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Texas Ranger Chick Bowdrie has always longed for a place to call home. When he happens on an abandoned ranch while riding the trail, he's drawn by curiosity to examine the place. Who would give up a piece of land as beautiful as this with a house and barn obviously built by someone who valued the place? Bowdrie soon discovers that the owners of the ranch had little choice when it came to their futures. Inside the ranch house lies the skeleton of a man, a bullet buried in his ribcage. Clearly murdered, the man appears to have had at one time a wife and daughter. Pictures of the woman and little girl remain in the house, as does the family Bible and other personal items. Bowdrie buries the skeleton, but takes the bullet as a reminder of the injustice done to this family. Over the next few months, Bowdrie hunts down clues as to the man's killer using his sources in the Texas Rangers. Then one day he stops in the little town of Gabel's Stop. During a conversation with an old-timer there, he hears the name Mary Mason mentioned. He's immediately interested, as the name of the murdered man's wife was named Mary Mason. But the old-timer says that Mary is the 20-year-old ward of a vicious and much disliked rancher living just outside of town. Mary is due in on the next day's stagecoach after having grown up with an aunt back east. As for her mother, the old-timer says she disappeared years before. Bowdrie quickly realizes that the girl is not Mary, but Carlotta Mason, the murdered rancher's daughter. Determined that justice be done, he stays in town to await both Mary's and her step-father's arrival. This is a classic Wild West story done up in style by a full cast of actors, including a narrator. Complemented by studio background music and sound effects, this audio drama reminds one of the old-time radio broadcasts so common in the 40's and early 50's. Bowdrie as the tenacious lawman is cut from the same cloth as the popular heroes of yesteryear. So also, the villain of the piece is your typical bad guy complete with gravely voice and nasty demeanor. L'Amour knew how to write 'em; Random House knows how to present them. This audio short story is great fun for fans of the Old West.
Reviewed by Mary V. Welk, May 2003
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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)
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