Silver Valley (Volume Two): Silver Valley, #2

By Noah Porter

Volume Two of the Silver Valley series!

A decade of storms, droughts and wildfires have ruined the nation's infrastructure and left most of the country dry and shattered. The end of oil has stopped food distribution, and America has returned to a horrifying state of nature, where the strong prey on the weak.

The New West is every bit as wild and lawless as the Old West, and Anna Lansing rides through, looking for a new place to call home. She finds a tranquil valley with a peaceful cottage and hope for a quiet life and the possibility of love.

The new American landscape is harsh and unforgiving. Anna thought she had found a place of peace and quiet, but her rest is short-lived when bandits invade her home and carry off Sophie, her new-found love.

Now, Anna is alone and powerless. She needs to rescue Sophie, but to do it, she'll need help from an old friend...

This is the New West. This is Anna's story.

Praise for Silver Valley:
"I’ve read the whole series and loved it…I loved that it’s full of thrills that have nothing to do with the supernatural, terrorists, etc. It’s kind of an old-fashioned story set in modern times. Great story. Great characters. Great thrills and pacing throughout. Loved it."

"I’m a big fan of Noah Porter. He has a great writing style that is really engaging and easy to read. I especially love this series because of the juxtaposition of old and new...the whole series is a quick, engaging read and well worth your time."

• Language: English
• Publisher: Our Pack Press
• Release date: Jan 19, 2016
• ISBN: 9781497779600

Book preview

~ Volume Two ~

When Anna had troubles, she thought of herself as two people. They were simple stand-ins for her, like the proverbial devil and angel on her shoulders, whom she called One and Two. One represented strength. One was confidence and aggression. One was lust and will. One was anger.

Two was softness and supplication. Two was passivity and kindness. And at this moment, Two was lying face down, naked on the floor of the cottage bedroom, and bleeding from a cut at the corner of her eyebrow where the red-bearded thug has slugged her. She was in a half-dark fog, with ringing in her ears. Through the ringing there was a voice sounding like it was echoing down long tunnels, from far, far away: She dug out my eye! She dug out my fucking eye!

There was another sound. This one was closer, cleaner, coming from inside the room. It was a click, a cigarette lighter flicking, followed a moment later by the sound of a gentle exhaling.

Well, came a familiar, cold female voice. You've got yourself in a pretty situation here.

Two raised her head. One was standing there, leaning coolly against the wall smoking a cigarette. Anna knew it was a dream. She hadn't seen a proper cigarette in two years.

Look at yourself, One said. She was dressed in a white tank top and shiny black leggings, her long black hair pulled into a tight ponytail as usual. You're lying on your naked ass, punched out by some flabby redneck rapist. Your lady love is getting carried away on a fucking horse, off to get used by some post-weather-apocalypse warlord, and you've got probably two minutes to live before some thugs come in here, and either have their way with you and then club you to death, or club you to death and then have their way with you.

Where's Sophie? Two managed to mumble.

I told you, One said, spitting the words out. That weirdo Wayne is throwing her onto a horse to take as some kind of sick war booty to Corbett. Of the famous Corbett crew. One knelt down in front of her. One's face was Anna's face, with all softness and compassion bled out. The question is, what are you going to do about it? Now get your ass up.

Anna struggled up onto her hands and knees. She heard the clatter of the cottage's front door. Red-beard's friends were coming. She was about to be attacked.

The cottage bedroom had a small closet. Dizzy from the punches she'd taken, Anna staggered to her feet and grabbed inside for the broom. She leaned against the wall next to the door, and as the first man entered she swung, catching him full force across the bridge of the nose with the broom handle.

He let out a yelp and flapped backwards, tangling up the man behind him. The two went down, and Anna came around the corner holding the broom up like a spear. The first man, with blood flowing from his nose, was getting to his feet and Anna caught him in the face with a two handed thrust of the broom handle's butt-end. It