
audiobook
In the rugged expanses of early‑20th‑century Montana, a charismatic entrepreneur named Waring Ridgway dominates every room he enters. He is a man of relentless ambition, able to turn any venture into profit, yet his charm hides a calculating streak that makes him both admired and feared. When Virginia Balfour, a sharp‑witted socialite, is faced with the prospect of marrying him, she weighs the allure of wealth and influence against a hollow promise of affection.
The novel follows their uneasy courtship as Ridgway’s empire expands, drawing in a cast of schemers, rivals, and unexpected allies. From daring freebooters on the frontier to whispered conspiracies in smoky saloons, the story examines how power can blur the line between heroism and villainy. Listeners will be drawn into a tense, character‑driven drama where every choice carries a hidden cost.
Language
en
Duration
~5 hours (341K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Mary Starr Updated: 2022-12-12.
Release date
2000-08-01
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1871–1954
Best known for fast-moving Westerns, this British-born American novelist turned frontier settings into vivid, popular adventures. He wrote prolifically for decades, with stories ranging from cowboys and rangers to the Klondike.
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