Rocky Lane's Black Jack #27

Rocky Lane's stallion Black Jack is hunted across the frontier after being falsely accused of carrying hydrophobia and biting his master—but Rocky knows the truth, and the real culprit is bad water, not rabies. As panic spreads through the region and armed men close in on the innocent animal, Rocky must find a way to protect his loyal companion before hysteria and fear lead to a tragic mistake.

A desperate bank robber from Chicago forces Rocky Lane—a secret marshal—at gunpoint to provide a horse and guide for his escape, but Rocky's clever horse Black Jack has other plans. With the gunman focused on keeping his prisoner covered, the wily steed bides his time for the perfect moment to unseat the outlaw and help bring the criminal to justice.

When a massive silver-tip grizzly bear threatens Black Jack's herd in the high Rockies, the great stallion must stand his ground to protect a helpless foal—and then pursue the wounded bear across treacherous mountain terrain to ensure his family's safety. Across days of relentless tracking through snow fields and peaks, Black Jack closes in on his adversary, leading to a final, desperate clash in a mountain meadow where only one can emerge victorious.

Black Jack, a spirited stallion recovering from an injured leg under Mike Andrade's care, grows restless as an electric storm threatens the hills where his wild mustang herd grazes in the timber. When danger closes in, the stallion's determination to rejoin his bunch proves stronger than any rope or fence—but his escape comes with a cost that will change everything. Rocky Lane's companion must choose between captivity and freedom, even as a ruthless threat emerges at the ranch itself.