John D. Nesbitt

Travis Quinn is accused of branding his employers calves to augment his friend's herd. There is no proof but his employer fires him anyway.

Travis meets Miles Newman on the trail some days later and Miles suggests he try to get a job at the ranch where he works. Travis does and is hired and he and Newman become a very good team.

When eventually the ranching year nears winter, Miles and Travis know they must move on. While on a special assignment for his boss, Travis hears of a man looking for a fellow who sounds much like Miles Newman. Eventually Travis warns his friend about the danger he is in.

When Miles eventually kills his pursuer, he moves on as Travis realizes that Miles only cares about himself. He returns to the ranch where the crew look after one another and where there is an attractive widow who he wishes to know better.

This is a more complicated story than many westerns and gun play is limited. The author spends much of the story describing how a ranch worked and what the daily routine would be. Especially interesting is the descriptions of how cowboys survived working in winter conditions.… (mer)