"Two western stories--'Black Rock Desert' and 'The Desert Rider'--find two young men returning to the towns where their hopes were shattered. Each one finds that past experiences have prepared him to face the challenges waiting for him as he helps expose and stop shady characters"--
Backcover: Center Point Large Print Edition Western.
The story follows former lawman Bruce Martell as he arrives in Indio Basin in search of his brother Kip. He quickly becomes embroiled in a tense conflict between local cowmen and homesteaders, highlighting themes of loyalty, family, and the struggle for land. The setting provides a backdrop for exploring the tensions of the American West, as Martell navigates the challenges of his quest amidst the larger societal issues at play.
When word of the Pony Express being formed reached Clay Roswell in Texas, he decided to get a job as a rider. He was told his best chance for such a job was along the desert stretch in Nevada Territory, so that was where he headed. Along the trail, he met two brothers, Jess and Hoke Pickard, and agreed to team up with them, at least as far as Salt Lake. They made camp one night in Weber Cañon, east of Salt Lake, but as Roswell lay in his blankets, the Pickards tried to club him to death. They stole his money and his horses, and left him for dead.
"Two Western stories--In 'Wolf brand' rancher Vike Gunnison is targeted when he sides with the farmers against the railroad's attempt to cheat them out of their land. In 'Doom Patrol' rancher Buck Comstock is wrongfully convicted of murder, but escapes and leads the fight against the men who are trying to take over Twin Buttes"-- Provided by publisher
