Three-legged Horse
Texas in the 1870s finds young Justin Bodean, his father, and four other passengers aboard a stagecoach traveling west. Attacked by outlaws, one passenger, his father, and the driver are killed, while the remaining four passengers are left at the mercy of the elements. A Comanche renegade, Bent Feather, along with several warriors, take them prisoner, have them disrobe, and proceed to torture them. Rescued by a group of Texas Rangers, the survivors are taken to the nearest town. Justin visits his Aunt Sara, who has a ranch nearby, while his traveling companions go their separate ways. Two of his companions are gunfighters who join rival ranchers trying to obtain control of the land in the area, while the fourth, Frances, a writer from back east, joins Justin to learn more about the area for his paper. The greedy ranchers soon force them into the fight for land, while Bent Feather causes more trouble.
A well-written young adult western, this is the coming-of-age tale of a fifteen-year old boy who experiences the death of his father and then attempts to start a new life. The plot is fast- paced with little bloodshed or the bad language usually found in some adult westerns. I found the action is solidly paced throughout the book, while the author had me interested in the main character and how he would succeed living in the West without his father. A worthwhile read for young adults who may have never read a western story before. Highly recommended.
