R.O. Lane Books In Order

Publication Order of Coltrane and Calvin Books

Publication Order of Nash Cline Books

Publication Order of Texas Paladin Books

Publication Order of Will Fain, U.S. Marshal Books

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

Publication Order of Short Stories/Novellas

R.O. Lane
R.O. Lane discovered westerns during high school when he read “Shane” by Jack Schaefer. He so enjoyed the novel, that he read every single one of Schaefer’s. He has loved hundreds of western writers, his favorites, besides Schaefer, being Gordon D. Shirreffs, Louis L’Amour, Matt Braun, and Elmore Leonard.

R.O. has an M.A. in communication research and a B.A. in English. He worked as an editor and writer for three daily newspapers and has written dozens of speeches for senior officers of three Fortune 500 corporations.

From his base in Tucson, Arizona, he’s traveled all over the western states. He has lived in Utah, Kansas, Nebraska, Arizona, and Colorado. Even though he has never lived in Texas, he has traveled the state extensively and loves its history as is evident from a number of the westerns he’s written. Lane continues to write every single day for his own pleasure and that of all his readers.

Writing has been his life, and now he writes the westerns that were his first love. No one can truly understand just how difficult life was in the West, or the courage that it took to settle a new land with all of its challenges. Those that were equal to the task were heroines and heroes, and their lives were worth remembering. He is a romantic at heart, and he doesn’t apologize for it. It is evident in every book that he writes. For those that don’t want romance in their westerns, look elsewhere.

“Will Fain, US Marshal” is the first novel in the “Will Fain, US Marshal” series and was released in 2016. Will Fain is a US Marshal sent into West Texas by President Grant. He arrives in West Texas with six of the finest thoroughbred horses to build his life and build up his horse ranch in San Angelo, Texas, which becomes his base of operations. Fain looks to establish law and order during a time when the US Cavalry is waging constant battle with Kiowas and Comanches.

Soldiers desert on a regular basis and often become criminals themselves. People that don’t have a conscience, rapists, robbers, murderers, card sharps, and counterfeiters are all over West Texas. Fain looks to bring justice to even the worst of criminals. He and his deputy, an ex-Buffalo Soldier called Isum Wood, have encounters with buffalo hunters, cattle rustlers, card sharps, and all kinds of other criminals.

Will finds that horse racing is the favorite pastime of westerners, so he races his thoroughbreds against some of the finest quarterhorses in the West. As these criminals inhabit Fain’s working world, he finds some great joy by marrying this widow with two kids, who give his life purpose and bring him the greatest love that he has ever known.

“Just a Kid” is a stand alone novel and was released in 2018. It is a Wild West story, however it’s also a love story. Cole Flynn is a young man only fourteen years old, and rides into trouble when he stops at a ranch right outside of Las Vegas, New Mexico, which is the wildest and meanest town in the Territory. He stops to ask for a bit of water for himself and his animals and meets this young widow who’s cattle are getting stolen by this gang of outlaws.

Cole decides to help her out and takes on the toughest gang in the land. He kills one in this fair gunfight, and the Purvis gang comes after him, trying to kill him repeatedly. At one point, they kidnap this young widow, and Cole ups the stakes some more and dynamites the saloon that’s owned by the leader of the gang. He frees the widow and they ride off to make a life for themselves, however John Purvis, the leader of the gang is vengeful. He sends men to murder Cole repeatedly, and he’s gotta be on constant alert or face his own demise.

“Nash Cline” is the first novel in the “Nash Cline” series and was released in 2019. Nash Cline lies about his age and enlists in the Union Army in January of 1864. He sees a year and a half of bloody fighting before he heads out west.

At Atchison, Kansas, he picks up the Smoky Hill Trail and travels through Kansas, which is ruled by hostile Arapaho and Cheyenne Indians, who attack a stagecoach and capture a young woman called Ada Simmons. Nash is at the Army fort when the abduction gets reported, and he insists on going out in the middle of the night in order to get the young woman back from Cheyenne warriors.

After showing up in Denver, he sets up a detective business and he prospers as the young woman he rescued becomes a consultant to the wealthy, many of whom end up hitting it rich in the silver and gold mines. While Ada and Nash pursue their vocations, their lives run together, and they learn to care for each other. Nash learns to be a top flight detective and protects his clients at all costs.

“Mose Cabot” is a stand alone novel and was released in 2020. Mose Cabot leaves Virginia as a young man, gets jobs on different steamboats and works his way over to Fort Benton, Montana. Along the way, he runs into this lost little boy called Gabriel Allsop.

Together they strike out and file their own mining claim in Montana Gulch. They work three years at their mining claim before they settle on a homestead in the Bitterroot Valley, where they build their horse ranch.

This is the touching tale about two boys that grow to manhood in the wilds of Montana in the early days when fortunes were made and lost in just a single heartbeat.

“Ruby Ringo” is a stand alone novel and was released in 2020. Ruby Ringo is a young Texas woman and becomes a trail boss after her grandpa dies, leading this herd of cattle from south Texas to Abilene. A young cowboy comes along and finds her almost dead in the wilds of Indian Territory, her herd gone and all of her drovers dead.

This is the story about a young woman that does her best against all odds and winds not just the fight to get her herd back but to win the heart of the guy she loves. Set in 1867-1868 Wyoming and Texas.

3 Responses to “R.O. Lane”

1. Hercy Lord: 6 months ago

   Am 80 years old Connecticut Yankee, farm raised, loved playing cowboys and indians, and history of all kind. Have read thousands of books, collected hundreds, but love stories of the Old West. This author has a deep understanding of the human “heart”, and the people seem real to me. I am glad to be born in modern times, but part of me would love to “time travel” and vacation in the Old West.

   Reply
2. Joyce Trent: 8 months ago

   I appreciate the heart in all of your writing. The pepole get to their destinations, they don’t always loose. Life is real and I love the way your treat the characters in your books. They are loveable, kind and treat each other with respect. The language is good. People in life are not always mean and hurtful. Love is good.
   I’ve really appreciated finding your books.
   Sincerely,
   Joyce Trent

   Reply
3. Maryann Oringle: 10 months ago

   Really enjoy your western stories, especially the characters and the geography. It’s hard to find a better place to live than Tucson, but there’s still Texas, you know. Keep up your good work.

   A real Texan, member of DRT and DAR and retired Business and Technology Asst Prof. UH Retired on family ranch dating back to 1890. I love historical western fiction and yours is some of my favorites.

   Reply