Ranson's Folly

Lieutenant Ranson returned from the Philippines with blood still hot for adventure, only to find himself rotting at Fort Crockett, a garrison posting where nothing happens and nothing matters. The army's quiet routines chafe against his restless nature until he meets Mary Cahill, the post-trader's daughter, whose sharp wit and dangerous beauty make him forget about glory for a while. When Ranson orchestrates a harmless mock robbery to shock the boredom from his fellow officers, he gets exactly what he asked for: the scheme spirals into a genuine crisis when a real paymaster is held up, and suddenly every choice Ranson has made threatens to destroy not just his career, but the woman he loves. Davis writes with the crisp, energetic prose of a man who covered wars firsthand, and his characters speak with a wit that feels distinctly modern despite the uniformed setting. The novel asks what becomes of men trained for glory when peace leaves them with nothing to fight but their own restlessness.