{"product_id":"utah-blaineisbn-9780553247619","title":"Utah Blaine","description":"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.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e 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.Our foremost storyteller of the American West, \u003cb\u003eLouis L’Amour \u003c\/b\u003ehas 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\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    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.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    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.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    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.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    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.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    They had stopped. A horse moved nervously, and then there was a  voice. \"Right above your head.\" There was a pause. \"That's it.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    Another and deeper voice spoke. \"Lead his horse over here.\" There was  movement, a click of hoof on stone. \"Hold it.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    Saddle leather creaked, easily heard in the still night air. Then  that second voice came again. \"There!\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    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.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    \"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'!\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    \"Hurry it up!\" The voice held impatience and obvious distaste. \"Do  it, if you're goin' to, an' let's get out of here!\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    \"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?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    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.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    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.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    There was another blow, and the sharp creaking of leather that  implied more blows. The man in the blankets was sweating. He eased  from the blankets and grasped his boots, drawing them on. Then he  stood up.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    \"Hurry it up, Lud! It'll soon be light an' we've miles to go!\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    The listener held himself still. To be found here would mean certain  death, and he was utterly defenseless. Against one man, or even two,  he might have taken a chance, but without a gun he was helpless  against this number.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    This was no committee of honest citizens but some dark and ugly bunch  out to do business that demanded night and secrecy. They could not  afford to be seen or known.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    \"All right,\" Lud's voice was thick, irritated, \"lead his horse out  easy. I want this to last.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    A horse moved and the listener heard the creak of a rope taking  strain; then he heard the jerking of it as the hanged man kicked and  struggled. The listener knew. He had seen a lynching before this.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    \"Never thought I'd live to see the day,\" the first speaker said.  \"After Neal the rest of them will be easy. This was the one had me  bothered.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    \"Huh!\" Lud grunted. \"You leave it to me. This was the one I wanted.  Now we'll get the rest. Let's get out of here!\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    There was a sudden pound of horses' hoofs and the listener moved  swiftly. Yet it was a movement without sound. Like a shadow he slid  into the brush, the branches not even whispering on his clothing.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    The chance was slight, but there was a chance. The last few feet he  ran soundlessly on the thick leaves and grass. He went up the tree  with swift agility and with a quick slash, he cut the rope and let  the body tumble into the dust. Grasping the branch he swung out and  dropped lightly beside the body, then bent swiftly and loosened the  noose. Almost at once the man began to gasp hoarsely.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    So far as could be seen the trail was empty, but this was no healthy  place. Picking up the older man as if he were a child, the rescuer  went quickly through the brush to his bed and placed the man on the  ground. Then he loosened the man's shirt and got his own canteen.  Gasping painfully, his neck raw from the manila rope, the man drank.  Then he sank back on the blankets.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    Restlessly, the young man paced, staring up the trail through the  brush. One of the riders might come back, and the sooner they got  away from here, the better. He knew the folly of mixing in other  people's business in a strange country.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    The old man lay on the ground and stared up at the sky. His fingers  fumbled at the raw flesh of his throat and came away bloody. His gray  eyes turned toward his rescuer. \"Fig . . . figured they . . . had  me.\" His voice was thick and hoarse.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    \"Save the talk. Only reason you're alive is that Lud hombre. He  wanted you to choke slow instead of break your neck with a drop.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    The old man rolled over to his elbow and sat up. He stared around,  looking at the two worn blankets, then at the canteen. He took it in  trembling hands and drank slowly. Then he said, \"Where's your horse?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    \"Don't have one.