Purgatory Crossing --  4 stars * * * * 

Having some history with hostile natives, Nathan Stark has made it his job to try to help prevent marauders from killing innocents; the way they did with his family.  His experience in the American Civil War has made him a hard man but one who seems to be interested in justice...but that is sometimes conflicted.

He joins with a member of the Crow tribe, Moses Red Buffalo, to hunt down marauders and deal frontier justice to those who would hurt innocents.  But he also has some background where all natives as well as people of color are not well trusted.  This inner conflict is seen again and again in his dealings along the trail.  But he would be the first to tell you that Moses Red Buffalo is his best friend.  Something that might not be expected given his background.

Stark and Red Buffalo are excellent trackers and are tasked with a tracking and retrieval job for some kidnapped Navajo children, a brother and sister, being held by one of the Geronimo Apache bands in frontier Arizona.  As might be expected the Apache will not take kindly to this rescue.  But others also come into play including scalp hinters and Mexican cavalry. The rescue is a key in limiting the Apache-problem but the Navajo chief, father of the kidnapped children, will not join the hunt for the Apache until the children are found.

The book is an adventure and a fun read.