James A. Michener · 1974 · overland

The cattle-drive thread of Michener's Centennial. To stock a vast new Colorado range for the Englishman Oliver Seccombe, trail boss R.J. Poteet drives a herd of Texas longhorns north in 1868, across the waterless Llano Estacado and through Comanche country and over Raton Pass, to found a cattle empire on the South Platte.

1. 1
   South Texas

   In 1868 the longhorns are gathered in the brush country of south Texas for the long drive north.

2. 2
   The Llano Estacado

   Trail boss Poteet pushes the herd across the waterless Staked Plains, a brutal dry crossing.

3. 3
   Raton Pass

   Up through Comanche country and over Raton Pass into Colorado.

4. 4
   The Venneford Ranch

   To the South Platte and the Venneford range near Centennial, and the founding of a cattle empire.