MIDDL'UN
By
On page sixty-five a chicken stumbles about with its head half off and Hannah, who has no heart for the job she's bungled, throws up--whereupon this vapid Western comes momentarily to life. For the rest it's the familiar taming of a tomboy, tracking down rustlers routine, ensconced in observation of the Texas Hill Country and description of cattle-raising around 1900. Pa has some good words to say for giving the bad guys a fair chance and sister Melissa has a nice wedding, both of which prompt Hannah to reexamine her prejudices. A slow-poke on the range, obvious uplift off.