Carroll J Stephens

Phantom Mustang Carroll J Stephens

The setting of this story is in 1946, during the aftermath of World War II (WWII), near the town of Mill Creek, Utah. It encompasses several chapters of mystery, drama, adventure, and romance-involving mainly the homecoming of a local war hero, a beautiful newspaper reporter, and a legendary wild mustang. The story begins with the war hero returning home and then the planning and capture of a wild mustang in a secluded valley inhabited by mustangs, cattle, menacing and ferocious cougars. Included in the story are the many problems, sacrifices, and hardships involved in the capture and training of a legendary wild mustang for a special esteemed yet perilous cowboy cross-country endurance race. The almost unachievable dream of a beautiful woman in becoming the first woman to ever win a prestigious cowboy cross-country endurance race on a self-trained legendary wild mustang. There is an unforgettable, dangerous, and adventurous, although thrilling, two-week-long family cattle roundup in the secluded valley. The story emphasizes the simmering romance between the war hero and the beautiful journalist. Then too there is the mystifying special treatment by the US Army of some German Nazis, citizens being comforted in the aftermath of WWII in Mill Creek, Utah. The secret lodging of the Germans on a known deserted ranch bordering the valley is of grave concern to the war hero and the dedicated journalist. The Army's refusal to admit any knowledge of Nazism at the ranch could imply national security uncertainties. The story divulges the complicatedness of the young and dedicated journalist, wavering between her community responsibilities as a newspaper reporter and her patriotic duties as an American citizen. Faithfully dedicated to the belief all American citizens are inherently entitled to the truth, while realizing the disclosure of any German Nazi activity at the ranch could be detrimental to national security, is a subject of urgent scrutiny for the patriotic reporter and local war hero. National, state, and local community issues are of crucial trepidations to all citizens; however, the resolution to the many problems are not always agreeable, understandable, or easily ascertained. Neither are any of these problems dismissible.