To Ride A Tall Horse

By L. J. Martin

A Western short story by L. J. Martin, takes a youth, who's family is starving, from near Paso Robles into the great, dry, western San Joaquin Valley, where he accepts a horseback ride from a group of vaqueros. Based on a true story. When the Anglos won California from the Mexicans, little law prevailed, and some very bad things resulted.

A Western short story by L. J. Martin.

Works by L. J. Martin:

Shadow of the Mast
Tenkiller
Mojave Showdown
El Lazo
Against the 7th Flag
The Devil’s Bounty
The Benicia Belle
Shadow of the Grizzly
Rush to Destiny
Windfall
Condor Canyon
Blood Mountain
Stranahan
McKeag’s Mountain
McCreed’s Law
O’Rourke’s Revenge
Wolf Mountain
Nemesis
Venomous (Fourplay)
Sounding Drum (Last Stand)
From The Pea Patch
Write Compelling Fiction
Killing Cancer
Internet Rich (with Mike Bray)
Google+ (with Mike Bray)
Tin Angel (with Kat Martin)
Crimson Hit (with Bob Burton)
Bullet Blues (with Bob Burton)
Quiet Ops (with Bob Burton)
Myrtle Mae (cartoons)
Cooking Wild & Wonderful

• Language: English
• Publisher: L. J. Martin
• Release date: Sep 20, 2012
• ISBN: 9781301617685

L. J. Martin

L. J. Martin is the author of four dozen published works. He lives in Montana with his wife, NYT best-selling romantic suspense and historical romance author Kat Martin. They enjoy travel, cooking, hunting, fishing, photography, and wintering in California. Learn more about L. J. at www.ljmartin.com, www.wolfpackranch.com, and more about Kat at www.katmartin.com. Or search facebook and other social media sites for L. J. Martin and Kat Martin.

Book preview

To Ride a Tall Horse

by

L. J. Martin

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 1993 L. J. Martin

Revised 2013

Wolfpack Publishing

PMB 414

1001 E. Broadway #2

Missoula, Montana 59825

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced by any means without the prior written consent of the publisher, other than brief quotes for reviews.

Other Works by L. J. Martin - Print & eBook

Shadow of the Mast

Tenkiller

Mojave Showdown

El Lazo

Against the 7th Flag

The Devil’s Bounty

The Benicia Belle

Shadow of the Grizzly

Rush to Destiny

Windfall

Condor Canyon

Blood Mountain

Stranahan

McKeag’s Mountain

McCreed’s Law

O’Rourke’s Revenge

Wolf Mountain

Nemesis

Venomous (Fourplay)

Sounding Drum (Last Stand)

From The Pea Patch

Write Compelling Fiction

Killing Cancer

Internet Rich (with Mike Bray)

Against the Grain

Tin Angel (with Kat Martin)

Crimson Hit (with Bob Burton)

Bullet Blues (with Bob Burton)

Quiet Ops (with Bob Burton)

Myrtle Mae (cartoons)

Cooking Wild & Wonderful

Mr. Pettigrew

Unchained

Short Story Collection & More

Slopes of the Sierra (short stories)

Who's The Boss?

The Write Stuff

Buckshot (formerly Tenkiller)

Blood Mountain

California Cocina

Mojave Showdown

TO RIDE A TALL HORSE

It is not necessary, Juanito, his old grand-uncle, his tio, told him. I have seen the grain bin empty many times in my years.

I am old enough, Tio Jorge. I have fourteen years. It is not so long a journey.

"Ah, Juanito, you have thirteen years. . . . Remember, I was nearby, sipping aguardiente with your father when the midwife slapped your behind. His uncle smiled, showing rosy gums where his teeth had been, then his old face furrowed again. It can be a journey onto the tangs of diablo's pitchfork. I made it one time in the summer months many years ago, in search of Yocuts who had stolen the horses of Don Alfonso Valadez. We had three days without agua. We lost three horses and almost our own lives." The old man scratched his bony ribs through the jerga shirt. Then again focused watery