The Sentry Post by Al Gunther

About the book

This is a story of strong human passions in the San Luis Valley of Southern Colorado. The environment, old water rights, oil and gas exploration and a Spanish land grant ranch, rich in resources, all play a part.

Small--town Chicano lawyer Freddie Romero discovers that his best friend was murdered in order to make way for the purchase of the Baca Ranch and the huge aquifer underneath the ranch. With the help of the local sheriff, Romero discovers that California developer Ian McCreede is behind the murder, but he can't prove any of it.

Ian McCreede, uses any means necessary to get the ranch, including attempting to kidnap Romero's girl friend. he eventually loses out on the Baca Ranch and its water resources when the Nature Conservancy steps in and purchases the ranch. However, he still owns the mineral rights and he begins drilling for natural gas. A huge pool of natural gas is discovered, but part of the major pool sits under the nearby sand dunes -- a national monument site. McCreede's firm, Coomb Energy, can't obtain the mineral rights under the dunes but illegally drills there anyway. They get caught.

Ian McCreede pilots his private jet to Alamosa, Colorado to try to bribe Romero. The bribe fails, but while there, McCreede's airplane is stolen.

Two U.S. research submarines running in deep water discover a black Porsche sitting on the ocean floor. McCreede had disposed of the Porsche to get rid of evidence that he had run over and killed a jogger. McCreede is arrested. Freddie and Liz get married and spend their time between Santa Fe, New Mexico and Alamosa, Colorado.

About the author

Al Gunther hails from Denver, Colorado, where he manages his manufacturer's rep business, marketing, high-tech medical equipment. A graduate of the University of Colorado, with a degree in business, he loves the mountains and streams of the West. He previously published a fly fishing book -- having taken up the sport at age ten and continuing to fly fish throughout his life in prime trout streams and coastal waters. His love of the outdoors has lead him to be interested in the management and use of the last great places.

Born of German immigrant parents, Al grew up speaking German and English and later taught himself Spanish. He is a skier and an avid golfer but he would be the first to say that his family --wife of 40 years, his three children and their spouses and his five grandchildren -- is the most important part of his life. His miniature Schnauzer, Rudi, also ranks high in importance! Al is currently building a log home on the banks of the South Fork of the rio Grande in south central Colorado and looks forward to living there part time in the years to come.