John D. Nesbitt

"Twelve new stories by a prominent Western writer of short stories, novellas, and novels. This is a collection of a dozen Western stories in which people ride into danger and draw upon their own fortitude to get out--men and women, guns and horses, wrongdoing and justice. It includes the award-winning story "Return to Laurel," which was a finalist for the Western Writers of America Spur Award and for the Western Fictioneers Peacemaker Award in short fiction, and "Darlings of the Dust," which was featured in Contention and Other Frontier Stories."

In a sleepy town plagued by deception, one cowboy forces its inhabitants to lay their secrets bare.When Dunbar's curiosity about the tragic death of a young man in Cantera piques suspicion, he sets off a chain of events that unravel long-held secrets. With the town marshal seemingly indifferent to the escalating turmoil, Dunbar takes it upon himself to expose the truth.But as old flames reignite and past sins resurface, the body count rises. And the arrival of a figure from the town's dark past only adds to the chaos.With bullets flying and secrets hiding around every corner, Dunbar must confront the multiple deaths in Cantera-as well as the malevolent grip on the quiet town's uncertain fate.Fourth place recipient of the esteemed 2014 Will Rogers Medallion Award for Western fiction, Death in Cantera is an original tale of betrayal and the tangled web of deception in a town where no secret stays buried forever.

In a town where indifference and disbelief cloud the pursuit of justice, one cowboy vows to right their wrongs.Taking up work at the Little Six Ranch in Winsome, Wyoming, Dunbar finds himself immersed in the dealings of Tut Whipple, a prominent water project developer. What begins as a simple inquiry into stolen beef soon spirals into something far darker with the disappearance of Annie Mora.As Dunbar delves deeper into the young girl's disappearance, he becomes embroiled in the intricacies of Whipple's schemes and the mystery surrounding a recently constructed dam and reservoir. With each step closer to the truth, he faces off against increasing dangers.But in a land where ruthless men hold sway, Dunbar welcomes a showdown on the dark prairie.Second place recipient of the esteemed 2014 Will Rogers Medallion Award for Western fiction, Dark Prairie is an original tale of intrigue, betrayal, and courage set against the backdrop of a frontier town on the brink of transformation.

Justice is waiting to be unearthed...Jim Fontaine's tranquility shatters when saloon girl Emma Winterborne is found dead on his land in Redwillow. Determined to uncover the truth, he navigates a labyrinth of deceit, confronting ruthless ranch hands at every turn.Juggling past crimes and present threats, Jim enlists the help of Nora Winterborne and Harold Wilson, sparking a chain reaction of violent showdowns. Together, they follow a trail of twisted stories, older crimes, and newer murders in the name of justice at Redwillow.An original tale of Western mystery, Justice at Redwillow follows a frontier town plagued by darkness-and the justice waiting to be claimed.

From the award-winning author of Castle Butte comes a young adult western adventure of courage, friendship, and justice. Join Tommy Reeves and Red Armstrong, two daring ranch hands, as they defy prejudice and stand up for justice in the face of relentless hatred. When their foreman warns them to stay away from the Mexican community, they refuse to back down. But their defiance comes at a cost when they lose their jobs and face dangerous opposition from Vinch Cushman, a man determined to drive the Mexican people from their land.As tensions rise and violence escalates, Tommy finds unlikely allies in Bill Lockwood and the resilient Mexican villagers. Together, they must fight against oppression and injustice, confronting cattle stampedes, marauders, and even a prairie fire. But with courage and determination, they refuse to be silenced.Will Tommy and his allies succeed in their mission to restore peace and justice to the Wild West? Experience the power of friendship, courage, and solidarity in this gripping tale of resilience and redemption.

Betrayal lurks in every shadow...When cattle start disappearing under suspicious circumstances at the Crown Butte ranch in Wyoming, top hand Elwood Lawrence suspects an inside job. But before he can unravel the mystery, tragedy strikes: a fellow traveler is found dead, and the alleged robber has vanished into thin air.As Elwood races to uncover the truth, betrayal strikes close to home when the only woman he trusts disappears with another man. With his life on the line, he dodges bullets and faces off against hired guns.But the stakes are higher than he ever imagined. Beneath the surface lies a sinister plot, and Elwood soon realizes that the rustling of cattle is merely the beginning. To confront the true mastermind behind the chaos, he must journey deep into the heart of outlaw territory.In a thrilling tale of betrayal, Elwood Lawrence must summon every ounce of courage and cunning to survive the danger threatening to consume him.

