I’m looking for a YA or MG book about a teen boy who lives on a ranch (New Mexico? west Texas?), his cousin Horace comes to visit for summer which he thinks will ruin his summer but Horace turns out to be a good guy who can ride and shoot and they become good friends. There is a mountain lion or cougar that kills his dad’s prize bull Red Toro so they go out to find the cougar, Horace shoots it with a great shot. Along the way there are some villains who are trying to jump a gold claim, Horace sprains his ankle, has to be hauled out by the boy on an Indian trapezoid carry deal, they fool the bad guys into fording the river where there is quick sand and all ends well. Can’t remember title. Book had line drawings, and I think the cover was edged in burnt orange or brown.
Tag Archives: American West
364P: Orphaned Girl Sent West to Live with Twin Cousins
The book I am looking for is about an orphaned girl who is sent out West to live with her cousins and their family. I can’t remember the girl’s name, but the twins were identical twins, and I think their names were Albert and Herbert. I think the book had a red cover, and it was definitely vintage. I read it in the 80’s I think, but my mom loved antique books, so I know it wasn’t a contemporary book. It seemed like it might have been set in the 50’s or earlier. I can’t be sure.
Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much!
362I: Kids Solve Location of Missing Treasure
362B: Bopeep’s Lost Book
I’m looking for a book from my childhood. I read it somewhere in the 80’s. It a book about a cowboy & I think he had a bad attitude. It’s about the adventures he had. Somewhere in the book it was prophesied that he would die after seeing a bird fly upside down. The book had colorful illustrations. I remember the chapter was upside down in the air somehow & he saw a bird flying. Because he was upside down in the air he therefore saw a bird (I think it was a buzzard) flying upside down & I believe he died after that. I must have read the book when I was somewhere around 4th grade which would have been about 1986-1990 but I believe the book may have originally came out somewhere near the late 70’s. I could be wrong about that though. I think the cover of the book was white.
361D: Brother and Sister Lovers Behind Baffling Murder
Trying to find a mystery, printed (in paperback) before 1984. A small town sheriff is faced with a baffling murder. Spoiler alert! It turns out that a well-to-do brother and sister are rather more than that…and want it kept unknown. I believe the story is set in Montana or Idaho, but can’t be certain.
315P: Ranch Tales
Kids on ranch learn about The West. Large hardcover with text down the middle and line drawings down outside edges. Stories: a flash flood can catch you unaware; cooking buffalo tongue with vinegar/brown sugar sauce; climber thinks cactus puncture is rattlesnake bite and dies of fright.