Western Annotation

Ranger's Trail

By: Elmer Kelton

Series: Number 4 in Elmer Kelton's Texas Ranger series

Synopsis: 

Ranger Rusty Shannon returns from the Civil War to his home in Southern Texas shaken, but ready to begin a new life with his love, Josie. Josie's younger sister has recently gotten into a bit of trouble with an outlaw clan and when she escapes back to freedom, the outlaws, coming for revenge, murder Josie by mistake. Heavy with grief and anger, Rusty is out for his own revenge. With his two friends on his side, and a notion of justice, Rusty sets out travelling across Texas ripping up the land in search of the person who killed Josie. There are mistakes, bloody battles, and long rides across the journey, but finally Rusty comes face-to-face with the person he believes murdered his beloved Josie. In this tense final moment, Rusty gets new information about the murder he did not bargain for, will this final twist be enough to weaken Rusty's need for vengeance or will this final showdown end in blood and gun smoke?  

Western Characteristics:

Setting: Set in Texas in 1874, the setting is given a lot of detail and character.

Plot: The plot is heavy in both good versus evil themes and vengeance/justice themes. Kelton does a nice job blurring the lines ever so slightly between good and evil and showing the ways in which the main character's desire for vengeance leads him astray, but true western lovers will not be disappointed in the overall good versus evil and vengeance themes present.

Pace: Fast-paced and action packed

Read-a-likes:

The Taken by Mike Keary

Cry of the Hawk by Terry Johnston

True Grit by Charles Portis

The Last Mountain Man by William Johnstone