Free (Kindle) The Fighting Blacksmith by S. J. Bounds [Ranchers vs Rustlers Western]

[ATDrake]

The Fighting Blacksmith by the late British author S. J. Bounds (ISFDB, Wikipedia, SFE), a prolific multi-genre author whose influence has been honoured by the creation of the British Fantasy Awards' Sydney J. Bounds Best Newcomer Award, is his vintage standalone western historical action adventure novel, this one a tale of a plucky blacksmith aiming to prove himself in a battle of cattle ranchers vs rustlers in an attempt to impress a rancher's beautiful daughter, as you do, only to find that getting involved in these sorts of disputes is considerably more complicated than hitting things with hammers, free for a limited time courtesy of publisher Endeavour Press' Pioneering imprint.

This was originally published in 1953 by Western Library using the title Outlaw Buttes and the pseudonym James Marshal, and was later reprinted by Robert Hale using the pseudonym Richard Daniels as part of their Black Horse Western line.

I'm just going to note that while it's apparently a reasonably cromulent modern alternate spelling, if the one single person without an entry who has it listed as a first name on Wikipedia is anything to go by, in historical terms, “Lief” for a character of Nordic ancestry looks rather jarring compared to the much more traditional “Leif”, which has a considerably longer usage history, and makes it look like either the character's parents (or their author) was kind of illiterate or didn't really do the research (entirely possible, given the probable dearth of decent resources in the 1950s) when it came to naming them. You might as well call the other character “Jhon” (also a perfectly cromulent alternate spelling in considerably wider usage by what seems to be mostly modern soccer players, but probably not one likely to be found in a vintage Western set outside of New Mexico or maybe very early California or Texas).

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

Description
Whatever it takes…

When rustlers menace peaceful Horseshoe Bend, rancher John Bolton demands drastic action, with gun or rope.

Having had over a score of prize-winning cattle stolen and a ransom note pinned to his door from the notorious criminal Peregrine, Bolton calls for an emergency meeting with the other key ranchers in the valley.

Duffy, Jeffers and Corliss – a newcomer to the town – rally together to help Bolton protect his herd, unaware that Peregrine and his outlaws plan to target a different ranch in every raid.

Soon it becomes clear that there is a traitor in their midst communicating the guard plans to the enemy and suspicion threatens to destroy the ranchers’ defence.

This looks like an ideal opportunity for the town’s brawny blacksmith, Lief Anderson, to impress Bolton’s lovely daughter Ellen and he insists on joining the ranchers’ efforts.

But it wasn’t going to be that easy, for Lief couldn’t even fire a gun let alone shoot a rustler!

Lief struggles on, aided by range detective Slim, and despite being accused of rustling himself he finally discovers the identity of the gang’s leaders.

Risking everything for the security of the woman he loves, Lief attempts to take on the rustlers single-handedly and defies everyone’s expectations of the lowly blacksmith.

That was only the beginning, though, and it was not until more treachery and the sound of gunfire had died down that Lief’s fate, and that of the whole valley, would be decided.

[ZodWallop]

If I weren't so mature, I'd be tempted to make jokes about Outlaw Buttes.

[Dr. Drib]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

If I weren't so mature, I'd be tempted to make jokes about Outlaw Buttes.

I'm not mature.

[ATDrake]

Now a repeat freebie if you happened to miss it previously.