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Man Riding West
Louis L'Amour said that the West was no place for the frightened or the mean. It was a ''big country needing big men and women to live in it.'' This volume presents nine of L'Amour's ever-popular short stories - history that lives forever.
Riding for the Brand : After a narrow escape, Jed Asbury comes across a derelict covered wagon, the people and their horses killed. Now outfitted in new clothes and guns, he decides to finish what the former owners had set out to do.
Four Card Draw : Allen Ring drew four cards in a poker game with Ben Taylor and won a small ranch. It's all Allen had ever hoped to have - but Marshall Bilton is determined to make things difficult.
His Brother's Debt : Rock Casady is considered a coward because he won't go into town. But that was before Sue Landon asked Rock to accompany her to make some needed purchases - and Casady can't say no to a lady.
A Strong Land Growing : Marshal Fitz Moore of Sentinel hears that outlaws plan to hit his town. Their method is to kill the lawman first, then loot the town. Nevertheless, Moore intends to make his stand.
The Turkeyfeather Riders : Jim Sandifer, foreman for the B Bar ranch, plans to come clean about a raid he stopped on the Katrischen spread - even though it will bring an end to his life at the ranch and ruin his only chance with the girl he loves.
Lit a Shuck for Texas : The Sandy Kid is nineteen and new to this range. He gets curious when he tells his boss, Wald, of a rich-veined chunk of gold ore on Wald's land but gets only anger in response.
The Nester and the Paiute : The Paiute is the local bad man. But as bad as his rustling and killing has been, Sheriff Todd had never caught him with real evidence - but that was before the Nester rode in . . .
Barney Takes a Hand : The H&C Cattle Company has an eviction notice for Tess Bayeux. Tess has been waiting for help from Rex Tilden, but he hasn't responded. She supposes that this new fellow, Barney, will be no help at all, but in that she is wrong.
Man Riding West : Jim Gary, the man riding west, comes upon three men pushing cattle. Red Slagle seems friendly enough and even offers Jim a job riding herd. Jim can use the money, and the herd is moving the same direction he is, which is good luck for him - unless the herd is stolen.
Riding for the Brand : After a narrow escape, Jed Asbury comes across a derelict covered wagon, the people and their horses killed. Now outfitted in new clothes and guns, he decides to finish what the former owners had set out to do.
Four Card Draw : Allen Ring drew four cards in a poker game with Ben Taylor and won a small ranch. It's all Allen had ever hoped to have - but Marshall Bilton is determined to make things difficult.
His Brother's Debt : Rock Casady is considered a coward because he won't go into town. But that was before Sue Landon asked Rock to accompany her to make some needed purchases - and Casady can't say no to a lady.
A Strong Land Growing : Marshal Fitz Moore of Sentinel hears that outlaws plan to hit his town. Their method is to kill the lawman first, then loot the town. Nevertheless, Moore intends to make his stand.
The Turkeyfeather Riders : Jim Sandifer, foreman for the B Bar ranch, plans to come clean about a raid he stopped on the Katrischen spread - even though it will bring an end to his life at the ranch and ruin his only chance with the girl he loves.
Lit a Shuck for Texas : The Sandy Kid is nineteen and new to this range. He gets curious when he tells his boss, Wald, of a rich-veined chunk of gold ore on Wald's land but gets only anger in response.
The Nester and the Paiute : The Paiute is the local bad man. But as bad as his rustling and killing has been, Sheriff Todd had never caught him with real evidence - but that was before the Nester rode in . . .
Barney Takes a Hand : The H&C Cattle Company has an eviction notice for Tess Bayeux. Tess has been waiting for help from Rex Tilden, but he hasn't responded. She supposes that this new fellow, Barney, will be no help at all, but in that she is wrong.
Man Riding West : Jim Gary, the man riding west, comes upon three men pushing cattle. Red Slagle seems friendly enough and even offers Jim a job riding herd. Jim can use the money, and the herd is moving the same direction he is, which is good luck for him - unless the herd is stolen.
