Hanging Woman Creek [Library Binding]

Reading this book reminds me that this particular April, 1964, western has always been one of my favorites. Some of Louis L'Amour's writing seem to surpass the formulaic western to approach good literature, this is one of those.

The story takes place 9 years after the U.S. Army and Indian battles of the Rosebud and the Little Big Horn Rivers, making 1885 the story's date. The locale is in Montana, southwest of Miles City, bordering on the Tongue River. With Hanging Woman Creek resting between the Little Big Horn 40 miles to the west, and the Powder River 15 miles to the east. This Powder River country is a very rough, wild, picturesque mountainous area holding, among others, cattle, grizzly bears, elk, deer, and wolves.

Of late, much rustling of range cattle has been taking place making it not only downright dangerous, but almost impossible to hire men during the winter for the high country line camp on the Hanging Woman Creek. The two main characters of our story need work, and having some experience working cattle, agree to take on the job on the Hanging Woman. Stocked up with adequate grub, pistols, and 500 rounds ammo each for two Winchester rifles, they feel more than confident.

However, discovering the door to their line camp cabin shot full of lead, with a loosened log at the back end of the cabin for escape, that confidence begins to fade. As time passes they begin to see that many things do not seem right: just who has wrapped their mule's hoofs in with Indian style rawhide to shoot people in the back? And who are the rustlers stealing the cattle from the herd Pronto and Eddie are here to watch over? Are the vigilantes working to rid the areas of Montana and western Dakota Territory of rustlers? Will rope law and revenge run rampant to settle old scores? And why is that mysterious cave stocked with canned food for at least a week's stay? These among other questions begin to trouble the minds of both Pronto Pike and Eddie Holt.

Later with Pronto and Eddie being fired from their jobs due charges lodged against them of using a running iron to rustle cattle, then awhile later added to this, when both are accused of murdering a nester brother and sister, the plot really begins to simmer.

Eddie Holt, being a very good cook and baker, makes a whole washtub full of 'bear sign' which attracts everyone in the area's interest. Well, why not, I mean doughnuts were not that available out in the Hanging Woman Creek wilderness area. And as any $30 a month cowboy knows, 'bear sign', or fresh doughnuts, mean good eating for anyone fortunate to be Pronto and Eddie's friend.

As with all Mr. L'Amour's writings good does eventually triumph over evil, and at book's ending, all is well in both Miles City, Montana, and on the banks of Hanging Woman Creek. As die hard readers of Louis L'Amour will recognize, his home town of Jamestown, Dakota, or 'Jim Town' on the Northern Pacific Railroad makes its appearance early in these pages. Bet he had fun with that one.

If you enjoy the writings of Louis L'Amour or just are looking for a much above average book from him, you can do no better than read this one.

Semper Fi.

Hanging Woman Creek has better, more realistic characteriZation and doesn't make the main character a super cowboy, LaMour didn't skimp on character development or on period description just to move the plot along. Often Louis LaMour is formulaic, you either love it or hate it, but you know what you are going to get. Not so this time. Pronto overcomes his adversaries, but the author scripts scenes showing Pronto choosing to grow up in the process.
Not all loose ends are tied up and the story is more focused because of it, leaving irrelevant details unexplained reinforces their unimportance to the story.
Hope it will be a movie some day,

My husband loves anything written by Louis L'Amour--especially the Westerns. This was no exception. He couldn't put it down and I can guarantee that it's not the first time that he's read this book.

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