J. Burnett Smith

If at First...: 2nd in the Brad Hastings Series J. Burnett Smith

Brad Hastings, a former rodeo cowboy, is on leave from his job as deputy sheriff in Los Gatos, New Mexico. He is travelling with his father, Doug, in an attempt to convince him to quit rodeoing and return to their ranch in New Mexico. Two inept wannabe gangsters, the Stokes brothers, have been stalking them because of their mistaken belief that the Hastings have in their possession some stolen bonds the Stokes want to recover. To add to their anxiety, they also believe Brad has seen them commit a murder. The Stokes intelligence level and ability to follow through on any of their plots, such as killing both of the Hastings, is about two notches below that of Westlakes Dortmunder, and they are so inept that the Hastings are unaware of their schemes until Doug is actually kidnapped.