Black Fury #8

When a new ranch hand named Hemp arrives at Gun Matson's spread, he's set to help capture Black Fury, the legendary wild mustang that no one has ever been able to hold—but Hemp's belief in gentling horses fairly clashes hard with Matson's brutal methods. As the trap closes around the magnificent animal, Hemp must choose between following orders and standing up for what's right, knowing that one man's stubbornness could cost everything.

Sheriff Al Boynton has spent two years earning the trust of Black Fury, a magnificent wild horse, and when the horse suddenly behaves strangely one day, the sheriff realizes he's trying to warn him about something—a gang of thieves planning to raid the Indian reservation for horses. Racing to stop the theft, Boynton must follow Black Fury's lead to track down the criminals and recover the stolen herd before they escape with their ill-gotten gains.

When a young boy climbs onto a wild colt during a frontier journey, the animal bolts and carries him off to rejoin a mustang herd—forcing the boy's desperate parents into a tense negotiation with Black Fury, the intelligent stallion who guards the manada. As Bill prepares to use force to reclaim his son, he discovers that the wild horse may be willing to strike a bargain if he proves willing to deal fairly. A gripping tale of parental instinct matched against the primal bonds of nature, "Stand Off" shows how even the wildest creatures understand the desperate love that drives a father to extremes.