Fallon is a swindler, gambler, looking for a way to score some money to head for San Francisco, but gets entangled in his own web, and winds up questioning his motives.

Started a little slow, but became more interesting as I continued reading. Not L'Amour's best, but fine for fans and completists. ( )

One of my favorites of L'Amours many Westerns, I like this one because the hero is unconventional -- a gambler rather than a cowboy or a lawman. The plotline is original, too, as Fallon tries to pull off the biggest swindle of his life, but gets caught up in being a reluctant hero trying to save the town he meant to abandon. ( )

Product Description Macon Fallon had never needed more than a deck of cards, a fast horse, and a ready gun; he was counting on those things now as he led an unsuspecting group of settlers to an abandoned mining town. But while Fallon prepared to pass the ghost town off as a gold mine in the making, a funny thing happened: a real-life community started to take shape in the town he’d christened Red Horse. So when a band of vicious outlaws and a kid who fancied himself a gunslinger threatened to rip Red Horse apart, Fallon found himself caught in one predicament he’d never gambled on. He had come to Red Horse to make a quick fortune, but now he might have to pick up a gun and risk his life for a place he never wanted to call home.… From the Publisher Macon Fallon had never needed much more than a deck of cards, a fast horse, and a ready gun. And he was counting on those things now, as he led an unsuspecting group of settlers into an abandoned mining town. But while Fallon prepared to pass the ghost town off as a gold mine in the making, a funny thing happened: a real-life community started to take shape in the town he's christened Red Horse, and a lovely, strong-minded woman started to take notice of one Macon Fallon. So when a band of vicious outlaws and a kid who fancied himself a gunslinger threatened to rip Red Horse apart, Fallon found himself caught in the one predicament he's never gambled on -- picking up a gun and laying down his life for a place he just might call home ... ( )