Left to Die

by Frank Roderus

Old Jug had been a ranch hand for more years that even he could remember. But when he uncovered a scheme to rustle cattle from under his watch, someone wanted him out of the way -- and he was fired from the only job he'd ever known.Now, Jug is going to find who's responsible -- and show them just how much fight one old cowboy has left.

Genres: Westerns

269 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

Frank Roderus wrote his first story—it was a western—when he was five. It was really awful, as might be expected, but his mother kept that typed and spell-checked short story tucked away until the day she died.
Later, Frank became a newspaper reporter, thinking that books are written by authors which he most assuredly was not. He kept trying to write though, and eventually did it wrong enough to learn how to get it right. That first sale, a young adult novel published by Independence Press, was more than thirty years and a good many books ago.
As a journalist, the Colorado Press Association awarded Frank Roderus their highest award, the Sweepstakes Award, for the best news story of 1980, and the Western Writers of America has twice named Frank recipient of their prestigious Spur Award. Frank passed away at age 73 in December 2015.

Reviews

[Frank Watson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was in the mood the other day for a good western with an engaging story, plausible character, action, and an entertaining voice.

Left to Die by Frank Roderus nicely filled the bill.

The story, as I like for them to, starts in the middle of the action:

"The sons of bitches came sneaking up on me out of he night, and I have to say they were awfully good at it...I didn't hear or suspect a thing, they were that good. But then what would you expect from snakes in the grass?"

From there it was non-stop action. Roderus puts the reader in the middle a situation where Wes Johnson, the main character, is mistaken for somebody else, hanged, robbed, and left for dead. He lives, in a way both miraculous and plausible, and spends most of the book surviving with a sling for a weapon, eating snake meat, and following the snakes that had robbed and hanged him.

The story is told in a conversational first person voice and Johnson doesn't reveal much about his back story. He hints that he is no saint, though is mainly a decent sort. This is corroborated when he is taken in by a widow woman and her daughter. He appreciates them nursing him back to health, but feels guilty for eating up what little they have.

In the same conversational way Wes shares some of the lessons he's learned in life. Like protecting himself from rattle snakes ("I welcomed dead ones for food but sure didn't want to bunk with any") by using a hemp rope stretched out around him on the ground at night. He explains that the snakes won't cross the rope because "the fibers of the hemp tickle their bellies..."

Of course, with a little luck and (not implausible) coincidences, he is able to gain his revenge by bringing the bad guy to jail, gets his horse and money back, provides the means for the widow and her daughter to no longer have to struggle, and is on his way to domestic bliss.

In the end, the reader has the feeling that maybe our protagonist has been telling a yarn that may or may not entirely truthful, but still has been a lot of fun.

If you are in the mood for a good western, you wouldn't go wrong with this one.

[Connie Skief · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thief hung? A corrupt lawman?

A pretty widow and her daughter barely making a living. A hung man who didn't die. Justice to be served. Interesting story with a twist or two. Highly recommended for all readers.

[Paul F. Brady · Rating 3 out of 5]

With a twist

Kind of "wordy", but enjoyable read. An everyday cowboy, or so we think strives to make things right. At the end a twist,you don't expect.

[John Shearer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Left To Die

This is a good read. The story is at times humerus and at times grim but always entertaining. Just good old western.

[D. E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A DR Western About A Man A Possee Thought robbed The Payroll

FR had penned a western novel about a young man who was carrying $5000 dollar when the alleged possee caught him. They set him up so that when he grew tired he would hang himself. The young man escaped and located where the possee was from. He has changed his appearance but is determined to get his money back. This is an excellent read for the genre.....DEHS

[Dennis R Thummel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don't read to write reviews but for pleasure and relaxation.

I leave writing reviews to read to recognized critics and don't put much stock in personal opinions. The star rating system is sufficient for me.

[Noland · Rating 2 out of 5]

So,.............

I was disappointed in this book. To much nonsense rambling by the main character. His speech was one I would have expected in a cheaper novel. I will not be reading any more books from this author.

[kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

A reread. Started slow but I loved the kicker at the end.

[Barbara Lee Wood · Rating 5 out of 5]

"NEVER SAY DIE"

Life is hard and that's how it was in the old west. Men were hanged for anything that at the time seemed normal. You could be getting ready to eat your meal and a bunch of nere-do-wells crash your camp accusing you of robbing a mine payroll. That's what happened to this cowboy, stole everything from him and beat him, then they stole all his worldly goods. And you all know from reading westerns, majority of the cowboys owned what they could carry. They're horse, rain poncho, saddlebags and the clothes on their back; Some of them might have a change of clothes, but usually they worked, slept in those clothes. This particular cowboy was accused of robbery which wasn't true and dang if they didn't hang. Lordy, Lordy what a mess, but those times the town's people or large ranch owners dealt out their own type of justice. They became judge and jury. Lots of innocent people met their fate at end of a rope. This is a pretty good story, funny, mysterious and who stole my boots..ENJOY😏💃