Bass Reeves - Lawman with a Gun

By John J. Law

This is a new tale about one of the most legendary figures of the Old West. Bass Reeves. A lawman with a gun. A man who could catch any criminal.... including his own son.

This fast moving action packed adventure filled with history is based on the life of Bass Reeves. Reeves truly was the most unusual US Marshal to ever serve this country. His accomplishments earned him the title of the most feared lawman in the wild and untamed Indian Territory.

The lady smiled at me, and nodded. It seemed that I still held her interest, for whatever unfathomable reason.
"Who would this person of interest be, and why would you want to meet him?" she asked.
"The old Buffalo Soldier, Bass Reeves," I said.
"I'm a writer by trade, and I wish to write a book about his exploits."
The little lady appeared even more thrilled when I mentioned my line of work. "A mythmaker? You mean you write dime novels?"
I nodded with a smile and a twinkle in my eye.

• Language: English
• Publisher: J.C. Hulsey Books
• Release date: Dec 8, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223191834

Book preview

PROLOGUE

June 5, 1909.

It was a relatively short ride from Fort Smith to Van Buren County by stagecoach. The coach driver was pleasant, or at least as pleasant as his job would allow, and his coach was fairly comfortable. I rode with a pretty lass sitting in front of me. She looked like a fetching young Angelica, and she smiled at me in a very disarming manner. Being a young batch myself, I couldn't help but smile and tip my hat politely at her. 

The little lady was very attractive and friendly in her demeanor. I confess that I am often quite reserved and withdrawn when it comes to ladies, but she was so charming in her ways that I couldn't help but strike a conversation with her, or at least try to, as the coach lurched and bumped across the ground.

Hello Miss. Where are you headed to? I asked casually.

I am quite a shy person by nature, and I had to summon all the reserves of courage inside of me, to ask this simple query. I admit, that I am a far cry from the chosen subject matter of my tales, but that is another tale in itself.

I thought that she would not respond or nonchalantly brush me off, but I was pleasantly surprised when she answered me politely.

I am headed for Van Buren, good sir, she said. I smiled, and could not help but reply with more enthusiasm than I wanted too.

Wonderful! I'm headed for Van Buren myself! Perhaps you could direct me there to my destination? I'm new in these parts, and I need to meet one of the county's more notable residents, I said.

The lady smiled at me, and nodded. It seemed that I still held her interest, for whatever unfathomable reason.

Who would this person of interest be, and why would you want to meet him? she asked.

The old Buffalo Soldier, Bass Reeves, I said.

I'm a writer by trade, and I wish to write a book about his exploits.

The little lady appeared even more thrilled when I mentioned my line of work. A mythmaker? You mean you write dime novels? 

I nodded with a smile and a twinkle in my eye. That I do. I've written about catawampus outlaws, and the men who brought them. Perhaps you've read some of my work? Like No-Face? 

The spirit of justice? They say he was just a myth cobbled up by old settlers! 

I smiled and shrugged my shoulders. Maybe, maybe not. Either way, I've written about him, and other some other chaps. Perhaps you've heard of me. I'm Jose Benjamin. 

I'm Elle Hendershot. Pleased to meet you, Mr. Benjamin.

The pleasure's all mine, Elle. Please call me Jose. Well, like I said earlier, I'm headed to Van Buren and I need to write about Bass Reeves. I've heard a lot about the colored man, and his legendary exploits. They say he was a giant among men, that stood ten feet tall, and that he rounded up over 3,000 outlaws, including his own son. They also called him invincible Bass Reeves because of all the gunfights he got into without ever getting a scratch. I've even heard that he spits thunder from his lips that splits bricks and mortar.

The little Angelica began to laugh at my attempts at hyperbole and I feared she would be flung off her seat, as the ride was getting more and more bumpy. Well, I do reckon that a lot of legends have been written about the man, but those are pretty tall tales that you've heard about him.

The man has quite a reputation, and that's why I do believe that he would make a great subject for a story.

Elle smiled and bowed her head. He is definitely a great man. One of the first blacks to ever be a U.S. Marshal, and one of the biggest reasons why this whole area even became a state. My father often told me about how lawless the Indian Territory used to be.

"I've read about the man. He was definitely a big reason that law and order was established round these parts. I heard that horse thieves, bootleggers, and outlaws of all kinds used to lie low in the vast prairies just to avoid the law. Bass would probably ride thousands of miles for months at a time just to corral the most notorious outlaws back in the