Will Dewey ‘Mac” Mackenzie ever get a decent night’s sleep, or will people always be pursuing him?  Mac’s adventures started in the first book titled, The Chuckwagon Trail.  Audiences learn what started Mac’s running from trail drive to trail drive for many different cattle owners as their trail cook.  Mac has learned not only how to cook with next to nothing but also how to defend himself and others from those wanting to take what isn’t theirs.

The newest addition to the Chuckwagon Trail series is an enjoyable read as we watch Mac drifting then stepping in to help a lady from being mishandled.  From there, Mac receives more than he gives which causes him to have to remain in bed healing on the Standing L Ranch.  When owners take a shine to his quick thinking, wit and good cooking, Mac is once again tasked with being a chuckwagon driver.  Mac has made enemies once again and it looks like a threat from the past, who goes by the name LeClec, may just catch up to Mac and extract vengeance!

The herd is being driven to a boom town where the owners, Becky and Marcus, hope to sell at a good price and save the ranch their parents left to them.  The big bull of the woods who wants all he can grab is a man by the name of Oscar Harcourt.  He takes over anything money can buy, or his men can ramrod for him.  Harcourt sends men out after the Standing L drive to harangue them as they travel, which boxes in the Standing L cattle and crew between a rock and a hard place.  Romance once again might be in Mac’s future, if he ever felt he had one.  With the past still dogging his trail, Mac isn’t sure if he and Becky have a future or if he is ready for one!  The crew on the cattle drive is small but mighty and they have grit to face those coming to take what the Standing L owns.

Once again, the Johnstone pen brings to audiences a novel filled with western trail drive dangers and intrigues along with friendship and budding romance.  If you haven’t read the other novels in the series, I recommend you do.  While each book can be read as a stand-alone, much can be said for reading the books in order.  I enjoyed watching the overall story develop when Mac is accused of an action he didn’t commit in New Orleans.  The main character, “Mac”, is one to admire for his tenacity, quick thinking, good cooking and making friends that stand against evil.  I hope the author plans on bringing more of Mac to readers as he sure is exciting!

Grab a book and read the others in the series starting with The Chuckwagon Trail, Die by the Gun, and Hill of Beans!  Saddle up and ride! (Written by LBJ)