If at First...

About the Book

Brad Hastings, a former rodeo cowboy, is on leave from his job as deputy sheriff in Los Gatos, New Mexico. He is travelling with his father, Doug, in an attempt to convince him to quit rodeoing and return to their ranch in New Mexico. Two inept wannabe gangsters, the Stokes brothers, have been stalking them because of their mistaken belief that the Hastings have in their possession some stolen bonds the Stokes want to recover. To add to their anxiety, they also believe Brad has seen them commit a murder.

The Stokes’ intelligence level and ability to follow through on any of their plots, such as killing both of the Hastings, is about two notches below that of Westlakes’ Dortmunder, and they are so inept that the Hastings are unaware of their schemes until Doug is actually kidnapped.

About the Author

Jane Burnett Smith was raised on a cattle ranch in Montana, rode saddle-broncs professionally in rodeos, worked in western movies, and dealt blackjack in Nevada. She now lives in Tempe, Arizona, near her daughter and family. She was recently nominated to the National Cowgirls'Hall of Fame in Fort Worth, Texas.