Her inheritance came with an unsolved mystery.

If she can’t find out the truth, she may lose more than she gained.

Lena Campbell never knew her grandfather—but she always dreamed of visiting Wyoming, where her mother was born and raised. When she receives word that her grandfather is dead and his Wyoming ranch belongs to her, she jumps at the chance.

Only later does she learn that Garth McKay was murdered, and the murder is still unsolved.

Despite this shadow hanging over her, Lena thrives in her new life—and unexpectedly finds love there. And then a new revelation breaks the McKay murder case wide open again, and leaves her reeling.

Caught in a battle to prove the innocence of the man she loves, Lena begins to have frightening doubts. Whatever verdict the jury returns, will she ever know the truth about Garth McKay’s death—and does she even want to?

If you love mystery and romantic suspense in the style of Mary Stewart and Phyllis A. Whitney, you’ll love this story of murder, romance, and coming of age in 1930s Wyoming.

A new bride faces questions about her marriage in the shadow of a prairie blizzard.

A minister’s decision to raise sheep in cattle country stirs up controversy among his new congregation.

A spunky ranch girl matches wits with a thief.

A World War II veteran struggles with wartime scars while assuming the responsibilities of the family ranch.

And in the title story, a man is found shot beside a branding fire and a young rancher is accused of murder—but what crime was really committed there?

If you enjoy classic Western short stories in the tradition of Dorothy M. Johnson, Elmer Kelton, and Louis L’Amour, you’ll love these seven stories capturing the grit, gumption, and buoyant spirit of the Old West.

She needed a husband on short notice to save the ranch.

They needed a ring to make it official, and his best pal just happened to have a real nice one handy.

And they’re all about to get way more than they bargained for.

Meredith Fayett needed to marry someone before the week was out or she would lose her ranch. It sounded simple, so ranch hand Chance Stevens agreed to take on the job, in spite of his friend Marty’s warnings that it could only lead to trouble.

But even Marty, a loyal though opinionated sidekick, couldn’t have predicted the mayhem that ensues when his own eccentric relatives appear on the scene, dragging Chance, Marty, and Meredith into the latest skirmish in a long-running family feud.

What follows is a hilarious tangle involving an emerald ring, a fearsome aunt, a scheming suitor, and a team of runaway mules—by the end of which Chance finds that even a marriage just on paper has its complications, and that it never hurts to have a good sidekick.

If you love a good screwball romp in a homespun setting—think P.G. Wodehouse meets O. Henry—pick up A Sidekick’s Tale now and start laughing!