Showing results by author "John R. Erickson" in All Categories

Hank the cowdog has seen dry summers in his years as the head of ranch security, but nobody on the ranch has seen a drought like this one! Ponds have dried up, the creek is down to a trickle, pastures have turned to burned toast, and the cows are kicking up clouds of dust. Then, to top it all off, Pete the barncat hatches a dastardly plot to ruin Loper's birthday cake!

Talk about a rude awakening! Things go from bad to worse when Hank and Drover wake up in the wee hours of the morning to a full-fledged invasion of the ranch. It's the coyotes, and they're set on making a take-out dinner out of the resident cat, Pete. But, when Hank does Pete a favor and prepares to join him in what promises to be the next great Battle of the Alamo, things take an even more unexpected turn. The coyotes catch sight of Drover and decide to kidnap him instead!

When Hank hears a rumor that the sky is going to fall from the ranch's resident rooster, he is naturally a bit skeptical. But then a report from Pete the Barncat and a strange dream seem to support the theory, and Hank realizes that he'd better take the threat seriously. After all, as Head of Ranch Security, it's his job to protect the ranch from any and all potential danger.

Jackpot! Hank is the happiest cowdog in the universe when scraptime leaves him with not one but three juicy T-bones. But before Hank has a chance to enjoy his treasure, they disappear! It can only mean one thing - there's a dreaded Bone Monster loose on the ranch. Can Hank put a stop to this devious creature - or will he lose his precious T-bones forever?

Loper and Sally May have left Slim to manage the ranch while they go off to visit the relatives for the holidays. But just when it begins to look like another boring bachelor Christmas with Slim, a storm blows in and the electric fence separating a herd of steer from the highway shorts out. Now, it's up to Slim, Viola, and the ranch's Security Division to jump into action! Things take a surprising twist when Slim comes down with a burning fever in the middle of the operation, but nobody could have been ready for the surprise that transpires on the way to the hospital!

Evocatively chronicled, Erickson tells what it is like trying to stop the unstoppable. Bad Smoke, Good Smoke gives voice to the particular pains that ranchers must face in our era of climate change and ever more powerful natural disasters.

Prairie Gothic is full of Texas lore. Erickson tells the story of people in the context of a specific place. This place, instrumental in shaping their lives, is the flatland prairie of northwestern Texas that has gone by various names (High Plains, South Plains, Staked Plains, and Llano Estacado). One branch of Erickson's family arrived in Texas in 1858. Erickson's family interacts with significant historical figures, such as Cynthia Ann Parker, and includes members of the Estacado Quaker colony.

Hank couldn't be more thrilled when Beulah the Collie comes to the ranch looking for help. It turns out her beau, Plato the Bird Dog, has wandered off in search of the elusive Great White Quail. With Plato out of the picture, Hank is convinced that he'll finally be able to win Beulah's affections. So he takes up the mission, hoping to score some points with his beloved.

When a enemy spy disguised as a chicken sneaks on the ranch, it's going to be a wild day for Hank. Will Hank be able to protect the ranch and some newfound valuables of his? But Hank's biggest challenge will be whether he and Drover can lead a rescue to save Slim from his ride on a runaway windmill!

To cheat or not to cheat? That is just one of the questions to be answered on the ranch! While interrogating J. T. Cluck, will Hank be able to figure out what scary creatures are planning an attack on the ranch? After Hank lures Pete the Barncat into making a foolish bet for scraps, would Pete try to cheat the Head of Ranch Security? Will truth and justice win in the end?