Colonel Utah Blaine, held captive by the Army of the Revolution, broke out of jail and headed north from Mexico with nothing but the clothes on his back. Then he found new trouble struggling at the end of a noose–and stepped in just in time to save the life of a Texas rancher. The would-be executioners were the rancher’s own men, looking to steal his land. Now Utah has a unique proposition: Have the wealthy Texan play dead, introduce himself as the spread’s new foreman, and take care of the outlaws one by one. The wage to fight another man’s war? A hundred a month plus expenses. The cost of falling in love while he earns that wage? It wasn’t exactly part of the original agreement, but Utah will soon find out–unless the bad guys get to him first. Range War. Utah Blaine had escaped from a Mexican prison and was headed north on foot when he came upon a hanging. The man in the noose was a tough old Texas rancher; the executioners were his own men turned against him, and Blaine stepped out of the shadows just in time to save a life. Now Blaine has a proposition: He'll ride to the rancher's land, take over as foreman of his outfit, and take on his enemies. Blaine is no stranger to fighting in another man's war, but soon enough he'll find a reason of his own: a cause worth dying for, and a woman worth living for... Range War. Utah Blaine had escaped from a Mexican prison and was headed north on foot when he came upon a hanging. The man in the noose was a tough old Texas rancher; the executioners were his own men turned against him, and Blaine stepped out of the shadows just in time to save a life. Now Blaine has a proposition: He'll ride to the rancher's land, take over as foreman of his outfit, and take on his enemies. Blaine is no stranger to fighting in another man's war, but soon enough he'll find a reason of his own: a cause worth dying for, and a woman worth living for... Range War. Utah Blaine had escaped from a Mexican prison and was headed north on foot when he came upon a hanging. The man in the noose was a tough old Texas rancher; the executioners were his own men turned against him, and Blaine stepped out of the shadows just in time to save a life. Now Blaine has a proposition: He'll ride to the rancher's land, take over as foreman of his outfit, and take on his enemies. Blaine is no stranger to fighting in another man's war, but soon enough he'll find a reason of his own: a cause worth dying for, and a woman worth living for... Our foremost storyteller of the American West, Louis L’Amour has thrilled a nation by chronicling the adventures of the brave men and woman who settled the frontier. There are more than three hundred million copies of his books in print around the world. Chapter One HE WAS ASLEEP and then he was awake. His eyes flared wide and he held himself still, staring into the darkness, his ears reaching for sound. He could smell the dry grass on which his blankets were spread and he could smell the night. And then he heard again the sound that had awakened him. It was the stir of hoofs on the dusty trail some thirty yards away-not the sound of one horse alone, but of several horses. Carefully, he lifted himself to one elbow. This was strange country and he was unarmed. What motives might inspire whoever was out there he could not guess, but large groups of riders do not move silently along midnight trails without adequate reason. This was no celebrating bunch of cowhands headed for the home ranch. These men were quiet, and their very stillness was a warning. No stranger to trouble, he lay perfectly still, feeling the muscles back of his ears tighten with suspense. They had stopped. A horse moved nervously, and then there was a voice. "Right above your head." There was a pause. "That's it." Another and deeper voice spoke. "Lead his horse over here." There was movement, a click of hoof on stone. "Hold it." Saddle leather creaked, easily heard in the still night air. Then that second voice came again. "There!" The word held satisfaction, a gloating born from some dark well of hatred and rolled on the tongue as if the speaker had waited long for this moment and wished to prolong it. "Easy with that horse!" There was harsh impatience. "Don't let him drop! Ease him down! I want him to know what he's gettin'!" "Hurry it up!" The voice held impatience and obvious distaste. "Do it, if you're goin' to, an' let's get out of here!" "Take it easy!" There was a snarl in the deep voice. "I'm runnin' this show an' I've waited too long for this chance. How d'you like it, Neal?" The voice that spoke now was that of the man being hanged. He spoke coldly. "You always were a double-crossin' rat, Lud, an' you ain't changed any." There was the sharp crack of a slap, and then the same voice spoke again. "Lucky my hands are tied, Lud. Old as I am I'd take you apart." There was another blow, and the sharp creaking of leather that implied more blows. The man in the blankets was sw