Ghost Wolf of Thunder Mountain

If you've never read anything by Will Henry, this 2002 Leisure Books release will give you a good introduction to the quality work produced by the five-time Spur winner. GHOST WOLF OF THUNDER MOUNTAIN brings together one novella and four short stories written between 1951 and 1966. All five showcase Henry's wonderful skills as a master storyteller. GHOST WOLF OF THUNDER MOUNTAIN tops off at 221 pages. The first entry, the novella entitled 'Wolf Eye,' takes up 130 of those pages. It is a moving story - a love story - of a cattle rancher and the shepherd dog he adopts. The bond that develops between the two is seemingly shattered when the dog, who has wolf blood in him, runs off to be "with his kind." But, what goes around comes around and, after many adventures, man and dog will be reunited in an exciting climax. 'The Legend of Trooper Hennepin' deals with a crusty scout and his young cavalryman companion who track an Apache chief only to be taken prisoner by the chief and his band. 'Rough Riders of Arizona' relates the misadventures of two bronc busters trying to enlist in Teddy Roosevelt's Rough Riders. Affairs of the heart are the subject of 'River of Decision.' The final story - 'Ghost Wolf of Thunder Mountain' - is a bit of a supernatural tale dealing with the love between a wolf and, in this case, a young boy. Henry is a marvelous storyteller. His storylines are gripping and affecting. The men and women in his tales are living, breathing human beings with all the strengths and weaknesses of the race, whether white or red. More importantly, most of the stories don't deal with "big" issues - gunfights, range wars, etc. Rather they focus on human interest stories, the "little" episodes that made up the canvas of western life. If you enjoy quality western tales, pick up a copy of GHOST WOLF OF THUNDER MOUNTAIN. It's a gripping, well-written set of Old West stories that will leave you shaking your head in admiration of a great talent. Highly recommended.