Frank Kane - One Good Turn Deserves Another

By John J. Law

Frank Kane, bounty hunter, had been shot and left for dead. If not for the kindness of Father Mathias and his ward, Natalya, Frank would have been just another unknown skeleton with bones bleaching in the sun.
Pepe Santiago, born and raised in the small barrio, decided leading a good life didn't pay as much as he would have liked. Joining up with a group of outlaws led by a man named Howard McCracken, Pepe hoped his new-found friends would help him achieve the riches he believed he deserved. They headed for the small barrio, killing the very priest who had helped to raise Santiago, and stealing the town's priceless golden cross.
Kane swore to keep promise to the dying Father Mathias—to find and return the golden cross, and not to kill Pepe Santiago in the process. After all, one good turn deserved another. 

• Language: English
• Publisher: J.C. Hulsey Books
• Release date: Dec 8, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223245940

Book preview

Chapter One

The Stranger and the Skull

Father Mathias and Natalya rode beside each other. It had been a long ride and they were now headed back to the barrio. As they rode on, she noticed something light and shiny on the ground. The rays of the sun reflected off the shiny surface and she thought it was a rock at first.

Look, Father! On the ground! What is that?

The pair rode towards it. Upon closer inspection, they realized that it was anything but a rock. The two of them came upon a skull. The skull had been embedded on the ground, indicating that the body had long decomposed. Lying under the skull were several bones. They recognized the bones as forming a human skeleton. The skeleton was once a living human being, and that being did not pass on in gentle fashion. There were several arrows imbedded on the bones.

This man was killed by savages, Father Mathias said, pointing to the arrows.

Natalya and the padre were not unfamiliar with violence. In such dangerous and unpredictable times, both were companions that most people walked with hand-in-hand.

Neither of them said anything more as the padre made the sign of the cross and uttered a quick blessing. Once that was done, the two of them continued to ride on. The sight was quite grim, but they could not stop for long, and there was nothing more they could do for the long-dead man.

Mathias felt the hot sun beating down upon him. He wiped some sweat off his forehead. It was an unbearably hot day and even the horses felt it. They moved slowly and more than one of the steeds had their tongues out. It was difficult to move on a hot day like this, much less move while carrying people and supplies on their backs. The Father could sense that everyone was struggling today, and he could not help but feel pity on the horses, as they all trudged on.

Poor beasts. They seem to be taking the worst of it, eh?

Natalya nodded at the padre. She rode beside the priest and the two of them led a caravan of five horses carrying several supplies. They had purchased the supplies from the nearest trading post which was several miles from their little barrio. The trading post was a good distance from their settlement and riding there was hell in this heat. But the two didn't have much of a choice. The trading post was the only place they could purchase any kind of supplies, and their barrio was running low. The residents needed the supplies, and this was the only way to get them. If it meant riding in such a relentlessly hot day, the pair would gladly do it to feed the barrio.

"None of us can stand this heat much longer, Father. I'm just glad we're almost back in town. I heard that my