A Dozen Lawmen
By Clay Cassidy
()
About this ebook
There's trouble in Gunsight. What the citizens of this Silver - mining town need, is someone to take charge of their problem and sort out the evil forces set on taking over their livelihood. Blake Farraday, a United States Marshall, is that man. Annie Poise contacts him for help. Blake and his Deputies. eleven of them to be exact, arrive in Gunsight and quickly sparks are flying. The towns' Sheriff is on the payroll of an Outlaw bound to become rich from the land he is unlawfully taking from the owners. A small war ensues between the citizens of Gunsight and the Outlaws, led by Blake Farraday and his deputies. The opposing side consisting of Outlaws and hired guns, loose the battle, but Blake loses good men during the battle, too. Was it worth the effort?
Clay Cassidy
Born on 12 April 1964. Enlisted in the Army in 1983 for two years as Operational Medic. Married my wife in December 1988, and moved back to my birth town, a small mining town in South Africa. My wife and I are blessed with two children; a son and a daughter. I have been writing since primary school and have always been an avid reader. My love for literature grew as I became older, as did my love for writing. It was only later in my life that the decision to submit one of my plenty manuscripts for a review that I'd written over the years. I submitted to SBPRS in Houston, Texas. Their response was quick, and a couple of months later I was standing with the first Print Proof Copy of my book. I have a keen interest in the American Wild West. This drives me to write Westerns, which is my favorite genre. I've always been passionate about writing. Apart from writing, I also do Editing, Proofreading, and Formatting of text before and/after submission of manuscripts to publishing houses at a relatively low cost to the Author. Two of my favorite pastimes when I'm not writing, is doing oil painting and pencil sketching, Wildlife being my favorite genre.
Read more from Clay Cassidy
Payback Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Judge Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsRighteous Lawmen Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Serial Killer Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWrong Diagnosis Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Related to A Dozen Lawmen
Related ebooks
Jordan Land Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsTrail of Secrets: Western Trails series, #3 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsResisting the Moon Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWild Horses and Other Stories Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWild Thing Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Trail of Kisses: Hot on the Trail, #1 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsUndercover Rebel Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Chevalier Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsRedemption Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The Beast: A Wolf Point novella Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsEllie Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Face on the Wall Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Bitten By A Vampire: Pendle Hill Vampire Serial Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsNick Stolter Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Bard of Xalir Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Twenty Bushel Racer Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsNo Second Chances Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Cattleman Meets His Match Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Small Feet's Many Moon Journey: Stringbean Hooper Western Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsMail-Order Ranger Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Woman Thou Gavest Me; Being the Story of Mary O'Neill Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsParadise Valley Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsChang: A Kit Colbana World Short Novella Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Perils of Pauline Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsShameless Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Rose A life in the shadows Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Cowboy and the Nanny: Horseshoe Home Ranch, #4 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsFifty Shades of Zane Grey Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsA Sorrowful Sanctuary: A Lane Winslow Mystery Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Kissing The Key Witness Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Historical Fiction For You
Demon Copperhead: A Pulitzer Prize Winner Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Poisonwood Bible: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Strange Case of the Alchemist's Daughter Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Hallowe'en Party: Inspiration for the 20th Century Studios Major Motion Picture A Haunting in Venice Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Invisible Hour: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Cloud Cuckoo Land: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The House of Eve Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek: A Novel Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Yellow Wife: A Novel Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Rules of Magic: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5East of Eden Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The House Is on Fire Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Second Life of Mirielle West: A Haunting Historical Novel Perfect for Book Clubs Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Island of Sea Women: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5We Have Always Lived in the Castle Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Lady Tan's Circle of Women: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Canterbury Tales Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Rebecca Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Book of Magic: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Sisters Brothers Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Red Tent - 20th Anniversary Edition: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Pale Blue Eye: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Euphoria Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Lost Journals of Sacajewea: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Magic Lessons: The Prequel to Practical Magic Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Quiet American Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5This Tender Land: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I, Claudius Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Kitchen House: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Hang the Moon: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Related categories
Reviews for A Dozen Lawmen
0 ratings0 reviews
Book preview
A Dozen Lawmen - Clay Cassidy
A Dozen Lawmen
Clay Cassidy
Edited and Published by Clay Cassidy
Copyright © 2024 Clay Cassidy
All rights reserved
License Notes
No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, graphic, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system, without the permission, in writing, of the Author.
DEDICATION
I dedicate this book to my wife Daleen, my son Dean, and my granddaughter Leonisse, who have been, and are, the inspiration behind my writing career. Without them I would not have had the courage to carry on when the going gets tough. They are not only my biggest fans, but also my severest critics. Thank you for supporting me.
Love you always
Clay
CONTENTS
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Dedication
Prologue
About the Author
Prologue
Two horsemen nervously control the five horses outside the Farmer’s Bank in Arkansas, while the other three members of their gang are busy robbing the bank from its payroll. This is their biggest bank job since they started their careers as criminals.
