The Silver Desert

In this "modern" western Hollywood types come to Barrier Ranch thinking they will spend a few days enjoying themselves and having a laugh or two at the expense of the ranch owner. This all comes about because a man meets a girl, an actress Lily Tennant, whom Tom Sebastian falls in love with at first sight, and she accepts his invitation to come visit. To complicate matters a band of outlaws wants to prevent Tom from rounding up his cattle to see in order to save his ranch--remember the setting is the throes of the Great Depression. And for Tom there is no choice but to fight. There are automobiles as well as horses in this one too. With the exception of the novel, Rough Air, which is about a stunt pilot, this is only other "modern" novel Ernest Haycox wrote. But don't let THAT disuade you or fool you into thinking this is not a good book; for it is an excellent book, well crafted with rich characters and enough action to keep you turning pages to the end. And as with most of his books, Haycox has you asking yourself what you would do in this situation--was the fight worth the risk of life or love?