The Agony of Love: A Triple Action Western Short Story

By Scott Dennis Parker

What would you do if your wife cheated on you with a another man? John Hardwick answered that question for himself. Now, he's about to act on it.

An exciting new western novelette from author Scott Dennis Parker written in the style of Louis L'Amour, James Reasoner, Robert Vaughn, and Luke Short.

John Hardwick loves his wife like a Shakespeare sonnet: full, complete, and without equal. Unfortunately, John now finds himself in the crucible of infidelity. He knows the other man's name: Alton Raines, a professional gambler.

John is a good man, not prone to violence, but the images in his mind's eye—of his wife in Raines's bed—puts murder in his heart and a gun in his hand.

If you like reading Robert J. Randisi, Chet Cunningham, and Ron Schwab, then you'll love "The Agony of Love."

• Language: English
• Publisher: Quadrant Fiction Studio
• Release date: Apr 27, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386623311

Book preview

The Agony of Love

The Agony of Love

A Triple Action Western Short Story

Scott Dennis Parker

Quadrant Fiction Studio

Contents

Newsletter

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Mysteries

Westerns

The Adventures of Calvin Carter

About the Author

The Agony of Love

A Triple Action Western

Copyright © 2017 by Scott Dennis Parker

Cover Design by

Scott Dennis Parker

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Click here for the official website:

ScottDennisParker.com

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All rights reserved.

This is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents, and dialogues are products of the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real.

No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission of the Publisher or Author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

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1

John Hardwick loved his wife Mary like a Shakespeare sonnet: full and complete and without equal. He would memorize the Bard’s sonnets as well as the poems of Byron, Blake, and Browning and recite them to her over dinner or in front of the fire in their little home. Their life was hard—he a farmer, she a farmer’s wife—but he loved it more and more each day. Even when the hardships of farm life took their toll on him physically, he still loved his beautiful Mary. When the farm life robbed her of her ability to bear children, he still loved her.

But even the surest of love could be tested in the crucible of infidelity. John Hardwick found himself in that crucible now as he stared across the saloon at Alton Raines, his head full of things that normally never entered his mind. Images of violence, hatred, and murder boiled his blood. He wondered how loud the shot would be if he stuck his pistol up against Raines’s body and pulled the trigger.

Still, he had to gather his courage. It had taken him over an hour of waiting, drinking, and watching to figure out which patron of the Oak Tree Saloon was Alton Raines . He had asked a couple of men if they knew the. They did, and had easily pointed him out.

Raines turned out to be the dandy sitting at the poker table. His dark hair, slicked back and coiffed perfectly. The mustache neatly trimmed. His suit, gray and adorned with a shimmery purple vest. The black tie formed a perfect knot over a pressed white shirt. Occasionally Raines would check the time on his shiny gold pocket watch. He presented himself in a suave manner, smiling at everyone in the room. Ladies would drape themselves across his shoulders.

All in all, the sight made John Hardwick's stomach turn. It also brought a tear to his eye. He wasn't much to look at. He knew that. Long days of sun and wind and hard work had aged him. He looked ten years older than his age of thirty. His eyes had developed permanent crow's feet. His hands looked like an old man's. And his shoulders sagged a bit, even when he wasn’t carrying heavy equipment or hay bales.

He caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror