In the old American west young girls and boys, at times, had to grow up fast. One day they might be playing with dolls or shooting make believe bad hombres or Indians. The next day they might have to deal with their parents and kin folks being killed by Indians or desperadoes. Some times they had to care for the younger children or just try to survive the pearls which came their way.The fortunate were adopted by folks and some of the folks were as bad as not having anyone to depend on for the future. Some folks that took the children into their home not only beat them but also worked those hard and long hours with little or no food. The good folks nurtured the children, raised them as one of their own, and provided for them. While other children survived anyway they possibly could by what ever means available to them.The basic story about the young man in the book actually happened to a person which I had the honor to know in his old age. He lived near Dustan Oklahoma and was a friend of my fathers. He also told me more of his early days as a Deputy U.S. Marshal which I will try to garner from my memory and what few notes that I have on what he said. Also I have researched about the law in the Indian Territory of Oklahoma and have found his name on several documents.This novel is part of the YOUNG WEST series. Other books are Cane Longbow Range Detective and Spoof's Treasure with more to be published at a later date. There will be more to come about the young people of the old west.