Buchanan Calls the Shots

This 1975 western about Tom Buchanan finds both him and Coco Bean on the trail with a herd of cattle. A couple of 'friends' are in need of help from a ruthless murderer, and the main need is to combine their herds getting them safely to market. So from Fort Worth over the Western Trail to Dodge City rides Buchanan as trail boss trying to help these two whose entire future rests on safe arrival at Dodge, thereby reaping money from the cattle sale ensuring their future. No sale, no future. Along the way Buchanan's herd is attacked by both Apaches and later by gunslingers, the Indians have been paid by the gunslinger's employer to besiege the herd and kill Buchanan. When the last miles and days come along, a bad strip of drought without grass for the herd also hampers the safe arrival at Dodge City. Buchanan is looking for help from Luke Short who is at this time headquartered in Dodge City, especially with Short's connections with cattle buyers. If there are no buyers and grass at Dodge, the herd will then need be driven to Wyoming to fatten up. You know, Jonas Ward was a 'house name' from the publisher with the author actually being William R. Cox. Mr. Cox wrote for TV westerns too, Zane Grey theatre, the Virginian, and Bonanza, while at the same time writing not only westerns under his own name but also the multitude of Buchanan westerns under the 'Jonas Ward' name. When a reader sees a western by the late William R. Cox, they can be assured of a fine read. Mr. Cox died July 7, 1988, while writing his 81st novel. One of the reasons the Buchanan books succeed is the varied and interesting characters and their dialog contained within each story. And BUCHANAN CALLS THE SHOTS has all the ingredients to make it a typically good Buchanan read. Semper Fi.