading the others. I had fun.

[Nathan Beck · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kelton always leaves you satisfied. I didn't know that this was a series when I picked it up, but it didn't seem to matter. I followed the story just fine. It was obvious that the characters had history, but for the most part you can get the gist of it without thinking to hard. It's nice to read a western once in a while and I'm glad I was shown an author that's clean (with a little foul language here and there).

[Fredrick Danysh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Andy Pichard leaves the farm of his fiancee and rejoins the Texas Rangers after his friend Sherriff Tom Blessing is shot down during a jail break and he has yet another fight with his brother-in-law to be. Andy chases the escapee, Luther Cordell, all across WestTexas in aan effort to bring him to justice. Andy deals with other crimes during his pursuit.

[Jeff Dickison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just a tremendous book by Mr. Kelton. The development of the characters, especially that of the outlaw, Luther Cordell, is beyond reproach. One of the best writers of (western) fiction that I have ever read.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cowboy stuck under his brother-in-laws's dominance decides to turn lawman after a bank robbery. His pursuit sees him becoming aware of the good qualities of the man he is sworn to find and bring to justice. An interesting turn about at the end of the story.

[Raymond · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable read about a section of Texas with which I am not familiar (Griffin, TX).

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Texas Rangers, righting a wrong, romance, historical fiction.

[WRH · Rating 3 out of 5]

An easy read. Entertaining. Nothing hard about it

[Eddie · Rating 4 out of 5]

wish I would of discovered Kelton sooner.

[Bill Reed · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am hooked on Kelton and his great westerns.
Looking forward to read them all.

[George Eiland · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good story.

This is not the best book that I have read in the series. That said, I still enjoyed the adventure.