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Gunman's justice
Thorne Stevens was a gunman with a reputation for never backing down from a fight. Tired of his hell-raising life, he figured he was ready to settle down and picked a spot in a pretty little valley in the wild, free territory of Wyoming. Unfortunately, he stakes his claim right smack in the middle of a range war between land-hungry Harper Manning and his gang of hired thugs and a spunky rancher named Angus Mitchell. Soon, it's clear that Stevens will have to revive his fighting ways to stop Manning and his gang from taking everything they want - including Angus Mitchell's beautiful daughter, Brandy.
- GenresWesterns
183 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1974
About the author
P.A. Bechko
12 booksPeggy Anne Bechko was born on 26 August 1950 in South Haven, Michigan, USA, daughter of Elizabeth Schleimer and Edwin L. Bechko. She raised in Indiana and Florida, she now lives in New Mexico, a beautiful state of mountains, pines, desert and cactus. She is married to Steven Chappell, also novelist.
As P.A. Bechko and Peggy Bechko is the author of fifteen novels that have been sold to major publishers in several genres: western, romance and SciFi/fantasy. Published in hardcover, paperback, audio and Ebook formats, her books have been published with Doubleday, Harlequin, Pinnacle and Thorndike Press as well as The FictionWorks and others. Her books have been reprinted internationally.
Her spec screenplays have been optioned domestically and abroad, her screenplay titled Replica (formerly Spitting Image) climbed to a high ranking place in two well-known competitions while one of her short stories, Skykicker took two first place prizes in competition. She’s also written a produced episode of a 1/2 hour animated series, Diabolik, for Saban Entertainment. She is also a ghostwriter having ghosted a full-length movie script, a screen treatment and a non-fiction book. She’s published articles with her own byline (travel articles, articles on writing, biographical article) in a number of areas digitally and in hard copy.
Over the years Peggy has taught writing in different venues as well. On the ground she’s taught workshops locally. Online, she’s taught Romance writing with UCLA Online Extension and she is currently putting together a new class to be taught online.
As P.A. Bechko and Peggy Bechko is the author of fifteen novels that have been sold to major publishers in several genres: western, romance and SciFi/fantasy. Published in hardcover, paperback, audio and Ebook formats, her books have been published with Doubleday, Harlequin, Pinnacle and Thorndike Press as well as The FictionWorks and others. Her books have been reprinted internationally.
Her spec screenplays have been optioned domestically and abroad, her screenplay titled Replica (formerly Spitting Image) climbed to a high ranking place in two well-known competitions while one of her short stories, Skykicker took two first place prizes in competition. She’s also written a produced episode of a 1/2 hour animated series, Diabolik, for Saban Entertainment. She is also a ghostwriter having ghosted a full-length movie script, a screen treatment and a non-fiction book. She’s published articles with her own byline (travel articles, articles on writing, biographical article) in a number of areas digitally and in hard copy.
Over the years Peggy has taught writing in different venues as well. On the ground she’s taught workshops locally. Online, she’s taught Romance writing with UCLA Online Extension and she is currently putting together a new class to be taught online.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
April 29, 2015
I love Westerns. There's just something about them. Gunslingers, ranch owners, evil cattlemen, feisty women with flashing eyes. Words like "reckon", "varmints", "womenfolk" and phrases like "slinging hot lead". How can I resist?!
It might be because I grew up watching The Good, The Bad and The Ugly; For a Few Dollars More; A Fistful of Dollars; Tombstone; True Grit; and The Magnificent Seven. I still go to the theaters when a Western comes out (which isn't often...it's not a very popular genre).
This Western is a little better than most because all the characters are agreeable to me and it has a happy ending. There's a woman in it - that's important to me too.
In this story, Thorne Stevens is just trying to settle down in a little valley, hunker down before the serious snows start in. Unfortunately, trouble seems drawn to him. He lands smack dab in the middle of a range war between a nice family (which includes a beautiful young woman) and an evil, greedy ranch owner. Of course he gets involved.
Thorne is smart and sharp and silent. Brandy (the woman) is feisty and knows how to work a rifle. The huge wolf-dog, Jake, is fiercely loyal to Thorne and protective of him. The evil Harper Manning is a "dude" (city boy) who dresses in fancy duds and doesn't like to get his hands dirty. He wants Brandy as his wife! But Brandy has other ideas. Winter is setting in and the stakes are high - a body's as likely to freeze to death than get shot.
SOME QUOTES
"He had learned long ago that a man who wanted to keep his hide whole didn't let other folks know what was going on inside. Thorne knew the kind of man Snake Eyes was and there was just enough of the wild animal left in Thorne to just as soon shoot him down like a rabid dog."
"That Scott had a powerful lot of learning to do where his sister was concerned."
"There's been some crazy, fool talk about the railroad coming through here somewheres."
"She's a wildcat, and half the territory knows it."
"I want you to know that I'm beholden to you for what you did for Scott."
It might be because I grew up watching The Good, The Bad and The Ugly; For a Few Dollars More; A Fistful of Dollars; Tombstone; True Grit; and The Magnificent Seven. I still go to the theaters when a Western comes out (which isn't often...it's not a very popular genre).
This Western is a little better than most because all the characters are agreeable to me and it has a happy ending. There's a woman in it - that's important to me too.
In this story, Thorne Stevens is just trying to settle down in a little valley, hunker down before the serious snows start in. Unfortunately, trouble seems drawn to him. He lands smack dab in the middle of a range war between a nice family (which includes a beautiful young woman) and an evil, greedy ranch owner. Of course he gets involved.
Thorne is smart and sharp and silent. Brandy (the woman) is feisty and knows how to work a rifle. The huge wolf-dog, Jake, is fiercely loyal to Thorne and protective of him. The evil Harper Manning is a "dude" (city boy) who dresses in fancy duds and doesn't like to get his hands dirty. He wants Brandy as his wife! But Brandy has other ideas. Winter is setting in and the stakes are high - a body's as likely to freeze to death than get shot.
SOME QUOTES
"He had learned long ago that a man who wanted to keep his hide whole didn't let other folks know what was going on inside. Thorne knew the kind of man Snake Eyes was and there was just enough of the wild animal left in Thorne to just as soon shoot him down like a rabid dog."
"That Scott had a powerful lot of learning to do where his sister was concerned."
"There's been some crazy, fool talk about the railroad coming through here somewheres."
"She's a wildcat, and half the territory knows it."
"I want you to know that I'm beholden to you for what you did for Scott."
Displaying 1 of 1 review