North to the Rails: A Novel (Talon and Chantry)

Tom Chantry is the lead protagonist in this book, and we learn he is Borden Chantry's son; Borden the town marshal has been killed some years before. Tom had been living in the East and when he came west to buy cattle he is mistaken as soft, a coward, but they were dead wrong; for he could handle a gun and use his fists. The Chantry family is related to the Sacketts. The only knock I have is with the ending, but I will not spoil that for you. Otherwise this is an entertaining book, easily read and understood. Typical L'Amour fare written during his most productive and creative period.

Tom Chantry came from the East to the West to buy cattle then bring them to the railroads at Dodge. But when he backs down from a shoot-out with a drunk named Dutch Akins, everyone takes him for a coward and a man who doesn't keep his word. Tom can't find anyone now to buy cattle from or even help move them to the railroads. Tom must learn that he is now in the untamed land of the west where there is no law but only a man's courage and his gun.Then Tom shocks everyone with how much nerve he has. He makes a deal with French Williams, a well-known man who everyone accuses of stealing cattle though there is no proof. He is said to be able to swindle anyone out of a cow deal. Tom says to Williams that if French Williams will supply the men to help take the herd to the rails, Chantry will give him some shares of the profit. Then Tom makes the deal more interesting. He says that if he himself can't keep up with the outfit and doesn't make it to Dodge City, French Williams will get all of the profit. Williams agrees to it.Now Tom must be sure to keep up with the herd. But everyone forgets that his father was the famous Borden Chantry and that Tom knows what he's doing. Though at first he is against having a gun, he buys himself a gun and a rifle. And not only does he know how to shoot, he knows how to fight. Local outlaws and gunmen mistake him for a victim but they were going to learn that he is no greenhorn and not a man to be trifled with.This is a great book to read!! When I first read it, I had such a hard time putting it down when I had to do other things. I couldn't stop reading it. It's very exciting and suspenseful. The character of Tom Chantry is really likable and I was rooting him on throughout the whole book. But probably my most favorite character in the book was French Williams. He is cool, smart, fast with a gun, and a very honorable man. He might steal cattle from others and swindle people out of a cattle deal, he still is very nice and trustworthy. Then there's also the character of Mr. Sparrow. He's very mysterious yet nice and kind, and strangely very attached to Tom Chantry, even though they hardly know each other. But if I tell to much about him, I'll spoil the story.

I used to wonder why anyone read L'Amour when all the plots seemed the same. At some point, I picked up one (probably on vacation) and now I'm hooked. Sure, they're predictable - but so are 98% of the shows on TV. It doesn't mean they're not enjoyable.I probably won't review many westerns, but this is a great one if you don't know which of his dozens to choose.

Tom Chantry (Borden Chantry's son) having lived in the east since his fathers death, now comes west to buy cattle for shippment back east. Believing gun's only lead to trouble he refuses to carry one but he soon finds out that a peaceful unarmed man can get into trouble just as fast as a man carrying a gun. Tom leaves town after being challenged to a gunfight, the word gets around, and everybody believes him to be a coward. This is a very good novel, possibly one of L'Amours best, it never let's up and Tom's stubborn refusal to carry a gun (even though he does know how to use one) makes it even more exiting. You'll love this one....like I do.