Back Trail by Chuck Mason

Chick was run out of town by his love's father.  He wasn't good enough for her according to dad.  He was young and just starting out, so he left.  He wrote to her, though.  She didn't write back.  He went on with his life and became a Federal Deputy Marshall.  He wasn't thrilled when he got sent back to his hometown to help the sheriff there...

Pioneering Press allowed me to read this book for review (thank you).  It has been published and you can buy a copy now.

Chick finds his old enemy is still a big man in town.  He's not any happier about seeing Chick than Chick is to see him.  He finds no one knows where Jane went.  He also finds out he has a son he never knew about.  Unfortunately, the boy wants to kill him.  He's not the only one.

He gets beat up, shot at, and threatened.  He stands tough and starts investigating.  Everybody that might help him ends up dead.  One death is a knifing and Jefferson tells him his son did it.  He's sure he didn't but he doesn't know how to find out who did.

Before the end of the story, the town Marshall is in jail and more than one man lays dead.  There's hope for Chick, though.  He and his son have reconciled and Jane is coming to town on the stage...