Zane Grey 
Forlorn River 

'Forlorn River’ (1927) is filled with cowboys, romance, and ranches. It follows horse-catching Ben Ide, his friend Nevada and their loyal Native American companion Modoc, as Ben attempts to better his reputation and win over his childhood sweetheart, Ina Blaine.As horse catching turns into cattle rustling, Ina Blaine is forced to defend Ben against her father, who has recently come in possession of a large amount of money. It doesn’t bode well for Ben Ide. Distrust follows Ben when Mr. Blaine, Ina’s father, and his companion, Les Setter, head out to steal Ben’s land. And this is only the beginning of a great streak of trouble. This lesser-known prequel to 'Nevada’ is filled with vivid descriptions and memorable characters. It is the perfect introduction to Western fiction. –