Texas Ranger - Branch Logan - I Will Defend What's Mine

By Bart Lawson

Saddle up and ride the same wild lonesome trails as Texas Ranger Branch Logan did in the 1870's thru the 1890's. Long and lean with a heart as big as the Texas sky, Ranger Logan travels throughout the territories of the Southwest during the height of America's expansion westward. From rough and tumble gold and silver mining country to savage wide open high plains, the Ranger pursued outlaws and rustlers, extending the rule of law to the new territories. From the Oklahoma deserts to the beaches of California he traveled by horseback, stagecoach and train to end the careers of ruthless gold and silver stealing, cattle rustling, land grabbing thieves and murderers. Feel the dry heat of hot desert floors and the bitter cold of snow-covered moun

• Language: English
• Publisher: J.C. Hulsey Books
• Release date: Mar 30, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224707737

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TEXAS RANGER

BRANCH LOGAN

I WILL DEFEND WHAT’S MINE

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BART LAWSON

Copyright © 2021 by J.C. Hulsey Books

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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are a product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is purely coincidental.

This book may contain views, premises, depictions, and statements by the author that are not necessarily shared or endorsed by J.C. Hulsey Books.

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Cover Art by Michael Thomas

Cover design by J.C. Hulsey Books

Published by J.C. Hulsey Books

April 2021

10987654321

FOREWORD

Branch Logan just got his butt piled in the dirt by a bucking horse. The captain rode up to the fence and without asking if he was hurt, said, When yer thru wallowing around in the dirt, yer going to New Mexico.

******

In the year of eighteen hundred and eighty, Roger and Helen Bruster had moved to the Mora River Valley, several miles east, southeast of Watrous, New Mexico. They had bought the old Ortiz Land Grant, which consisted of nineteen hundred and twenty acres. Of that, right along the north river bank, a hundred and sixty acres were fenced, where a beautiful orchard and vegetable garden grew.

The main house was rock and adobe and a two-bedroom foreman’s house sat well back under large cottonwood trees.

On this day, all the men were out on the east free range, rounding up cattle. Roger had just gotten back home to do evening chores when ten men came riding in.

The one in front said, Bruster, this'll be the last time, you've got two days to get off this land, then my herd’s comin thru.

Roger reached just inside the barn door and got his rifle. Come ahead, I’ll defend what’s mine!

Yer wrong, this is free range and’ll damn shor stay that’a way. I don’t give ah damn about your Ortiz’s land grant.

Get!

CHAPTER ONE

Late spring, Roger Bruster and five men took a load of vegetables into Watrous, and pulled the wagon to a stop in front of the grocery store. Roger went in saying hello to Mister Johnstone and his wife. Thought I’d give you first chance on my first load of vegetables.

My goodness yes! Mister Johnstone yanked his apron off and beat Roger back out to the wagon. His eyes were lit up and he said, Folks sure have been waiting on this first load."

I've got ten bushels, do you have room for them all?

I’ll make room! When word spreads, I’ll be out in two days. If you’ll pull around back, we’ll unload them in the store room.

"You didn’t even ask