Fairview boys on a ranch : $b or, Riding with the cowboys

Four energetic friends—Frank, Sammy, Bob, and a quick‑wit named Bouncer—receive a surprising letter from Frank’s older brother George, inviting them to spend the summer on a distant Western ranch owned by a family connection. The news ignites a torrent of jokes, debates about Indians, gold mines, and rattlesnakes, and a fierce competition to be the first to read the invitation. Their raucous banter and playful rivalry set the tone for a journey that promises to turn everyday boyhood into real frontier adventure.

When the boys finally arrive, they find a sprawling range of open plains, sturdy barns, and a crew of seasoned cowboys eager to teach them rope tricks, horse riding, and the art of rounding up cattle. Along the way they encounter mishaps—lost saddle, a startled snake, and the challenge of a bucking bronco—that test their courage and friendship. With each dusty trail they learn that the true treasure may be the stories they create together, not the gold they imagined.