From the award-winning author John D. Nesbitt comes a thrilling young adult western adventure through the rugged terrain of Castle Butte.Alden Clare is a seventeen-year-old burdened with responsibility. In the midst of dealing with an ailing father, a rebellious brother, and a girlfriend seeking a different path, Alden's world is turned upside down when his friend Cash meets a tragic end at the hands of ruthless outlaws. As Alden navigates the twists and turns of life in the Wild West, he finds solace in the company of Bonnie Wilcox, a spirited young woman with troubles of her own. But trouble follows him as his brother's entanglement with the same outlaws leads to deadly consequences.Now, with adversaries closing in and loved ones at risk, Alden must unravel the sinister motives behind the harassment before it's too late. As tensions escalate and the danger looms larger, he must confront the outlaws in a high-stakes showdown to protect those he holds dear.Experience the thought-provoking tale of Castle Butte as Alden Clare faces off against ruthless foes in a battle for justice and survival.

In the vast expanse of Wyoming's rugged terrain, one man's aspirations for his future collide with an unexpected twist of fate.Rising from a humble ranch hand to a promising junior partner under the wing of Lidge Mercer, Russell Archer finds his dreams abruptly shattered when Mercer's lifeless body is discovered, echoing the ominous whispers of an old crime.As Archer navigates his new reality, a chance encounter with Kate, a spirited young woman on a quest to find her father, intertwines their fates. Together, they work to unravel the secrets buried deep in the heart of the land they call home.But with each step forward, the sinister forces at play grow stronger, leaving a trail of betrayal and death in their wake. As Archer grapples with his moral obligations and the weight of justice, he realizes that the path to redemption may be paved with unimaginable sacrifices.In this original tale, Archer and Kate must confront the darkness that lurks within, facing adversaries who will stop at nothing to protect their sinister interests. With lives hanging in the balance, they must uncover the truth before it's too late.

These are poems about Western life, ranging from pretty girls and heartbreak to campfires and good horses to life and death in the Western landscape.This is the second edition of a collection of award-winning Western poetry. The poems vary from free verse to sonnets, ballads, and songs. This edition includes the Spur-Award-winning poem "Prairie Center" as well as many other poems that have won awards in smaller contests. The first edition of this collection won a Will Rogers Medallion Award.

Out on a ranch in the foothills, Jim Lander is trying to get his life in order. He's trying to put his divorce behind him so he can develop a relationship with Dusty, a nice young woman who lives in town. Things get complicated, though, when he doesn't resist temptations at the Trail's End, his favorite honky-tonk bar. To sort things out, he goes to the mountains. But even then, it takes the right combination to get things into balance. Nothing comes easy, but it is possible to find a good camp, up and away from it all, where the best light comes from the moon and the campfire.This is John D. Nesbitt's second novel about life in the contemporary West. As in his other work, Nesbitt gives a realistic treatment to his materials. His characters are less than perfect, having been through divorce or similar mistakes and giving a hesitant try at romance. They live in a setting that Nesbitt writes about the best-small-town life, farm and ranch country, and the big outdoors where everyone has the right to look for a good camp. This is a lean, trim novel with a graceful prose style that will remind us of why we like to read.

Stories of a Golden WestSomewhere between John Steinbeck and Merle Haggard, these short stories are about people who work in the fields, sleep in cars and bunkhouses, and sort out the problems that life hands them. One character remembers the day Marilyn Monroe died; another runs off with an underage girl; and another finds a hidden rifle in a dead man's house. These people live in a world of young hopes and sad memories, pretty girls and hard work.

Antelope Sky: Stories of the Modern WestHere is a world of sky and sage, dust and rain, horses and saddles, pickups and gun racks-where the wild roses bloom in springtime and the wild geese fly in winter.This is a world where men and women meet, or separate, or have a drink somewhere in between, as they sort out their pasts and try to remake the present.