Cross Trails Marshal by S J Bounds

Valentine Smith rides into town thinking he'll stop here for the night, get a good meal, and sleep in a bed for a change.  He's not pleased when the cattle drive gets close to town because he knows it will be a rowdy night.  He's right...

Pioneering Press sent me a copy of this book to read for review (thank you).  It has been published.

When he gets caught in a scrape, he takes care of it.  Next thing he knows he's been offered the job of marshal at $100 a month.  That's a lot more money he can make in temporary work, so he takes the job.  He knows Cross Trails has two sides of town and they each have their own boss but the bosses are paying his wages.  He also lets them know he's not for sale; he'll just apply the law as it should be.

Cross Trails is growing.  They have nesters on the outskirts and the cowboys with the cattle drive don't like them.  When he finds himself being a target by his bosses, he decides it's time to get serious.

In the middle of all of this turmoil, he meets a very pretty cowgirl that catches his eye.  He doesn't want a woman in his life.  He's not settling down.  When she tells him she loves him, he casts her away and walks out.  It's not until he thinks about it later that he realizes maybe he does care for her.  But he's in a battle for his life and then has no time to worry.  Until one of the bosses takes her hostage...

I like these old fashioned westerns.  Guns seem to be the real justice here.  I also like the romances that are so subtle but still catch your heart a bit.