An abducted boy, an overwhelmed lieutenant, and a broken promise of peace: along the Sonoita River, a single raid is enough to set Arizona ablaze.

March 2nd 1861. A remote ranch west of the Sonoita River is attacked. Horses vanish, a man is killed, and fourteen-year-old Felix Ward is taken captive by Apaches. For his stepfather, Jonathan Ward, the culprit is obvious: Cochise and the Chiricahua.

Army scout John Taylor sees things differently. Together with the experienced Noah Washburn, he knows the unwritten rules of the frontier—and understands that a false accusation can cost more blood than a lost battle. But Lieutenant George Bascom has no patience for doubt. With soldiers, rifles, and dangerous ambition, he marches into Apache Pass to hold Cochise accountable.

Between dusty trails, jagged rocks, and Jenny Dobbs’s stagecoach station, Taylor is drawn into a conflict he can barely contain. His wolfdog Sam remains at his side as mistrust turns to hatred and a negotiation threatens to become the spark for war.

Rugged, suspenseful, and steeped in classic Western atmosphere, The Scout 1 - Attack on the Sonoita River by Alfred Wallon tells of the beginning of the Apache War, of loyalty and betrayal. A powerful read for fans of John Taylor - Army Scout.