John R Erickson
Everyone knows that bears live in the mountains...and there are no mountains in the Texas Panhandle. So, when Slim claims to have seen a bear cross the road, no one knows what to believe. It must have been a burro. That's it, it was a donkey. But then, Deputy Kile reports that there really is a bear on the loose in Ochiltree County! With news like this, the ranch's Security Force goes on Red Alert. Will Hank be able to defend the ranch from a raging,
...For twenty-five years, readers have enjoyed watching Drover, Hank's trusty sidekick try to finagle himself out of every dangerous situation that arises on the ranch. But what happened before Drover came to the ranch? Well, it's all here - from his early days as runt of the litter, through his fruitless search for a job, to his ultimate position as Hank's right-paw man.
Hank and Drover are just beginning an investigation when a pirate suddenly appears on the front porch! They soon realize that the pirate is just Little Alfred in disguise. Alfred chooses Hank as his first mate, and Hank enthusiastically agrees to be hoisted up into the tree-house pirate ship...then remembers dogs don't belong in trees! Can Hank survive his adventure on the high seas and return to shore in one piece?
What happens when Hank the Cowdog finds himself stuck in town and facing the mean, monster Great Dane, "Rambo"? Rambo's only weakness is that he's a car-barkaholic. He just can't resist chasing and barking at passing cars. Join Hank as he runs the Eighteen-Wheeler Marathon, charms his nieces and nephews with tales of courage, and enlists Dog-Pound Ralph in a scheme to banish Rambo.
Talk about a rude awakening! Things go from bad to worse when Hank and Drover wake up in the wee hours of the morning to a full-fledged invasion of the ranch. It's the coyotes, and they're set on making a take-out dinner out of the resident cat, Pete. But, when Hank does Pete a favor, things take an even more unexpected turn: the coyotes catch sight of Drover and decide to kidnap him instead! In the blink of an eye, little Drover is taken prisoner,
...When Hank hears a rumor that the sky is going to fall from the ranch's resident rooster, he is naturally a bit skeptical. But then a report from Pete the Barncat and a strange dream seem to support the theory, and Hank realizes that he'd better take the threat seriously! So Hank decides that he'll do whatever it takes to prevent the sky from falling on his beloved ranch. Even if it means getting into trouble with Sally May (again)...
Hank's in trouble again, but when he tries to apologize to Sally May, she just doesn't get the message. Before Hank has a chance to convince her, he learns that the ranch is being targeted for a major invasion from the dreaded coyotes. Does Hank have what it takes to save his reputation and protect the ranch?
Suspicious sounds coming from near the clothesline, leads to a midnight investigation of the ranch. Before he knows it, Hank finds himself caught up with his old friend Eddy the Rac—and face-to-face with one of a dog's greatest enemies: the dreaded Laundry Monster! Or is it just Eddy the Rac up to his old tricks?
69) Monkey Business
A convoy of circus trucks is passing through the ranch. The last truck in the column hits a bump and a large red box falls off and comes to rest in the pasture. Hank and Drover investigate the box and discover that it contains a circus monkey. Pete advises Hank not to open it, but Hank's curiosity gets the best of him. What follows is fun and adventure.
Hank finds himself the proud owner of three precious steak bones, and so he decides to protect his fortune by burying them in Sally May's garden. However, shortly after he meets Dog Pound Ralph, he returns to the garden and discovers that the bones are gone! He finds an empty Vienna sausage can in each hole. A night-stalking bone monster is loose on the ranch!
Someone has been stealing feed out of the feed shed, and Hank knows that it's his job to do whatever he can to help nab the culprit. Slim sets a live-animal trap in the shed, and Hank checks it in the middle of the night. Unfortunately, the trap is a little trickier than Hank anticipated, and in the process of his investigation Hank manages to get himself...well...trapped. Can Hank find a way out of this sticky situation?
Pete warns Hank that a stray dog has invaded the ranch and is lurking inside the machine shed. Naturally, Hank goes to investigate, and sure enough, he finds the Phantom Dog—in an old mirror stored in the machine shed. But then Drover looks into the same mirror and sees a "Handsome Prince." Holy smokes, it appears that two dogs have invaded the ranch!
An unearthly being has burrowed in Sally May's vegetable garden. Hank tries to dig the space monster robot out of its hole. But when Sally May catches Hank in the ruined garden she blames him. Ashamed, Hank hits the road. Beginning his exile he runs into his old friend, Madame Moonshine. Will she help Hank clear his good name?
Sally May takes the family on a vacation, but there's never a dull moment on the ranch. Hank learns about a tool thief on the loose who uses a monkey to help him do his dirty work. And before long, Hank finds himself face-to-face with the pilfering primate! Can Hank catch the criminals, or will the crooks make a monkey out of him?
Hank runs into a dispute with a giant bullfrog over the Emerald Pond. Then, there's a battle with a...Monster. It's too scary to tell what kind of monster it is! However, things get really tough when Hank is entrusted with the job of guarding Little Alfred's soon-to-be prize-winning chicks. They're cute, but they also look delicious! Will Hank be able to put aside his doggie instincts or will his appetite finally get the best of him?