I enjoy reading a western novel now and then. I had read a couple of Elmore Leonard’s westerns decades ago. More recently, I really enjoyed The Complete Western Stories of Elmore Leonard. The T.V. show Justified was one of the few I would take time out to watch when it was one. I decided to make my way through all of Leonard’s western novels.

Mariner Books has a couple Elmore Leonard western doubles, two novels contained within one binding. Last Stand at Saber River and The Law at Randado is one of the doubles.

Last Stand at Saber River: Arizona Territory, April 1965. Confederate veteran Paul Cable is returning from the war after being invalided out for multiple wounds. He had left his ranch in Arizona, deposited his family in his native Texas with his wife’s family when he went to war. Now he returns to pick back up. There is a problem, the Kidston brothers have claimed his spread. The story unfolds of Cable taking back his ranch and dealing with the Kidston and their men. There is also a wrinkle with a store owner who is a fanatical confederate agent who wants Cable to aid him though the war is lost.

The build up is masterful. There are some interesting twists. Vernon Kidston is not an all bad guy, hard but not evil. His brother is weak. Janroe the store owner is a psychopath.

Last Stand at Saber River was originally published in 1959. Leonard had written a few novels written by then. He did lot of research for his westerns. He has the interplay of Anglo, Mexican, and Apache cultures of the place and period. He knows his firearms. His westerns are not mythic westerns.

It is satisfying to read a good novel. I see there are five paperback collections of Elmore Leonard westerns. That might be good gateway to sample his westerns. That or get The Complete Western Stories.