UP FROM THE BEND starts in Murphyville, Texas, and ends in Sunrise, Colorado. Murphyville, Texas - In May 1883, range grass is becoming scarce. Charles Stockett, owner of the Bar CS outside of Murphyville, and his foreman, Ed Vargas, decide to sell the ranch and drive their herd north through west Texas into New Mexico and possibly all the way to Colorado looking for better range. Sunrise, Colorado - Stockett and his foreman find the range they're looking for in southeastern Colorado, northeast of the town of Sunrise. Stockett purchases a valley for a new ranch at gunpoint from homesteaders. Once settled in his new ranch, his hands begin rustling cattle from surrounding ranches. The new Sunrise town marshal and his deputies have to deal with Stockett and the missing cattle.
About the Author: Howard Katz was born in Chicago, Illinois, and moved with his parents to Los Angeles, California, as an infant. He went to public school in Southern California, graduating from Burbank High School. He graduated from San Fernando Valley State College (now known as California State University Northridge) with a dual major in History and Anthropology. He later did graduate work in Anthropology at Cornell University. Howard began working for IBM in 1963 and retired after 30 years in 1993. While with IBM, Howard worked as a Systems Engineer, Salesman, Programmer, and Senior Staff Member. After leaving IBM, Howard worked as a Project Director for an information technology consulting company in Dallas, Texas, a Consulting Practice Manager for Oracle Corporation, and as Director of Club Application Development for 24 Hour Fitness. Howard's jobs in information technology allowed him and his family to travel extensively throughout the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, Europe, and Asia. Howard and his wife and family lived a total of 14 years abroad in Caracas, Venezuela, several locations in Europe, and Tokyo, Japan. In 2001, Howard left information technology to teach high school in the Perris Union High School District in Perris, California. He retired from teaching in 2008. Howard and his wife and family have had horses for more than 40 years. They have camped with their horses and ridden in California, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, and Oklahoma. They have ridden 140 miles across Death Valley, California, 11 times. While living 13 years in Dallas, Texas, Howard and his wife and family, took their horses to Big Bend National Park and camped and rode for two weeks in the park every winter. Howard has competed successfully with his horses in 25 and 50 mile endurance races. Howard rides a Tennessee Walking Horse and his wife rides an Arab.