Excerpt

Excerpts...

Part One - The Search

...The only sound heard was the whooshing of the airborne knife and the sound of metal on bone as the knife implanted itself into Dwight's chest. He never had time to get off the next shot. With eyes wide with shock, Dwight slumped to the floor, his head resting against the seat. The vacant stare made it clear the man was dead. Boyd stood in stunned silence. It was a far cry from aiming at trees....

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...He didn't notice the quiet that settled over the room as he ate his meal. He glanced up between bites and froze with his fork mid-air. In the mirrors reflection he saw a burly unshaven man standing about three feet behind him with a gun pointed at his head. He slowly set down his fork and waited for what was to come...

Part Two - Long Road Home

They were on the trail less than three hours and being lulled into complacency by the rhythm of the wagons when the danger came out of nowhere. A cloud of rising dust on the bluff above and to the left went unnoticed until the pounding of horse hoofs brought the warning. As one, the wagons began circling and occupants threw barrels, blankets and provisions down to serve as barriers. Children lay flat inside the covered wagons and the men and women took cover under the wheel axles. The Indians were closer and spreading out to encircle the wagon train....

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He swung the canteen doors open and stepped inside the darkened saloon. His eyes took a moment to adjust to the change in light. Within seconds, he noticed a group of men playing poker at a back table. There, among the six players, sat Wyatt and Morgan Earp. Forgetting his need to find a place to bunk, Blade approached the two men.....

Part Three - The Return

Word spread fast and the deputy met Blade in the street. "Need my help?" he queried. "No," Blade responded, "What's done is done. But you could have someone take these mules to the livery until I return." The deputy saw the hurt and anger in Blades dark eyes but knew not to interfere. He complied. How much loss can one family bear, he wondered as he watched Blade ride away....

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The deputy fumbled with his gun belt as sweat poured down his face. The belt released, he slowly lowered the gun to the platform. The brothers knew Blade would not be wearing one. Earl moved behind Blade and removed the large knife he wore around his waist from it's sheath and tucked it into his own waistband. James's arm went around Morgan's throat and he yanked her almost off her feet repositioning her on the platform. Blade's anger rose at the rough treatment of his obviously pregnant wife. They were at a standoff and Blade was helpless to act.....

Part Four - Fire on Snowy Mountain

The Yankton Sioux had long gotten used to the ways of the white man and had set up encampments along the trail to sell and trade their wares. Feathers were now stuck into western hats rather than on war bonnets and a pint of whiskey would get you beautifully woven wool blankets, leather goods, hides or even a horse if you were a good trader of horse flesh....

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He heard it before he felt it. A low rumble like a distant locomotive. He stopped chipping with his pick axe and listened. In an instant the earth began to shake violently and he was swinging precariously on the rope. The drop wasn't far, but the horses became spooked and he could hear Wounded Bird's scream. Suddenly the horse tied to his tether rope bolted...

Part Five - The Bullet and the Blade

Lilly explained that the doctor wouldn't tend to the dance hall girls because he was afraid of getting involved. They needed medical attention and she wondered if Luke could help. Luke agreed and they arranged for him to arrive that evening well after dark. He could come up the second story back steps of the saloon and she'd leave the back door unlocked for him. He could get in and out unnoticed. Luke had no intentions of being unnoticed. He had never backed down from a fight and wasn't going to start now.....

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The only trouble brought to their doorstep that winter was the occasional report by a ranch hand of finding broken fence sections that appeared to have been kicked in and a few cattle that had been killed and gutted. On one occasion, Blade found that the small river that ran behind their property and provided water for the cattle had been dammed upstream, cutting off their valuable source of water....

Part Six - Two for Justice

Their throats were parched from the long ride and they entered the saloon to quench their thirst and get their bearings. They noticed that a fight had broken out between two locals. No one seemed to take any notice and it spoke loudly of the law in this town. Just an everyday occurrence from the looks of things. The brothers skirted the fight and took their place at the bar....

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"Hurry up," Slim yelled. "Ya think I got all day." He jerked Luke forward and pushed him onto his knees, leaving his own back turned toward Blade's horse. He placed the revolver against the back of Luke's head. "Well Sheriff, been nice knowing ya."....

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