Jeb never learned that he was an illegitimate child. Those who knew him did not dare call him bastard. He was gentle. He was tough. With little effort, he took care of himself, having learned by being brought up in isolation, deep into the timber of the Ozark Mountains. Exhibiting these traits, he did both good and bad things, both of which tended to be excessive, even in the midst of war and lawlessness.

In 1861, Jimmy Carl Gray and Lew McManus travel west to escape the horrors of the American Civil War and to seek silver, wealth, and peace. Their plans are changed, however, when the Texas Brigade invades the New Mexico Territory. The ambitious miners are forced to join the Confederate Army, unable to avoid the war they left behind.

Although mired in violence, Jimmy and Lew make the acquaintance of several intriguing characters. They meet a Mescalero Apache healer named Rodrigo Red Water, an unforgettable Colorado gold miner named Dirt Bradshaw, and even Wild Bill Hickock before he became a legend.

The Southwest is a wild place, full of diverse people, who face battles and other struggles as their various stories unfold. In this wild and colorful journey through their lives, these characters discover love, fear, greed, and the thirst for revenge as they struggle to live through a war that tore a country apart.

John Lee Johnson has just retrieved his Texas ranch from the nefarious Purvis Brothers, with considerable help from Federal Agent Levi Brown. Unfortunately, the ex-Confederate has little time to enjoy his ranch before he feels obligated to fulfill a promise he made to a Union officer after a bloody skirmish in Lexington, Tennessee. Before he departs for Ohio, the sheriff warns him about Ridgeway Large, a self-proclaimed half-breed who kills without remorse.

Six days into his dangerous journey, John encounters a girl who leads him to the gruesome scene of her parents' brutal murders. After determining Ridgeway Large is the likely suspect, John leaves the girl with friends, ignores his previous obligations, and begins a dangerous quest to find the murderer and kill him. But as soon as surly Union officer Frank McGrew learns of John's mission, he wants nothing more than to exact his revenge for his brother's murder and send the Texan straight to the gates of hell.

In this historical thriller, a fierce battle ensues between the indomitable will of rebel John Lee Johnson and the overwhelming hatred of McGrew as both seek retribution. But in the end, only one will stay true to his principles.

"Ain't he the one killed Lee and Frank Lewis over some Mormon . . . a girl?" Joey was careful not to say what he was thinking. It was Judge that said all women were whores, and a lot of Mormon women were real pretty whores, especially Clara Williams, even if she was Jeremiah Beck's Joey certainly wasn't afraid of Jeremiah Beck, even if his Uncle Jim had said Jeremiah Beck was dangerous Nonetheless, unsure if Nate and Patrick would back him, Joey didn't move. "If I know Frank and Lee . . . they asked for it. Leave him to Clay . . . or Windel after Windel grows up . . ." Jim Davis turned to face Jeremiah. "That right . . . old friend . . . I mean about Frank and Lee asking for it?" "You know me. I'd never kill a man ain't tried me . . ." Jeremiah's feet were set, and his open coat revealed his two pistols. "Apart from Mexico . . . when we all had to kill without giving a man a chance . . . but even then you never liked it none . . ." "Not like Judge. He always said killing's . . . killing " "If he was here . . . you know he wouldn't agree with me stopin' the boys. He and Frank was real close . . . don't matter none that Frank asked for what he got . . ."

Lon McKay, a young cowhand in Wyoming in 1860, falls in love with the beautiful Laura Bowman. But their marriage plans are interrupted when Lon visits his mother in Indiana after the death of his father. He rides right into a new conscription law, and is drafted into the Union Army in the midst of the Civil War in 1863.

After two years, including a stint in Andersonville Prison, Lon is discharged from the army as a cavalry lieutenant. He returns to Wyoming to find Laura has been mistakenly informed of his death and has married another man. Lon moves on with his life and becomes a scout, then a U. S. Marshal in the southwest.

Years later he receives a letter from Laura, now a widow in serious trouble, asking for his help. In response to her plea, Lon returns to Oak River Falls .

Brando Good Life News Interview Joe: ...The Master Painter describe the book tell us what it's about. Brando: It's actually a novel that contains Villains, Cowboys, and Indians and takes place out here in Arizona. Joe: Excellent Brando: My Grandfather he was kind of the inspiration for that, he was an artistic man and he lived here in a small town in Arizona for 100 years, he just died this past February. He was the inspiration for my novel and for the title The Master Painter. The Master Painter was actually an Apache trained painter and they deal with some spiritual arts, not everything that you see meets the eye. Joe: Right. Brando: So there is some intrigue there in the book, a young boy becomes his apprentice and it's taking place during 1931 which was the year of the Great Depression and a lot of businesses were closing people were losing their homes and the nation was in an economic crisis. In the book the Master Painter paints a magical painting which the young boy the apprentice can reach into and take out as much wealth as he needs whenever he needs it he describes it as taking a cold drink of water from a mountain stream that's never ending. Joe: Excellent Brando: There are of course the cunning villains who are trying to steal the painting. There's a comedy duo team which I attribute to Laurel and Hardy or Abbott and Costello which try to help the apprentice locate the Master Painters painting after he mysteriously disappears. Joe: Excellent, excellent. Brando: There are also a few science fiction parts thrown in there with some creatures that call themselves, The Watchers of Prisoners so there are a lot of elements in this book which people might find interesting Joe.

Stella Maria Sarah Miles Franklin was born in Talbingo in central New South Wales, in 1879. Her parents belonged to the "Squattocracy" - Europeans who lived off the land because they were the only ones there, but had no land rights. She wrote her first novel in her teens - My Brilliant Career -and it was hailed as the 'first great Australian novel', it could only be written by someone who lived and breathed Australian life. She was committed to writing in a distinctively Australian style. Similarly, "Up The Country" is a tale about mid-19th-century pioneer families in New South Wales and is characterised by authenticity. Reading it, we live and breathe the pioneer life, the challenges and benefits of community and the harshness of the environment. There are disasters and difficulties but there are also picnics, dances and other enjoyable experiences, in amongst the raising of cattle, mining camps and lush natural wonders of Australia.

Tyran and Tyrel Lyreil are about as mischievous and fun-loving as two boys can get. With their two pals, Jeff and Jam, and their two horses, Chum and Trusty, they are forever finding pranks to play on their mother's ranch. They tease the good-natured cowboys and plan excursions to a secret place in the canyons that only they know of. They are not only capable of fun, however. As they grow into young manhood they can and do work as hard as the hired hands. They hunt and they fish, but most of all, they ride. They tackle almost every creature imaginable on their vast California ranch. Their way of life is their passion. When it comes to true American honesty, blood and guts, and the right to defend and protect what is theirs, no one beats the Lyreil boys. They may be young teenagers and full of spirit, but they have a code of honor they follow that neither threats nor bullets can pierce. Between humorous exploits of good clean fun, the young cowboys know what it means to work hard and face in the duties of every day life the real possibility of sudden and violent death. Whether it's branding the cattle or facing down rank ranch bulls, ridding the earth of venomous reptiles or tracking down rustlers, the Lyreil boys get the job done. No matter what the cost.