
In a dusty mountain forge, a seasoned blacksmith named Jasper watches his apprentice, Andrew, swing a hammer with the precision of a born gunslinger. For fifteen years Jasper has poured his life into shaping Andy into the perfect rider and shooter, caring more for skill than for the boy’s softer side. Yet as the sparks fly, the old man feels a growing unease, sensing that the heart he has forged may be missing something essential.
The routine is shattered when a rider bursts in, demanding iron for a wounded horse and a quick repair that could decide a fate on the open range. Jasper’s expertise is called upon, but the encounter hints at a larger, law‑less world where violence and loyalty clash. As the forge’s fire burns, both men are drawn toward a test that will force them to confront what true strength really means.
Language
en
Duration
~6 hours (373K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Suzanne Shell, Dave Morgan, Tom Allen and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team.
Release date
2006-02-01
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

1892–1944
Best known for fast-moving Westerns, this hugely prolific American writer published under many pen names and helped shape the pulp storytelling style of the early 20th century. His work mixed action, mythic heroes, and a pace that kept readers coming back for more.
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