Author: Tom W. Blackburn
Publisher: Bantam 958
Year: 1951 Print: 1 Cover Price: $.
Condition: Book Grades. Very Good Plus. Not read
Genre: Fiction/Western
Pages: 213
80125187E

HE LET A WOMAN STEAL THE BIGGEST RANCH IN NEW MEXICOAND THEN HE HEADED FOR THE BADLANDS!

“Never a dull moment.”The Los Angeles Times

Marc Challon had both money and power. His father and mother had built the majestic XO cattle ranch, a hundred-acre empire of waist-high grassland. And he had inherited it. But money and power spawn greedand greed creates schemers.

With all the responsibilities of running the XO, Marc didnt need any more problems. But slowly he discovered he had married one:Marcy Bennett,a land-hungry temptress whose very existence threatened to tear the heart out of his family and their empire.

Then Marc did two things that astounded his family, friends, and all the ranchers of Raton Pass.

First, he gave Marcy the deed to the XO!

What kind of man would do that? To Marc Challon life itself was the biggest gamble. Thats what made living fun. Better to let the stakes go now; it would be exciting to gather them back later, when the last hand was played.

Second, Marc lit out for El Malpais (the badlands)a thirty-mile maze of lava flows and a haven for the lawlessincluding his wifes hired guns.

How Marc Challon lost and regained the XO is a thrilling, swift-moving story Western readers will not want to miss.

Action! Adventure! Suspense! Ashland Gazette

The exciting story of the fight for the hundred-thousand-acre XO brand ranch in New Mexico, near Raton Pass, paints a real Southwest ablaze with color. Blackburn was born on a big ranch (the TO) near Raton Passauthentic background. Chicago Tribune