Poker or Faro

 

Every western movie has gotten it wrong. Cowboys did not play poker in the 1800s but a game called Faro. Faro was invented outside the United States and after being imported, gained popularity.

"Lonesome Dove" by Larry McMurtry

This is a long story, equal to three normal size books. If you are going to read it, be prepared for violence. It describes the life of cowboys, mostly during a cattle drive, where they are confronted by almost every calamity known to man.
It continually emphasizes the weaknesses of the cowboys and their frequent bouts of tears. A bunch of indecision makers concerned about what the others think of them. The women are the strong characters, nothing getting in the way of their goals.
The author has no remorse about the elimination of his characters, seldom dying in bed.

"Valdez Is Coming" by Elmore Leonard

This is a simple story and doesn't take too long to read. A western story that is a bit far fetched, winning when the odds are 19 to 1 and all the adversities are expert gunmen. It is well written but doesn't seem to have an ending. I guess we have to make up our own mind as to how it is supposed to end. 

1960

Studebaker Lark

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The Law at Randado by Elmore Leonard

Once in awhile I read a western just to keep in touch with the genre. This a story of a western town where the town's elite decide that they don't need the state's judicial system and set up there own court. Of course these are just vigilantes who mete out their own sort of justice. Most of the story is the give and take to get the town back on track. I thought it was a slow starter with the fight scenes dragging on. I pushed on and found it a good story and enjoyed the battle for supremacy at the end.