In 1885, thirteen-year-old Ben Wright and his sister, Charity, travel to the New Mexico Territory under a cloud of grief. In the aftermath of their mother's death from consumption, their father took his own life. Now orphaned, Ben and Charity are to live with their grandfather on his cattle ranch.
When their stagecoach is attacked by outlaws, Ben and Charity are abducted and held for ransom. The bandits obviously intend to kill their captives, but thanks to Ben's resourcefulness, the two escape and make it to their new home.
There Ben learns to ride and herd cattle and forms a strong friendship with Kwahu, the Hopi stepson of the ranch foreman, Ted Colby. To Charity's chagrin, Ted teaches Ben to use firearms-a skill he's going to need sooner than anyone suspects.
Someone has it in for the Wrights, and his eyes are set on their hundred-thousand-acre ranch. Frighteningly, this criminal is a cold-blooded killer and will stop at nothing to attain his goals. Whether this dastardly enemy succeeds or fails depends on how quickly a thirteen-year-old boy can become a man.
About the Author: W. J. Humphrey spent thirty years working in the publishing industry and in customer service for an office supplies wholesaler. Now retired, he resides in Nashville, Tennessee, where he's lived his whole life.
Humphrey's love of westerns started at a young age, and his favorite author is William W. Johnstone. A New Land; a New Life is his debut novel.
