Rocky Lane's Black Jack #25

When express rider Tony Cato befriends the wild stallion Black Jack at a mountain spring, he has no idea the horse will become his most loyal ally—or that he'll need one. Outlaws Kraig and Axon set their sights on the gold shipment young Cato carries, and when their ambush traps him in a burning shack with no way out, it falls to Black Jack to overcome his deepest fear and prove what friendship really means.

Texas Ranger Walt Boyer accepts Popago's bold challenge: track down the restless Mescalero Apache warrior across the harsh desert without backup, or risk losing control of the entire reservation. Over six grueling days, Boyer pursues Popago through false trails and brutal terrain, matching wits and endurance against an opponent who knows every trick in the Apache playbook. "The Chase" is a test of nerve and cunning where only one man's resolve will determine the outcome.

Elkins is a seasoned mustang hunter who's never met his match—until he spots the clever Black Jack running wild across the ridge. When his initial capture attempt fails, Elkins becomes obsessed with outwitting the wily stallion, but Black Jack has plans of his own that will teach the veteran hunter a hard lesson about the horse he's chasing.

Willie Darb may be small and overlooked on Curt Beeder's ranch, but the quick-draw kid proves he's got backbone when ordered to help intimidate homesteaders off land that isn't even Beeder's to claim. Standing up for what's legal sets him on a collision course with his boss, forcing Willie to choose between loyalty and doing what's right—and he discovers he's tougher than anyone ever gave him credit for.

When a violent electrical storm threatens a herd of wild horses, the mighty stallion Black Jack guides the terrified mares away from the forest and gullies toward safety on the mountain. Later, the stallion's bond with a young boy named Johnny grows deeper when Black Jack mysteriously senses an approaching tornado and uses his instincts to lead the family to shelter, proving himself far more than just a horse. In this western tale, Black Jack's uncanny awareness and devotion become the family's salvation when danger strikes without warning.