Unknown Friend — William A. Luckey

Northern McKendrick was an orphan sent to live with the family he didn't know. Key Larkin was the son of the local whore -- a young man on his way to an outlaw life of wild horses and wilder women. They met in a brawl and became friends despite that. They became best buddies -- each other's protector. Until North's cousin Neelie fell in love with Key. Neelie's family wanted better than Key Larkin for their daughter. They did everything they could to fight her infatuation with him. But it was nothing: she loved him, or seemed to . . . until a family secret revealed itself, exploding and destroying the everything that deceit and lust had created. . . .