Villa's Rifles

by Lewis B. Patten

STATED 1ST EDITION HARDCOVER - NEARLY FLAWLESS COPY - TERRIFIC PAGES, COVER, SPINE AND DUST COVER. ONLY FLAW IS A VERY SLIGHT BINDING PULL - EX LIBRARY WITH SMALL AND VERY MINOR MARKING - MYLAR OVER PERFECT DUST COVER! ALL ORDERS SHIP SAME DAY WITH TRACKING NUMBER! gldplstb

Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1977

About the author

aka Lewis Ford, Len Leighton, Joseph Wayne (with Wayne D. Overholser)

Lewis Byford Patten was a prolific author of American Western Novels, born in Denver, Colorado. Often published under the names Lewis Ford, Len Leighto and, Joseph Wayne.

Reviews

[Van Roberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lewis B. Patten is one of those old-timers who wrote westerns by the scores and resorted to a pseudonym to keep them separate. This one concerns a lawman who wants to marry a woman that runs a small spread in the middle of nowhere. She lives with her adolescent son and two Mexican ranch hands. Her husband died years ago, crushed to death beneath a falling horse. She was once a tawdry saloon girl and she fears that if she confides her ill-fated past in Sheriff Sam Chance that he will have nothing to do with her. Meantime, a gang of gun runners has stolen several wagons of 30.40. Krug bolt-action rifles with ammunition and intend to sell them to Pancho Villa, one of those colorful, real-life, Mexican renegade generals who survived as a bandit. The gun runners plan to rendezvous with Villa at the heroine's ranch. Patten complicates matters with another gang of killers who take the heroine and her son hostage and kills one of her ranch hands when he tries to defend her. They play the waiting game until Dillman and his gang arrive with the wagons and then Villa with the money. The second gang of no-account dastards want to rob Dillman after Villa has left, but Sheriff Sam Chance spoils their plans much to their chagrin. Unity of plot is emphasized here as everybody is heading to the heroine's ranch for a showdown of sorts.

[Edward Creter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good w/nonstop action and recommended for western-lovers.