The Flying U's Last Stand

Flying U #5

by B.M. Bower

Bertha Muzzy Bower/ Mrs. Sinclair/ Mrs. Cowan (1871-1940) was an author of western fiction. Among her works are: Chip, of the Flying U (1904), The Happy Family (1907), The Range Dwellers (1907), The Lure of the Dim Trails (1907), The Long Shadow (1909), The Lonesome Trail and Other Stories (1909), Good Indian (1912), Lonesome Land (1912), The Gringos (1913), The Uphill Climb (1913), Flying U Ranch (1914), Jean of the Lazy A (1915), The Flying U's Last Stand (1915), The Heritage of the Sioux (1916), The Phantom Herd (1916), The Lookout Man (1917), Starr, of the Desert (1917), Skyrider (1918), Cabin Fever (1918), The Thunder Bird (1919), The Quirt (1920), Cow-Country (1921), Casey Ryan (1921), The Trail of the White Mule (1922), The Parrowan Bonanza (1923), The Voice at Johnnywater (1923), The Bellehelen Mine (1924), The Eagle's Wing (1924), Meadowlark Basin (1925), Desert Brew (1925), and Van Patten (1926).

Genres: Westerns, Fiction

216 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1915

About the author

Bertha Muzzy Sinclair or Sinclair-Cowan, née Muzzy, best known by her pseudonym B. M. Bower, was an American author who wrote novels, fictional short stories, and screenplays about the American Old West. Her works, featuring cowboys and cows of the Flying R Ranch in Montana, reflected "an interest in ranch life, the use of working cowboys as main characters (even in romantic plots), the occasional appearance of eastern types for the sake of contrast, a sense of western geography as simultaneously harsh and grand, and a good deal of factual attention to such matters as cattle branding and bronc busting.

Born Bertha Muzzy in Otter Tail County, MN and living her early years in Big Sandy, Montana, she was married three times: to Clayton Bower, in 1890; to Bertrand William Sinclair,(also a Western author) in 1912; and to Robert Elsworth Cowan, in 1921. Bower's 1912 novel Lonesome Land was praised in The Bookman magazine for its characterization. She wrote 57 Western novels, several of which were turned into films.

Reviews

[Debbie Zapata · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just had to read one last Bower title this year, especially knowing that this one would take me back to Montana's Flying U Ranch with its wonderful group of cowboys. Andy Green, Pink, the Native Son, Irish, Weary, and Happy Jack were all here, along with Chip and his wife the Little Doctor and their son The Kid (real name Claude, and he is six years old and big for his age).

The gang has to deal with changing times, progress, and civilization, all of which threaten the very existence of the Flying U. Homesteaders! Farmers! What can be done to protect the home country from these people who have no idea that the land claims they are wanting to prove up on are not meant for farming?!

As loyal as I am to Bower, it took a few chapters for me to get really into this story. Maybe because there was too much civilization in it, or maybe because I hated to think of anything changing at 'my' ranch. Whatever caused it, I was not too thrilled at first, but The Kid saved the day. When he went and told his Daddy Chip that he was ready to trade his Shetland pony Stubby for a full-sized horse I had to laugh:
“Silver’s going to be my string, Daddy Chip, and I’m going to feed him myself and ride him myself and nobody else can touch him ‘thout I say they can.”

And when Daddy Chip told The Kid (among other things) to stay away from the pasture where he had been testing the horses before he made his choice, The Kid pitches an awesome fit that brings his mother running. She finds him kicking the walls and crying, and tells him that men don't cry when things go wrong. I laughed even harder at his reply:
“No—because they can take it out in cussing!” wailed the Kid. “I wouldn’t cry either, if you’d let me swear all I want to!”

True, The Kid was a bit spoiled but what six-year old boy (big for his age) wouldn't be when living on a ranch like the Flying U and getting to pal around with all those cool cowboys?! Kinda wish I could have grown up that way myself.

So after The Kid rescued the story for me, I enjoyed it more, and could sympathize as well with the dilemma the boys were facing. How do you hold back the future? Or can you? And how far would some people go to push that future down your throat? This turned into a dramatic, tension filled story, but still with the typical Bower touches of humor, and she even tucked in a nice little romance.

I did some checking when I finished reading and although there are supposedly a few more titles set at the Flying U, Gutenberg has only one more, and I need to read two other books in my Bower list before I get to it. So I won't be visiting the Happy Family again until next year. Luckily that is not very far away!

[Garth Mailman · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Flying U's Last Stand
by B.M. Bower

And the “Old Man” returns from Chicago a broken man and Old indeed.

Andy Green is taking the train home and he runs into one of those land sales reps, this one a fast talking female who sold dry-land farmers often false hopes. She’s easy on the eyes and Andy is described as athletic. What’s amusing is to hear her call the Happy Family’s most infamous prevaricator a man with honest eyes. As the blurb describes some of the land this charlatan has her eyes on is Flying U Range. Open range such as the ranch grazes is “crown” land no one owns. Since I checked that’s 89% of Canadian soil. Land timber merchants have cut without reseeding and multinationals have mined for resources leaving their toxic holding ponds and mountains of tailings behind. The kind of thing that the ranchers in Yellowstone, the series are fighting.

In any case Andy has pulled so many hoaxes that no one believes him when he tells the truth.

The text is obviously an unedited OCI Scan. Hence Miss becomes Hiss.

A six-year-old goes off on a ride through the breaks with his faithful horse unaware of the danger he has placed himself in or the unified community he has activated in the search to find him or the consternation of his parents. In the end he finds himself aiding a lost female searcher.

Claude Bennett Jr. or The Kid calls his father Daddy Chip and his mother Doctor Dell. Old beyond his 6 years he’s a rell ole cowpuncher. Riding his string, Silver he’s king of the range and so indulged by all.

[Bryan Boswell · Rating 5 out of 5]

A most awesome book!!!!

I am sorry that I do not have the first books in this series. This is a wonderful book. So well written. The characters jump out at you. I highly recommend this book. I will be looking for the other books in the series.

[Rhonda Mast · Rating 5 out of 5]

I so much enjoyed this book, even though I hated having the Flying U change in any way or have the happy family split up. We got lots of Andy, so that made me happy. Chip’s son is an annoying little twerp though.

[Mark Rabideau · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am sad to say I barely found this novel of interest.

[Kali · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was one of my Grandfather's favorite books.