Luke Short is the pen name of Frederick Dilley Glidden (1908-1975), the bestselling, award-winning author of over fifty classic western novels and hundreds of short stories. Renowned for their action-packed story lines, multidimensional characters, and vibrant dialogue, Glidden's novels sold over thirty million copies. Ten of his novels, including Blood on the Moon, Coroner Creek, and Ramrod, were adapted for the screen. Glidden was the winner of a special Western Heritage Trustees Award and the Levi Strauss Golden Saddleman Award from the Western Writers of America.

Born in Kewanee, Illinois, Glidden graduated in 1930 from the University of Missouri where he studied journalism. After working for several newspapers, he became a trapper in Canada and, later, an archaeologist's assistant in New Mexico. His first story, "Six-Gun Lawyer," was published in Cowboy Stories magazine in 1935 under the name F. D. Glidden. At the suggestion of his publisher, he used the pseudonym Luke Short, not realizing it was the name of a real gunman and gambler who was a friend of Doc Holliday and Wyatt Earp. In addition to his prolific writing career, Glidden worked for the Office of Strategic Services during World War II. He moved to Aspen, Colorado, in 1946, and became an active member of the Aspen Town Council, where he initiated the zoning laws that helped preserve the town.

From a winner of the Western Heritage Trustees Award: The thrilling story of a sheriff caught between his outlaw in-laws and the woman he loves.
Being the sheriff of Sutton County is no easy job, but Reese Branham keeps the peace-even though his own wife comes from the dreaded Hoad clan. The Hoads have always been troublemakers. And when one of them murders a man in cold blood, Branham does his duty, only to watch in dismay as the jury lets the killer go free.

Being a woman on the harsh frontier is bad enough. But Jen Truro is also the local prosecutor, and when a killer walks free because the jury doesn't trust her, it's a hard pill to swallow. Complicating the situation is her past with Branham, whom she spurned one too many times, driving him to marry a woman he doesn't love.

The Hoad clan is not a forgiving family, and when they plan a massive cattle heist, they have to know Branham won't get in the way. If his wife can't convince the lawman to mind his own business, the Hoads will be damned if they let him-or his old flame-stop them.

A legend of western fiction, Luke Short broke the trail for writers such as Louis L'Amour and Elmore Leonard. Paper Sheriff is an unforgettable tale of the men and women brave enough to tame the Old West.