Free (Kindle) The Yaqui Trail by S. J. Bounds [Hidden Agenda Rancher Dispute Western]

[ATDrake]

The Yaqui Trail by the late English author S. J. Bounds (ISFDB, Wikipedia, SFE) is his vintage standalone western historical action adventure novel, this one a tale of yet another land dispute between formerly peaceful ranching neighbours and the aggressive newcomer who may have a hidden agenda in seeking the titular trail, free for a limited time courtesy of publisher Endeavour Press' Pioneering imprint.

This was originally published in 1964 by Robert Hale, credited as by Sydney James Bounds.

Currently free @ Amazon (available to Canadians & in the UK and pretty much everywhere else Amazon sells worldwide, since this is being done via their KDP Select exclusive-or-else program)

Description
Something is brewing in Indian Valley…

Shawn Murray, owner of the Lazy M, hasn’t got much to complain about in life.

His range is good and fine, nestled in the lush Indian Valley, and ranches alongside his live in peace together – good-natured rivalries aside.

Really, his only current worry is his latest hired cowhand: a man named Kenyon.

Kenyon doesn’t have the look of a wandering cowhand – he’s got a wild look about him, and his magnificent black stallion is far too well kept by cowhands’ standards.

Then there’s the fact he doesn’t carry a gun…

But as long as Kenyon keeps up his hard work, what has Murray to worry about?

And as Murray soon finds out, he has bigger problems.

A new outfit has settled in Indian Valley - the CR Ranch.

Run by Courtney Ross, Ross has his greedy sights on Indian Valley.

As Murray and the rest of the ranches realise, most of Ross’ outfit are nothing more than gunslingers for hire.

The worst being the sadistic and cold-blooded Nat and Luke Coleman.

With Ross sending the Coleman’s to bully and torture his neighbouring ranchers off their land, Murray knows something needs to be done.

But none of the ranchers can agree on what to do. It doesn’t help that Murray has fallen in love with Ross’ daughter, Olivia ‘Livy’ Ross.

Kenyon, however, isn’t blinded by love and sees Olivia for what she really is: a wolf. It takes one to know one, after all.

All he feels sorry for is Jenny Pryor, the owner of Yellow Rock’s only restaurant. She pins after Murray something bad.

With the ranchers in disarray and an all out range war on the horizon, Kenyon realises its time to move on.

He’s grateful to Murray for giving him a job but he’s seen too much gun play in his life – he knows all too well how this’ll all end.

Yet something keeps him in Yellow Rock.

Soon, it’s made clear that something in the barren desert surrounding the valley interests Ross – so much so he’ll hunt the lone Apache up there.

Could Ross be looking for The Yaqui Trail?

A classic Western, The Yaqui Trail is a suspenseful and heart-pounding tale.