Inside everyone is quiet. There is quite a large number of customers in the bank. Three men enter the bank; their faces covered with kerchiefs and six-guns drawn. Waving his handgun around, one of the robbers covers the clients.
This is a stick-up, ladies and gents! Grab some air or I’ll drill a hole in you. Make it snappy; I ain’t got all day! Hurry up, Harry, before we have the Law breathing down our necks. Lady, if you hesitate any longer to obey my partner, your days are numbered! Do you understand that? Fill up the bag with all the cash in your register!
The cashier does as she is told, with Harry keeping her in his sights. The man who does the talking indicates with his head to the other member of the trio.
Ira, do as you’re told and open that door!
CHAPTER ONE
Two hours fast riding South of Gunsight.
A quiet, small Silver mining town brings one to Green Pasture, one of the most flourishing cattle ranches in the district.
Annie Poise freezes with shock as the volley of gunfire reaches her where she is hanging the washing. The firing seems to come from close by, but Annie can’t be sure. Running frantically around the front of their house, she hears the incessant gunfire distinctly, and without any further doubt knows where it’s coming from.
It’s quite close to their ranch, seemingly in the region where Norman, her husband, and William, her son, are rounding up cattle. Her father, Jack Truman, and brother, Jasper, are also out, helping Norman with the task of rounding up cattle.
Without a second thought, Annie runs into the house and in one swift motion, grabs a Winchester carbine from the gun rack, which is always kept loaded nowadays. Without faltering in her stride, Annie runs towards the stables.
Here she mounts her mare bareback and clutching the rifle in one hand, races off in the direction where she hears the shots coming from.
Her son is foremost in her thoughts as her horse speeds onward. Reining her horse in at the crest of a hilltop, Annie pulls out her eyeglass and brings it to her eye while scouring the land before her.
She sees movement about a mile from where she is, and her heart almost stops at the sight of what she sees. Regaining her composure, Annie rides at breakneck speed down the slanted hill.
Annie’s mare does not stop completely when she jumps from its back. She falls to her knees at William’s side and reaching down, lifts him from the ground. The seven-year-old groans softly and opens his eyes, pain etched shallow in them.
Ma, they shot pa! Grandpa and uncle Jasper have also been shot! Pa and Grandpa tried to keep them from shooting me, but they got me in the leg. Am I going to die?
Annie shakes her head.
No, Will. You won’t die, but I’ll have to get you to the doctor to stop the bleeding. Sit right here; I’ll be with you shortly.
Annie goes over to where Norman is lying face down in the dirt, his now lifeless hand still clutching his six-shooter. Annie turns him over on his back and sees the three bullet wounds where he’s been shot.
As she looks at her brother, she sees immediately that he is beyond help, and is about to turn around, when a slight movement from her father catches her eye. Quickly she rushes to his side. Her father is coughing up blood and bubbles are frothing on his lips.
Daddy; daddy, can you hear me?! Please don’t die! Just hold on for a little while; I’ll get you to the doctor in town. Don’t leave me now!
Jack Truman struggles to keep his eyes open. He takes hold of Annie’s hand, squeezing it feebly while his voice breaks as he speaks.
I been hit bad, pumpkin. Ain’t gonna make it outta here alive … aargh! There’s a man by name of Blake Faraday who’ll help you; used to be close friends with his pa. Write him and tell him who you are. Now take li’l Will an’ get him to the doctor!
Annie is about to protest when her father exhales his last breath from his bullet-riddled body. She quickly covers the three bodies with tall grass against the merciless sun and vultures. She will get the undertaker to ride out to their ranch and collect the bodies.
Annie leads her horse to where William is sitting. Quickly she puts a tourniquet around William’s upper leg to stop the constant flow of blood.
We’ll have to ride double on my horse, Will; I’ll help you mount. We’ll go and get the buckboard and ride into town.
It’s a difficult ride back to the ranch, as William’s leg is causing him intense discomfort. Although Annie’s outer façade is calm and efficient, she is emotionally shattered to pieces by the untimely deaths of her husband, beloved father and brother.
William takes the death of his father very bad, and cries softly all the way to town. Annie tries to console him, without much success. Reaching town, Annie makes straight for the Doctor’s rooms.
***
Earlier that same morning; some distance from the house.
Norman Poise sits astride his horse alongside his father-in-law, Jack Truman, as he looks at his son with pride that makes his heart swell. His brother-in-law, Jasper, is riding towards them at a leisurely pace.
William is only seven years old, but already has all the makings of a great rancher. Both Norman and Jack smile at the excitement of William when the latter points to a herd of cattle.
Norman is of average height, although his physique is quite muscular. He has short, sandy hair