Review of "Buchanan’s Siege," by Jonas Ward

Review of

Buchanan’s Siege, by Jonas Ward

Five out of five stars

 One of the best heroes of western fiction is once again engaged in a battle that he would prefer to avoid. Buchanan is a peaceable man; however, the rest of the world is not. A man named Bradbury sent for him with the reasons being unknown. There is no question that it was not to act as a hired gun, for Bradbury knew that Buchanan could not be hired to kill, even though he would not hesitate to do so if the cause was right.

 That trigger cause appears before Buchanan ever meets Bradbury, when he arrives he discovers a farmer hung and labeled as a cattle rustler. Buchanan spots the “evidence” and it is clear to him that it was planted. Furthermore, the dead farmer’s widow was a fellow traveler and he must do what he can to comfort her.

 Bradbury is an official in what is called the Cattleman’s Association, an organization supposedly designed to further the interests of the ranchers, but is the umbrella under which they hope to engage in a range war over land. It is to be the ranchers versus the farmers and the ranchers are bringing in hired guns. It was Bradbury’s hope that Buchanan could calm the storm without bloodshed, the hanging ends all hope of that and Buchanan takes the side of the farmers.

 He quickly emerges as their leader and even though his group is badly outnumbered, and the cause appears hopeless, Buchanan stays in the fight. Coco is not there in the beginning, but when Buchanan is in trouble, he travels to his aid. This is a good story, one that readers of westerns will enjoy.