Blood Red

Blood Red is a coming of age story about a bi-racial young man trying to defeat the traditional greedy mega-rancher in a nontraditional way. This family oriented western is free of offensive language, like all of Rigsbee's books. Zach is filled with blood red fury when his parents are killed during an attempt to take over their ranch. He seeks an old White Mountain Apache wise man to help him defeat the rancher, but the Apache take him to a Mexican and his daughter instead. He learns patience, among other things, as he waits to see the wise man. Time is slipping away, though, and meanwhile, the greedy rancher is taking over the valley. They have taken his gun; the only means he had to fight the rancher. It is starting to look like he will have to face the rancher without his gun or the wisdom of the old Apache. A pre-civil war western set in western New Mexico territory, this book is sprinkled with history and period viewpoints. Suitable for any age.