Margins
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Byrnes Family Ranch
Series · 10 books · 2009-2018

Books in series

Texas Blood Feud book cover
#1

Texas Blood Feud

2009

Spur Award–Winning “To read a Dusty Richards novel is to journey back into the Old West with a writer who knows the territory.” —Jory Sherman, author of Trapper's Moon The land made him hard. The Byrnes family came to Texas and carved out a place on the land. Three generations who paid in blood and treasure. Children carried off by Comanche. A brother lost to war. Lives shattered. Chet Byrnes was trying to hold the ranch together through one more winter for one more cattle drive when he hanged three horse thieves this side of the Red River—and a blood feud erupted . . . The future made him fight. A family wants revenge—no matter how just the hangings were. From attacks on the Byrnes clan to the killing of livestock, the feud leads to one vicious murder—and then another. But amidst the violence and pain, a man who has seen his youth slip by is about to get one last chance at life and love. If only Chet can end the war he started. If only he can survive this land and the killers who want him dead—at any price . . . “Nobody spins a better western tale. If you want to read how real cowboys lived and worked, then you must read a Dusty Richards novel.” —Mike Kearby, author of Ride the Desperate Trail “Dusty Richards writes a fast-moving story with the flavor of the real West.” —Elmer Kelton, author of Hard Ride
Between Hell and Texas book cover
#2

Between Hell and Texas

2011

Texas Tough. Arizona Bound. With blood and tears, Chet Byrnes built a life in Texas, only to have it shattered by an ill-fated cattle drive and two deadly family feuds. Spurned by the woman he loves, Chet sets off for new territory. The journey won't come cheap. And Ready For Any Fight That Comes. Chet leads the Byrnes family across New Mexico into a harsh, haunting land. His long lost brother Cagle, after 15 years living among the Comanche, reappears. So does the family's blackest black sheep. Then, amidst old grudges and new battles, Chet picks up the trail of a killer he desperately wants to bring to justice. The reward is a hearty welcome to Arizona. The risk: dying before he can meet the one woman who'd make it all worthwhile. . . “Nobody spins a better western tale. If you want to read how real cowboys lived and worked, then you must read a Dusty Richards novel." —Mike Kearby “Dusty Richards writes. . .with the flavor of the real West." —Elmer Kelton "Dusty Richards is the embodiment of the old west." —Storyteller Magazine
Blood on the Verde River book cover
#3

Blood on the Verde River

2013

"Dusty Richards writes. . .with the flavor of the real West." —Elmer Kelton"Dusty Richards is the embodiment of the old west. He brings it to life so realistically, you can almost feel the bullets whizzing past your face." —Storyteller Magazine Never Fight A Man. . . 600 miles from a railroad head in Texas, Chet Byrnes and a handful of cowboys set out to build a new life on the Arizona frontier. Behind the Byrnes family is a tale of bloodshed and blood feuds. What lies ahead is any kind of future they can scrape together out of a merciless landscape—as long as they're willing to make it on their own. . . .Who Has Fought His Way From Texas. From a woman who lays claim to Chet's heart to a land ripe for grazing, the Arizona territory begins to open its arms to the dauntless determination of the Byrnes family. But with every success there rises up a gathering danger. A sheriff who won't do his job. Trigger happy outlaws competing to kill. And a mysterious rancher hell bent on running a herd across Chet's land—and forcing the Texan into a war. . .
Brothers in Blood book cover
#4

Brothers in Blood

2013

“Dusty Richards writes…with the flavor of the real West.” —Elmer Kelton Arizona Is Hard Country... Chet Byrnes is building a new life in Arizona Territory as he expands his cattle ranching operation—but trouble just keeps coming. A friend’s young daughter is abducted, and the search leads Chet and his men to the wild town of Tombstone and ultimately south of the border, where everything comes with a price…and life is cheap. And Chet Brynes Is A Hard Man As much as Chet longs to stay close to home and his beloved wife, friends and family continue to need his brand of help. He’s able to track stagecoach robbers and face down threats to his kin. But the pursuit of a band of ruthless rustlers ends in a devastating tragedy for the Brynes family… “Dusty takes readers into the real west at full gallop.” —New York Times bestselling author Jodi Thomas “Dusty Richards is the embodiment of the old west.” —Storyteller Magazine
Ambush Valley book cover
#5

Ambush Valley

2014

Spur Award–winning “Dusty takes readers into the real west at full gallop.” — New York Times bestselling author Jodi Thomas Ride into an unforgettable tale of valiant courage and bloody conflict from the Western Heritage and Spur award-winning author Dusty Richards . . . They’ve crossed the line . . . Chet Byrnes has his hands full taking care of his family and running his ranching operation in Arizona Territory. But he still takes his responsibilities as a deputy US marshal very seriously. Bandits have been crossing the border, cutting a bloody swath of mayhem—stealing horses, robbing banks, and murdering innocent folk—then high-tailing it back to safety in Mexico. . . . for the last time. The chief US marshal asks Chet to lead a secret task force to stop the raids and round up the border bandits—dead or alive. But the bandits fight back—putting a five-hundred-dollar bounty on Chet’s head. Now he’s got bushwhackers to deal with, and when he’s led into an ambush, it’s kill or be killed in a life-or-death showdown . . . “Dusty Richards writes . . . with the flavor of the real West.” —Elmer Kelton
A Good Day To Kill book cover
#6

