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Trouble Rides the Texas Pacific (2005)

Death Rides the Rails

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Texas Ranger Jim Blawcyzk is riding the El Paso Limited en route to a routine assignment…until the train is wrecked and robbed. Barely escaping the flaming wreckage of the train, Blawcyzk sets out to track down the outlaws responsible for such wanton death and destruction. What at first appears to be an isolated train robbery leads the Ranger to a much larger plot to destroy the Texas Pacific Railroad.

Not only having to try and stop the renegades determined to destroy the railroad, Blawcyzk also finds himself the target of a mysterious dry-gulcher.

"Just ahead, Sam," Jim sighed in relief, as a flash of lightning revealed a low cliff, with several good-sized boulders scattered at its base. "We'll rest for the night. We've stuck it out through worse, pard. You'll be......."

Jim's voice stopped short, as a bullet split the air alongside his head, followed by the sharp crack of a rifle. He ripped at his reins, yanking Sam around. "Get outta here, fast, Sam. Can't see where those shots are comin' from. Give it all you got," he shouted, as bullets ripped the air. As lightning flickered and the rifle snarled again, the Ranger threw up his hands and slewed out of the saddle, to lie sprawled in the mud. Sam reared and galloped down the trail, then halted and turned, nickering questioningly at the prone form of his rider.

"Anyone who remembers any of the Jim Hatfield, Texas Ranger stories from vintage magazines and paperbacks will enjoy this actionful novel with its band of ranger heroes. Unlike the traditional loner of the older tales, though, the hero of this one is happily married with a family back home while he risks his neck tracking down railroad saboteurs. A bonus is that the author knows his horseflesh, and treats the horses as characters in themselves. All in all, a fun read for old-fashioned (and some new-fashioned) western fans." - Paul Dellinger