Colfax to Santa Fe

For Rankin Scott, the former Sheriff of Colfax County in the New Mexico Territory, Pine Canyon afforded him just the right amount of peace and solitude he needed to recover from the previous year. He had become the sheriff to avenge his brother’s murder. MacKenzie Scott had served as the Sheriff of Colfax County before his untimely death.

Rankin’s year-long quest had taken him as far east as Boston, as far north and west as Idaho and Nevada, and as far south as the Mexican border. He was physically and mentally tired. The canyon, and his faithful dog, Buster, were perfect prescriptions for rest and healing.

The peace and solitude of the canyon were suddenly interrupted when he allowed his friend, Judge Walter Freeman, to talk him into becoming the Sheriff of Santa Fe County. A dispute between the Apaches and the Army, and a stagecoach robbery, had lured Judge Freeman to Santa Fe. He had served as the Colfax County Judge for many years.
Rankin hesitatingly joined Judge Freeman for this challenge.

Rankin fully expected to return to the solitude of Pine Canyon when his work in Santa Fe was done. However, Rankin found the challenges in Santa Fe to be everything he had expected and more. So much more that his return to the canyon was placed on hold, perhaps indefinitely.