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    The older man stared at him. The young man's possessions appeared to  be nothing but the blankets and canteen. The flannel shirt he wore  was ragged and sunfaded, the jeans did not fit him, and he had no  hat. His only weapon was a Bowie knife with a bone handle. Yet  beneath the ragged shirt the shoulders and chest bulged with raw  power and the man's face was hard and brown, his green eyes steady.  Moreover there was about him a certain undefined air of command that  arrested the older man's curiosity.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    \"My name's Joe Neal,\" he volunteered. \"Who are you? What are you?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    The big man squatted. He reached for a piece of brown grass and  snapped it off. \"What's this all about?\" he jerked his head at the  trail. \"Who were they?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    \"Vigilantes,\" Neal's voice was still hoarse. \"That's the devil of it,  stranger. I helped organize 'em.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    He stretched his neck gingerly. His face was brown and seamed with  wrinkles. \"My brand's the 46 Connected. The country was overrun with  rustlers so we got them vigilantes together. Them rustlers was well  organized with spies everywhere. Nobody ever knew who was behind 'em  until Lud Fuller turned it up that Gid Blake was the man. I'd never  have believed it.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    \"They hung him?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    \"Nope. He got him a gun first an' shot it out. Fuller handled it.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    \"Blake a gambler?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    \"Lord, no! He was a rancher. The B-Bar, almost as big as my outfit.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    The man got to his feet. \"If you're up to it, we better light out. Is  there anywhere near we can pick up horses?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    \"The nearest is over by the lava beds. The Sostenes's outfit.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    \"Sostenes? A Mex family?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    \"Uh huh. Been here a long time.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    They started walking, heading back up a draw. When they reached a  ledge of rock the stranger stepped over to it. \"Better keep to this.  They'll trail us. Sounded like they wanted you mighty bad.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    Neal's muscles were still jumping nervously from the shock of  hanging. Sweat got into the raw flesh on his throat and smarted  painfully.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    He scowled as he walked, feeling with his brain for the answer to the  problem that confronted him. Why had they done this to him? He had  never dreamed that Lud might hate him, although he had always  secretly despised the big man. The vigilante notice had come to him  shortly before midnight and he had answered it all the more promptly  because he felt it was time to disband. He was not at all satisfied  about the hanging of Gid Blake and he knew the community had been  profoundly shocked. He had joined the riders at their rendezvous and  had been promptly struck over the head from behind. By the time he  shook himself out of it, he was tied and they were taking him to the  tree.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    He turned and glanced at the big man who walked behind him with an  effortless ease that he could never have hoped to match. Not even, he  reflected, as a young man.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    Who was the fellow? What was a white man doing with no more outfit  than a digger Indian?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    After awhile, Neal stopped. \"Better take a blow.\" He grinned wryly.  \"Never was no hand for foot travel, not even when I felt good. And  it's a distance yet.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    \"Got any plans?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    \"No,\" Neal admitted, \"I haven't. This thing has been a shock to me.  Can't figure why they did it. One of the men in that outfit was my  foreman. Now I don't know who to trust.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    \"Then don't trust anybody.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    \"That's easier said than done. I've got to have help.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    \"Why?\" The big man leaned back on the ground. \"Folks who want to help  mostly just get in the way. This here's a one-man job you got.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    Neal felt gingerly of his neck. \"I'm not as young as I used to be. I  don't want to go back there an' get my neck stretched.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    \"You aim to quit?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    Neal spat. \"Like hell, I'll quit! Everything I've got is back there.  You want I should give up thirty thousand head of cattle?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    \"Be a fool if you did. I figured you might send me.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    \"You?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    \"Sure. Give me papers authorizing me as ranch manager, papers the  banks will recognize. Let me work it out. You're up against a steal,  and a smart one.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    \"I don't follow you.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    \"Look, you organized the vigilantes to get rid of some crooks. Then  all of a sudden when you aren't with them the vigilantes hang this  Gid Blake. He was a big rancher, you said. What happens to his  outfit?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    \"What happens? His daughter runs it.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    \"Can she?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    \"Well, I don't know,\" Neal admitted. \"She's mighty young.