
At the Flying U Ranch a tight‑knit homestead is shaken when an impeccably dressed stranger arrives with the old rancher from Helena. Miguel Rapponi, a city‑born lawman in a crimson kerchief, glittering silver spurs and a moon‑stone ring, immediately draws the wary eyes of the Happy family. Their gossip and snide remarks betray a mix of curiosity and suspicion toward his flamboyant garb and the foreign cadence of his speech.
Miguel’s cool confidence and non‑committal smile hide a purpose beyond mere curiosity—his badge marks him as a peeler sent from the Golden Gate, and his presence hints at trouble brewing on the open range. As he settles into the bunk‑house and eyes the local women with a casual question, the ranchers brace for the inevitable clash between the polished city officer and the rugged, self‑reliant world of the frontier. The stage is set for a showdown of pride, culture, and the promise of unexpected alliances.
Language
en
Duration
~3 hours (228K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Anthony Matonak, and David Widger
Release date
1998-02-01
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1871–1940
One of the early stars of the Western novel, this prolific storyteller helped shape the genre with fast-moving tales of ranch life, humor, and frontier adventure. Writing under the pen name B. M. Bower, she built a wide readership with books like the popular Flying U series.
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