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Gray Riders is a classic historical fictional novel that takes place in western Missouri during the first two years of the Civil War.

The central characters in the story are the families of six farmers and the people in Tarrytown, a small town in the vicinity of where the Younger boys (the same people who made up the James/Younger gang) were brought up.

Thomas Hastings, a 13 year old boy, lives with his parents, brother and sister, on one of the farms. He attends a one room school house and gets caught up in the conflict.

The young men in the community, including Thomas's older brother Grady, form a band of riders who defend their properties against marauding and hostile invaders. They also join the Missouri Militia to fight in battles.

The story is an approximate 145 year flashback from the other Hastings Series novels. because Tom Hastings's great grandfather is the thirteen year old Thomas.