The Quirt

I read the “Sawtooth Ranch” version of this, but it seems it was better known by this title, which is the name of the Hunter ranch. It's half adventure, half murder-mystery. Lorraine Hunter is tired of her California life and decides to go to live with her father on his ranch in Idaho, thinking it will be as interesting as the Western “movies” she's had bit parts in.

Trouble is, she's been raised by her mother and has no idea how remote and lonely her father's ranch is...and how his land baron neighbor, the head of Sawtooth Ranch, has made it almost impossible for him to keep a thriving ranch in the area. To make matters worse, Lorraine is caught in a thunderstorm in the open and accidentally witnesses a murder.

She soon finds that life on the ranch is a true fight for survival, especially with Winfield of the Sawtooth ready to do whatever it takes to own the entire range.