A story of cavalry and Indians, a professional soldier, his nemesis, and a lady who is admired by both men.

The author has done this type of story before, but much better. There were several subplots that disappeared, and the ending was rushed and disappointing. Not L'Amour's best, barely gets that third star. ( )

Since Callaghen fled Ireland as a youth, he has traveled the world fighting in various armies. With experiences in Afghanistan, China and India, he is an excellent soldier. Now he finds himself in the US Cavalry stationed in a small post in the Mojave Desert.trying to keep the Government Road free from Indian attacks. As he waits for his discharge papers to arrive, he is sent on a patrol to find Indian numbers in the area. When the patrol is attacked, Callaghen becomes separated from his unit and ends up fighting his way out alone.

He discovers the Indians plan to attack a stage coach on which the woman he loves is riding. He prevents the Indian attack but he in turn is attacked by several shady men who are searching for gold in the area. Dodging Indians while trying to rescue his girl from the gold seekers makes for an exciting ending to this fast moving novel.

Much is made of the poor treatment of Irish immigrants to America in the 19th Century in this novel. ( )

Poor Sergeant Callaghen just can't win. At 34 he's got hardly any money to his name and is stuck in the army, stationed in the California desert to protect travelers from Indians, apparently before the Gold Rush really got started, and when he gets his discharge papers he has no idea what he'll do next. Rather than be allowed to mosey on into military retirement, he finds himself stuck in a mess that involves a racist direct supervisor who hates him, a bunch of thug gold prospectors, and Malinda, the young woman who is part of why the captain hates him so much.

I liked that the women in this book can shoot and are not easily daunted by deserts and rugged traveling conditions, and that while a few of the men are interested in the women, the women are not looking for partners, and there is no romance, even between Malinda and Sergeant Callaghen. This is just a solid western, predictable, but with a pretty good story and solid, readable writing and not too much tedious play-by-play fighting. ( )