The Untold Legend of Pecos Bill

By TK Wade

What happens when a boy is brought up on whiskey and poker, falls out of a moving wagon, and ends up being raised by a band of coyotes? He just might end up becoming the best darn cowboy in all of Texas is what!
From wrangling tornadoes, fending off monster snakes, and even taking on the toughest criminals in the old west; there seemed like there was nothing this man could not do. With his trusty horse Widow-Maker, he would end up becoming the biggest hero of the time, and there were few who would disagree.
The only thing that seemed to take him for a loop was those sweet, sultry, feminine charms of the lovely Slue-Foot Sue. Will Pecos be able to win her over, or does his horse have other plans?
The Untold Legend of Pecos Bill by T.K. Wade retells the story for a new generation. Adventure, humor, and fun await in this classic, old west tall tale!

• Language: English
• Publisher: TK Wade
• Release date: Feb 12, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301328659

TK Wade

T.K. Wade is a writer based in coastal North Carolina. His favorite author is L. Frank Baum who has inspired a great deal of his work. Although he specializes in children's literature, he enjoys writing in nearly every genre under the sun. He spends most of his time writing in a room filled with plush animals. Also, you can read his blog at http://tkwadeauthor.blogspot.com/Please enjoy!

Book preview

THE UNTOLD LEGEND

OF PECOS BILL

by

T.K. Wade

SMASHWORDS EDITION

*****

PUBLISHED BY:

T.K. Wade on Smashwords

Cover Art Illustrated by:

T.K. Wade and Coy Fields II

The Untold Legend of Pecos Bill

Copyright © 2013 by T.K. Wade

Thank you for purchasing this eBook. This book may not be reproduced, copied, or distributed.

Your support and respect for the property of this author is appreciated.

This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the author’s imagination and used fictitiously.

*****

THE UNTOLD LEGEND

OF PECOS BILL

*****

Chapter 1 – Birth of a Legend

Not a lot could be said as an absolute matter of fact, but one could be sure that times were tough down in Texas. What with Indians, villains, and all manner of violent critters on the prowl, it was a citizen’s duty to do his best to fight the good fight and sow his seed wherever he could. They planned on winning by pure numbers, and you can bet that there was neither man nor woman that was not up to the task. But it would be a safe estimate to point out that some did better than others. This estimate would come on account of a family known as the Bentons.

Not a lot to say about the Bentons other than the truth. Originally, the family consisted of just Robert and Margaret. These lovers were drawn together by a powerful spell–not unlike the magic that every one of us may someday experience. But there was no fighting it with these two. As soon as their eyes met, it was as if the marriage had already happened.

As important as getting married is, it would rightly be stated that the honeymoon outclasses it by at least a life’s journey. These Bentons wanted nothing more than to get started on that honeymoon, and no one really knew when or if it ever ended. It was rumored that they could have been related to rabbits, but it was never proven. This couple had more children than most people saw in one lifetime, and they never did get tired.

Although some may find it amazing that this couple gave the lone star state of Texas the majority of its population, the real accomplishment was something much smaller. It was something that did not seem very astonishing at the time but would prove to be the beginnings of one of the greatest legends in all of Texas. It all began in an old wooden house west of the Pecos River.

Thirteen of them babies were screaming like they had nothing better to do. It is not hard to blame the little ones, because their mother was hollering a lot louder. Three babies in one day, and number four was giving her one hell of a time. Robert Benton was there and properly soaked in whiskey from the inside out. What choice did he have? The doctors had proclaimed Margaret terminally pregnant as if it was a disease. This was, of course, thanks to the help of the terminally capable Mr. Benton. Still, there was not enough money in the world to birth all these children, so Robert decided to do it himself.

Yer hollerin’ an’t doin’ nothing to help him out, Margaret, said Robert with whisky bottle in hand. You ought have figured that out by now.

Margaret scowled, but it was nothing personal. This one here is a mite stubborn! He’s fightin’ my insides like it was a bear!

Boy’s just big, came the drunken reply. Got his father’s stamina too. He’ll get out of ya when he good and ready!

Just as Pa Benton had suggested, this child would come about when he was good and ready, and fourteen hours later, he decided to be born. It was observable to mother and father that this was no ordinary child. The boy had a full head of red hair the second he left the womb. His chest was bristled with seven curly hairs which would surely multiply before too long. Upon examination of the child’s mouth, the parents were delighted to find a full set of teeth–gleaming white and looked to be as strong as any adult set. Robert proudly looked up to Ma Benton and stated, Looks like he’s one of the good ones, but no use at all if we’s gonna coddle him. Make no mistake, I’ll make sure he’s tougher than the rest.

You’re a good pa, Robert, Margaret said. You teach him good.

Without another sentiment, Father whisked the newborn straight up, and tipped his bottle over to give the nipper a drink. Drink it up, little screamer. They’ll be no milk today. Poor woman’s been sucked clean dry. But this here whisky will give you the kick you need in a better way. The boy drank, and he drank it with ease.

Margaret, in all her exhaustion, felt the need to ask a question of importance. What’ll we name him, Pa?! I’ve plum run out of everything fancy.

We’ll name him Bill. Boy doesn’t need nothin’ fancy. He’ll prove who he is in other ways. Nope, Ma, it’ll just be Bill. At the particularly young age of just past three minutes, little Bill seemed to take the news in stride. He was going to be tough for his pa, and that’s all he ever strived to be.

The upcoming days and weeks were rough on Bill–not that he minded. The boy was as tough as they come if not the toughest there ever was. In three days past his birth, Pa already had him chewing tobacco. We got to put those mighty fine teeth to use, was Robert’s reasoning.

In six months (more or less), little Bill was walking on two legs. Father Benton was as proud as he could be, but still had his own duties. That house was getting mighty full, and he figured that Bill would have to start fending for himself. No more whisky but what the boy could produce on his own.

Bill did not care. He managed to feed himself on whatever he could find. This usually amounted to lizards and rattlesnake heads. And what better to wash it down with than a heaping load of panther piss. This left Robert and Margaret able to take care of the more needy offspring. The truth was, Bill was not getting much attention anymore, and that suited him just fine.

By age two, Bill had constructed a distillery for his father. With a gallon of water from the Pecos River, he produced a tank of double-twisted moonshine. He added a cupful of gunpowder for seasoning and three rattlesnake heads for taste. Pecos Grave Makers, he called it. Would have sent any common man to an early grave, but there was something about the Bentons that rendered them impervious to the Grim Reaper. If anything, it brought out the rabbit in them. Bill appreciated the drink, but it never seemed quite up to what he was looking for. Robert liked the stuff all the same and nicknamed the kid Pecos Bill after the heart-stopping love potion.

At age three, Bill was the best poker player in all of Texas. Took his family for everything they had. He tried to give it all back, but Pappy would not hear of it. Figured it was time to move anyways. These whiney sons and daughters of his deserved something better. He told his wife, "Ma, our son has cleaned us out, and there an’t no point in stickin’ around here. We best get