John D. Nesbitt Knihy

Dunbar, working on a ranch in the Niobrara country in Wyoming, connects the death of a hardscrabble homesteader with the death of an old horse trader some fifteen years earlier. As Dunbar goes to work on a corral project in town and then on fall roundup, more murders take place. People who know too much are being silenced. An old woman named Verona tells of an ancient crime on Old Woman Creek, where a sheepherder was killed and his partner escaped. Dunbar brings forth the witnesses, and a showdown erupts, with Dunbar bringing justice to the Niobrara country.

In "Double Deceit," a man named Dunbar arrives in Temple Basin to assist an old rancher recovering from a broken leg. The rancher's granddaughter narrates the unfolding events as a murder and a disappearance reveal Dunbar's true mission: to track down a killer and deliver justice. In "Scarecrows," Tommy Stallings learns of trouble befalling his aunt and uncle in Texas. Along with his cousin Rusty, they travel from the New Mexico Territory to confront cattle rustlers who terrorize local ranchers. His Aunt Martha describes the rustlers as "scarecrows," due to the canvas bags they wear to conceal their identities. Teaming up with Bill Slaughter, an agent for the Stock-Raisers Association, they investigate the wave of crime. "Cold the Bitter Heart" explores the complexities of familial relationships, particularly through Catherine Baxter, who may be masking her true self behind a facade of innocence. Jake Summers, the investigator, must navigate a web of suspects, questioning whether he truly knows the truth. Lastly, in "Wind in His Face," Scrap Elliot, a veteran Texas Ranger, is on a vital courier mission when he unexpectedly encounters an old flame in Waco. After her husband dies suddenly, she vanishes, prompting Scrap to embark on a quest to find her and clear his name of any wrongdoing.

An aspiring Ohio transplant's dream of owning a ranch in turn-of-the-century Wyoming is interrupted by a series of murders. Earl Miner, who owns the Pick, pressures his workers to file claims under the Homestead Act and sell their land to him to avoid competition. When cowpuncher Reese Hartley refuses this arrangement, he is dismissed by foreman Dick Prentiss and sets off without a clear plan. Hartley encounters several women in town, including Bess Ackerman, Muriel Dulse, and Nancy Wisner, each with their own aspirations and challenges. However, his most significant conflicts arise with local men who threaten his ambitions and physically confront him. As Hartley contemplates his next move, Ben Stillwell disappears and is later found dead, followed by the murder of Nancy Wisner. When Treece accuses newcomer Blue of Nancy's murder, blacksmith/marshal Jock Mosby arrests him, but Hartley suspects there’s more to the story. This slight mystery serves as a backdrop for a heartfelt tribute to the Wyoming frontier, showcasing the struggles and aspirations of those who inhabit it.

" For a quarter of a century, Five Star Publishing, an imprint of Gale/Cengage, has offered readers the best in new voices, as well as many beloved authors, in the traditional Western and American frontier fiction genres. Hobnail and Other Frontier Stories, edited by Hazel Rumney, features seventeen brand-new stories that will delight historical fiction fans. These stories capture the spirit of freedom and individualism in the evolving 19th century American frontier. These epic narratives are organized by timeframe to offer readers a panoramic view of pioneers who faced life-changing challenges in settings that are in stark contrast to civilized society. Ranging from high-action traditional Westerns to introspective historical dramas set in the American West, readers will discover previously untold stories about the tenacious individuals who shaped the iconic American West. In this anthology, you'll enjoy stories by New York Times bestselling and award-winning authors such as Loren D. Estleman, Johnny D. Boggs, Rod Miller, Patrick Dearen, John D. Nesbitt, W. Michael Farmer, Richard Prosch, Harper Courtland, James D. Crownover, Vonn McKee, Paul Colt, L. J. Martin, Greg Hunt, Wallace J. Swenson, John Neely Davis, Lonnie Whitaker, Steven Howell Wilson. Hobnail and Other Frontier Stories is a great addition to your Western fiction library. "

"Seventeen-year-old Wilsey Grant is on his own when he meets a traveler on foot. The two arrive in the town of Silver Grass, where the other man finds work washing dishes. Wilsey goes out to look for work and meets an indentured servant girl, an orphan like himself. Before long, the fellow traveler turns up dead. Wilsey goes to work at the nearby Emerald Peaks Ranch, where he hears of ranch hands terrorizing the settlers, and he witnesses the shooting of a homesteader boy. Wilsey shares his knowledge with the deputy sheriff, who arrests a ranch hand. Next, the owner of the Emerald Peaks Ranch leads an entourage of ranch hands and gunmen into town, where they kidnap a girl and offer to trade her for the prisoner. When the deputy turns down the offer, two henchmen shoot him and spring the prisoner. While the deputy is recovering, the Emerald Peaks marauders return to town and set a couple of buildings on fire. Two of the attackers are killed, but the main antagonists are still on the loose. Back on his feet, the deputy is able to put together a group of supporters, and they set out toward the ranch, where they have a series of encounters by gunfight. At the end of the story, Wilsey meets again with the indentured orphan girl and tells her that when she has fulfilled the terms of her service, he will help her look for her sister"--