Revenge by fire

the long version

Steve Ross stops struggling to run his small ranch during Arizona's worst drought in living memory. But despite his intention of leaving town, he's suddenly forced to either hang for murder, or become the Deputy Marshal of Craigy Plains. Ross, never having fired a pistol, is appointed as lawman and taught how to handle a weapon. But it's not long before he's severely tested -- drawn into tragic events that put his own life in the greatest danger.