Linda Lael Miller The Man from Stone Creek

The Man from Stone Creek

Linda Lael Miller

HQN, Jun 2006, $19.95

ISBN: 0373771150

Ranger Sam O'Ballivan goes undercover as a schoolteacher in Haven, Arizona; the site where he believes train robbers and rustlers are using as their headquarters. However, Sam finds teaching quite difficult, but is able to keep order in the classroom in spite of the rowdy ranch children who make up most of the pupils. Peace, something he has never needed fighting dangerous criminals, sound pleasant to the lawman turned temporary teacher. On the other hand his biggest troublemaker Terran Chancelor forces Sam to visit the child's guardian, his older sister mercantile store manager Maddie demanding she discipline her sibling or he will.

Sam soon believes that the wealthy notoriously abusive Donagher family is behind the robberies, but has no proof and worries that they hold something over Maddie; that is if she is not just a gang member. However, he obtains a tip that a train is to be robbed soon and Sam plans to be there, but fears leaving the siblings he loves behind without protection from the sadistic Donaghers.

THE MAN FROM STONE CREEK is a fun western romance as Sam begins to wonder whether law enforcement or teaching is harder. His efforts in the classroom will remind the audience of the Schwarzenegger movie Kindergarten Cop though Linda Lael Miller's fine tale occurs in the nineteenth century. An amusing tale, readers will appreciate Sam's escapades in the classroom, against the outlaws, and in his pursuit of Maddie.

Harriet Klausner