Louis L'Amour said that the West was no place for the frightened or the mean. It was a "big country needing big men and women to live in it." This volume presents seven of L'Amour's fine short stories. This is history that lives forever.

"Mistakes Can Kill You." Johnny O'Day, once rescued by the Redlin family, may be the only one who can save Sam Redlin from gambler and saloon owner Loss Degner in a fight over a woman.

"The One for the Mohave Kid." The Mohave Kid is deadly with a gun and a vicious character, but he is part of a large clan, who protect him because he is family. When Marshal Ab Kale orders the Kid is to stay away from his town, the Kid sees it as a tempting challenge.

"The Man from Battle Flat." A potential range war between nesters and ranchers has divided the townspeople, and now Bush Leason, the big nester, has shot Shorty Grimes in the back. That's why Krag Moran is there, sitting in front of the saloon, cleaning his double-barreled shotgun.

"Fork Your Own Broncs." Mac Marcy is a small-time rancher whose cattle access a water hole on Bob Kenyon's land, until Kenyon fences it off during a heat wave. But Kenyon's daughter knows of a secret water source.

"A Strong Land Growing." Marshal Fitz Moore hears that outlaws plan to hit his town of Sentinel. Their method is to kill the lawman first, then loot the town. Yet Moore still intends to make his stand alone.

"Barney Takes a Hand." The H&C Cattle Company has an eviction notice for Tess Bayeux. Tess has been waiting for help from Rex Tilden, but he hasn't responded. She supposes that this new fellow, Barney, will be no help at all, but in that she is wrong.

"Lit a Shuck for Texas." The Sandy Kid is nineteen and new to this range. He gets curious when he tells his boss, Wald, of a rich-veined chunk of gold ore on Wald's land but gets only anger in response.