Across the Rio Colorado

In the spring of 1837 Chance McQuade was hired by Rufus Hook to oversee the drive of over 100 wagons and families from St Louis, Missouri to construct a new town to be named Hookville in central Texas near the Rio Colorado. Hook had promised each family a land grant plus cash once they had reached the Texas town site. Hook, though, intended to double cross them to ensure that all the land grants reverted to his name so that he would rule over his own central Texas empire. Along the way through Missouri and Indian Territory they were attacked by outlaws, kiowa, comanches, malaria and lightning and had to cultivate a wit and togetherness to overcome them. There was also conflict amongst the emigrants themselves especially from the Hook party who largely travelled separately sleeping off late the night's carousing from the mobile saloon of whisky, gals and gambling that Hook had brought with him. As well as having to deal with the ruthless Hook, the emigrants also knew that they would have to join up with Sam Houston's forces to fight the Mexican army for Texas statehood to be more certain of working their land grants in peace. `Across the Rio Colorado' is one of the `Sundown Riders' series and is full of human interest from start to finish and perhaps shows that the hardship comparatively absent today might have once helped to produce a closer knit community.

This was a real western page-turner, with more action in a single chapter than many books have in a hundred pages.

The people from Missouri hope to go to Texas which they think is a land of freedom and the fullfilment of their dreams. But first they have to conquer the many hazards including, ragging rivers, indians, violent thunderstorms, etc. But Mr. Compton finds a way. a great read.