253 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 1986
5 people are currently reading
158 people want to read
About the author
Louis L'Amour
1,007 books3,514 followersLouis Dearborn L'Amour was an American novelist and short story writer. His books consisted primarily of Western novels, though he called his work "frontier stories". His most widely known Western fiction works include Last of the Breed, Hondo, Shalako, and the Sackett series. L'Amour also wrote historical fiction (The Walking Drum), science fiction (The Haunted Mesa), non-fiction (Frontier), and poetry and short-story collections. Many of his stories were made into films. His books remain popular and most have gone through multiple printings. At the time of his death, almost all of his 105 existing works (89 novels, 14 short-story collections, and two full-length works of nonfiction) were still in print, and he was "one of the world's most popular writers".
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
January 27, 2022
It has been ages since I encountered some of the stories in this collection. Some were familiar while others could have been altogether new to me. From desert survival, wagon trains, range wars, and more, the western setting comes alive under L'Amours pen. The collection combines a bit of mystery and a smidge of romance with a hard-bitten action that frequently ends in a shootout. I enjoyed how each felt different and approached the characters and situation to add variety. I loved some, but liked them all.
There was more than one narrator for the collection though all stories were solo narrator works. I thought Mark Bramhall and Tom Weiner, new to me narrators, were great matches for these stories and enhanced my experience with the books.
I definitely recommend this nine-story collection for some good, well-developed western fiction.
Because, the blurbs don't all share the titles and blurbs, I've copied and pasted the Chirp description:
A collection of Louis L'Amour short stories that John Tuska edited and brought together under this title.
Riding for the Brand : After a narrow escape, Jed Asbury comes across a derelict covered wagon, the people and their horses killed. Now outfitted in new clothes and guns, he decides to finish what the former owners had set out to do.
Four Card Draw : Allen Ring drew four cards in a poker game with Ben Taylor and won a small ranch. It's all Allen had ever hoped to have - but Marshall Bilton is determined to make things difficult.
His Brother's Debt : Rock Casady is considered a coward because he won't go into town. But that was before Sue Landon asked Rock to accompany her to make some needed purchases - and Casady can't say no to a lady.
A Strong Land Growing : Marshal Fitz Moore of Sentinel hears that outlaws plan to hit his town. Their method is to kill the lawman first, then loot the town. Nevertheless, Moore intends to make his stand.
The Turkeyfeather Riders : Jim Sandifer, foreman for the B Bar ranch, plans to come clean about a raid he stopped on the Katrischen spread - even though it will bring an end to his life at the ranch and ruin his only chance with the girl he loves.
Lit a Shuck for Texas : The Sandy Kid is nineteen and new to this range. He gets curious when he tells his boss, Wald, of a rich-veined chunk of gold ore on Wald's land but gets only anger in response.
The Nester and the Paiute : The Paiute is the local bad man. But as bad as his rustling and killing has been, Sheriff Todd had never caught him with real evidence - but that was before the Nester rode in . . .
Barney Takes a Hand : The H&C Cattle Company has an eviction notice for Tess Bayeux. Tess has been waiting for help from Rex Tilden, but he hasn't responded. She supposes that this new fellow, Barney, will be no help at all, but in that she is wrong.
Man Riding West : Jim Gary, the man riding west, comes upon three men pushing cattle. Red Slagle seems friendly enough and even offers Jim a job riding herd. Jim can use the money, and the herd is moving the same direction he is, which is good luck for him - unless the herd is stolen.
There was more than one narrator for the collection though all stories were solo narrator works. I thought Mark Bramhall and Tom Weiner, new to me narrators, were great matches for these stories and enhanced my experience with the books.
I definitely recommend this nine-story collection for some good, well-developed western fiction.
Because, the blurbs don't all share the titles and blurbs, I've copied and pasted the Chirp description:
A collection of Louis L'Amour short stories that John Tuska edited and brought together under this title.
Riding for the Brand : After a narrow escape, Jed Asbury comes across a derelict covered wagon, the people and their horses killed. Now outfitted in new clothes and guns, he decides to finish what the former owners had set out to do.
Four Card Draw : Allen Ring drew four cards in a poker game with Ben Taylor and won a small ranch. It's all Allen had ever hoped to have - but Marshall Bilton is determined to make things difficult.
His Brother's Debt : Rock Casady is considered a coward because he won't go into town. But that was before Sue Landon asked Rock to accompany her to make some needed purchases - and Casady can't say no to a lady.
A Strong Land Growing : Marshal Fitz Moore of Sentinel hears that outlaws plan to hit his town. Their method is to kill the lawman first, then loot the town. Nevertheless, Moore intends to make his stand.