A Good Day To Kill

2015

"Dusty takes readers into the real west at full gallop." —New York Times bestselling author Jodi ThomasIn the thrilling new saga from Western Heritage and Spur award-winning author Dusty Richards, Chet Byrnes stands his ground—with his courage, guns, and blood. For Chet Byrnes, building a ranching empire means adding new land, hiring good men, finding water and trying new breeds of cattle. But outlaws and Tuscon's idle rich want to take it all away—and Arizona just may be too lawless to stop it. So while the Byrnes family expands its reach, Chet must do his job hunting down outlaws on either side of the border. Chet's cowboys prove to be tireless fighters, going up against former Mexican military men, a powerful family with bad in their blood. Then Chet takes on the most dangerous risk of all: a bloody, all-out shooting war—with everything to lose, and one last enemy to kill... "Dusty Richards writes. . .with the flavor of the real West." —Elmer Kelton
Arizona Territory book cover
#7

Arizona Territory

2015

Spur Award–winning Chet Byrnes brought the spirit of Texas into Arizona Territory—and the guns to back it up . . . Have gun, will battle . . . Chet Byrnes has built a ranching empire from the ground up. And he’s defended it with sweat, blood, and a ragtag band of ranch-hand fighters. Now a beautiful young Spanish widow comes into Chet’s life, just as he starts off in search of a lost cattle drive. The search leads into the eye of a sprawling, violent storm. Chet and his men—and his seductive new woman—end up on a wild ride through Nebraska, Colorado, and Kansas, where authorities want to confiscate the beeves for trespassing. With Indians, outlaws, and an oppressive government crossing their path, Chet is on a cowboy’s fighting and shooting all the way back home. “Dusty Richards writes . . . with the flavor of the real West.” —Elmer Kelton “Dusty takes readers into the real west at full gallop.” — New York Times- bestselling author Jodi Thomas
Pray for the Dead book cover
#8

Pray for the Dead

2016

The frontier comes alive in the saga of Chet Byrnes and his family empire, by the Spur Award–winning author who writes “with the flavor of the real West” (Elmer Kelton). Between the living and the dead . . . The Byrnes family has fought fiercely for its ranching empire. And with success comes the fate of The Brynes have taken in far-flung family members, hired hands, and folks looking for another chance at life. The Byrnes clan has taken their fair share of hurt, too, taking on outlaws too deadly and powerful for the law. When a stage is robbed of a fortune in gold, the Byrnes boys set off on a wild race through the wilderness. But who are the men they are chasing? And where have they stashed the gold? In a harsh, unforgiving land, the Byrnes men face a mystery of gold and death—that could explode like a bomb in their hands . . . “Dusty takes readers into the real west at full gallop.” — New York Times bestselling author Jodi Thomas
Sharpshooter book cover
#11

Sharpshooter

2018

A rancher and US marshal battles a corrupt cabal as a new railroad comes to Arizona, in this powerful Western by a Spur Award–winning author. In the brutal, unforgiving wastes of the Arizona desert, Chet Byrnes built a cattle ranching empire with his bare hands, steel will, and a fast draw. As a US marshal, he risks his life to bring law to a lawless land. When a new railroad route is planned to pass through Navajo territory, Chet fights to get the Indians a contract to supply the locomotives with coal. But the corrupt politicians in Tucson and D.C. have other ideas. The coal contract means millions, and the ruthless Tucson Ring will do anything to get it—even if it means killing a US marshal. Battling bandits, the railroad, and a corrupt gang of millionaires, Chet won’t back down until the desert is painted red with blood.
Rage for Vengeance book cover
#12

Rage for Vengeance

2018

Bloodthirsty hired guns are out to ruin a lawman’s plans for progress in this action-packed Western from the award–winning author of Sharpshooter . Born out of the grit, sweat, and drive of a cattle ranching empire, U.S. Marshal Chet Byrnes is turning the savage and lawless Arizona desert into a homeland. To some he’s the hero that the West needs. To others, he’s a moving target. Chet is spearheading a stage line from Gallup to the Colorado River. It’ll be a boon to Navajo trading posts, and lay out the territory for new settlements. Unfortunately, it’s not Gerald Hall’s idea of progress—killing Chet is. The mysterious Texas gambler has hired three kill-crazy assassins—and counting—to bury Chet under a storm of bullets. To turn the tables on a game of revenge, Chet must match the deranged Texan play by play, body by body, and bullet for bullet. Come hell or high water, that stage line is going through—even if it’s forged in blood.

Author

Dusty Richards
Dusty Richards
Author · 27 books
Author of over 85 novels, Dusty Richards is the only author to win two Spur awards in one year (2007), one for his novel The Horse Creek Incident and another for his short story “Comanche Moon.” He is a member of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and the International Professional Rodeo Association, and serves on the local PRCA rodeo board. Dusty is also an inductee in the Arkansas Writers Hall of Fame. He currently resides in northwest Arkansas. He was the winner of the 2010 Will Rogers Medallion Award for Western Fiction for his novel Texas Blood Feud and honored by the National Cowboy Hall of Fame in 2009.
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