Page Count:  366

Author:  Ralph Compton

Publisher:  St. Martin's

ISBN:  0-312-92953-6

Category:  Fiction

Genre:  Historical Western

Dove's (Personal) Review:  Book Three in Compton's extraordinary saga, The Trail Drive Series packs a punch! Definitely a "must read" title for all Western fans!
     Jesse Chisholm's famous cattle-trail runs from Brownsville, TX to Abilene, Kansas. Jesse is half "white man" and half Cherokee Indian, which later helps earn him the respect and trust of both sides. He's a frontiersman, better known for blazing the Chisholm Trail with tens of thousands of cattle. His son Tenatse (or "Ten" for short) has the same ambitions as his father, longing to gather a herd of his own to drive north... though, he also wants to "be his own man," staying out from under the shadow of his famous father.
     On the search for wild Texas longhorns, and extra horses for the remuda, Ten meets up with Marty, Wes, Chris, and Lou... all of whom agree to join his outfit. They plan on gathering a herd of 10,000 and driving them north to Kansas. Upon arrival, the herd will be sold to the railroad for over a hundred-thousand dollars.
     As if gathering ten-thousand cows wasn't enough work, Ten also needs help from his outfit to rescue his girlfriend, Priscilla LeBeau. Priscilla's father (Andre) has promised her hand in marriage to Jason Brawn (a man older than her own father), in order to settle the gambling debt he owes Jason. Priscilla is outraged by her father's actions, and confides in Ten. Ten takes it upon himself to help her get away before the "arranged marriage" takes place.
     A captivating story from page one, with a triumphant ending worthy of applause. GOLD STAR, TWO-THUMBS-UP!!!!!