B. M. Bower 
Meadowlark Basin 

Lark, owner of Meadowlark Ranch, has a habit of taking home all the unwanted strays that he comes across during his day working. When he comes across a child who displays wounds congruent with beatings and crying in fear, he promptly brings the child with him back to Meadowlark. Lark finds that the boy is the grandson of Palmer, a rich and stingy bastard but also the most feared ranch-owner in the district, and Palmer tries to label Lark as a kidnapper. Palmer wants revenge and Lark quickly finds himself in all kinds of trouble.