"The rights of men are only worth the amount of blood and sweat you are willing to pay for 'em."

Bobby Malloy, April, 1882


When the Baron of Arizona, a self styled royal, named James Addison Reavis decides he wants to section off thousands of acres of barren land illegally, he enlists the help of one of the largest con-men in Arizona, Big Ed Burns. All they need is water to make the Traces attractive to buyers, but the only access to billions of gallons of fresh ground water is on the Circle-J ranch, belonging to none other than Jolly Goodman.

In the the blink of an eye, the schemers learn the Hunter owns all the water rights for the Traces and surrounding areas and the harassment escalates to killing as each side starts beefing up their defenses and plans for attacks. Jeff Stryker and Bobby Malloy play a huge part in this story as does the land itself as it comes under attack at the South Pond on the Circle-J by the forces of Mike Wagner and Bart Rutan..

Ambushes, killings and mystery deepen as the reader learns more and more about the leader of the ruffians, Mike Warner and his top henchman, Bart Rutan. The plot twists and turns itself around and never quite goes straight as the time approaches for the all out assault against the riders of the Circle-J and their brother riders from the Bar-A.

In this novel the reader learns Jeff Stryker has a secret and in this story you learn that secret and understand the deep loyalty and love he has for his friend, Bobby Malloy and the respect and admiration he holds for the Hunter for Stryker, too, will be a hunter of men.



A young Jolly Goodman in route to Kearny Mesa, October 1873




1882, The Hunter and a young Bandit, The Traces, 1882

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