A suspended kid. A haunted soldier. One summer in the wild that could save them both. When sixteen-year-old Tom Weston throws one punch too many, school boots him for the year, and his exhausted mom sends him to Iron Creek to live with the brother who left years ago. Adam Weston, once an Army Ranger, now keeps to a weathered mountain cabin, a cast-iron stove, and a creed he’s written on the wall: Stand your ground. Protect the weak. Lead with honor. Never quit. Always return. Adam doesn’t lecture. He trains. Dawn runs on needle-soft trails. Knots that hold under force. Maps and compasses that make sense when the forest doesn’t. Fire you build for need, not show. And slowly, between split logs and quiet miles, Tom starts to trade his anger for discipline, and to ask the questions he’s avoided about the brother who left, the friend Adam lost overseas, and the kind of man he wants to be. But the mountains don’t care about plans. When a sudden storm swells the river and a backcountry group goes missing, Tom and Adam are pulled into a search that will test every skill they’ve earned, and every line of the Ranger’s Oath. To find the lost, they’ll have to face what’s been lost between them, and decide whether “always return” is a promise they can keep. The Ranger’s Oath is a gripping, heart-forward coming-of-age novel about brotherhood, resilience, and the quiet courage it takes to change. Set against towering pines and cold, fast water, it blends outdoor survival with emotional depth, perfect for readers who love character-driven stories where the wild is both setting and teacher. You’ll love this book if you enjoy: Tough-love mentorship and found-again family - Survival training, map & compass, and honest wilderness detail - A healing arc that tackles grief, guilt, and second chances without sugarcoating - High-stakes weather, rising rivers, and a race to bring people home Themes: perseverance over perfection, healthy masculinity, service and sacrifice, making amends, and choosing the harder right over the easier wrong. Content notes: references to combat loss/PTSD, peril in wilderness (storm/flood), brief school fight; no graphic on-page violence or language. Step into Iron Creek. Learn the Oath. And discover that sometimes the bravest thing you can do is come back.