The border legion (Zane Grey)

Only the love of the young Miss Joan Randle can melt the cold heart of Jack Kells, ruthless leader of a gang of desperados terrorizing the American borderlands. His cold eyes filled her with fear, but her goodness made something happen deep within him. Kells had a price on his head and on his heels. Now loving this woman could cost him his life...or it could make him a hero in this wild, dangerous land. There are classic Western elements: likable outlaws, the wild frontier, gold fever, and a damsel in distress. But there is also humor, romance, and a happy ending. Written in 1912, it reflects its time period. The heroine is spunky and virtuous, the villains are horrible but capable of redemption.