WL Cox's Books

Charles meets Colonel Markland in New Orleans before an urgent summons takes him to Washington to see President Grant. Uneasy but pressured into it, Charles accepts a mission with multiple targets, including orders to eliminate a Spaniard reviving Southern revolt who, he learns, owns most of the land around Atlanta. Charles devises an ingenious solution.

In Denver, Charles meets Colonel Markland and learns his assignment from President Grant will send him back to Sioux territory, where a French-Canadian trading post owner has been arming and cheating the Indians while framing the local fort's soldiers, and a government inspector sent to investigate has vanished. Reuniting with former war chief Gray Horse, Charles learns troubling details and is forced to use his influence to defuse the growing conflict and avoid the war.

Pleased with the winery's start, Charles takes his horses and British guests to New York's big race, to grand success. Back in Philadelphia for the brewery's grand opening, Charles receives alarming news: his Vallejo and San Francisco businesses have caught the eye of Michael "Mac" McDonald, an unhinged Chicago crime lord fleeing law and rivals, and looking to claim new territory. Mac sets his sights on Charles's businesses and racehorses, threatening to eliminate Charles's family and friends until he signs everything over. When Charles travels to Chicago, he's arrested and jailed by a crooked judge - and plans are made  to kill him.

Charles escorts the family and horses to Boston to race, visits White Buffalo, and has Ghost scout the Fairgrounds for jockeys willing to relocate to California. In England, Charles recruits two reluctant Master Brewers over the winery manager's objections, one bringing his wife and daughter . Trouble erupts when back in Philadelphia, Flora's English boyfriend is hired at the barrel plant. Charles' English farm manager couple joins for a very long-overdue honeymoon, and the winery gets running with the brewers' help. When Ghost's new accountant arrives in Vallejo badly beaten, Charles confronts the attackers before heading to San Francisco, then Benson, Arizona, where one of the beaten men tracks him down for revenge.

Charles returns to San Francisco for the new hotel's eventful grand opening, attended by the mayor and governor. Back in Denver, he's devastated by the loss of his horse, Wind Fire. In Philadelphia, the food store and brewery are near completion, needing only ingredients to begin. Hoping to build Ghost a Thoroughbred herd, Charles travels to Lexington to buy out Henry Plummer's stock, but a confrontation in Louisville creates an enemy who follows him to Philadelphia to settle the score.

Charles returns to Denver after George has heart problems and collapses. It is decided to take George to New York for surgery. Charles accompanies George to New York and becomes involved with an angry crime boss who has put a price on Charles’ head. After receiving devastating news that Gray Wolf had come up missing in a battle, Charles rushes back to save his blood brother.

Charles and Judith return to Philadelphia after enrolling White Buffalo, and Charles decides to stay for a few days and make sure the farms and the future food store are being started to his satisfaction. Charles receives an alarming telegram from Ghost. Harry Ross has escaped after murdering a food delivery man. It is believed he is returning to San Francisco to destroy the Hotel and kill Charles’ family. Trouble erupts in Denver, and Charles encounters armed thieves in Georgia.

Charles visits California while he is in Denver and is pleased with the progress. He returns to Denver and finds the two horses that Harris Hudson has sent to be bred. Charles travels to Arizona to resolve the problem with the railroad construction crew, and Ghost rides with him. Charles returns to San Francisco, buys some land, and ends up in a court battle, travels to Philadelphia to oversee his farms and helps White Buffalo who has applied to Harvard Law School and received a letter of denial.

Charles, Blank, and Caleb return to Philadelphia, and Charles is pressured into enrolling Little Sun Bird in a Finishing School. Charles encounters a man who owned a freight company and has horses, wagons, and harnesses to sell. After enrolling Sunbird in school, he finds a large orchard and stops to see if they have any plants available. He makes a surprising discovery. Charles receives an alarming telegram and decides to take the family and return to Denver. Charles confronts Monica Rogers with an unusual request. Charles’ thoroughbred herd grows and one man won’t take no for an answer.

Charles discovers that Frank Johnson has filed a lawsuit against him for destroying his subdivision plans and seeks the help of attorney William Bulger of Boston. The lawsuit has a surprising twist and the explosive outcome. Charles hires a construction crew to begin building a home, office, and barn for Dr. Samuelson. Charles receives a telegram that his accountant, Caleb Coffee, was beaten and robbed, returns to Philadelphia, and with Blank takes matters into their own hands when a local sheriff doesn’t want to do anything about the beating and robbery.

Charles takes the family to Denver and, concerned with the health of Wind Fire seeks help from a highly respected animal doctor. He is contacted by two thoroughbred horse breeders who are offering some of their horses for sale. Charles travels to Virginia to check out the horses, then continues to Kentucky to inspect another herd, where he makes a startling discovery. He encounters a man being badly beaten by thugs, jumps in to help and is wrongfully arrested. Victim is in a coma and cannot testify. Charles takes the train to New Mexico where a Ute Indian Chief comes to the construction camp and asks for help. The ground in Vallejo is finally ready to start planting trees and fruit bushes. Charles discovers a tree farm and decides to talk to a specialist.

Charles takes the family to Denver and delivers the Clydesdales. Then he continues to Vallejo with Bernard and Evelyn. Charles returns East with his two jockeys and his two best horses for the big race at Saratoga Downs, in New York. A fist fight, close races, and the purchase of several top-rated horses highlight his trip. Vallejo court battle, fire in San Francisco & a murder follow.