The Best Man is the story of three spoiled women, sisters, who must complete a cattle drive to win their inheritances. Alex, the oldest, is widowed and lost part of a leg in a carriage accident, so she ends up as the cook. Freddie is a failed actress, and timid Les is betrothed to a man who abuses her. Dal Frisco is an ex-drunk who is the only man who'll take the risk of taking the cattle and women from Texas to Abilene.
This isn't my favorite book of Ms. Osborne's because the romances felt lacking. Each woman has the chance to find a man, but it all seems too hurried. The best parts were the historical details regarding the cattle drive itself. As each woman learned her role, I was fascinated to learn along with them, whether Alex had to dig a firepit or Les had to cut out a steer or Freddie had to turn a stampede. I give it 3 1/2 stars. ( )

Cattle baron Joe Roark carved his ranch out of the Texas dirt the hard way. Four wives and three useless daughters later, he's pretty sure he's doomed to die without a male heir. When he does, the conditions of his will are simple. If Lester, Frederick and Alexander can't trail 2000 head of cattle to Abilene, Kansas - the three women doing a man's work, as they're limited to taking 12 hands total - then his latest wife, Lola, gets it all. For three pampered, polished, petted women who've never so much as picked up a dirty dish the trail has one or two challenges in store.

I was actually expecting something fairly shallow - but Osborne's heroines aren't in for an easy time of it. Plenty of dirt, determination, and challenges to overcome. And romance, of course. ( )