Forlorn River (Original photograph from the 1926 film)

For my money "Forlorn River" is the better of the two books that comprise the story about Jim Lacey, the other being its sequel, "Nevada". "Nevada" is the more well known and the critic's choice, perhaps because Nevada was on the list of the first paper backs ever to be printed by Bantam books, and stayed on their list perpetually. But the story of Ben Ide, a young man who is at odds with his father over whether Ben was going to amount to anything because Ben loved to chase wild horses, and Ina Blaine, the second daughter of Hart Blaine, who thinks his daughter's four years at college has given her some strange ideas, and who will not be forced to marry Sewell McAdam, the son of a business partner of her father, makes for a rare good time in reading. When Ben is accused of cattle rustling he is forced to abandon his ranch, so he sets out to find who the real thieves are, but becomes side tracked because he is given the opportunity to catch "California Red" the fastest, most magnificent piece of horseflesh known in four states. Nevada, as Jim Lacy is known, had arrived at Ben's ranch and without any questions or seeming curiosity Ben takes care of his physical needs and let's Nevada stay on, again without knowing in the least who he is. Very quickly they become fast friends, and Nevada the go-between for Ben and Ina because their fathers do not get along due to some deal in which Ina's father took advantage. This story ends with Ben marrying Ina, and Ben's sister Hettie pining away for Nevada who leaves. But that is NOT the end of the story; you have to read the sequel, "Nevada" to get that. This is an excellent book I highly recommend you read.