Shoe-Bar Stratton

"Shoe-Bar Stratton" by Joseph Bushnell Ames is a novel written in the early 20th century. The story revolves around Buck Stratton, a cattle rancher who returns to his ranch, the Shoe-Bar, after a year of amnesia following his injury in World War I. He discovers that his foreman is missing, and the ranch is now owned and operated by a woman named Mary Thorne, leading Buck into a series of conflicts as he seeks to reclaim his life and uncover the truth. At the start of the narrative, Buck Stratton disembarks from a train in a small, remote prairie town, reflecting on his recent past and the year of lost memory as he makes his way to the Shoe-Bar ranch. Upon arrival, he learns of the unexpected changes that have occurred during his absence, including the ownership transition to Mary Thorne and suspicions of deceit surrounding the ranch's management. As Buck navigates these revelations, he grapples with the lingering mysteries of his own past, his growing intrigue toward Mary, and the challenges posed by the ranch's current circumstances, which hint at deeper troubles within the community, including rustling and potential betrayals.