Man in the Saddle

by Ernest Haycox
Category: "Fiction - Western"
Pages:315
Year of Publication:1938
Date Added:02/22/2021
Date Read:01/29/2026
Notes:Armed Services Edition

Owen Merritt, small rancher, courted Sally for a long time, but she came from a poor background and wants more. She marries Will Isham, the biggest rancher around, and he wants more land—including Owen's. To help his boss, Isham's foreman, Dutcher, decides to pick a fight with Owen. Things get violent, several minor characters die, and Isham, jealous because he thinks Sally still loves Owen, decides to get involved. He and his men attack Owen's house and shoot him in the leg. He manages to hide, and he's found by Nan, the local schoolteacher, who pines for him. She bandages him and nurses him through his convalescence, believing the entire time that he'll end up with Sally. When Owen is better, he goes looking for Isham. There's a shoot-out, and Owen kills Isham. He finds Dutcher waiting for him in his house and kills him too. In the end, with Sally a widow, Owen decides it's Nan he loves and goes to her.
My Rating: 7

Reviews for Man in the Saddle

Review - Man in the Saddle

A ton of characters at the beginning, which makes the story hard to follow for a while. But once most of them are killed or forgotten, the story gets better. It's typical Haycox—one man against a small army of crooked foes. And all the attractive women are waiting for him when he finally wins.

Reviewed by Roger on 2026-01-29 18:13:16

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