Gunfight at Taylor Ridge

Introduction

Conventional wisdom states the traditional Western story is dying or already dead, particularly among young people. It’s claimed the younger generations have little or no interest in our American Western heritage, either the facts of history or the legends which have made the cowboys, gunslingers, lawmen, Native American Indians, cavalrymen, and settlers of the American West enduring icons for generations throughout the entire world.

In the presentations I give at schools, libraries, and other venues throughout the United States, I have found this not to be true. Young people are still extremely interested in the stories and history of the West. I am concluding this anthology with the following true story, which illustrates perfectly this interest.