The Adventures of the Cowboy Kid: The Victorian Mansion Vol. 1

By Philip Clark

Johnson M. Rutheford
In honor of our sheriff, 1883
The house is the key and under the "wood panel"
is your answer. But be careful, for on the day
that you use the key, your mind will be open,
and your life will be changed forever!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers
• Release date: Aug 31, 2020
• ISBN: 9781645756705

Philip Clark

Traveling from place to place, Philip Clark found his footing in storytelling, creating places that he had never traveled and adventures he longed for. So, it was only a matter of time before he created a world full of mystery and adventure. Now he writes stories to help show the world what a better place it can be when we all work together.

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About the Author

Traveling from place to place, Philip Clark found his footing in storytelling, creating places that he had never traveled and adventures he longed for. So, it was only a matter of time before he created a world full of mystery and adventure. Now he writes stories to help show the world what a better place it can be when we all work together.

Dedication

I dedicate this book to YOU, the reader. This world is full of darkness and hate, but there is always a light that shines in each one of us. Only love will allow that light to come forth and shine brightly into the world. So, be a beacon of hope for those that have lost their way, because once you choose hope, anything is possible.

Copyright Information ©

Philip Clark (2020)

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher.

Any person who commits any unauthorized act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

Ordering Information:

Quantity sales: special discounts are available on quantity purchases by corporations, associations, and others. For details, contact the publisher at the address below.

Publisher’s Cataloguing-in-Publication data

Clark, Philip

The Adventures of the Cowboy Kid

ISBN 9781645756682 (Paperback)

ISBN 9781645756699 (Hardback)

ISBN 9781645756705 (ePub e-book)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2020909906

www.austinmacauley.com/us

First Published (2020)

Austin Macauley Publishers LLC

40 Wall Street, 28th Floor

New York, NY 10005

USA

[e-mail]

[phone]

Acknowledgment

I want to thank all my friends and family who supported me through this whole process. Thank you for always believing.

I want to give a special shout out to my amazing editor, Judi D.

Thank you!

Chapter 1

The Beginning

On the second-floor balcony inside an old western saloon, Charlie yelled, Hurry! He’s coming! Quickly reacting, a teen-aged girl in cowboy attire leaped over the railing.

Blonde with blue eyes and fair skin, she wore a black vest with a sheriff’s star attached to its left side, and a white shirt tucked into her black jeans. Her boots had polished tips of pure silver that contrasted with the worn spurs on each heel. Centered to her waist was an oversized, silver belt buckle.

Time slowed to a grind as she drew her guns from her holsters during her descent to the lower level of the saloon.

She twisted around in the air as her black cowboy hat floated up and off of her head. Her eyes locked with Charlie’s. He watched as her mouth slowly moved up and down with worry, while she raised her guns up toward him, concentrating. Confused, he tried to read her lips when a dark figure suddenly grabbed him from behind.

Help! Charlie yelled, as the dark-figured man quickly wrapped his arms around his neck.

She immediately fired both pistols, missing her mark as she crashed onto a poker table below. The players jumped out of her way, just in the nick of time before the weight of her small frame smashed the table into a thousand pieces.

The entire saloon fell silent as everyone stood frozen in place. No one dared to move.

Charlie watched as she stood up, quickly locking her pistols again on the dark figure.

Don’t you DARE hurt him! she yelled.

Or you’ll do what? spat the man.

Look, I will give you what you want. Just don’t hurt him!

It’s a little late for that, don’t you think?! he shouted angrily.

Charlie pulled the man’s arm away from his throat for just a second. Run, Annika! he yelled before the man regained his tight grip.

You two took what is mine and that key belongs to ME! he spat, trying to search Charlie. Give me what I want, and I will let him go. Unharmed, I promise, he replied with a devious smile.

Well, I have the key! So come and get it, you fat pig! she yelled back, holding up the key to taunt him. That is, if you can take it from a girl.

The man’s grip on Charlie tightened once more. You are in NO position to mess with me!

The spit from him yelling dripped down Charlie’s neck while the man leaned forward to whisper in his ear. And you’re not going anywhere. Especially not after what you did!

Charlie tried not to panic as the man’s prickly mustache poked his face. The overwhelming scent of rotted teeth and anchovies made him feel instantly nauseous.

At that moment, the grandfather clock in the saloon chimed loudly as the big hand moved to mark the three o’clock hour. The sound of the clock startled Charlie as he looked down, thinking to himself, That seems out of place!

Hearing someone to his left, he looked up just in time to see another man throwing a bucket of water at them. Time again slowed down as he helplessly watched it inch toward his body.

As he flinched, the water crashed into him, completely soaking his shirt.

Charlie was rudely awakened after falling asleep on the couch. He was watching his favorite western movie, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, starring Clint Eastwood.

Charlie’s sister, Faith, stood over him holding an empty pitcher of water.

What the hell! he shouted, shocked. He became aware of the grandfather clock finishing its three o’ clock chime. He was figuring out that he had been asleep.

Faith was staring at Charlie with a sly smile of satisfaction.

I’m gonna get you for this! he yelled as he sprang up from the couch, tackling her. They wrestled on the floor, Charlie having the upper hand.

Enough, you two! shouted their mother as she walked down the stairs. Faith! Wait in the car!

Faith was two years older than Charlie. She had long brown hair, brown eyes, and an olive complexion. She was taller than him and as thin as a rail. As you can imagine, Charlie and Faith didn’t get along very well. They spent most of their time trying to outsmart the other.

Charlie, who was a twelve-year-old had brown hair, green eyes, and a small brown mole on the left side of his cheek. He wore a brown cowboy hat, a now-sopping-wet T-shirt, brown vest, blue