The Turkeyfeather Riders : Jim Sandifer, foreman for the B Bar ranch, plans to come clean about a raid he stopped on the Katrischen spread - even though it will bring an end to his life at the ranch and ruin his only chance with the girl he loves.
Lit a Shuck for Texas : The Sandy Kid is nineteen and new to this range. He gets curious when he tells his boss, Wald, of a rich-veined chunk of gold ore on Wald's land but gets only anger in response.
The Nester and the Paiute : The Paiute is the local bad man. But as bad as his rustling and killing has been, Sheriff Todd had never caught him with real evidence - but that was before the Nester rode in . . .
Barney Takes a Hand : The H&C Cattle Company has an eviction notice for Tess Bayeux. Tess has been waiting for help from Rex Tilden, but he hasn't responded. She supposes that this new fellow, Barney, will be no help at all, but in that she is wrong.
Man Riding West : Jim Gary, the man riding west, comes upon three men pushing cattle. Red Slagle seems friendly enough and even offers Jim a job riding herd. Jim can use the money, and the herd is moving the same direction he is, which is good luck for him - unless the herd is stolen.
March 15, 2025
A short freebie on Libby from my local library. Nothing like the dramatizations on several of his others, but somewhere between 3-4 stars. An enjoyable Western when you’re on dish cleaning duty 🤠
January 30, 2024
Every once in a while, I enjoy reading a western and I always look for a Louis L'Amour book because they never disappoint
December 21, 2024
I really liked this book. The first short story is a really tough read and a is mildly upsetting. Everything after that is a banger!
July 21, 2015
Short Western story hit the spot. The only thing I caught that was a bit over the top was that in the immediate aftermath of the big gun fight, it got so quiet that you could hear a baby crying in the distance. OK...
April 17, 2022
I don’t know if L’Amour was trying to be mysterious, but if he was, he certainly missed by a mile. Any western story that mentions anything specific about brands in the first page or two has already tipped their hand in the direction of rustlers. Once you get that figured out, there is no mystery. It just becomes the story of an incredibly obtuse, stunningly fast gunman. You do get a little suspense toward the end as you try to guess how the hero will get himself out of the crazy mess he’s in this time.
I like L’Amour’s stories usually. They tend to be clean. The good guy always wins, the girl always drops the villain for the hero, and the cowardly town always comes along cheering gratefully at the end. This one was really no different and so quite enjoyable. I would recommend it.
I like L’Amour’s stories usually. They tend to be clean. The good guy always wins, the girl always drops the villain for the hero, and the cowardly town always comes along cheering gratefully at the end. This one was really no different and so quite enjoyable. I would recommend it.
August 30, 2021
It's amazing how quickly L'Amour was color up his characters and make me care about the mc in such a short amount of pages!
August 26, 2023
Not really 100% related to the book, but my husband listened to this short read together on a car trip right after discussing if She Hulk’s claim of “being a woman “ was adequate for being so good at controlling her anger. Neither A Man Riding West or She Hulk are real, but it was fun to poke at my husband and point out how truly bad men are at controlling their emotions and how women can put on a calm face and carry on despite deserved inner rage.
Jim Gary- gets insulted and beats a man into the ground, Mart Ray- easily gets goaded into a fight, Kitty- dad gets murdered the day prior and goes out to collect the cattle that were stolen.
Just saying, it’s obvious who would make the best Hulk from this western.
Popsugar Reading Challenge 2020: A western (read in 2023)
Jim Gary- gets insulted and beats a man into the ground, Mart Ray- easily gets goaded into a fight, Kitty- dad gets murdered the day prior and goes out to collect the cattle that were stolen.
Just saying, it’s obvious who would make the best Hulk from this western.
Popsugar Reading Challenge 2020: A western (read in 2023)
February 24, 2021
This is one of my husband's favorite authors. He owns every book the man wrote numerous times. He even met the man at a book-signing. He's definitely a fan - and an old cowboy at heart. So every once in a while I read one of these old gems. Man Riding West is a collection of short stories about fictional characters and their adventures in the "Old West." The stories seemed real, probably because it was an audiobook. I like having these ol d stories read to mr.
May 20, 2021
My great-grandfather was a foreman on the Bar B (Browning Brothers') Ranch at Connor Springs in northern Utah. When he became injured, one of his ranch hands took over as foreman and married his oldest daughter; their first child was my mother. Many of these stories, written from the mid-1940's to the mid-1950's, feature cattle ranchers, good and bad. I'm equally entertained by them and appalled at their casual racism, sexism, and violence--which, of course, is part of my heritage.
July 20, 2023
What a neat collection of short stories!
Dealing with a lawless land where any one man can shoot another and go on with his day, L’Amour navigates the landscape poetically. There is a beauty to these tales of honor and while they all seem to end the same way I can’t help but smile each time the good man defeats the evil man. A lovely recommendation and I imagine I’ll be returning to L’Amour’s work before too long.
Dealing with a lawless land where any one man can shoot another and go on with his day, L’Amour navigates the landscape poetically. There is a beauty to these tales of honor and while they all seem to end the same way I can’t help but smile each time the good man defeats the evil man. A lovely recommendation and I imagine I’ll be returning to L’Amour’s work before too long.
March 29, 2020
A series of short stories and what I would call a novella . All classic western stories and all entertaining. My favorite was a kid raised by an outlaw at a time when the old man wants to retire and have him take over. Problem is that he is a good kid.I like his shorter works, but then again none of his works are overly long.
September 5, 2020
Jim Gary, a man who avoids trouble at all costs, so much so, that he's called yellow by some, but those who know of him would say other wise. Jim finds himself hired on to help move a herd of cattle west, but something doesn't sit right with operation, and Jim finds himself unable to avoid the trouble he's be side stepping.
September 9, 2022
Found this book in my Audible Plus catalog, and I love Louis L'Amour short stories; so I added to my library. It was, as expected, really good; except about half of the stories I had heard before. I can't complain though, they were still enjoyable. If you like westerns, always look for the short stories of Louis L'Amour.
January 29, 2024
Man Riding West
Louis L'Amour, Mark Bramhall (Narrator)
Audiobook version. Two books by this name from this author. Being reluctant to fight doesn’t make a man yaller, especially if he’s a fast draw and doesn’t want to get the rep that goes with the distinction. However riding with rustlers can get you branded as such and hung. What can we say.
Louis L'Amour, Mark Bramhall (Narrator)
Audiobook version. Two books by this name from this author. Being reluctant to fight doesn’t make a man yaller, especially if he’s a fast draw and doesn’t want to get the rep that goes with the distinction. However riding with rustlers can get you branded as such and hung. What can we say.
February 13, 2020
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫Stars. I don’t read many westerns but needed to find one for my reading challenge and it turns out Louis L’Amour’s Man Riding West was a great pick. It’s a short story with plenty of action. I just may read another by L’Amour 👍
January 23, 2023
Det var nok den ringeste bog/ novelle jeg har læst af L'Amour. Ikke meget kød på den fortælling: en mand med en seksløbere, nogle stjålne køer og en skudduel. BANG TJU og så var den historie færdig!
Skift pyt. Næste gang bliver den bedre.
Skift pyt. Næste gang bliver den bedre.
March 6, 2018
For me, L'Amour's writings are inversely related to their length: the shorter they are, the better they seem to be. The ending was kind of weird and abrupt, though.
April 10, 2018
Listened to it several times.
September 3, 2018
Book Riot Read Harder Challenge 2018 | Task 7: Western
October 12, 2018
Quick fun cowboy story. It’s got the love, betrayal, suspense and adventure.
January 12, 2019
This is a dramatized short story. I did like the protagonist in that sometimes we try to be involved and overlook what others do, but have to deal with it in the end.
March 8, 2019
The saying too good to be true, is sort of the theme for this gun packing boy wanting to make a few dollars.
January 22, 2020
3.5 stars. If you are a fan of the genre, I can see why you like his books. The characters were good and a rough and tumble scenario.
March 11, 2020
Read a lot of L’Amour’s books. His early books are his best and these short stories are the same.
September 7, 2020
I'd never read Louis L'Amour so I thought I give him a try. This is a series of short stories and I found them too much alike. I'll try a novel next time.
September 10, 2021
Love it. Short, action-packed Western. I have been seeing Louis l’amour books since childhood and I’m disappointed I have never picked one of these up before now.
November 9, 2021
Love these stories. Puts mw into the Old West.
June 4, 2022
Nice ending. Not much about the surroundings, as usual but fun straightforward plot. Quick read before bed. Happy.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews