A Western Adventure by Ronnie Ashmore
Sam Bolton was wanting life to return to normal on the Lightning Bolt Ranch after the ranch was destroyed. But a new marshal in the town has his own way of keeping the peace, a way that goes against everything Sam believes in. When a family of fighting men rides in from east Texas seeking revenge, Sam is soon drawn into a fight for survival with an ally he doesn’t trust. Sam Bolton enemies will soon know what a fighting man really is.
Excerpt
“Who’s this coming?” Billy said.
Sam turned toward the direction Billy was looking. It was a horse and a rider approaching at a slow walk, but the rider looked to be hanging on for his life, as if he hadn’t ridden in a long time.
Sam watched as the horse made its way to the yard and the rider tried to pull up and stop. Billy reached out a hand and caught the reins under the horse’s chin bringing the animal to a stop.
Both men stood watching the rider a few seconds. Sam was not sure, but it looked as if the man was going to cry. The man was dressed in a ragged suit that at one time had probably been nice.
That time was long distant. The suit was torn and stained so badly that you couldn’t tell original color from dirt. The man looked to be about Sam’s age, although he could have been much older. His dirty face showed the effects of alcohol, lots of alcohol.
Sam broke the silence,
“Who are you? And What are you doing here?”
The man looked at Sam a moment, then took a deep breath.
“I bring news to you, Mr. Bolton.”
Sam waited, saying nothing.
The man looked at Sam a moment then continued,
“Your man, Shiloh, was shot last night in the saloon.”
“What?” Sam asked.
The man leaned back in the saddle as if he were about to be hit.
“The Marshal shot him, then took him to jail.”
“Why are you just now coming to tell us this?” Billy asked.
“Why I ain’t been on a horse in years. Wasn’t sure I could find the ranch. And had to sober a bit to get here.”
“Shiloh alive?” Sam asked.
“Last I heard. It was the doctor that sent me out here. Rudy the bartender and me the only witnesses. That Marshal shot him for no good reason. I was play acting like I was passed out, but I heard and saw.”
Sam looked at the man, then at Billy.
“Feed him. Looks as if he ain’t ate in a while.”
Sam walked toward the house thinking of Shiloh. He was not the kind of guy to buck the authorities. Not since getting out of prison. If the marshal had given Shiloh an order, he would have tried to comply whether he agreed or not. So, for Kelvin to shoot Shiloh made no sense. But it would.
Sam entered the house and saw Caroline standing at the one window looking into the yard. He knew she had watched him walk to the house.
“What’s wrong?”
“Shiloh. That man says he was shot by Kelvin last night.”
Caroline gasped a little, then said, “Is he…”
“Alive. Last that man knew. He’s over in the jail now.”
Caroline watched silently while Sam gathered his gun belt and put it on, then his rifle from where it was leaning against the wall. He grabbed his hat and put it on.
“Sam, bring our man home, please.”
He looked at her, nodded, stepped close and kissed her.
“I plan on it.”
He walked outside. One of the hands brought him his horse, saddled and ready to go.