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    \"Was her foreman a vigilante? I'm bettin' he was. I'm bettin'  somebody got smart down there and decided to use the vigilantes to  get possession of your range and that of Blake. From what they said  they have others in mind, too. I'm bettin' none of your range was  filed on. I'm bettin' that with you gone they just move in. Is that  right?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    \"Could be.\" Neal shook his head. \"Man, you've struck it. I'll bet  that's just it.\" He shook his head. \"I can't figure who would boss a  deal like that.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    \"Maybe nobody. Maybe just two or three put their heads together and  got busy. Maybe when the job is done they'll fight among themselves.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    \"Who would stop it? Is there anybody down there who might try?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    \"Tris Stevens might. Tris was marshal once, years ago, and he's still  right salty. Ben Otten might, he's smart enough. Blake, Otten, Nevers  and me, we were the big outfits. Lee Fox was strong but not too big.  It was us decided on the vigilantes, although I was the ringleader, I  expect.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    They got up and started on, walking more slowly. \"Well, like my  proposition? You go back there now they'll kill you sure as shootin'.  Send me in an' you'll have 'em worried. They won't know what's become  of you, whether you're dead or alive.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    \"I'd have to be alive to send you down there.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    \"No, not if you pre-dated the order, say two months or even a couple  of weeks. Then I could move in and they would be some worried.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    \"What's to stop 'em from killin' you?\" Neal demanded. \"You'd be  walkin' right into a trap.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    \"It wouldn't be the first. I'll make out.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    They walked on and the sun came out and it grew hotter, much hotter.  Joe Neal turned the idea over in his mind. He was no longer a  youngster. Well past sixty, with care he might live for years. But he  wasn't up to fighting a lone hand battle. While this fellow-he liked  his looks.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    \"I don't know who you are. Far's I can see you're just a tramp  without a saddle.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    \"That's what I am. I just broke jail.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    Neal chuckled. \"You got a nerve, stranger. Tellin' me that when  you're askin' me to drop my ranch in your lap.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    \"The jail was in Old Mexico. I was a colonel in the army of the  revolution, and the revolution failed. They took me a prisoner and  were fixin' to shoot me. The idea didn't appeal very much so I went  through the wall one night and headed for Hermosillo, then made it  overland to here.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    \"What's your name? I s'pose you got one?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    The young man paused and mopped the sweat from his face. \"I got one.  I'm Utah Blaine.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    Joe Neal stiffened, looking up with startled realization. \"You . . .  you're Utah Blaine? The gunfighter?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    \"That's right.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    Joe Neal considered this in silence. How many stories had he heard of  Blaine? The man was ranked for gun skill with Wes Hardin, Clay  Allison and Earp. He had, they said, killed twenty men. Yet he was  known as a top hand on any ranch.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    \"You took a herd up the trail for Slaughter, didn't you?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    \"Yeah. And I took one up for Pierce.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    \"All right, Blaine. We'll make a deal. What do you want?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    \"A hundred a month and an outfit. A thousand dollars expense money to  go in there with. I'll render an account of that. Then if I clear  this up, give me five hundred head of young stuff.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    Neal spat. \"Blaine, you clear this up for me and you can have a  thousand! A permanent job, if you want it. I know how to use a good  man, Blaine, and if you were good enough for old Shanghai Pierce you  are good enough for me. I'll sign the papers, Blaine, makin' you  ranch manager and givin' you right to draw on my funds for payrolls  or whatever.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    They came up to the Sostenes ranch at sundown. For a half hour they  lay watching it. There were three men about: tall old Pete Sostenes  and his two lanky sons. It was a lonely place to which few people  came. Finally, they went down to the ranch.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    Pete saw them coming almost at once and stood waiting for them. He  glanced from Blaine to Neal. \"What has happen'?\" he asked. \"You are  without horses! You have been hurt.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    Inside the house, Neal explained briefly, then nodded to Blaine.  \"He's goin' back there for me. Can you get us out of here to the  railroad? In a covered wagon?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    \"But surely, Señor! An' if I can help, you have only to ask.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    Four days later, in El Paso, they drew up the papers and signed them.  Then the two shook hands. \"If I had a son, Utah, he might do this for  me.\"","brand":"Bantam","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46303028510949,"sku":"NP9780553247619","price":8.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9780553247619_80f2fc9b-fb3b-43f6-a265-17e28efc9123.jpg?v=1730752792","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/es\/products\/utah-blaineisbn-9780553247619","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}