Gaylord's Badge

By John Benteen writing as Richard Meade

Piccadilly Publishing, September 2014

First published by Doubleday, 1975

Nothing in Sheriff Frank Gaylord’s background had ever prepared him for this. Pushing forty years of age, but still strong and fast with a gun, Gaylord truly believed he’d done a good job in Colter County.

But there was talk behind his back. Talk about how he was secretly on the payroll of the Chain Ranch. Talk about how he favoured the large cattle barons over the small ranchers. And now, as his re-election approached, more than Gaylord’s job was on the line. His honour and the lives of his best friends were in jeopardy as well.

Sheriff Gaylord had always been an honest lawman, but when wealth, power and a beautiful woman are dangled in front of him, it looks like Gaylord’s badge is about to be bought. And suddenly, Frank Gaylord must meet his most dangerous enemy yet – himself. 

Sheriff Frank Gaylord makes for a very engaging lead character. Sure he’s flawed but he believes he is doing the right thing. Believes he is upholding the law as it should be. Yet slowly he begins to see how others might believe he has been bought, causing a lot of self-examination and this is the main thrust of this fascinating story.

The election campaigns throw up many questions and it seems Gaylord is bound to win but he, and his backers, have forgotten one thing. Wyoming has given women the right to vote and they seem to be behind the opposition.

John Benteen really builds the tension well and at no time is it obvious who will come out on top. Then the killings begin and everything is thrown into doubt and confusion runs rampant, particularly with who is playing who and to the true motive and identity of one of the characters.

I found this book to be a gripping read. A story that tells a little of Wyoming’s history with the female vote and of the powers behind large cattle empires that blends perfectly into the fictional part of the tale. There’s also some surprise deaths, and plenty of gunplay.

So, once again, John Benteen proves that he is a writer all western fans should read.

Cartridge Creek

By John Benteen writing as Richard Meade

Piccadilly Publishing, April 2014

Originally published by Doubleday, 1974

Cartridge Creek was a typical New Mexico cattle town, not unlike the ones Will Leatherman had known in his days as a trail hand. But now Will was a partner in San Antonio Development, and he had come to find out why the Southern Pacific was so eager to sell the town, and whether he and his partner could turn it into a profitable investment. 

It didn’t take long to discover why the railroad wanted out; the town had become a haven for gunmen, and the two heavily-armed factions were on the verge of all-out warfare. The decent folk were ready to leave town, the ranchers had taken to driving their stock to another railhead, and the money-making possibilities seemed nil. 

But Will Leatherman had a strange feeling about Cartridge Creek, that somehow this town had more to offer than the usual business deal. Almost before he realized it, Leatherman found himself on the brink of finding something he’d almost forgotten he wanted, a place to really call home—or losing it forever. Then he knew he had to fight for Cartridge Creek. 

This story is about greed for both money and power. Benteen creates some terrific characters to battle for these and battle they do in large scale. There are two well-written major gunfights that result in many corpses littering the streets of Cartridge Creek.

Violent acts and love cause Leatherman to reconsider what he wants from Cartridge Creek and leads to him facing massive odds. It’s the power of persuasion that helps rally the help he needs to take on the small army that stands in his way. As well as vivid descriptions Benteen comes up with believable dialogue that makes the speech heavy sections of this story a joy to read.

I mentioned love in the previous paragraph, and that’s an element of the story that works well as Leatherman finds himself competing for the affection of the woman in question and also leads to treachery, hate, and an exciting fight on top of a moving train that is breath-taking.

As the cover states the book originally came out as by Richard Meade, an author better known for writing westerns as John Benteen hence the use of this name on the cover too. As many will already know both these pseudonyms were used by Benjamin L. Haas and his name ought to be enough of a recommendation for all western fans to grab a copy of this book without me urging you to do so too.

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